FINE – see I do listen *sometimes*

Hope this is a better ending for some of you J


Chapter 20

Epilogue

"It has been a year Bella, be reasonable" He slips from his formal suit jacket and throws it over the chair. The skyline of New York is amazing from his apartment view.

"I said I'm keeping my apartment"

"You know your mother loves me, your father loves me, they want you to move in with me"

"Hold it tiger" She laughs. "My father doesn't love you"

Edward smiles and pulls his tie off, he crawls on top of her on his couch. She is reading some files he doesn't care about. Pulling them from her hand he throws them to the floor. "You love me"

"Edward" She complains and pushes his chest. "It took me all night to sort those, you're an ass"

He smiles and kisses her lips lightly. "Come live with me"

"Never" She kisses him back.

"Please" He moans before tugging her lower lip and sucking it lightly.

"No" Her fingers unbutton his shirt. She has become completely confident with him, around him; it feels good to trust someone like she does him.

"Stubborn" He mutters helping her remove his shirt. She didn't come to the dinner tonight, it was just small. Next week is the year anniversary of the charity she heads for his company. But she doesn't work for him, she shouts that any chance she gets. Her parents are flying in to join in the event; the community center will join naturally. It should be good; he got some great musical guests to take part and wonderful auction pieces. Bella is thrilled and excited. She got that photographer Garrett to come back much to his dismay. He spent the night making sure she wouldn't forget who she is with. She called him a Neanderthal. He winked at her.

"I just need" She moans and arches under him as he sucks her throat no doubt marking her neck. "Stop"

"Need what, this conversation is riveting"

"Why do you goad me?" She tugs his hair so his mouth again comes from her skin.

"Because you are so" He whispers tugging at her shorts. "Easy"

Bella laughs and pulls her mouth to hers kissing him deeply.


They have talked endlessly about her moving in. She wants to keep her apartment, maybe she is scared, but she trusts him wholly not to hurt her. There shouldn't be anything holding this next natural step. He listens, he responds, and offers advice, a shoulder, a kiss anything. He is wonderful, and hers. When she was sick with a flu she told him under no circumstances was he to come over and cater to her. She didn't want him to bring to soup. Most girls would fall over themselves with such an offer. That is not her, she isn't that girl. Never has been. Emmett showed up an hour later, with orange juice, chicken noodle soup, water bottles, aspirin, Vicks vapor rub and a chocolate bar. With a note that said 'See I do listen, I didn't bring the soup'. Amazing.

Turning in bed next to him she watches him sleeping. She doesn't want anything between them. If she is scared she needs to sort it out so this doesn't get ruined. Sighing she kisses his chest and snuggles against his warm body.

"Go to sleep" He murmurs reaching a hand around her body.

"I'll move in" She whispers. He is just right.

"Is it because of that thing I did with my tongue?"

He makes her laugh, and makes her want to slap him upside of his head at the same time. "You are too much" She laughs lightly. "No, but that was nice"

"Now that you'll live here, you can get it anytime you want"

"I don't need to move in to get that" Bella smiles crawling to sit on his abdomen awake now.

He smiles sleepily up at her and tucks the fallen hair behind her ear, only to have it fall again.

She smiles and looks down at him. Bending she kisses his naked chest. "Go to sleep" She whispers before sliding from his body and settling next to him.


"Oh baby you look wonderful, so happy, the colour to your skin" Renee pinches her daughters cheeks. "Doesn't she look great Charlie?" She slaps her husband's chest.

"You look amazing Bells" He wraps his daughter in his arms and lifts her gently from the floor.

Bella laughs. "I missed you Dad"

"I missed you too kid" He kisses her head and sets her down.


"Got everything?" Bella questions.

"Yeah" Renee looks at the bags then to her husband. She smiles at him.

"So Edward will join us for dinner"

"Sounds great, we are glad you decided to move in with him" Renee smiles. "Why thank you…Emmett right?"

"Yes Ma'ma" Emmett grins at Mrs. Swan.

Charlie clears his throat.

"Oh my gosh, Dad seriously" Bella widens her eyes.

Renee giggles, Emmett smiles.

"Mr. Swan let me get that for you"

"I can get it son" Charlie glares at the man hitting on his wife.

"Dad, relax" Bella places her hand on his chest.

"Charlie really" Renee gets in the car when Emmett opens the door for her. "Thank you"

"You're welcome Mrs. Swan"

She giggles again, Charlie huffs.


"I told you your dad loves me" Edward laughs.

Bella rolls her eyes and rolls towards him. Her parents are down the hall in a spare bedroom in Edwards's apartment. "So I was thinking about moving here while my parents were down?"

"Sounds good"

"They can help with the move and everything"

"You know I can get someone to do it for you"

"I know, but I can do it with my parents" She traces his chest with her finger tip.

"Fair enough, but if you need any help I can make the call"

"Edward I'm sure I can manage packing up my apartment, but thank you"

"That's all you had to say" He smiles and rolls on top of her, he kisses her until she is breathless from laughter. Pulling back he smiles down at her. He feels so good with her. "I love you" He whispers.

"I love you" She pushes his hair from his forehead as he looks down at her. "So much"

He leans in and nuzzles her nose and cheek. "Good night" He whispers into her ear before kissing her cheek lightly and rolling to the side.


Bella looks in the mirror; the charity event for Edward's company is black tie all the way.

"You look stunning honey" Renee comes into the large bedroom. She eyes her daughter over in her long cream flowing dress at the bottom and fitted sleeveless beaded top half. "So pretty"

Bella smiles and slips the earrings Edward bought for her into her ears. "I just have to get my shoes on" She says. "You look great mom; dad is going to pass out when he sees you"

"Oh Edward is reviving him now"

Bella laughs and shades her head. She rests her hand on the doorframe as she slips her shoes on. "I'm glad you and dad are here this time around" Bella says to her mother who hugs her.


Edward fixes his cuffs and lifts his eyes when Bella walks out with Renee. He smiles. "Hey"

"Hi yourself" She reaches up to fiddle with his bow tie. He grabs her hand and kisses her finger tips before she can do anything.

"Thanks" He tells her when she is done fiddling.

Bella smiles at him and turns her to father. "You look so handsome dad"

"Thanks to Edward for getting me this suit, I don't think I wore a suit this nice the day I married your mother"

Renee hangs off him. "Maybe we need to do a little renew since we are all dressed up"

Charlie smiles and kisses her.

Bella leans into Edward and watches her silly parents.

"You look stunning" He whispers into her ear as his hands hold around her middle.


Edward holds his wine glass as he watches Bella move around the room with such confidence. She has never lacked that in the business world. Smiling he watches her, she hugs members of the center and shakes hands with his business partners.

"Mr. Cullen" Garrett greets.

"Garrett, hello" Edward extends his hand and shakes the other man's hand. He is holding a very large camera. "Thanks for doing this for Bella"

Garrett smiles and nods. "She is something else"

"She is" He agrees.

"Let me get back to work"

Edward laughs at the air quotes Garrett uses because this is for charity. "Sure thing"

"You ready boss?"

Edward looks at Emmett standing there grinning. "Yeah"

"Go get'em" He pats his friend and bosses back. "Go get her"

Edward smiles and buttons his suit jacket. He heads to the stage where the auction will begin shortly after Bella makes her speech for the night.


"What is he doing? Renee questions her daughter.

Bella looks at Edward walking up to the stage. The music stops.

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen" Edward greets the crowd. "Thank you all for coming to this event, thank you for all the donations made and all that will be made" He grins at the claps. "I'm looking at you Maxwell" He points to a long time friend and generous man.

Max thumbs up to Edward.

"I am honored my company is heading this event, to be able to make a difference and do something positive, this all comes from the head and heart of Isabella Swan" He looks at Bella, she didn't know he was making a speech tonight.

Bella smiles at him.

"She is the force behind everything positive this company has done over the past year, she made it better, and I would like to thank her for that, thank you Bella" He stares at her. Last year he lost someone so important to him, the most important woman in his life, he thought the most important woman ever. But he was wrong. Bella is his heart and soul now. He will miss his mother and Nonna forever, but they have been embodied in the form of Bella.

She nods her head and smiles towards him. Her mother rubs her lower back.

"So I have a question for her tonight"

Renee covers her squeal, Charlie grins and Bella's mouth hangs open.

"Isabella Swan, will you,"

Bella widens her eyes, her breath has stopped suddenly.

"Come work for me?"

She takes a moment to process what he just said, and didn't say. She is not sure if she is disappointed or not. Lowering her lashes she takes another second.

"Well?" He waits in front of some many people.

"No" She shouts towards the stage. He is ridiculous trying to get her to work for him in front of all these people. Ruthless man.

Edward laughs, the crowd laughs. "I knew she was going to be difficult, always giving me a run" He tells them, the crowd continues to laugh and clap. "Well how about this one, will you marry me?"

Her mouth hangs open, she watches him pull a ring box, or what she thinks is a ring box, from suit jacket.

"Well?" He cocks his eyebrow up at her.

Bella smiles and covers her face with both hands.

The crowd chants 'Yes, Yes, Yes!"


"You love being the center of attention" She smiles leaning on his chest as they sit in their living room in front of the huge window overlooking the city. She looks at her ring.

"Yeah well that is why you love me" He kisses her neck.

"I love you because of that thing you do" She laughs, she squeals when he bites her neck. "Kidding, but I do like that" His hand rubs up and down her back.

"So we are still no with the working for me?"

"Edward when will you get it?"

"Get what?" He moans moving to kiss her slowly.

She kisses him back. "I was always the boss"

He smiles into the kiss, teeth hitting as they continue.

"So true" He finally mutters.


THE END *for real this time*