All recognisable characters belong to SM. I just own the plot.

Thank you to A Jasper For Me for whipping this into shape. To everyone still out there, bearing with my lateness and schedule ... Thank you.

I'm expecting to have lots of free time soon, so this story will get back to its usual posting schedule (or more).

Well, here goes another one. Hope you enjoy the read.

"Stupid, that's what I am," I growled, and slumped back in my seat. I had a tight grip on my phone, willing myself not to give into the temptation to throw it against the wall.

"Edward, you need to calm down," Emmett insisted, craning his head forward, clearly to check whether Aro, who was seated a few rows in the front, heard me. If he did, it would surely get back to my father, and nobody wanted that. Not Emmett, certainly not me.

"She hasn't returned any of my calls." There was no denying my frustration of Bella ignoring me.

"I told you to take it slow, but did you listen? No! You had to go push her … and look where it got you," he chastised.

I gritted my teeth to hold off the insults he didn't deserve but I so wanted to throw at him.

"Edward-"

"Don't start," I hissed.

It had been a busy week and my frustration increased as the days passed without a word from Bella, so it would be explainable if I was in no mood for any lecture. I had too much on my mind and it wouldn't be good for him to push it. He stared at me for a good full minute before he leaned back on his seat to read the newspaper.

Good! He wasn't as dense to my feelings as I thought he was. If he continued to push, I would've surely punched him in the face. I needed some time alone with my thoughts.

Bella was avoiding me, of that I was certain. It was like we had taken a step forward only to move ten steps back. It disappointed me to no end … but fuck, I wouldn't give her up. I couldn't. She was worth all this … all my patience, my sacrifice. If only she could see it.

I'll make damn sure she'll see I'm fighting for her. There was no other option.

The frustration I had felt early in the week had turned into fear, and now I was again questioning myself whether I truly had a chance with her. Although I was one arrogant prick, when it came to Bella my confidence would waver. If she rejected me this time, it would kill me.

The plane's departure from the runway reminded me of my need to turn it off. Perhaps the few hours would afford me some time to think about what my next move was. It had been more than a week since I last saw Isabella. She had sent me a few text messages after the dinner we had, and one Thanksgiving message last Thursday, but aside from that there was nothing else.

I had hoped to spend the holiday with her, but instead I had Thanksgiving dinner with my parents in the Palace. It had been hard to enjoy the occasion when Alec's absence hung over us like a shadow. It made me want to bolt right out of there, but of course, I didn't. I couldn't. I needed to show my parents I was responsible even during family and personal crisis.

The gloominess that had taken over me in the last few days was difficult to shake off. Alec's death and the loss I still felt came back full force. Perhaps it was because of the upcoming holidays and the fact I wouldn't be spending any more with him depressed me. Add my concerns about Isabella, and I had a hell of a fucking week. It was very hard to concentrate on anything else. Good thing Emmett was always a good distracter.

"You did a good job out there today, Prince Edward." Aro had taken the seat in front of me; his legs were crossed together, and he looked as if he was relaxed.

"I sure hope so, Aro. I don't want Father to be disappointed," I replied.

We visited one of the naval bases in California. Admiral Grady had shown us around their center where the quarter-of-a-billion-dollar new facilities were now operational. Father had requested I inspect the state-of-the art-facilities and demanded I have a report about it when I returned back to Forks.

"You showed some maturity in the past few months, Prince Edward. If you just keep up what you've been doing, I'm certain King Carlisle will be the first to be happy."

I grinned. Although Aro wasn't my favorite person, he had been an excellent advisor of my father. He had a very brilliant mind, not to mention his loyalty to my father had no bounds. He was like Emmett, and somehow what he just said warmed my heart. My determination to become a good heir to the throne was at least noticed and appreciated. My mood slightly brightened by the small compliment. Minute as it was, it reinforced my resolve to better myself in every aspect of my life – be that my role as a prince, a son, a friend or a lover.

The flight back to Washington was uneventful, with Aro and Emmett dominating most of the conversation. I was content to make them believe I was a good listener when in fact my thoughts were full of Isabella Swan.

OOOOOOOOOO

It was the day after my visit to California that I was again on my way to the Palace's formal dining room. Father had asked me to have an early lunch with them and in turn, summarize what I had seen in the California naval facility.

Marcus had again cornered me and demanded answers about Isabella. He loved her and was just as excited as I was to get her back. It had taken a few minutes before I convinced him I would make it my damn mission to win her over so she would become the next princess … the future queen. My queen.

I sighed. If only wishes were that easy.

The soft murmur of voices could be heard a few feet away from the dining room. This only meant my parents were already waiting for me. Involuntarily, I straightened my shirt before I pushed open the door.

My parents were there alright. And so was Heidi.

The look of frustration on her face as she talked made me curious. Something was up, and I needed to find out.

My parents were pre-occupied with Heidi, so they didn't see me approach.

"It's not like I wanted this to happen."

"I sure hope you didn't," my father snapped at her. One look at his face told me he was reining in his anger.

"Please! I'm so sorry!"

"What do you want us to say?"

"My son is dead, Heidi! And this …this happens! How could you shame his name like this?"

Heidi started to sob.

"We just don't understand!" It was now my mother's turn to speak, her tone full of hurt and anguish.

As I approached them, I saw the newspaper lying on the table in front of my father. The headline screamed at me.

I turned to face Heidi, my eyes blurred with fury.

"How dare you!"

"Edward-" my mother started to speak, but I was too wrapped up with my anger at her to care.

"Is this true?" I held the paper in my hands and glared at her.

Her eyes told me what I needed to know.

"Alec fucking loved you!" I hissed at her. She flinched when I approached her. "How could you cheat on him like this?" I panted as I said the words, hating her.

"Oh God! I'm so sorry!"

My chest was so tight, I thought it would burst. I clenched my fists at my side, afraid I would slap her. She was four months pregnant, my brother had been dead for three, but it was not even his child. My brother didn't need this humiliation. His good name would be somewhat tainted by Heidi's betrayal.

"I think you need to go, Heidi," my father said in a tight voice.

"Your Majesty-"

My father ignored her and stood from where he sat across from her. He waved for one of the guards and left the room, dismissing her entirely. Heidi stopped sobbing just in time for her to be escorted out of the room.

"What are we going to do, Edward?"

My mother's eyes were wet as she looked at me with all the pain and hurt caused by this news. I reached for her, hoping I could comfort her in some way.

"I dunno, Mother. I dunno."

OOOOOOOOOO

The hot cup of coffee in my hands almost dropped when I felt arms wrapped around my shoulders.

"I'm sorry," Jessica said, but the amusement in her tone told me otherwise.

"Are you, really?" I turned to face her, only to see her mouth twitch as she shook her head.

"Argghh, you're just … just …!"

"Horny?" she supplied and I gaped at her in shock. She was so crude and I should be used to it by now, but sometimes she would say some things that could still leave me speechless.

She raised an eyebrow while I tried to find the right response. As the seconds passed, I could feel the hilarity of our situation and I burst out laughing. She joined me, and we had a full belly laugh for about ten minutes.

"You should've seen your face when you saw me and Michael, Bella!"

"Oh, God. Don't remind me!" I groaned. Wasn't it ironic I was more embarrassed to have seen them fucking on her couch than she was?

"How could I not? I was riding him good when you burst in," she recounted without an ounce of shyness. "I was getting to the good part when –"

"Jessica!"

"I know. But don't worry, I was still able to orgasm so your interruption wasn't that bad."

"Dammit, I didn't need to hear that!" I covered my ears just in case she wanted to continue with stories about her sexcapades.

"God, you're such a prude!" She grabbed one of the pillows on the couch and smacked me good.

"That hurt!"

"You need a little smacking to open your eyes sometimes. You haven't gotten laid in ages. I think that vagina of yours is gonna shrivel up and die."

"Jessica!"

"Oh, shush!" She rolled her eyes at me and humphed. "Edward's available and very will-"

It was my turn to smack her with a pillow.

"I was just telling the truth! No need to be physical here."

"We're not discussing Edward. Period," I said.

I had been avoiding him for the last week. After what happened after our dinner date, I got scared. Jessica suspected I was stalling for the inevitable, because yeah, we all knew Edward would demand answers.

"Hmm, is that so?"

She fiddled with the hem of her bathrobe, which I could say was a little sheer but a lot more sensible than her birthday suit earlier. I had caught her having a wild fucking session with one of the medical interns in her apartment. She lived two floors below me, and both of us frequented each other's place. But unlike Jessica, I didn't have a key to her apartment, which was my choice. Knowing her track record with men, I didn't want to just enter her place and catch her doing someone like I did earlier. I should have known better and been cautious when I saw her door open. Boy, was I sorry to have entered her apartment without knocking.

"I want to talk about him."

"I don't."

She turned to face me and tucked the belt of her robe around her firmly. "Bella, I'm gonna tell you something I'm sure you don't want to hear, but I'll say it anyway."

I started to raise my hands to cover my ears, but she grabbed them and placed them firmly at my side.

"Edward's not one of my favorite people. You know this, right?"

She held my gaze until I nodded.

"But I also know, even if you don't admit it now or even if you don't know it yet, he's the only one-"

"No, he isn't," I interrupted, but she held her hand up to stop me from interrupting her again.

"Yes, he is. He makes you smile more than anybody else does."

"That's not true!"

"Yeah right," she answered sarcastically, rolling her eyes as she did. "If only it was that simple. He isn't the one I'd pick for you, but you and him have this strange connection everyone can see … " she placed one of her hand on my chest "… and I'd bet my life, he's the only one who could make your heart beat like crazy."

She gave me this smile, full of meaning … full of understanding.

"You need to let it go, Bella."

"Need to let go of what?" Now I was confused.

"Your fear."

"I … I-"

She raised her eyebrow in challenge, and I sighed.

"Am I that obvious?"

She nodded and said, " To me you are."

She leaned forward and tucked the loose strands of hair from my bun behind my ear. "He wants you back, and you want him."

I opened my mouth to protest again, but she pressed my lips together with her fingers.

"I'm gonna kick your ass if you deny it one more time, got it?"

I nodded, understanding ... accepting.

"You want him," she repeated like it was our mantra.

I nodded.

"Say it."

It took me a few seconds to see she wouldn't give up.

"I want him." As I said the words, I could feel my heart race against my chest in fear, in anticipation, in excitement.

"Good. Then all you need to do is tell him that."

Shit!

"It'll be good, Bella. Trust me."

"God, I hope you're right or I'm going to kick your ass for making me listen to you!"

"No, I'm going to kick his ass if he fucks this up!"

We talked for a few more minutes before she decided to go back to her apartment just in case Mike called her. I was getting ready for bed when there was a knock on the door.

"Edward?"

The sight of him all disheveled worried me.

"What happened?"

"Can I come in?"

Do you think Jess is a good or bad influence to our B? Hmmm ... but honestly, I like this Jess. j/s.

Hit me up with your thoughts.

Thanks for reading.

xoxo