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

I know, I know ... I suck.

But before you kick my butt for my lateness, I would like to give a big shout out to my friend, A Jasper For Me, for helping me bring this chapter out to you with less mistakes than I alone ever could. Love, love to you, girl!

Thanks for the wait, you lovely peeps. Hugs to you all!

Warm.

It was so warm.

Heat was all around me and I tried to move.

It was useless.

My body was pressed to something, like a dead weight that held me in place. A few more seconds of consciousness told me I wasn't dreaming. I opened my eyes to see what was around me.

Oh my God!

It was his arm around my waist.

Shit … shit … shit.

I tried to wiggle out of his embrace only to be pulled back tighter. He was still asleep but his arms wrapped around me like some kind of a protective shield – strong and firm. My back was to him, but his face nuzzled my neck and my breathing momentarily stopped.

He was so freaking close!

His skin on mine ... his warm breath on my neck. I was familiar with this – our spooning together while we slept … his arms wrapped tightly around me like he was afraid to let go – but it had been a long time since this happened. I could feel goosebumps break all over my body.

Shit! Please don't wake up.

I needed to get away from him … to leave the safety of his embrace.

I could hear the thumping of my heart so loudly against my chest I was afraid I would wake him with the noise. The panic I had tried to hold down started to bubble inside me and I knew I needed to get loose from his arms.

I sighed in frustration. My fear was getting to me, and I remembered what Jessica told me last night.

I closed my eyes and counted to twenty. His hold on me was like a boa constrictor, and I was afraid if I moved he would awaken, but there was no way in hell I would stay right here.

I wiggled a little bit … a little more until I felt his arms loosen around me. I turned around to check on him. He was still asleep.

Thank God!

As I stood disheveled from sleep beside the bed, I couldn't help stare at his sleeping form. He looked more at peace now than last night when he arrived.

It had been hard for me to deny him when he needed me most. He told me about Heidi and her betrayal to Alec and their family. The news shocked me as well, but I assured him everything was going to be alright even when it seemed it wouldn't. We talked about how this new scandal would affect them and his precarious role as the heir to the throne. Although I wasn't sure what to tell him, it felt like he wanted to share this with me. And if I was completely honest with myself, it was scary to know I was once again willing to intertwine my life with his and all things royal. But as Jessica said, I needed to let go. Let go of my baggage and just enjoy the present and the possible future I would have with him. But I was still uncertain; afraid of the pain that would come with loving him.

The choice to let him stay was something I couldn't regret. Although it was a little impulsive of me to have made the decision to let him sleep beside me in my bed last night, I still couldn't help feel it was the right thing to do.

He moved and I jumped; my hand covering my mouth in an attempt to stifle my squeal. I was certain I looked like a lunatic, but I wasn't ready for all this.

Last night I acted hastily, but I had to be sure I wanted this with him. Although my heart told me what I needed to know, my brain was protesting. Everything looked and felt so different from last night, especially when I wasn't looking at his pleading eyes ... touching his skin.

I needed to clear my head first, and construct a plan – a good plan. The right plan.

Shit!

His hand moved.

I needed to think. Fast. Before he wakes up.

OOOOOOOOOO

He was awake.

The sound of movements from my bedroom only escalated the tension inside me. My heart hadn't stopped racing ever since I woke up.

How the hell would I tell him? I was tired of being scared of him, of his love and the passion that came with it. I had made a decision. Yes, in the few hours he had slept in my bedroom while I sorted out my feelings and my jumbled thoughts, I had realized I needed to give us another chance. He wanted this. And I wanted this as well.

"Bella?"

I jumped and the pan I held in my hand dropped noisily on the floor.

"Shit!" I scrambled to get the pan that had managed to bounce a few inches away from me.

"What are you doing?"

I ignored him while I stepped to get a rag to clean up the grease that was now all over the floor. I could feel his eyes on me as I finished the task.

"Did you make all this?"

Huh?

I turned around to see what he meant and froze. There in front of us were plates of food fit for a feast of twenty. The smell of bacon and eggs permeated through the whole kitchen.

I opened my mouth but nothing came out. How in the hell didn't I notice I made all these?

I turned to him to try and give some kind of explanation but the smile he gave me made me forget what I wanted to say.

"You didn't have to prepare food for me, Bella."

"I know," I replied, feeling the heat on my cheeks increase as his eyes scanned the kitchen.

"But since you already did, then we might as well enjoy it."

And we did.

We ate in silence, me with my eggs and him with his bacon and pancakes. The tension between us was so palpable. There was no denying we needed to talk about last night, and a lot more actually, but I was too afraid to speak first.

There's nothing to be ashamed of, Bella. You didn't have sex with him. You just slept on the same bed.

"Bella." He cleared his throat and I knew he was just as nervous as I was. "I want to thank you for last night."

"I'm glad I could help," I started, hoping my voice didn't crack in a show of nervousness. "Although I'm not even certain what I actually did."

"You listened to me." He raised his eyes to me, and my breathing hitched. "I know I don't deserve to even have you as a friend … but I'm glad I do."

My throat became dry, and I wet my lips. "Me too," I whispered.

He gave me a small smile and continued to eat the remainder of his food. As the minutes passed in silence once more, I could sense his uneasiness.

He shifted in his seat uncomfortably as I chewed on my eggs. His awkwardness made me increasingly nervous. Unlike all those different times I had seen him where he was all confident and smug, this Edward looked like he wanted to tell me something other than Heidi and what happened with us last night.

"Edward?"

He covered his face with his hands and rubbed like he was pissed. I waited until I could see him staring at me; his eyes burned with longing and fear.

I knew the feeling. I wanted to tell him, so I reached for his hand. He took it and gripped tightly.

"Bella," he rasped like he was in pain. "I came here last night because … because …" He cleared his throat to start again. "There's a reason, a really important reason why I came last night. And I'm not … shit … I'm sorry. I came here because I needed to see you and … and …"

"You wanted to vent out about what Heidi," I said, hoping to help him find his words.

He shook his head and I could see the anxiety on his handsome face.

"Heidi's betrayal made me realize something," he said, his voice hoarse while he held my gaze.

"And that is?" I asked when he continued to stay quiet. My palms started to sweat in anticipation. He could surely feel them, I was sure.

He turned away from me, but my hand was still wrapped tightly in his. "I was so angry when I heard she was pregnant and the baby inside her isn't Alec's."

I squeezed his hand, trying to convey I was there for him. My heart hammered so hard inside my chest, I was afraid I would pass out. I needed to hear him say whatever he wanted to say. Although I wasn't sure what it was, something told me it was important.

"When I went home last night, I was still so angry. I had no intention of bothering you with this … " he rubbed his forehead with his free hand and looked back at me "… but then thinking about Heidi's betrayal made me think about mine."

What?

He could see the confusion on my face. His eyes pleaded with me, but I didn't know what he was pleading for. It wasn't anything about Heidi … that was for sure.

"Edward?"

"Please Bella," he begged, even though I didn't understand what he was apologizing for. Something in the way he spoke and the worried expression on his face warned me this was going to be bad. He grabbed my other hand and held them tightly, like he was afraid I would pull away from him. Although the tightness in my chest was getting worse as the seconds passed, I needed to hear this something.

"Bella, I need you to understand-"

"Tell me," I cut him off, wanting to get this thing he was so distraught about over and done with.

"Kate. It's about Kate."

And there it was. A girl. I didn't know who she was, and what she was to him, but I could feel the searing pain cut through me like a knife. I felt him tighten his grip on my hands as I tried to pull away, wanting some space.

"Let me explain." And he did.

And my heart felt heavier and more confused than ever. Just when I thought I was ready to move forward with him, he told me about this woman … this fuck buddy of his. And it changed everything.

"I think you need to leave, Edward."

"I know." He stood up; uncertainty marred his features. "I'm sorry."

I closed my eyes, not wanting to see his face any longer. I heard him move and it was only then I opened my eyes to see him walking toward the door of the kitchen. I was staring at his back, contemplating what the hell to do when he suddenly turned towards me, catching me off guard.

"It might not seem true, and you might not believe me when I say this, but I've always loved you, Bella… and I still do. So fucking much," he said with such force it left me breathless. Before I could even respond to him, he had left me all alone in my kitchen, dazed and confused.

What the hell just happened?

There you go.

Some of you were afraid Edward would somehow take on the responsibility and wed Heidi in order to save his family from disgrace. I wouldn't do that to you. Besides, nothing E or anyone could do to hide Heidi's betrayal. It was bound to happen.

Hit me up with those thoughts of yours.

Thanks for reading.

xoxo