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

Thank you to A Jasper For Me. I tweaked this chapter after she went over it, so any mistake you find are all mine.

"Get up, Edward."

"No," I groaned, and burrowed further into my pillow. My head was still pounding from the aftereffects of the alcohol we had consumed last night.

"You need to get up, man." It was Jake.

"It's too early," I grumbled, but he started shaking me. I grabbed a pillow and hurled it at him. He sidestepped it and just smirked at me.

Asshole.

"You better have a good reason for waking me."

"I wouldn't be here if there wasn't, so you better cover that pale ass."

There was something different in his voice, something that told me he wouldn't just allow me to ignore him.

"Get up, man."

He started shaking me again. The glare I gave him just earned me a shrug and a grin. I wanted to smack that smile off his face.

"Stop fucking doing that! I have a headache and you shaking me doesn't help, you prick!"

"That's because there's something important you need to see, and you can't do that if you just stayed in this bed."

"What the hell is so important?" I snapped, not ready for anything this early just yet. I needed sleep, but the look of determination on his face told me he wouldn't budge to give me that liberty.

"Get up and see it for yourself."

My head was pounding, but I forced myself up from the bed. He just stood at the side and waited while I put on the same pants I wore last night.

"Emmett could have dealt with it while I slept."

"No, he can't."

"You're being an ass, Jake."

"And you're being stubborn. Why don't you just shut up and hurry the fuck up," he retorted. "I promise you're gonna kiss me after you see this. Just remember I was the one who braved to wake you up."

I stopped to steady myself, because fuck my head was spinning.

"C'mon, you really need to see this."

"You keep saying that."

I followed him out of my room and realized he seemed to have no trouble walking.

"And why the hell don't you have a hangover? You drank more than I did last night."

He just ignored me, leading the way towards the living room. I stopped short when I saw Emmett and Rosalie standing there.

"What's happening here? Emmett?"

He gave me a nod, like I was supposed to know what it was for. Rosalie had this excited look on her face, although she was trying hard to hide it, making it look like she would choke anytime. Perhaps it was because she was in close proximity of Emmett. Last I checked, even after I saw her give him a blowjob, these two couldn't stand each other. Them standing together here in the same room, not bickering, was making me suspicious.

"You guys are freaking me out, you know."

"You're gonna freak out, Edward … but hopefully in a good way," Jake started and he smiled like he just won the lottery.

"What's going on?" I asked confused. My need for caffeine led me to the kitchen in search for coffee. I made a cup and went back to the living room where the others were waiting. Jake motioned for me to sit on the couch as he turned on the television. I was too weak and hungover to ask any more questions. It was best to just wait.

I took a sip of my coffee and almost choked on it when I saw Bella. It was not on the news channel, but the entertainment one. A mob of reporters was following her, and she was walking fast.

Why are they showing me this?

I glanced at Emmett, confusion clear on my face, but he just gave me an encouraging nod. My hands started to tremble, so I put down the cup of coffee before I could spill the hot liquid all over me. The sound of people talking pulled my gaze back to the television, where Bella was trying to ignore the press and continued walking.

They were getting too close to her, and I didn't like it. She was being hounded and she only had one security person with her. I was about to ask Emmett to explain that to me when a slight commotion caught my attention. Bella had stopped walking and had her face turned toward the press … the paparazzi, and this got them excited.

"What … why'd she stop?" I asked, directing my question to no one in particular.

"Someone asked her about the Christmas ball," Emmett answered. "You better see what she has to say, Edward."

"And you have to listen carefully, man," Jake added. I could hear the smile in his voice.

My head was pounding. My chest was so tight I could hardly breathe, but I wouldn't miss this for the world. It was clear from the expression of everyone in the room that Bella said something important.

"-every intention to go to the ball. I was invited, so it would be a shame not to attend."

"The Prince will be your date?" one of the men asked.

"What do you think?"

A camera zoomed in on her face. It was at that exact same time she turned to stare directly at the lens, making it look like she was staring back at the audience … at me. I felt the air whoosh out of me, and I gasped.

The smile she gave the paparazzi before she turned away and entered the building nearby was unsure, and that worried me more. The television suddenly was turned off, and we were bathed in silence.

What just happened was enormous … at least to me. I closed my eyes, wanting a little reprieve from the chaos in my head, but earning the opposite. I sighed.

Did she just say what I thought she did? I shook my head, trying to clear it, but wished I hadn't. My head was throbbing and I was on the verge of puking my guts out.

"Edward, are you okay?"

"No," I answered. "Someone give some aspirin."

After I had taken the pills, I slumped back on the couch and just closed my eyes, hoping my head would stop spinning and my heart would stop racing. I needed to calm down.

I felt a hand on my shoulder and I opened my eyes to see Emmett. "Prince Edward, do you need for me to call a doctor?"

I must have looked like hell for him to worry like this. I sure felt like hell.

"What just happened?" I croaked, my voice uncertain. "Did she just-"

"Yes she did, Edward," Jake answered, a smile on his face. "She's going to the ball with you."

"She didn't say she's going with me, did she now?" I argued, afraid to hope.

"No, but she certainly implied it." Emmett looked so sure, and I wanted desperately to believe him.

"Are you sure, Em?"

"That's what she said in the interview."

"What if that's not what she meant?"

"Everyone knows nobody is allowed in the ball except a member of the royal family, Edward. That only means she's expecting you to invite her."

"What if-"

"Oh, hell no. You're not doing this."

"Doing what?"

"Questioning what was clearly an answer from Bella."

"An answer? I didn't even ask her to the ball! How could there be an answer when there was no question?" I was panicking, there was no doubt about it. I wanted so bad to believe what she did was a positive response to everything I showed her … told her, but it would be too much for me to take if she wasn't. I couldn't deal with it.

The Christmas Ball was an important family event amongst the royal family and no one else. It was a sort of family gathering for all Cullens and their relatives every Christmas, so any non-member in attendance would either be a fiancé of a royal or soon to be one. It was one of those gatherings where the press would get confirmation of a certain relationship of those royals who weren't married yet. It was taboo to bring someone who wouldn't become family.

"You need to calm down, Edward," Rosalie whispered, and patted my back. She handed me a glass of water and I smiled in thanks before I gulped it all down. I placed the glass on the table beside the couch, aware of the silence around me. They were waiting for me to do something.

"This shit is making my head ache more." I covered my eyes with the palm of my hands

"You know what I think?" I heard Emmett say. He didn't wait for anyone to answer him.

"I think Bella just gave you what you wanted. She knows you want her back, and maybe she garnered enough courage to do this." He sat down beside me and I raised my head to meet his eyes. "Because Edward, that's an answer. The answer you've been waiting for."

"Do you really think that?" My voice was hopeful, and my eyes held his … pleading.

He nodded, and I sighed. I was relieved to know he had too much faith in her and me, but that relief was soon replaced by the fear that slowly grew inside me. I was scared.

How would I approach this?

"Don't freak out now. You're almost there. I promised you you'd get her back, and I won't let you chicken out. You almost got her, do you hear me?"

I couldn't sit down anymore. Even the throbbing in my head wasn't a match to the hammering across my chest. I started pacing, boring a hole on the floor, huffing and taking deep breaths with every step.

"He's right, Edward. It's so obvious she was telling you something," Rosalie said. "And that something is fucking beautiful. You have to trust this."

I turned to see her pointing to her chest.

"I know. Just give me a few minutes to digest all of it, Rose."

"Isn't this what you wanted?" Jake asked, sounding annoyed.

"Yes, I want this." I wanted Bella, but everything seemed so unreal. I couldn't get my head around it. I needed time to think.

"Then what the hell are you waiting for? Go get your girl." He had his arms crossed against his chest, looking impatiently at me. "Now."

He was challenging me, and he knew I didn't back down on a challenge. Although at this very instance, I was so tempted to just give in. He was pushing me even though he could see I wasn't ready. I didn't want to screw this up, but at the same time my urge to just get this over and done with was weighing in quick. The agony of not knowing was more than I could bear.

"If I fuck this up, I'm going to kill you!"

He laughed, and I snorted.

"No, you won't." His confidence in me was unbelievable, and somehow I was truly blessed to have him as a friend. "But if you don't go now, you'll over analyze this … and we never know, she might change her mind."

He shrugged nonchalantly, like it was a big possibility – Bella changing her mind. That thought alone made me want to run and get to Bella as soon as possible.

I turned to him and saw his expression. The smug look on his face told me he was just goading me so I would stop fretting and move my ass to get my girl.

Yeah, that's what I'm going to do.

Jake was right. I still wanted to punch the cocky smirk off of his face though.

"I think I need to go."

"Yes, you should."

I was near my bedroom, contemplating on what I would say to Bella, when I heard Jake shout, "Good luck, man."

I turned to thank him, but that teasing look on his face changed my mind. Instead I gave him the finger. That earned me a grin.

OOOOOOOOOOO

"She won't like this, you know," Jessica said as she led me towards the room.

"Don't worry, I won't tell her you helped me."

She snorted before she turned to face me. "She'd know. I'm the only who knows where she'll be tonight so it'll be impossible to convince her I didn't have anything to do with you being here."

"Will you be in trouble with her?"

"She'll get over it. And besides, she can't stand being angry with me for long. " She gave me a smile, and I took it as a sign of some kind of peace offering. Jessica had helped me enough with Bella, and I couldn't be more grateful.

"Thank you."

"Yeah, yeah." She waved it off like it was nothing important. "Just don't screw this up, Edward."

"I'll try."

"Because if you do, I'm going to hunt you down." She gave me this crazy look, and I nodded.

She smiled before she fist bumped my shoulder as she stepped to pass me.

"Go get her." She winked and left me alone outside the door.

It was now or never.

I contemplated on knocking, but decided against it. Instead I pushed the door open, hoping Bella was really here and Jessica wasn't just playing with me.

The room was silent and dark except for the small light that came from the left corner. There were rows and rows of bookshelves that lined the right side, and as I approached the light, I could see the small table and chairs in the middle of the room. There was also a big couch, but my attention suddenly focused on the only person inside the room, who was now staring at me.

"Edward, what are you doing here?"

I smiled at her, but chose to ignore her question. "This place is nice." Yes, I was procrastinating. Sue me.

"I know, right?" She gave me a small smile and turned her face back to the glass window. The night view of the city was spectacular. I stood beside her, hoping she wouldn't freak out.

"Jessica brought me here."

"I'm not surprised," she answered, tentative. "She's the only one who knows I'm here tonight."

"Yes, she told me."

"This is her place."

"She didn't give me that bit of information."

"She bought this apartment about three years ago and literally turned it into a library for me. She hates the library."

"I remember." Now I understood the reason behind all the bookshelves and the books inside this room. I made a resolve then and there to make it up to Jessica for taking care of Bella.

"She wanted for me to have my own library so she wouldn't have to look for me in one of those dreadful places as she calls them, so she convinced Cecilia she would participate in this one particular modeling workshop if she helped her turn this into a library."

"I'm shocked to know Cecilia acquiesced to her plan."

"She did, actually. Cecilia wants Jessica to become some kind of a walking Barbie doll, and Jess actually made her mother believe she wanted that, too. Well, only for that short period of time."

"Jessica's a good friend."

"She is."

"So did she succeed?"

"Huh?"

"Did she succeed in making you not visit the library?"

She turned to me with an incredulous look on her face.

"Of course not!" She had a smile on her face and my heart lightened. "I just lessened my time there just so she wouldn't bitch at me."

"I knew you wouldn't."

She loved the library. It was her passion. Everyone who loved her knew that about her, including me.

She turned to me, but looked away quickly. The air was suddenly filled with tension and I knew my time was up. I took a deep breath, bracing myself for the explanation she needed.

"Bella."

"I need to know why you're here, Edward." She was on the edge, I could tell.

"I saw you on TV. And …" I ran my hand through my hair nervously "… and I want to know if it's true."

She tensed up when I mentioned her television appearance, and although I didn't want to pre-empt anything, there was definitely something here. Something good.

My eyes never left her, hoping to read the signs – good or bad – that would give me an indication of what she wanted. She turned to face me, and just as quickly, dropped her gaze down like she was afraid.

"Bella," I whispered, and took her chin in between my thumb and forefinger so I could see her eyes. I needed to see her eyes when I asked her. "Are you going to the ball?"

She licked her lips and I couldn't help but look at them when she did.

"With me?"

"I know it was stupid. Now, it's all over the news."

"It's alright."

My reassurance fell on deaf ears, because she continued to fret about what she did. In honesty, I really didn't care about the press and anyone else right now except her.

"I wanted to call you, but I was working up the courage for days. And then the paps happened. Edward, I never intended to blurt that out, and I-I'm so-"

I pressed one finger on her lips to stop her. My eyes were pleading for her to answer me, and when she nodded, all I could was stare at her in amazement. I wanted to kiss her, but I needed a clear answer first.

"Are you giving me another chance?"

"Yes, I think I am."

I caught her lips in mine and kissed her, pouring all my emotions into her. Lips and tongues battled with each other as we continued to relish in this moment. There was no hesitation on her part. I was hungry for her. My hands on her tightened as I claimed her mouth again and again. The kiss was becoming heated, but I was too lost in her taste, I didn't care whether I was being rough. She didn't seem to mind because she was giving as good as she got. When I started rubbing myself on her and my hands were inches from her breasts, her kiss started to falter. I was too consumed by her I didn't notice until she had literally pushed me away.

"Bella, did I hurt you?"

Her lips were bruised, and she was panting as she stared at me with wide eyes. I wanted to claim her mouth again, to go back to kissing, but the look of panic in her eyes doused out my raging lust. Shit!

"I-I need this …" she waved between us "… to be slow."

I felt relieved that was all she needed. Her proximity alone made it hard for me not to touch her … to kiss her, but she had agreed to give me a chance so that was all that mattered. If she wanted slow, I would give her slow. I would be a damn snail if she wanted me to be.

"Slow is … good." I pulled her close to me, and she rested her head on my chest. Her arms felt so good around me. "I can go with that."

"You don't mind?"

She raised her head to look at me.

"Slow is what you want, so that is what you'll get," I whispered. "I'll do whatever you want, so don't worry, little bird. " The former term of endearment I had for her made her smile, and in turn made me grin. "You like that, don't you?"

She nodded and I couldn't help but capture her lips once again for another round of kissing. It was not for another minute or so until I reluctantly pulled myself away from her. If we continued this, I might not be able to stop and that would be very bad.

"Does this mean I can officially introduce you as my girl now?"

"If that's what you want." The uncertainty in her voice was so heavy, but she gave me a small, tentative smile. "I'm just happy you're here with me now."

I caressed her cheek with my finger. "You know I want everyone to know you're mine, Bella. Desperately."

Her silence was a kind of agreement of my declaration. We gazed at each other, just loving the easiness between us. I rested my forehead against hers. It was the closest I could get without kissing her.

"I'm so fucking in love with you," I whispered.

Her next words made my heart swell with joy … with pride.

"My prince."

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