A/N: A long chapter ahead, people. So you better fasten your seatbelts. Enjoy!

Chapter-5: Through The Looking Glass

Mid-summer Chicago, Seven years ago

She ran her fingers through my unruly hair, no doubt loving the feeling of it in all its chaotic glory as she always had.

Closing my eyes, I let out a sigh of contentment. This is life, I think.

"Edward?" she asked in that sweet voice of hers.

Without opening my eyes, I answered, "Yes, baby?"

"What are your plans for the future?"

I felt his eyebrows pull together at the unexpectedness of her question. "What do you mean?" I asked, opening an eye, still relishing the feeling of lying on the soft freshly mown grass of my parents' backyard with my head on her lap.

"I mean," she clarified. "What are your plans for your future? For our future?"

For a moment, I wondered what was making her ask these questions and then shrugged before answering to her. "My future is with you," I said simply, loving the way the corners of her lips turned upward at that.

"And what do you see in our future?" she persisted after a second.

"What's there to see?" I asked, starting to get irritated by her repeated questioning now. All I had wanted to do that afternoon was enjoy some quiet time with my girl, but it looked like she had some other plans. "I'll join Dad's business after graduation next month and then we'll get married," I said.

"And what about my career?" she asked. "And yours? Don't you want to be someone other than Carlisle Cullen's son?"

That got my attention. Sitting up straight, I frowned at her. "Bella, what's up with you today? Why are you asking these questions all of a sudden?"

The apples of her cheeks reddened. "I've been offered a job as a photojournalist," she admitted at last.

Instantly, I felt my heart expand with pride for my girl. Pulling her into my arms, I kissed the top of her head. "That's amazing, baby. I'm so proud of you."

Bella squirmed out of my embrace, her eyes downcast.

"Baby, what is it?" I asked.

"The job ..." She stopped to take a deep breath before continuing. "It's not here in Chicago, Edward. It's in Seattle."

The ridiculousness of the situation made me snort. "That's crazy!" I said, words leaving my mouth without any forethought. "You can't take it. All my dad's business is here. So we'll have to stay here."

Something in her eyes flashed at that. "What do you mean I can't take it?" she asked sharply. "It's my life. I get to choose what I want to do with it."

"Bella," I said softly as if attempting to reason with a wounded beast. "With my dad's money all being mine, you won't have to work at all."

She gasped. "You can't possibly expect me to be a trophy wife!" she exclaimed. "You know how much hard honest work means to my family, Edward; and you know how much this job means to me. I've worked my ass off to be class valedictorian so that I can get the best of opportunities. Now that I have, you want me to just drop it all?"

I felt the anger I had tried to push away rising again. "Why do you always have to be the one to have it all?" I spat out. "Is it because of your dad's death? Is this stemming from some kind of daddy issues?"

Before I could continue putting my foot in my mouth, she stood up, her hands balled up into tight fists and tears of anger running down her rosy cheeks. "You think I have daddy issues?" she snapped back at me. "Who's the one who hates his dad for never being there for him and yet loves to spend all his father's money? You know what? You're a fucking hypocrite, Edward Cullen. And if you were strong like you pretend to be, you'd do something to prove yourself, not hide under daddy's safety net to provide for you like a weakling!" With these words, she turned around and stomped away from me.

"Damn it, Bella!" I swore and stood up to follow her, but when she held out a hand to stop me, I complied and watched her walk away from me … from the dream of a life we had both dreamed of together.

Tikrit, Iraq, Present Day

The sound of a soft knock brought me out of my riverie. "Edward?" The sound of her voice calling my name made me remember a time when she used to say my name over and over as I drove into her soft body, making her mine. "May I come in?"

"Yes," my reply was curt; my voice coming out a little strained because of the sudden tightening of my fatigue pants.

The tent flap lifted, revealing a jeans and T-shit wearing Isabella Swan. She smiled that little self-conscious smile I had known by heart once and stepped in. She walked up to me, making me step back until my back was pressed against the writing desk in the tent.

"Hi."

"Hey."

She tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear and said, "I wanted to say that I'm sorry."

"What for?"

"For us starting off on the wrong foot yesterday. Seth is a sweet boy, but we're just friends ..."

I lifted a hand to stop her in mid-sentence, deciding that nonchalance was the better than jealousy based on years old love. "Look Bella, it's been what? Seven years since we were anything? So don't worry about it. You're perfectly free to screw whoever you want."

Her eyes narrowed into slits at my words. For a moment, it looked like she might march out of the tent or sucker punch me, but of course she surprised me like she always had, and instead of running away, she stepped closer, getting into me face. "Screw you, Edward Cullen!" she said in a slow and deliberate voice. "You were an asshole seven years ago and you still are one. And I fucking hate you."

As she turned around to leave, something snapped in me. Unlike the last time, I wasn't letting her get away from me. So grabbing her wrist, I tugged hard, making her fall right into my arms.

Taking her chin in my hand, I whispered, "Prove it," and then, I pressed my lips to hers.

A/N: Does that answer some questions? We still have some way to go. So hang in there, people.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this fic. So leave a review, maybe?

Thank you for reading.

Shae, I hope you're enjoying this, babes.

Stay safe.

Ann