Chapter 26
Disclaimer: We still own nothing except Bella's looming financial dilemma.

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Songs:
"It's My Life" Bon Jovi
"Miss Independent" Kelly Clarkson
"Stronger" Britney Spears

BPOV

"You're moving back here, for good?" I asked him as I felt tears welling up in my eyes. He nodded his head, grabbed my hands in his and looked me straight in the eye. I could see his internal struggle in his deep brown eyes.

"Everywhere I look around there will be nothing but memories of Emily, Bells. It was literally torture for me to stay in our house knowing that she was never going to walk through the door again. I'm in enough pain trying to find a way to cope and I just can't see me making it if I am in Norman."

"I understand," I told him through my tears. "I just can't imagine being in Norman without both of you."

"I hate leaving you, Bella. I will miss you so much, but this is something that I have to do. I have no choice. You won't be alone. I've watched how Edward has taken care of you throughout all of this. He's a great guy. He loves you so much. You will never be alone as long as he is in your life. Edward would do anything and everything that you need to make you happy." Jake smiled slightly as he reached over to wipe a tear from my cheek.

"Edward is incredible. I am so glad that he came into my life again." That was an understatement. There were different forks in life that guided you in your future. I was destined to meet this Edward. I was destined to feel something so powerful for him that it was truly something I'd never felt before. "So, what are you going to do now that you will be in Washington again?"

"I've contacted the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Washington. They will give me credit for the parts of the classes I've already completed this semester and allow me to finish the semester at UW," Jake told me.

"That's great, Jake. I'm glad they were able to work with you."

"Me too. The dean was really supportive and helpful. I think I can make a go of it here, Bella."

"I know you can. You are so smart. You can make it anywhere, Jake."

"Thanks, Bells. Your support really means a lot to me. I'm so sorry to bail on you now that your mother-induced money issues have begun. I'm sure I can help you out for a few months if you really need it."

"Jake, I will tell you what I told Edward. As much as I appreciate the offer, I am not going to take money from you. It would be different if you were actually living there and helping, but you are going to be half a country away from me."

"I'm really sorry to add to your problems," Jake said.

"Jake, you know me. It won't be a problem for long. I will figure everything out. I know that I can do this."

"I know you can, Bells. You are so much stronger than your parents give you credit for," Jake reassured me.

"I just wish they would realize that. I am truly capable of taking care of myself. I'm not their little girl anymore. I'm grown-up now."

"That you are. Where's your man at this morning?"

"He went to have breakfast with his mom and sister at their house."

"Wow, Edward is going to be having an interesting morning, huh?"

"Only time will tell, Jake." He stood up and then he pulled me out of the chair.

"Since it's just you and me, let me take you out to breakfast," he said. "I'm in the mood for some blueberry pancakes." He knew my weakness for any type of flavored pancake. "The diner down the street has all you can eat pancakes this morning," Jake told me as I almost felt the drool begin to fall down my chin.

"You had me at blueberry, Jake." I smiled as we left the hotel. I was going to enjoy every minute with Jake before he was half a country away from me permanently.

EPOV

The drive to my family home was fairly quiet. Mom didn't have a whole lot to say and I figured it was because it was going to be said in front of Alice anyway, so why talk it to death now. As we pulled into the drive my mom looked over at me.

"Edward," Mom said.

"Yes, Mom."

"I just want you to know that I am not mad with you or Bella about any of this, okay. If you're happy, I'm happy. I am just mad at all the assholes who can't see past their own personal agendas."

"Mom, language," I said to her jokingly to try to lighten her mood.

"Well, really Edward, I can't think of a word that is a more apt description than assholes for Charlie, Renée and your own father's behavior."

As we got out of the car, I saw a blur of motion then had my beloved little pixie's hands wrapped around my neck tightly.

"Edward," Alice almost screamed in my ear. "I'm so glad you're home even though it is under these sad circumstances. How are you doing? How's Bella? Where is Bella? I thought she was coming too."

I tucked my finger under her chin and gave her a big sloppy kiss on the forehead.

"Pixie, slow down and actually take a breath, okay. I think that your face was almost as purple as an eggplant due to the lack of oxygen."

Before I knew it, she flicked me in the ear and looked up at me with serious eyes.

"You know that I hate to be called 'Pixie.'"

"I know that, Alice, but it gets such a rise out of you that I can't resist it."

"I know, Edward. I love you too," Alice said as we all walked into the house. The smell of bacon, eggs, sausage and waffles filled the air.

"Mom, you made all of my favorites!" I picked her up and spun her around when I saw the buffet laying on the counter.

"I wanted to make something substantial since you've probably been eating at that dive of diner next to the hotel due to your lack of transportation since you've been here," Mom told me as Alice and I sat at the kitchen island and Mom fixed our plates.

As soon as I took the first bite of the buttery waffle covered with my mom's secret maple syrup I moaned. "Oh, Mom, this is absolutely incredible. I have really missed your cooking. It's a shame that Bella couldn't come. Do you think we can fix up a plate for me to take back to her when we are finished?"

"Of course, Edward," Mom said.

"Where is Bella, Edward?" Alice asked for the second time. I didn't want to make her sad but I after everything I have been through, the truth was the only option even though I knew she wasn't going to be happy about it.

"Alice, Bella has been through a lot the last few days. Her very good friend died from a drunk driving accident. She had to cope with her other dear friend dealing with the loss of the love of his life. Yesterday while they were trying to say goodbye to her friend, she was accosted by her parents and our father at the funeral because she and I are dating again and they aren't happy about it. Then last night, her mom comes by and cuts her off financially since she won't stop seeing me. She's not saying never, Alice, just not right now." Disappointment colored her features.

"I messed up so badly with her, Edward. I need a chance to make things right again. I have to," Alice almost begged me.

"Sis, you will get the opportunity. I promise you. Just give her some time, okay?"

"Oh, okay. If I have to wait, I will wait," Alice told me.

"I didn't have a chance to ask, but how did you and Bella end up together again, Son?" Mom asked me.

"It definitely hasn't been an easy road to get us where we are now, but it all started one day after class when I entered the student union and came face to face with those chocolate eyes that had haunted me for months." I continued to tell the story about how we ran into each other and how we literally had taken it a step at a time getting to know each other again.

"Wow, Edward. That's the kind of stuff that a great romance novel is made of," Alice said dreamily.

"I wouldn't know, Alice, but if you say so," I said as I tenderly hit her arm. I looked over at my mom and her eyes were misting up.

"Are you okay, Mom?" I asked.

"I'm great, truly." She said sniffling.

"If you're so great, why are you crying?" Alice asked.

"Look at him. Really look at him," Mom told her. Alice looked at me.

"I don't see anything out of the ordinary. He just looks like Edward to me," Alice said.

"It's in his eyes and his face when he talks about her. Edward, I have never seen you like this before. You are happier than I have ever seen you. I am seeing something that I wasn't sure I would ever get the opportunity to see. You have matured and you know what real love means. You have had to earn that right this time and I can tell you will never take a moment with Bella for granted. She is everything to you, as she should be, because you love her with everything you are. I am just so happy for you," Mom said as she threw her arms around me and held on like she was trying to find her lifeline.

I hugged her back just as tightly and kissed the top of her head. "I do love her, Mom. She's just such an incredible woman and I can't believe that she picked me." Mom let go and looked at me.

"Why wouldn't she pick you, Edward? You are a great catch." We all giggled and sat down to finish our meal.

After I was more stuffed than an Thanksgiving turkey, Mom sat me down and told me what she had heard Dad trying to do. I wasn't surprised at all by his attempted meddling in my life. I was really proud of how my mom actually stood up to him. It did hurt me that she was hurting but until my dad realized that what he was doing was wrong, Mom said that he had no place under her roof.

The talk with Mom lasted longer than I thought it would and we reheated some of the breakfast so I could take Bella some of Mom's home-cooking. Bella, an avid cook herself, always loved to try Mom's culinary delights in the past so I knew that she would definitely enjoy some real food instead of the food from the diner.

When I entered the hotel room, I was surprised to find the lights off and Bella asleep and covered snugly in the bed. She was so beautiful and peaceful that she actually took my breath away. I moved over to the bed and stroked a lock of her hair that had fallen near her mouth. Unconsciously, she moved into my touch and sighed my name.

I could stay and watch her sleep for hours not just for her peaceful serenity that exuded from her during her sleeping hours, but also for the words that I would hear her speak while she dreamed. If her words were any indication, she dreamed of me as often as I dreamed of her.

After admiring the love of my life for a few minutes, I decided I had better hit the shower before she woke up since I hadn't had time to take one before Mom arrived to pick me up.

As I entered the bathroom, I heard Bella fucking moan in her sleep. "Edward, I want you now," she said. I turned to make sure she was actually still asleep and her eyes were firmly shut. I watched as her hand moved from under her pillow below her waist and I hardened instantly as I saw her hand began moving against her core. Her moan that soon followed her movements had me biting my tongue to hold my own moan in. It looked like this might be a cold shower for me instead of the extra hot one that my muscles were screaming for.

I wanted Bella so badly, but I didn't want our relationship to be as dependent on sex as it was the last time we were together. We used sex as a coping device and that wasn't what I wanted from her now. I wanted to make love with her. Knowing my girl the way I did, I knew that I was going to be fighting against Bella every step of the way. I had seen the way she was looking at me the past few days since our intimacy was interrupted by the earthquake. Bella moaned my name again and I heard her hand moving faster under the blankets. It was time for me to take care of some personal business.

BPOV

I woke up from my nap and could hear the shower running in the bathroom. I couldn't believe I had been so out of it that I didn't even hear Edward when he got back. My dream, how I wished it hadn't been a dream, but real. Edward and I on a deserted beach playing chess together. The sound of the waves crashing against the shore. The sound of the birds chirping nearby. The sun beating down on our swimsuit clad bodies. We were in the perfect paradise and we were alone. He was so fucking beautiful smiling that brilliant smile of his. As I called checkmate, I threw the chess pieces and the board aside and attacked Edward's mouth with mine, tackling him to the blanket that protected us from the coarse sand. Edward's hands had just begun to make my day as my eyes opened.

I got up from the bed and tiptoed to the bathroom door. It wasn't shut all the way, so I opened it and walked in. I slipped off my clothes and folded them neatly on the counter as I opened the shower curtain climbed in behind Edward's naked glory.

He hadn't heard me yet so I took a moment to take in his incredible body. As he washed his hair, the muscles flexed in his back and the water dripped down to his fine ass then to his toned thighs. I thought that I might even be dripping now just from the site in front of me. He couldn't be real. He was more angel than man.

I reached out my hand to grope Edward's absurdly beautiful ass. He jumped and shouted, "What the fuck!" As I giggled and he turned around and his expression went from fear, to shock, to hunger. Oh, every cell in my body knew exactly what he was craving. It was ironic that I would want our first time together again to be in the shower when that was where we had sex for the last time before we were broken up or whatever you call it when your parents take the love of your life away.

"What are you doing in here, Love?" He asked as I walked close to him and put my arms around his neck and my fingers began to caress the hair at the nape of his neck.

"I would think that would be obvious, Edward." I stood up on my toes and pressed my lips to his and Edward and I groaned in excitement. As our lips melded together I felt his erection throbbing against my stomach and I moaned. I moved one of my hands from around his neck and gripped Edward's cock in my palm.

He tore his mouth from mine and threw his head back. "Jesus fucking Christ, Bella. Your hand feels so good." I gripped him firmly and rubbed my finger across the top. Looked like someone was just as excited for this as I was since his pre-cum was now covering my hand. I brought my other hand down and gently massaged his balls as my other hand encircled his penis and I twisted my hand firmly up and down that magnificent cock. As my hands worked their magic, I leaned into his chest and first gently licked both of his nipples then I bit down on them causing him to grow even harder and his breathing quickened as his orgasm came nearer. He grabbed my head and attacked my mouth as my hands continued in a slow, steady and firm motion. He shouted, "Bella," then he exploded with his cum shooting out in five long bursts.

"Holy fuck, that was incredible, Love." He told me as he kissed my forehead and my hands continued to massage his penis that still hadn't lost much of its hardness yet. He and I had both had too long a dry spell for without and as his cock became even harder than earlier, I began to move it to my center. Just as the head entered my opening it was quickly gone.

"I don't have a condom, Bella."

"That's fine, Edward. I've been on the pill forever. You know that." I kissed his neck and he shook his head. I could see the wheels churning behind those eyes and I knew I wasn't going to be happy about what he said next.

"Bella, we haven't been together again that long yet. I want to court you to really prove to you that you are every woman in the world to me. You are all that I need."

"Edward, I need you now. I am so turned on right this second I think that I might explode. I will concede that maybe it isn't the right time for us to have full out sex but I am so turned on right now that just thinking about you cumming on me a few minutes ago has me on the cusp of my own orgasm. Please," I reach up and kissed him gently and my hands massaged his ass and his erection continued to bob in front of me. In the past I had been able to cum before just from watching his reaction to a blow job. My hand reached for him again and I began to lower myself to my knees and Edward scooped me up causing me to squeal.

My sounds were quieted immediately with his insatiable lips as he picked me up and we moved against the back wall of the shower. His hands began to rub my breasts and his fingers fondled my nipples as I felt myself getting more wet for him.

Edward kissed my nose, cheeks and chin before his lips wondered down the side of my neck and he gently bit down on my shoulder causing me to clinch my thighs together. His lips made their way to my breast as his hand began to move from my waist to my hip. Finally, his hand moved to my core. His thumb began to rub firm circles on my clit as his tongue laved my nipple. Suddenly he bit down on my nipple and my pleasure was multiplied as he thrust two fingers into me at the same time. He moved to the other nipple licking and biting as his fingers moved rhythmically in and out of me.

"Edward, more, harder." He inserted a third finger into me as he bit hard on my nipple and used his thumbnail to scrape across my clit. In and out his fingers worked me into a frenzy. His fingers got faster and faster. It was all too much when those fingers curved up and reached my g-spot as he bit down on my nipple using his teeth to twist my nipple slightly. Then I was in absolute ecstasy. I screamed out my desire as my orgasm pulsated through my body, ending with my pussy clenching his fingers so that they stayed on that spot. He pulled them out slightly, moved to the other nipple and bit with a twist again as his fingers hit my g-spot again and I would have collapsed onto the floor as the wave of the second orgasm hit had Edward not wrapped his arms around me and pulled me against him with a fierce kiss. I felt Edward's own orgasm as his semen hit my stomach. "Dear God, Bella. Your body drives me wild."

He grabbed the body wash and cleaned us both off quickly. My body was humming with excitement from its release. I have never had an orgasm like that. I had heard that you could cum that fast and that hard, but it was something that I had never thought I would experience.

"Holy shit, Edward. That was fantastic." I held on to him tightly as he pulled us from the shower and wrapped a towel around me. I could barely stand because my knees had turned to jelly.

"You were so fucking hot. I'm sorry if I got too carried away," he told me as Edward wrapped a towel around his waist. He grabbed a third towel and began to dry my hair. He put the lid down on the toilet and sat down on it bringing me on his lap. He reached for my brush and began to brush out my hair. I almost purred in contentment from this sweet, simple act.

"Edward, there is absolutely nothing to be sorry for. That was fan-fucking-tastic. I wouldn't mind a little more of it," I told him as I swiveled my hips against his. I could feel him beginning to stir already. It looked like Edward's body had missed mine as much as I missed him.

He stopped brushing my hair to stop my hips from moving.

"Baby, stop, please."

"Edward, I always want you. I know you say you want to wait, but it's not like it is something we haven't done before. Our bodies are calling to each other constantly. The craving inside of me just won't go away," I said.

"Bella, like I told you before. I want us to take our time. I don't want to risk anything ruining what we are building right now. I want to go for long walks with you while holding your hand and sharing stories about our day. I want to sit with you out on my deck drinking iced tea and saying nothing, just being."

I turned myself around so I was facing him. When I tried to straddle my legs around him, Edward placed my legs so they were both draped over the side of his. I gave him my best pout but it didn't work. He put the brush on the counter and stroked my face.

"I'm just going to say this outright, Baby. I love you. I have always loved you and I always will. You are the most precious thing in the world to me. I want to cherish and protect you for the rest of our days. I want you to feel that love and devotion without sex, because for me it wouldn't just be sex. I would be mating my body and soul with yours forever in a bond that would never be severed or broken. I want us both to be absolutely sure because it will be our last first time ever again."

"I love you too, Edward, so much." We leaned into each other and my heart skipped a beat as our mouths barely touched but I could feel the powerful bond between us charging throughout my body from that slight touch of our lips. I sighed and leaned my head against his. "So no sex for now?" I asked him.

"Nope," he said as he grinned almost timidly at me.

"Well, I would like to negotiate a compromise," I told Edward as I smiled back at him.

"And what compromise would that be, Love?" Edward questioned as he raised his eyebrows at me.

"One of our past presidents, William Jefferson Clinton, was very specific in his definition of sex. For him sex meant full intercourse. I think that there isn't a thing wrong in sharing his philosophy on sex and us still having some fun even if we don't go all the way." I stroked my fingers down his chest and headed to the knot of his towel.

"Bella, you will be the death of me. I swear it." I leaned down and began kissing his chest as I moved around and my legs straddled him with my towel moving up so high it revealed myself to him. I was already wet for him again and I took his hand and moved it to where I wanted it most. I moved up and kissed each side of his lips before slowly slipping my tongue in his mouth and his fingers began to move inside me again. "Fuck it, compromise works for me," Edward moaned into my mouth.

I came not too much later from the rapture of our shared desires. "I fucking love the way Bill Clinton defines sex," I told Edward. He laughed at me and I helped take care of him one more time before we took a much needed nap.

That evening I told Edward about Jake coming back to live in Washington permanently. He said that his mom offered to help me out too if I needed it, but I was determined to do this on my own. I hadn't figured out what to do about the house yet, but I was guessing that I was going to have to have a conversation with my alleged parent about it soon.

When we flew back to Oklahoma the next afternoon, we stopped by the house so I could pick up some clothes. Edward said that I was welcome to stay with him as long as I needed to. In the back of my mind, I wanted to stay with him forever. I just wasn't sure if he was ready for that or not. If I did stay with him, I didn't want to rely on him for everything. I wanted to contribute financially to the household too.

We had made plans for Edward to come to the house and pick me up after his classes were over since his day was much longer than mine. After my classes finished, I walked back to the house since I hadn't been there in a few days. It had been such a stressful day with the looks from all of my classmates who had been told what happened. I walked into the newspaper and yearbook offices and went to Emily's desk. I grabbed the picture she had on her desk of Jake, Emily and I and put it in my bag. I told our adviser that I would be back to work the next week. She was very understanding and told me to take as much time as I needed. I was going to keep the picture with me while I was with Edward's so I wouldn't totally be without them.

The mailbox was overflowing, when I finally remembered that I probably should check and see what bills that I was going to have to pay. I was glad that I was able to get Renée's name off of the checking account before she thought about trying to get what money was left in there. As I walked into the door, the silence was deafening. I couldn't stand being in a house that once was so filled with happiness and friends and was now desolate.

I sat down on the couch and began sorting the mail into three piles, Jake's, Emily's and mine. Once that was done, I started opening the bills. Shit. A $400 electric bill, how in the hell did that happen. I was going to have to find somewhere else to stay permanently. I would not be able to afford this on my own and I definitely didn't want to be looking for new roommates. No one could ever replace Em and Jake.

I noticed an official looking envelope from my car insurance company and opened it.

Dear Isabella Swan-

Your car, a 2011 Aston Martin DBS Volante Convertible, has been deemed as totaled due to the extent of the damage sustained in the accident.

Since you had full coverage on your vehicle, please find enclosed a check for the value of the Aston Martin at the time of its loss.

If you have any questions or concerns about this claim, please contact us at the number below.

We are sorry about the loss of the vehicle. Please contact us once you purchase your new vehicle so it may be added to your policy.

Thank you for you for being a loyal customer.

Who cared about the loss of the vehicle, I told myself as I finished the letter. I had lost Emily who was a hell of a lot more important than my car was. I shook my head. Typical insurance companies only cared about the money not the people involved. I shook my head and pulled the check out of the envelop.

My eyes popped out of my head when I saw the all of the new numbers on the check. I took back every bad thing I just said about the insurance company in my mind as I rubbed my fingers over the amount. $284,479.52.

A/N: Looks like Bella won't be having any financial worries after all. Renée is so flighty she didn't even remember that the car was in Bella's name. Looks like there is a little snag in your plan flighty mama! Hello BIG check! (I would like you to come and visit me too BIG check!) What is Bella going to do now that she has all of that wonderful money.

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We have a new story, New York Minute. As teenagers Bella and her best friend dream of meeting their celebrity crushes. When they find themselves living in New York after college, they find out dreams can come true in a New York minute.

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