CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

I felt the warmth resonate off his body as my head rested upon his chest. An arm comes up and pulls me closer and for the first time, I know I found what I've been looking for. My eyes blink open and a small gasp leaves me as it all becomes so clear. I feel the sheets on my naked body and I venture a look up onto his face.

His tousled copper hair lays every which way and his mouth open just a smidge as he sleeps softly. My head starts to pound and I'm not sure if it's from last night's Halloween fun or the fact that my head has finally made sense for the first time. My stomach starts to turn and I nestle back down in the sheets wanting to hold down last night's dinner and marvel for a moment on what has been right in front of me this whole time, because suddenly it all makes sense. My feelings for the first time make complete sense.

It was perfect. It was all perfect until Edward woke up.

I could feel my illness occupying my nasal passage after I had spent my time warring myself out with crying over a stupid board game.

"You sleep like a vampire."

I opened my eyes up and am slowly assaulted by the later day's sunlight. My nose completely stuffed and my whole body feeling like one big train wreck.

"What?" I managed looking up at his hardened face.

"You…have your arms crossed over your chest. You look like Dracula or something." He replied.

"What are you doing here? I thought you were content on letting me be a cat…woman or something."

"I was…completely irrational. I shouldn't have lost my temper." He looks upset but for once his anger doesn't look directed at me.

"I seem to have that effect on you. Are you always such a hot head or is it just for me?" I asked.

"I wish I could say that it was just you but…unfortunately that would be a lie. I have been told that I can be…passionate to the point of recklessness."

"Well, I guess I don't help you any. I am…crass and may have a problem controlling my temper at times too."

"I brought you a peace offering." He handed me a tall cup of something before sitting down on the edge of the coffee table, "Its tea…it's known for its healing properties. The sooner you get better the sooner I won't feel guilty of starting fights with you. I shouldn't be fighting with you especially when you're sick. I can tell you're worse now and that's my fault."

"No, it's my fault. I shouldn't have forced you into playing a game you didn't want to play."

Edward turned around and looked down at the table where the mess of the Life game laid upon it. His eye caught my plastic blue Mercedes and he picked it up.

"You…got married?"

"I…just wanted to see what my car would look like…it was stupid." I sighed trying to get up from the couch. I set my tea down on the table and walked over to get the box.

"You don't want to finish?" he asked.

"You…don't want to play with just some dumb waitress right?"

"Come on. I didn't say that. I said I didn't want to play with someone who cheats. You can't just decide what rules you want to play by, that's like saying that I don't feel like following that pesky rule of no stealing or driving in the carpool lane with only one passenger."

"You can drive in the carpool lane with only one passenger." I pointed out.

"You know what I mean." He held out his hand to me, "If you're going to pack up the game, at least let me do that. You should rest."

Normally I would protest but I was feeling a tad dizzy so I handed him the box and sat back down.

"So…what happened exactly because one minute you're fine and the next…you just…" I made a gesture of exploding with my hands.

"I guess sometimes…I just lose my patience." He paused and looked pensive. "Bella, you…talk often about how you wanted to go to Yale, pursue higher learning but you've never told me what you wanted to do with that education. Have you ever thought about a career? What you would do if you did attend Yale and what would you do after you finished?"

I thought for a moment because this was not something I had ever discussed with anyone. Hell, I never even brought up Yale since my father shot it down.

"I…" I sighed, "I was so focused in high school on getting into Yale that I never really thought that far ahead. My father went to Yale. My grandfather went to Yale. Even my twit of a brother went to Yale. I just didn't want to be the black sheep who couldn't get in. I guess I figured that once I made it in and was on campus, I would keep an open mind for whatever path I would take."

He nodded his head and looked to be deep in thought once more.

"So…what did you major in at Yale?" I finally asked to break the silence.

"Uh…I started off pre-med but then about my second year…I just couldn't do it anymore. I still wanted to help people but in a different way. I…earned an English and literature degree."

I furrowed my brow, "Help people do what exactly? English?"

"I wanted to go into some kind of area of communications…journalism…" he trailed off.

"But…"

"But nothing." He answered quickly.

"Were your parents disappointed? I mean going from pre-med to…English teacher after paying a couple hundred grand for your education."

"My parents were always supportive of me."

"Lucky you." I smiled half-hardheartedly.

"You don't need a parent to be supportive to still go out and obtain a dream. You just have to believe in yourself and if you won't believe in yourself…then…I will."

"Thanks but…I can't afford it and I really don't want to spend the rest of my life trying to hide from creditors and loan officers when I can't find a way to pay."

"Well, I really hope you'll think about it. I honestly believe you would be a much happier and a more fulfilled person if you just gave yourself a chance."

Edward and I didn't do much more than veg the next couple of days. I was finally feeling on the mend and it would look like Alice would get her wish of having me attend the great Halloween bash of Horizons. I never in a million years thought I would party at a soup kitchen for Halloween. Halloween had always been one of my favorite holidays. I loved the idea that for one night I could be anyone in the world.

I had rented a costume for Edward and helped him find the perfect costume for Alice. The day before Halloween was the first time I had been outside the walls of my house for a brief visit to the Hollywood costume shop. I was worried that Edward would go and peak at the costume I was putting him in if I didn't tag along.

Alice planned on coming over early the afternoon of Halloween to help me get ready. Since the party started at six, I wasn't sure why she would need so much time to beautify me.

"Are you scared?" I asked Edward as I stood next to his hanging garment bag ready to show him what he was going to be wearing for the next couple of hours.

"Terrified."

I laughed and tossed him a bag with his wig inside. He caught the bag and undid it pulling out a platinum blond bobbed wig.

"What the fuck?"

"Now who's being crass?" I stated.

"Awe, come on Bella, what did you do?" he complained.

"You haven't even seen the costume yet. Once you adorn this costume you'll be the hit of the party." I slowly unzipped the garment bag and pulled out the whole outfit, "Ta-da!"

"What is…that?" Edward shook his head slowly completely aghast. "Some…kind of medieval thing?"

"No, silly. You said you were always tired since meeting me so what would be better than turning you into Price Valium."

"What?" he asked confused.

"You know…from the movie Spaceballs? The prince that Princess Vespa was supposed to marry but she ran off and then married Lonestar." I paused for any sign of recollection. "Please tell me you've seen Spaceballs. Please tell me you're not a loser."

I stood there in shock waiting for the next words to tumble out of his mouth.

"A long time ago…not really something I'd care to remember."

"Edward fucking Masen, are you shitten me? Spaceballs is one if the best movies in the world. You are watching it right now and I refuse to go anywhere tonight until you do."

I stomped over to my DVD collection locating the movie while Edward went to answer the door. Alice and Edward came back with handfuls of supplies and equipment to set up.

"Can you believe this asshole doesn't remember Spaceballs?" I yelled over to Alice while she set her things up on the kitchen table.

"Are you kidding me? That's like one of the best movies in the world." Alice replied.

"THANK YOU!" I bellowed.

"You guys are nuts." Edward flopped down on the couch as the movie started to play.

"I got the Prince Valium costume for Edward to wear." I told Alice.

She squealed, "Are you kidding me? That's awesome."

It took Alice a half hour just to set up all the hair tools while Edward and I watched the movie. Both Alice and I kept reciting the lines with the actors and that just drove Edward nuts and he threatened that if we kept doing it, he would stop watching.

"There you are. There you are." I screamed when Prince Valium came on the screen.

"All the characters in this thing and you picked to dress me like him?" Edward huffed.

"Well you did say you were like Sleeping Beauty." I replied.

"No, you said I was like Sleeping Beauty." He retorted.

"At least I made you the male version of Sleeping Beauty…I could have turned you into Aurora. You could have gone to this shin dig in drag."

"I'm ready to see my costume." Alice came over interrupting us. "I need to see what I'm wearing so I can do my hair appropriately."

"You don't need to worry about your hair. You won't be able to see it." Edward replied turning his attention back to the screen.

"Wait a New York minute. What does that mean?" Alice stepped out in front of the television with her hands on her hips.

Edward jumped up poised for his big reveal.

"In the words of Bella…Ta-da!" He said pulling out the huge yellow banana costume.

Alice stepped back and furrowed her brow incredibly confused.

"I…I…I thought you said I was going to be a queen." She replied softly.

"Yes, you are." Edward pulled out a little pink tiara. "A banana queen."

I practically snorted and turned away unable to look at poor Alice's face any longer.

"I don't get it."

"You don't have to get it. This is the costume I picked out for you. If I am being forced into that…" Edward pointed to my Prince Valium costume, "then you are going to wear this. Isn't this fun? We should do this every year, right?"

Edward finished off with a fake smile.

"How did Bella end up with the only cool costume? I was actually nice and thoughtful when I picked this dress out for her." Alice criticized looking over to my looming garment bag which had yet to be opened.

"Let's just get this over with. Show me what horrendous get-up I'll be stuck in the next couple of hours." I sighed with a wave of my hand.

"Horrendous? I take offense." Alice walked over to the garment bag which looked much fuller than any of the other garment bags and zipped it down slowly to make sure whatever monstrosity that lied within Pandora's box wasn't unleashed prematurely.

"Because I happen to think that you are a Beauty." Alice pulled out a vast yellow satin dress and my jaw dropped. She had made me into Belle. She remembered our discussion from when she first came to my house.

"This isn't some Beauty and the Beast fairy tale…" I recited softly marveling at the dress.

"With your complexion and beautiful long brown hair, you'll be a perfect Belle." Alice replied. "And whoever said that we weren't entitled to a fairy tale? All women are entitled to that."

I looked over at her and smiled, "Thank you, Alice."

I gave her a hug before I even realized what I was doing. I pulled back and looked at Edward and then to Alice again. So this is what it feels like to have genuine friends. Friends I didn't have to stress over or feel like I had to constantly be on my toes. Friends who cared about you and you about them.

"We should get started. I'm so happy you like it." Alice broke me from my thoughts.

I nodded and Edward returned to watching his movie. An hour later Alice was done with my hair, giving me the perfect Belle quaff. Edward struggled to get his tights on after he finished showering and shaving. His face was to be like a baby's ass if he was going to pull off this costume.

I finished up my makeup while Alice worked on hers. Alice had to help me into that giant dress and as I began to walk in it, it made me think that I would never pick something so large and round to wear ever again.

"You clean up nicely, Miss Swan." Edward checked me out.

I rolled my eyes, "There's so much fabric on me that I may have fulfilled my clothing quota for my entire life."

"Well…you do look classy."

"I'm always classy, you just can't get with the times, gramps." I paused, "And you don't look so bad yourself."

"I wanted to be Bond and instead…I'm an anti-anxiety pill."

"But a royal one at that." I pointed out.

"Are you guys ready or what?" Alice stepped out in her banana costume topped with the pink tiara. "I already know that I'm going to have a thousand people asking me tonight what I am and I haven't the damn foggiest clue because none of you will explain it to me."

"Maybe when you're older." Edward winked at her and she huffed and turned dramatically around towards the door.

We decided that it was probably best for Edward to drive since he wasn't wearing a banana or a big ass yellow dress. We arrived at Horizons, a place I hadn't been to in over a week and could already see a line forming. I guess Alice's little party had become famous around these parts.

"The kids are going to freak when they see you, Bella. You look like a real life Disney Princess." Alice gushed.

"And anyone who's dressed as an ape will freak when they see you, Alice." Edward quipped.

"Yeah, yeah." Alice huffed crossing her little arms.

We made it to the cafeteria and I could see just how much work Alice had put into this thing. The whole place looked incredible decked out with the Halloween motif. Fake spider webs adorned the corners. A cauldron of dry ice near the entrance and black and orange streamers everywhere.

"Wow, you did a great job." I remarked.

"Thank you but Jasper and Emmett did most of it. I can't take the credit."

Suddenly the swinging door to the kitchen opened and out came a person dressed in an ape costume. Making all sorts of noises, the thing took off for Alice and started to paw her while she screamed.

Jasper finally removed his mask with a laugh and high-fived Edward.

"You planned this?" Alice asked irritated.

"I just told him that you were going as the banana queen if he wanted to dress to match." Edward replied.

"So I am the gorilla king." Jasper replied.

"You've known this whole time and didn't tell me?" She squawked.

"You should have seen your face. It was classic." Edward snickered.

"Just you wait. I will get you back for this Edward C…"She looked over to me, "Caca face."

"Who's ready to par-tay?" Emmett boomed as he walked in dressed in a football jersey. The blond one followed behind in a cheerleader costume and I sighed noticeably. Emmett took one look at Edward and practically cackled. "Bro….tights? How… did…that… happen?"

"Shut it, Emmett." Edward barked.

"Dude…this is awesome. I can't wait to get a picture of that." Emmett teased. He walked in further and saw me, "I almost came as a referee in case you and my wife wanted to have another go. We could get a ring filled with Jello and charge admission." Emmett winked.

The blond one smacked him, "Get your mind out of the gutter."

"So…can we all agree to play nicely?" Edward asked.

"Don't be stupid." I snapped.

"Alrighty then! Let's go and open the doors." Alice waved the attention onto herself. "Bella, if you wouldn't mind walking around with this basket of candy and handing it out to the kids. Emmett and Rose can be on the serving line and Prince Valium…at the games please."

I walked over to the basket and picked it up. The doors were open and people flooded the place quickly. Walking around wasn't so hard once I got the hang of it. I have to admit that it did make me feel nice and warm inside when a kid would see me and light up. I wasn't used to kids actually liking me.

I walked over to where Edward was helping out with games.

"I think I finally found a cure for my crass mouth. Kids. I haven't said one curse word since I got here. That has to be some kind of a record, right?." I smiled.

"Good for you, Bella. You really are making these kids nights. A lot of them don't get the privilege to go to Disneyland or anything like that so seeing you is a great treat for them."

"Yea…it's been kind of nice. They…they're all so cute."

Edward smiled down at me and tugged on his wig. "Well, I keep getting asked why Price Charming has his hair like this?"

"Maybe you should pull the wig off. You do kind of look like a Prince but I would say more like Prince Phillip from Sleeping Beauty."

"Oh thank god." Edward said pulling his wig off.

"So I was thinking of maybe…inviting a couple people back to my house after. Do you think Alice and Jasper would want to come?"

"What about Emmett and Rosalie?" Edward asked.

"Sure, Emmett can come." I stated aloof trying to forget about the second name he had listed.

"Bella…what would a Disney Princess do?"

"Send her prince off to kill the beast so that the townspeople can rejoice?" I smiled hopefully.

He gave me a look and I rolled my eyes completely deflated, "Fine, invite her if you must."

"Edward…oh Edward." We both turned our heads to the screeching from another kind of beast, Tanya.

"Like cockroaches, get rid of one and another one pops up." I said quietly.

"Be nice, Bella."

I plastered on a fake smile, "I'm off to find my beast."

I walked away before I was able to be provoked by Tanya. I walked around and handed some more candy out when I saw Angela.

"Hey, Angela." I greeted.

"Hi Bella, oh wow you look beautiful."

"Thank you. Alice dressed me."

"Well she did a great job. Look, Stephanie its Princess Belle." Angela introduced me and Stephanie gave me a shy wave.

"Did you guys get some candy yet?" I asked her kids. The both nodded their heads, one dressed as a pumpkin and the other was some kind of comic book character, "Well, have some more." I said dropping more into their plastic shopping bags.

They both thanked me and then ran off toward the games area.

"So…I see the Tanya managed to make it down here." Angela commented looking over to her with Edward, "Completely shameless."

"Incredibly." I replied.

"Funny…this whole thing is mostly for kids and yet she has five and none of them are here." Angela said.

"That is funny…wonder where she stashed them."

"Probably in her bra. Look at her boobs. They get any bigger and she'll be able to provide milk for every kid in here."

I snorted, "You're killing me, Angela."

We both kept watch on Tanya's efforts as we stood in the middle of the cafeteria. It was pandemonium but a good kind. Angela continued to talk with me as I walked around performing my duties and soon it was all over as Alice said good night to the last of the people leaving.

"Well I'm exhausted." I announced tossing my candy basket down on a table.

"Too exhausted for a little Halloween party at the bar?" Emmett asked.

"Halloween party? Bar? "I inquired.

"Yeah…Ed man said you wanted to continue the party."

It was probably better than bringing the party to my house. Then it would mean more possible run-ins with the blond one, something I managed to keep from successfully that night.

"Bar it is." I championed.

I walked back to the kitchen to find Edward looking around.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Nothing…just…I haven't been here in a while and they completely mixed up my entire spice rack and the pans were put back where the pots should have gone." He sighed.

"The nerve." I retorted. "Come on Prince Charming, I'll buy you a drink. Emmett has proposed moving this little party to the bar."

"That's probably not a good idea. Emmett…can sure drink."

"Let your hair down for one night. You might actually find out what fun is."

"I have fun." He replied sadly.

"I'm sure your barrels full. You can reorganize this tomorrow. Let's go."

I pulled a protesting Edward out of the kitchen and toward Alice's car. We all went to a little bar near my house that was already packed with party goers decked out in their best costumes. The drinks were aplenty and Emmett was not shy with his wallet as he kept us all well stocked in liquor. By the time we were done, we all needed a cab ride home. Thankfully it wouldn't take long for Edward and I since we were just up the hill.

"Oh my god, I haven't drank like this since college…and even then I hardly ever partied." Edward slurred.

"You're a light weight. You barely had a beer."

"Fuck no. Emmett made me do shots of Tequila with him. Said it would loosen me up. I'm going to kill Emmett."

"He just wanted you to have fun."

"We're here." The cabby told us and Edward fumbled with the door to get out. I pulled a hundred out of my wallet and handed it to the driver.

"Bella. Did you just give that man a hundred?" Edward started to argue with me but the cab driver sensing a loss in tip sped off.

"So what? He had to deal with your drunk ass. It's compensation."

"You…you will never learn." He shook his head.

"Learn what? You're always harping on me to help out the less fortunate, well I doubt he's driving a cab because he's a millionaire." I opened the door and we both stumbled in.

"Get this thing off of me. It's hot and heavy." I complained standing in the foyer flapping my arms around in that yellow monstrosity.

"Ooo, hot and heavy." Edward replied.

Did he just make an innuendo?

I turned around to him waiting for him to unzip me out of that giant ball gown. I could feel his fingers slowly make the way down my dress with the zipper and his hot breath upon my neck. I panted softly; I had forgotten what it felt like to have a man undress me.

"God, you're beautiful." He whispered.

I turned around slowly and looked up into his eyes seeing them in a fog.

"Edward." I whispered.

"Yeah, Bella."

"I'm…I'm ready to tell you my secret."

AN: So a few things...first of all for those following Crossfade, I know that I haven't updated in forever and some people has asked me about that. I decided to finish Lottery of Life before returning to that series. I needed a break and felt like I wasn't giving my readers the best work I could. I love the Working Title series and don't want to see it become something I'm not happy with and after spending almost 18 months writing it, I needed a break.

On the other hand...I am already feeling this story wrapping up and forecast that they may only be six or seven chapters left. I have had a blast writing this and it has been a completely positive writing experiment. Thank you for your continued support and taking the time to read and review.