A/N: Ok, so I warned you about tissues. Get them now. I cried while I wrote it.

We're starting off in Edward's point of view because there's some things he needed to say. There will be more EPOV in later chapters.

This is a long one – but I had to get it out.

Chapter 14

EPOV

As I lay there with Bella sleeping peacefully in my arms, I was amazed to find that for the first time in my life, I felt whole. I'd never thought of myself as a person who needed that "someone special" in their life to be whole, I've always been self-sufficient and, by my own admission, self absorbed.

The summer I met Bella I was so wrapped up in myself that I didn't realise what was in front of me. Yes, my girlfriend dumped me when she dropped me at the airport that day, but it had been coming for a long time. We weren't in love, we weren't even really happy anymore. It was comfortable, and it was convenient. If she hadn't ended it then, I would have. There was no way it was ever going to go anywhere, and she deserved more – definitely more than I could give her.

So I got hammered on the plane. Not because I was upset, not to celebrate, just because. Even now, so many years down the track, I still didn't have a reason or an explanation. Sure, I'd apologised to Bella, and she deserved my apology. I was an ass to her for no reason, like I said to her, she was the only one there who would let me get away with it. My parents would want to talk about it, Emmett would deck me, and Alice would say something insightful to make me feel worse. So I picked a fight with Bella to make someone else feel as miserable as I did. Yes, I noticed she was gorgeous, but it didn't even occur to me in my drunken state to get to know her that weekend.

Now, laying in her bed for the third night in a row, I knew it was going to be hard on both of us when I left the following afternoon. She would be here, with the memories of our time together, and I would be back in Chicago, where I didn't want to be anymore. Never in my wildest dreams had I imagined leaving the lucrative world of private practice where I could pick and choose my cases to work in medical malpractice. But when I heard the position was open, I knew that it was time for a change. I submitted my application without mentioning it to my family – I wasn't even sure the hospital would show interest in me since I didn't have any real experience. When I got the call asking me to come to Seattle for an interview I was stoked. I called Alice first – even though Emmett and I are closer in age, Alice and I have always been closer in everything else. She was happy for me and offered me a place to stay. I readily agreed and was looking forward to it until she mentioned that she and Bella were still living together. I couldn't bring myself to disappoint Alice though so I decided to go through with it. I suppose I could've stayed with Emmett and Rose but Rose tends to be rather…vocal when they're alone together – not exactly what you want to hear.

When I arrived at Alice and Bella's apartment building, I decided to be polite to Bella and apologise if I got the chance. I had a feeling if I got the job I'd be seeing a lot of her, both at the hospital and around Alice. When I saw her sitting in the kitchen though, she took my breath away. She was even more beautiful than I remembered. As she ran past me after we said hello I was confused by her reaction and also stunned by how good she smelled. After talking with her these last two days, I've come to realise that she was as taken by me as I was by her.

I was shocked by my feelings for her that first night at the club. I kept telling myself I was so attracted to her because of the alcohol, but when she came and saved me from Dr Skank I was instantly smitten. The way her lips felt against my neck and the way her body seemed designed to mould into my lap – it was too good to be true. I let myself get carried away that night – I should never have left the club with her and I sure as hell shouldn't have taken her to bed while we were both so drunk. But when I woke up spooning her the next morning, I didn't regret my actions one little bit. I wanted more, and not just more of the mind-blowing sex. More Bella. I wanted to know her – what music she liked, what authors she read, why she became a doctor and chose trauma – everything. I was over the moon when she reciprocated my feelings.

The last three days had been wonderful but now I had to face reality – I was going back to Chicago tomorrow and there was no guarantee I'd get this job here in Seattle. I closed my eyes and buried my nose in Bella's hair one last time as I drifted off into an uneasy sleep.

BPOV

I woke on Tuesday morning to the sound of gentle knocking on my bedroom door. Wait, gentle knocking? I thought.

"Come in," I called softly, not wanting to wake Edward. I stole a quick look at his face and was saddened to see the look he was wearing in his sleep – he looked like a little boy who had lost his favourite teddy bear.

Alice poked her head in the door. "Sorry to wake you Bells," she whispered. "I was just going to say goodbye to Edward before I left for work but I don't want to wake him."

"I'll bring him by the office later today if you want?" I offered.

"That would be great Bells – I'll see you later." Alice closed the door softly and I rolled onto my side so I was facing Edward again.

His breathing was deep and even so I knew he was still sleeping. I just couldn't get past the sad look on his face. I wondered what was so upsetting in his dreams – hopefully nothing that had happened over the last couple of days.

Being careful not to wake him, I slid quietly out of bed and headed for the shower. I stepped under the hot water and started thinking about how deeply I felt for Edward after only three days. I turned my face into the spray and let the tears come – I'd already promised myself I wouldn't cry at the airport – I wasn't going to do that to him.

I was startled from my wallowing by a knock on the bathroom door. "Bella?" I heard Edward's voice over the running water as the door opened a crack. "Is it ok if I come in?"

"Of course," I replied, trying to hide the waver in my voice. I heard the door close again and then heard Edward sigh. "Is something wrong?" I stuck my head around the shower curtain to make sure everything was ok.

"I'm conflicted, Bella," he answered, looking into my eyes. "Part of me wants to get in there with you and make love to you once last time before I leave today. The other part keeps telling me that's not a good idea – I don't want to hurt you."

I pulled my head back inside the curtain and then opened it from the other end, making it clear to Edward that I wanted him in the shower with me. "The only way you can hurt me now is to tell me that this is the end – there'll be no more "us" when you get on that plane."

"Not going to happen," he said huskily as he stepped in and closed the shower curtain behind him, pulling me in close. "There's going to be an "us" even if I'm in Chicago and you're here."

We took our time in the shower that morning, making love slowly and passionately before washing each other tenderly. Edward stepped out first, wrapping himself in a towel. As I stepped out, he enveloped me in a hug, draping an identical towel around my body as he held me close. We dried off slowly, heading to my bedroom together and dressing in silence. I was holding in tears again and Edward came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling my back into his chest.

"Talk to me Bella," he whispered in my ear. "Tell me what's wrong."

"I don't want you to go!" I wailed as I turned around, hiding my face and the fresh tears that were flowing against his still-bare chest.

"Shh baby, don't cry," he hummed into my hair. He led us over to the bed and sat down, pulling me into his lap. He gently tilted my chin up so he could look into my eyes. I was astounded to see tears brimming in his beautiful green eyes, threatening to spill over. "I don't want to leave you either Bella. It's been three days and I already know you're the best thing that's ever going to happen to me."

I smiled at him through my tears as I whispered, "I never thought I'd find someone who would make me feel like this. With you, I just feel like I belong, like I fit." I lifted my hand and slowly wiped away the tears that were running slowly down his cheeks. I leaned in so our foreheads were resting together and continued, "We just have to realise that we have something so special here, Edward. You might be going back to Chicago this afternoon, but you are going to get this job and come back to Seattle so we can be together, I just know it. And I have four days off in row again in two weeks so I can come visit. And you said yourself, when you get this job, you're going to have to come look at places to live."

A crooked smile brightened his features as he replied, "You're right. It's just so hard, knowing that when I wake up in the morning you won't be there. I've lived on my own for as long as I can remember, but right now I want nothing more than to have you with me as much and as often as possible." He signed deeply as his arms tightened around me. "Let's make today memorable for all the right reasons, ok? No more moping."

I chuckled as I climbed off his lap and pulled him into a standing position. I wrapped my arms around his waist and stretched up to whisper in his ear, "I think this morning in the shower was pretty memorable…"

He turned his head and kissed me softly before adding, "The last three days have been memorable Bella. Let me take you somewhere special for lunch before I leave?"

"What constitutes special?" I asked. "I told Alice we'd go and see her at some point today too."

"For lunch?" he asked with his eyebrows raised.

"Not for lunch, just a visit," I clarified quickly. "Now, about your definition of special…"

He thought for a minute before replying, "Special is something that will make you think of me, and me think of you, when we can't be together."

I wracked my brain, trying to think of something that Chicago had that could also be found in Seattle. "Got it!" I rejoiced, clapping my hands together. "But I'm not telling. I need a few minutes to work the phone, ok?"

"Yes ma'am," he said with a mock salute. "I'll be making myself scarce in the living room."

Once he was out of my room I grabbed my phone and called Rosalie. "Hey Rose," I said when she answered the phone.

"Bella! What can I do for you? I thought you'd be spending every last moment with Edward?"

"That's kind of why I'm calling…" I quickly filled Rose in on my plan and had her help lined up in no time.

"Have a good day, Bella. Make some happy memories to build on when he comes back," she said as we were saying goodbye.

"Thanks Rosalie – I owe you one!"

I hung up with Rose and headed out to the living room where Edward was flicking through Alice's latest copy of Cosmo. "Anything interesting in there?" I teased, leaning over the back of the couch.

"Not really," he smiled, reaching up and hugging me backwards.

"Ok," I told him, "you need to get your stuff packed so we can go see Alice. Lunch is organised for 12:30 so we can take our time and enjoy it before I take you to the airport."

"Packing won't take long," he said. "Wanna come keep me company?"

I followed him back to my bedroom and watched while he packed his stuff in his bag. In a split second, I decided to give him something to take home with him to remind him of me. "Did you get all your stuff from the bathroom?" I asked, hoping he took the bait.

"Good question – I'll just go check," he said, heading out the door.

I quickly grabbed the t-shirt I'd been sleeping in during his visit (when I was clothed in bed, anyway) and stuffed it into the bottom of his suitcase.

"Good thinking Bella," he called as he walked back down the hallway, "my toothbrush was still in there. Which reminds me," he went on as he walked over to his suitcase, "my interview papers are still in the living room. Would you mind grabbing them for me?"

I walked out with a smile on my face and grabbed the papers from the coffee table. Heading back to my bedroom, I had to admit I was proud of myself for the way I was handling Edward leaving.

Twenty minutes later he was all packed and his stuff was in the bed of my truck. We jumped in and headed for the centre of town where Alice worked at Victoria's Secret in their design department.

"Did you want to give Alice a call and let her know we're on the way?" I asked him. "That way she can meet us in the foyer and we can grab a coffee or something."

Edward pulled out his phone and dialed Alice. "Hey squirt," he said when she answered. I smiled as I listened to him tease his younger sister, sneaking a glance every few seconds and seeing the smile on his face.

"She said she'll meet us in the coffee shop on the corner so I don't get distracted by all the gorgeous women," he reported. "I didn't bother telling her the only gorgeous woman I was interested in was the one sitting next to me right now."

I blushed furiously as we turned onto the street that runs parallel to the main street in Seattle. I turned the corner a few blocks up and got a parking spot right outside Jacob's – Alice's favourite place to get a coffee.

We walked in and I was immediately greeted by the owner. "Hi Bella!" Jacob called across the shop. I raised my hand and waved, then grabbed Edward's hand and headed for a booth while we waited for Alice.

"Protective much?" Edward mocked me as we sat down.

"Jacob's been trying to get me to go out with him for almost a year," I filled him in. "He's a nice guy and all, but he's more of a friend than anything else."

"Hmm…" Edward mused, eyeing the tall, long-haired Jacob behind the counter.

"Cut that out!" Alice's voice cut across both of our thoughts. "Jacob is harmless, Edward."

"Still…" Edward trailed off. "I'm going to go order. What are you ladies having?"

"Full cream, flat white please," I replied, digging in my wallet for money.

"My treat," he said, placing his hands over mine. "Alice?"

She grinned evilly at him. "Double shot hazelnut latte with skim milk, two shots of hazelnut and cinnamon on top." Typical Alice – nothing plain and boring for her.

Edward smiled and shook his head as he got up to order. Alice and I both watched as he and Jacob sized each other up.

"Boys," we both sighed at the same time, bursting into giggles.

"Something funny?" Edward queried as he sat down with us again.

We shook our heads and started laughing again.

"Way to give a guy a complex," he muttered under his breath.

Alice and I got ourselves under control and the three of us chatted away like old friends while we waited for the coffees. Jacob brought them over and set each one down in front of us, instinctively knowing that Alice's would be the fancy one and mine would be the usual.

"So Bella," he said with a slight smirk, "gonna introduce me to your friend?"

Edward extended his hand. "Edward Cullen," he said formally. "Alice's older brother, Bella's boyfriend, visiting from Chicago." My stomach did little flip flops when he used the word boyfriend.

"Nice to meet you," Jacob replied, shaking hands and leaving quickly.

We sat around for another half hour until Alice decided she'd better get back to work. Her boss was away for the day but she had some samples she wanted to get finished for the following morning. I watched as they exchanged hugs and promises to call, then Alice came a wrapped her arms around me.

"Girls night tonight, ok?" she whispered in my ear. "And if you need me before I get home, you call me."

She waved goodbye and danced off down the sidewalk to her office.

"So, lunch?" I offered Edward my hand and started walking in the opposite direction to the truck.

"Ok, but where are we going?" he asked.

"Somewhere special," I replied evasively.

We walked for ten minutes before coming to my favourite park. I could sit on a bench or the grass on a warm day and read for hours. In my earlier call to Rosalie, I'd asked her to call the deli down the street and arrange for lunch to be prepared, then she and Emmett raced over to the park and set up a picnic for us. As we approached the spot, I felt Edward squeeze my fingers. "For us?" he whispered in awe.

"For us," I confirmed, sitting down on the rug.

We sat together and enjoyed the wonderful meal, then relaxed under the tree while we let our lunch digest.

"Special," he murmured into my hair.

I turned to face him fully. "You said special was something that would remind us of each other even when we weren't together. Well, I figured there's beautiful parks here and they must be in Chicago as well, maybe even close to your office. So I thought a picnic might be nice – that way, if you're missing me, maybe you can actually take a break and eat in the park?"

"You're brilliant, Bella, you know that?" he said, leaning over and kissing me enthusiastically.

Our kiss was interrupted by the alarm on my phone. My stomach immediately dropped and the tears sprang once again into my eyes. Wordlessly, we stood up and folded the blanket. I held onto it as Edward threw our rubbish away then came back and took my hand. We walked slowly back to my truck where I threw the blanket in the back before getting in the cab.

We rode to the airport in silence and I pulled into a space in the short-term car park with 45 minutes until his flight. We got out of the truck and Edward lifted his bag out of the bed. He set it on the ground and wrapped his arms around me, burying his face in my hair.

"It's not goodbye, Bella," he said. I was shocked to hear the tremble in his voice, and even more shocked when I looked up to see tears pouring down his face. My own tears immediately spilled over and we stood there in the parking lot, holding onto each other like we were drowning. After a few minutes Edward pulled back and mopped up my tears with his sleeve. "No more tears now baby," he soothed me. "We'll see each other again in no time at all."

I released my grip on his waist, sliding my hand into his as he picked up his bag and we headed for the terminal. I waited to the side while he checked his luggage in and collected his ticket, then quickly reclaimed his hand as we walked to his gate.

"We have half an hour," he said quietly. "Tell me more about your life before I met you."

So I did. I told him about Renee, my scatterbrained mother, and her second husband Phil, the minor league baseball player. I told him about moving to Forks to live with my dad Charlie, where I met Jasper. I told him about how hard it was, leaving Jazz to go to college, and how happy I was when I met Alice on my first day. I told him how excited I was when Jazz and I both got accepted to medical school. I was about to tell him about my internship when the PA system announced his flight was boarding.

My eyes must have been wild because he reached out for me and started whispering in my ear, "Its ok baby. I'll call you as soon as I'm on the ground in Chicago, and again when I get home, and again before I go to bed, and again when I wake up…"

I started giggling at his promises. "You really know how to make a girl feel better," I told him, making sure I was hiding my tears before I looked up at him. We stood and slowly made our way to the line that was forming at the gate.

"I mean it Bella," he said as he looked deep into my eyes. "I'm going to call you as soon as I'm in the terminal in Chicago, I promise."

The PA blared again, announcing the final boarding call for flight 417 to Chicago. I threw myself into his arms and squeezed as tight as I could. "You have to go," I whispered, barely audible.

"I have to go, but I'm not leaving," he stressed, "I'll never leave you."

He hugged me tightly and then placed one more gentle kiss on my upturned lips. "I care for you Bella," he murmured. "I'll talk to you soon."

"I care for you too, Edward," I told him as I let go of his hand. I stood in the same spot as I watched him pass through the gate, where he turned and smiled at me. I could have sworn he was crying, but didn't let myself dwell on it.

Once he was out of sight, I moved over to the windows and stood there for ten minutes until the American Airlines plane taxied down the runway and took off, taking the man I was sure was the love of my life with it.