A/N: I own Twilight.

I'm taking longer and longer to update and I'm sorry. I've been a busy little bee with so much going on I felt like my head was going to explode.

However I am free as a bird this weekend so hopefully I can get the last chapters out nice and quickly. After this chapter there is only one left plus an epilogue. So basically only two more updates to go. Very sad!

But thanks to everyone who has been reading and reviewing and to Laura for being an amazing Beta and improving my chapters for me!!

Chapter 23

Bella

I had to physically restrain myself from running to the restaurant for three reasons.

One. I didn't want to arrive completely panting and out of breath.

Two. I didn't want to trip and fall in a puddle.

And three. I was scared.

I was scared that I was just about to be rejected and that my excitement and hope would be for nothing as Edward had seen sense and decided that he could never be with me. I tried to remain positive but there was still a nagging feeling inside of me that that could happen.

The restaurant was near-by, so in walking distance. It gave me a chance to calm myself down, clear my head and mentally prepare myself for what was about to happen. Before I knew it, I was staring at the front of Le Bistro preparing myself to go inside. I took a deep breath and in I went. It was a small cosy little restaurant and I spotted Edward sitting at a table for two in the corner. I walked over to him and he was looking at the table with worry and concentration. He looked up as I approached.

"Hi," I said waving to him.

"Hey," he said standing up, "take a seat." He was wearing casual clothes, light jeans and a white shirt and his sex hair was its usual, messy, gorgeous self. He held out the other chair for me and I sat down.

The restaurant was very hot compared to outside so I stripped my coat off hanging it on the back of the chair. I turned to look at him and he was staring right at me. His penetrating eyes felt as if they were looking right into my soul.

"Bella," he whispered so quietly that I almost couldn't hear him. He was looking deep into my eyes and I felt like I was being sucked in by the power of his sparkling emerald eyes.

"Yes Edward," I whispered just as quietly and it seemed as if we were in our own little bubble.

"Hiya," a voice suddenly said in my ear, "I'm Jenny and I'll be serving you. Can I get you some drinks?"

I was broken out of my trance and I looked up to see a blonde haired waitress standing there bouncing on her heels.

"Oh um," I stuttered, "I'll just have a glass of water please."

"Me too," said Edward, "we need a minute before we order."

"Sure, sure," she said walking off and flicking her curly pony tail behind her. I turned back to Edward. The anxiety was almost killing me.

"Bella I've been thinking," he said.

"Yes," I probed.

"About us…" He ran his hand through his hair.

"Yes…"

"And I've made my mind up." He said decisively looking into my eyes.

"Oh." My heart was beating so loudly and irrationally that I could feel it in my throat.

"But before I say what I'm going to say you have to know something. Maybe it will help you to understand why I've done what I've done. Before you," he started, "I'd never really had a serious girlfriend. I mean ever. I was the kind of guy who just slept with girls for the fun of it and never called them. I was a bit of a ladies man… and not in a good way."

Edward sleeping with girls and not calling them? That did not seem like him. At all. Why was he telling me this now? Was this his reason for not wanting to be with me?

"You're probably wondering why I'm telling you this." Well duh! "I just wanted to be completely honest with you. That is why I took it so hard when I found out about Mike. I mean of course I would have been devastated either way but it was the fact that you'd changed me and made me realise how good it was to be with someone properly. And then you threw it back in my face!"

I swallowed and my guilt began to resurface. I could never have imagined that I'd changed Edward and that he was like that before me. I was shocked to say the least but then I remembered back to Esme telling me how she thought Edward would always be alone. I didn't understand why she thought that at the time but now it made sense.

"I-I didn't mean to Edward," I stuttered and he interrupted me and held his hand up.

"No Bella I'm not looking for an apology, I just needed to explain so you could understand. And that's why I slept with Jessica. Because I was so used to solving my problems that way and finding out about Mike kind of reverted me back to my old ways."

I nodded in understanding and remembered when he blew up at me after I saw him with Jessica. He was going on about how he always had sex with random girls and that I'd changed him and although I listened I didn't really think anything of it. Until now.

"Okay…" I said encouraging him to go on. I needed to know where he was going with this, "so you said you made your mind up?"

He nodded and I breathed deeply to calm myself down. He braced himself to talk and looked up at me into my eyes.

Oh my God this is it!

"It wasn't a hard decision Bella because well… because I love you."

Hope suddenly fluttered through me.

"And because I love you," he continued, "I can't possibly let you go. Ever."

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. Did he just say what I thought he said?

"You mean…" I trailed off. I couldn't even say it.

"I mean," he smiled, "that I would really love to get back together with you. If that's alright with you?"

I froze. I could barely speak. This couldn't be happening. Could it?

"Bella?" he probed looking slightly worried. "It's your choice. If you want to be alone or with Mike then I'll understand."

"Yes," I said.

"Yes you want to be with Mike?"

"No you idiot," I looked up at him and smiled, "I want to be with you. Please. If you'll have me?"

He smiled radiantly, "of course I will. I didn't know what to do but when I saw you walking down the street my mind was made up and I knew that even if you would cheat on me again that it was still worth the risk."

"Oh no Edward never," I said leaning across the table to take his hands in mine, "I'd never cheat on you. You mean more to me than anything in the world. Anything."

"So do you Bella!" He squeezed my hand. I felt all warm and fuzzy inside and I couldn't remember the last time I felt so happy. Actually I could… all the times I was with Edward.

"Wait," I backtracked a second, "what do you mean saw me walking down the street?"

"Ah well I randomly saw you walking along the road and you just looked so breathtaking so I knew I had to get you back."

I smiled feeling slightly incredulous.

"Really?"

"Really! I had no idea what you'd say though. To be honest I was worried you'd say no or would have got back with Mike after I saw him yesterday."

"You saw Mike yesterday?" I asked.

"Yeah he came to see me and ask me to convince you to get back with him."

"Are you serious? What did you say?" I asked shocked.

"I'm serious and I said no. I wasn't going to convince you to be with him when I wanted to be with you." He smiled quickly, "but in the end I think he kind of accepted that you and him were over."

I nodded. I felt a pang of guilt but also felt glad that Mike had realised that we were finished. Hopefully now he could move on.

At that point the waitress came over, "you guys ready to order your food?" she asked. I looked to Edward to see if he was when I hadn't even glanced at the menu. Food was the last thing on my mind.

"Uh I'll just have a margarita pizza." Edward said.

"Um yes me too." I said not really caring about food. She walked off and we just sat there gazing into each other eyes love struck.

"But Bella," Edward looked serious, "We'll take it slow? Yes?" he asked.

"Of course," I said not wanting to rush anything. I wanted to savour every second of it, "we can taking it really slow."

Our food came after a while and we spent the rest of the meal just chatting happily. Some bits were slightly awkward when Mike would somehow pop into the conversation but most of the time we just glossed over those bits.

Time passed quickly and before I knew it I had to get back to work. Edward paid for our pizzas and we got up and ready to leave. Edward took my coat off my chair and held it out for me to put on.

"Thanks," I said, "I've got to get back to work."

He nodded and led me out of the restaurant with his hand at the small of my back. As we were greeted by the cold air outside, he pulled me towards him holding me tight. I looked up at him. He leaned down and gave me a gentle kiss on the lips. I didn't push it any further remembering what he said about going slow.

"Bye Bella," he murmured against my lips. "I'll see you soon though, yes?"

"Of course," I said looking forward to it. He leaned down and squeezed my hand before walking off down the pavement. I stared after him just watching his striking bronze hair fade away.

Then I smiled to myself knowing that I was never letting him go any time soon.

-

I shall try and get the last chapters out as quickly as possible so not to leave you all hanging when I'm so close to the end!

But I'm sure that lots of reviews will give me a kick up the backside and help me update nice and speedily! ;) So please review!