A/N: I do not own Twilight.

Bonjour everyone! This is the second last chapter which means this story is very nearly at an end. So I know I say it loads but thanks to all my wonderful reviewers :)

Chapter 24

Edward

I rushed around searching frantically.

"Oh my god where are those damn oven gloves?" I said to myself whizzing round the kitchen like a tornado in search of them. Bella was going to be here in exactly four minutes and I did not want her to be greeted by the smell of her dinner burning.

"Ah!" I said as I spotted them draped over the sofa. I picked them up and rushed over to the oven to pull the lasagne out. I sighed in relief when I realised I hadn't burnt it and gently placed it in the top oven to keep it warm.

It was four days ago that me and Bella had got back together and I'd been feeling all warm and fuzzy since. So I'd invited her round for a nice proper meal where we could just talk and be open with each other. I was admittedly slightly nervous but also excited as there was something I couldn't wait to show her.

I was dressed smartly wearing a tight black shirt, with the sleeves rolled up, and black trousers. I'd also sprayed myself with some new cologne but was slightly worried that I'd over done it. I guess I'd find out soon enough if Bella fainted from the fumes. Let's hope she didn't. The intercom from the gate suddenly beeped causing my heart to jump. I took a deep breath.

"You can do this Edward," I chanted to myself. Why was I so worried? It's not like we hadn't had dinner together before. Maybe it was because this time it really meant something and I didn't want to mess it up.

I walked over to the machine and spotted Bella's angel face on the screen. She too looked slightly nervous. I pressed the open button for the gates and watched as she faded out of sight. I walked over to the door to open it for her just as she was walking up the front steps.

"Hey," I said taking her hand to help her inside.

"Hi," she replied. I raised her hand up to my mouth and kissed it gently.

"How are you?" I asked.

"I'm good," she replied.

"Well that's good."

We stood outside in silence for a moment just gazing at each other. "Come on lets go inside. It's freezing out here," I said gesturing her in, "can I take your coat?"

"Please," she replied unbuttoning it and slipping if off. I hung it up on the stairs and turned to stare at her. She looked breathtaking. She was wearing a black one shoulder dress that came up to just above her knees. She also had on purple high platform shoes with a number of thick straps that crisscrossed over her feet. Her hair has been curled gently and was cascading in waves down her back. She was so beautiful I was almost lost for words.

"Y-you look amazing," I said.

She smiled, "thanks, so do you."

I led her into the living room and poured her a glass of wine as we both sat down.

"So how was work?" I asked to start the conversation. It was a Friday today which was the main reason I has asked her over. To start my weekend off well.

"It was fine. Nothing particularly interesting happened, but still good."

"That's good," I replied. There was an awkward silence. Oh God what should I say?

"Edward," she said looking serious.

"Yes."

"There's something I've been dying to do since I walked through your gates, would you mind if I did it?"

"Did what?" I asked.

But before I could answer she leaned forward, grabbed the collar of my shirt and yanked me towards her. She pressed our lips together and her soft eager mouth met mine. I loosened up almost instantly. What was I worried about in the first place? Our mouths moved together in sync and we fit together like two pieces of a puzzle. It was so meant to be. I raised my hand to her cheek caressing it softly with my thumb and rubbing her hair gently with my fingers. Our tongues mingled and she tasted so sweet. So Bella. We gradually stopped kissing and she pulled away giving me a quick peck on the lips.

"Now that's much better," she said smiling, "you were saying?"

I chucked gently glad that the atmosphere had lightened and thoroughly looking forward to the rest of the evening.

The evening went by quickly as we chatted smoothly and got to know each other again, for real this time. Even though I couldn't forget about her and Mike, it just didn't seem to matter.

"So Bella," I said as we were sitting in the dining room eating our lasagne, "I told my parents and Rose that we were back together."

"Oh," she said looking worried, "what did they say?"

"Well my parents were fine with it. Obviously at first they were shocked but when I explained everything they were okay. Just glad I was happy."

"So they don't hate me?" she asked apprehensively.

I laughed, "No Bella they don't hate you. I mean they weren't too thrilled to learn about Mike, as you could guess, but they are fine with it now, so long as I'm happy."

"Oh that's great. And urm Rosalie?"

"Ah Rosalie. She's another story." Rosalie had not been too pleased to learn that Bella and I were back together. Actually that was a huge understatement. She was livid.

"I thought so."

"She's still mad about the whole Mike thing, you know. But she'll get over it I'm sure. When she sees how wonderful you are. That's why I suggested that the four of us go out on a double date. Me, you, Rose and Emmett."

"What?" she asked shocked, "are you kidding?"

"She's my sister Bella so you need to get on."

"But she hates me Edward. This is not going to go well."

"Please Bella. I really want to two of you to get on. Just do this. For me. "

She groaned, "Fine Edward. For you," she added sarcastically.

I smiled and winked at her, "good. Now have you finished your food?"

"Yes," she replied curtly still annoyed. I narrowed my eyes and her face softened. "Sorry, yes I'm finished. Thank you for dinner. It was lovely."

"I'm glad you liked it," I said clearing the table and putting our plates in the dishwasher. She stood and went to take a seat on the sofa in the living room.

"Oh no you don't," I said. She turned around looking confused, "I want to show you something first."

I took her hand in mine and guided her out of the living room and into the study where we came face to face with my piano.

"Take a seat," I said gesturing to the stool in front of the piano, "she sat down and I slid on it next to her."

She smiled, excitement in her eyes. "Are you going to play something?" she asked.

"Yes," I replied, "I'm going to play you something. Your song."

"Mine?" she replied shocked.

"Yes, I composed it the day I first realised that I loved you."

She smiled and blushed gently. I lifted the cover off the piano and let me fingers glide gracefully over the keys. The soft melody floated through the house as Bella watched me playing her beautiful song. Beautiful like her. I became absorbed by the melody that was purely Bella and just let the music float through and consume me. The song came to a peaceful end and I looked next to me to see Bella staring at me with tears in her eyes.

"I never knew you could play like that," she whispered stunned, "it was lovely."

"Thank you," I replied just as quietly taking her hand in mine. I leaned over and kissed her gently on the lips and softly under her eyes where her tears had fallen.

"I love you so much Edward," she said softly, her eyes brown orbs of emotion.

"I love you too."

-

Bella

Why did I agree to this? Why, why why?

Because you love him that's why.

This was not going to go well. I could feel it. I was sitting in my car outside the little French restaurant calming myself down before I went in. Yes in my car! I'd decided that since I didn't have one to share with Mike anymore that I really needed one of my own. So I'd bought myself a vintage red truck, much like one I'd had in high school. It was nothing special, but I already loved it.

Edward, Rosalie and Emmett would all be inside waiting for me and I was terrified. I'd agreed to go on this double date so me and Rosalie could set our differences aside and get on. I was all for that... honestly. But I didn't think she was. She hated me and had openly expressed it the last times I'd seen her. So why would today be any different?

Well here goes nothing.

I stepped out of the car into the cold New York air and clutched my black coat to me. I was wearing a skirt and modest heels so my little legs were absolutely freezing as I walked to the entrance. I walked into the warm restaurant and hung my coat up by the door. I spotted a table for four on the other side of the restaurant where Edward and Emmett were sitting on the far side and Rosalie was facing them with her back to me. Oh dear, I was sitting next to Rosalie. I walked over to the table.

"Hey," I said.

"Hi Bella," Edward said smiling at me. He stood up and gave me a little peck on the lips and held the chair opposite his out for me. I sat down and turned towards Emmett and Rosalie.

"Hey Bella," said Emmett. He looked pretty happy and carefree and I sensed no hostility from him, for which I was very relieved. Then I looked to Rosalie who was glaring at me. Openly. Oh dear. I smiled softly at her which only elicited a harsher glare in response.

Even bigger oh dear. Well what did I expect? Of course she was going to be mad, I just had to accept that and take it slowly. Rome wasn't built in a day.

"Rosalie," Edward warned.

"What Edward? I agreed to come out for dinner with her; it doesn't mean I have to be nice to her."

"Rose," Emmett said quietly. She turned to look at him and her expression softened slightly. She merely shrugged.

"She has a name Rosalie," Edward said.

"It doesn't matter Edward," I mumbled, "leave it." Edward kept glowering at Rosalie.

"So," Emmett said starting the conversation and breaking the tension, "how was your week Bella?"

"It was really good, thank you," I replied.

"Probably just another lie," mumbled Rosalie. Ouch!

"Rose!" Edward said a little too loudly catching the attention of people at other tables.

"Fine, sorry. I'll keep it zipped where she is concerned."

I guess that was better than having her insult me every five minutes.

The conversation started up again and became a lot more natural. We all talked except Rosalie and I never talked directly to each other, instead just contributed into the main conversation. She was no longer glaring at me, but she wasn't being particularly friendly to me either.

We were eating our food and had now got into a humorous conversation over who was the superior gender.

"Look girls just face it," Emmett said jokily, "men are way better than women. They just are. I mean we're stronger for a start." He put his fork down, raised his arm and flexed his muscles. "Have you seen many women fire fighters? I haven't. If it wasn't for us the world would have burned down."

"Oh get your head out of your ass Emmett," said Rose smiling.

"It's true, it's true." He pressed.

"And it has been proven that men are cleverer than women," Edward contributed.

"Oh you can talk Edward," I said, "all you do is spray a bit of foam out of a tube. There are plenty of female scientists curing diseases, plenty of female writers doing articles," I winked, "and even more mothers raising children. So don't you be saying that men are better. Because they are clearly not." I smiled at my well made point.

"Exactly! Listen to Bella," Rosalie said.

We were all stunned to silence. It was the first time tonight that Rosalie had said anything to me or about me.

"What?" she said pointing to herself, "I'm not allowed to speak now?"

"Well it's just…" Emmett started.

"Yes I said something to Bella," it was the first time she'd said my name as well, "is there a problem with that?"

"No, no." Emmett and Edward both said together still shocked.

"Good," said Rosalie as she turned to me, "because I suppose, even though I hate what you did to my little brother, you're not half bad."

Did she just say that?

"Really?" I asked feeling liked we'd made a break through.

"Really. Now lets get back to all that shit you guys were saying about how men are better than women."

I smiled at Edward, glad that we seemed to be getting somewhere, and he smiled back obviously pleased as well.

Edward

All in all the evening was a success and I couldn't have been more pleased. After a shaky start Rosalie and Bella had put aside their differences and were getting on. They were two of my favourite people and I would have been devastated if they continued to hate one another.

The night ended on a high with all of us laughing and Bella and Rosalie talking a lot more. They still weren't best friends, but it was a step in the right direction. After we paid we all walked out of the restaurant. Rose and Emmett went hand in hand, just like me and Bella. We walked out of the restaurant into the car park and stopped outside Emmett's car.

"See you guys," I said pulling Emmett into a huge and thumping him on the back. I hugged Rosalie as well and kissed her on the cheek.

"Yeah bye," said Emmett hugging Bella.

"See you two soon then," Rosalie said apprehensively to me and Bella.

"Yes sure," said Bella as they both stood awkwardly obviously deciding whether to hug.

"Okay then bye!" Rosalie snapped. She was not one for awkward situations. She walked round the other side of Emmett's care and got in the passenger seat. Emmett got in too and we waved them off as they drove away.

We walked over to Bella's truck, "well I don't think that went too bad," Bella said.

"No me neither. It was a success and I'm glad."

We stopped outside Bella's car, "well I guess I'll see you soon then," she said.

"Yeah. Unless you want to stay round at mine?" Was it too soon?

She smiled, "yes I'd like that."

"Great. So shall we meet there then?" I said as we both came to the restaurant in different cars.

"Sounds good," she replied reaching up to give me a chaste kiss on the lips. She had a devious look in her eyes, "Can't wait."

I laughed and opened her car door for her so she could get in, "shall we drive in convoy?" she asked.

"Yes, I'll lead the way. See you soon!"

I pushed her car door shut and walked over to my own car. I got in and drove out of the car park checking I could see Bella in the wing mirror behind me.

I felt so amazingly happy and it was unreal.

I felt whole for once.

I looked in the mirror at Bella one more time and it was just a pleasant reminder that the empty spot in my bed, my heart and my life would finally be filled.

-

Thank you for reading!

I just noticed that over 100 people have added my story to favourites and story alert. So I'm very glad so many of you have been reading, I didn't know it was so many as less are reviewing! Only 19 on the last chapter.

So I'm hoping that with this chapter and the next one (the epilogue) that I can cross the 500 review mark. Yes 500 ahhh!

Because that would be absolutely bloody AM-AZ-ING!

I'm not going to set a review target as that is unfair on those who do review, I'll just update when I can… hopefully soon!

So guys help me to reach my target and please review :)