Thank you all for your great reviews once again. It amazes me what you are all thinking of this. I don't own these characters but I do love them. The songs for this chapter are "Every Time You Go Away" by Paul Young, "Good-by" by Saving Abel, "Six Songs for Tenor and Piano" by Brahms, "The 9 Symphonies" by Beethoven and "Rubber Ducky" by Ernie of Sesame Street. Enjoy!

BPOV/DECEMBER 1ST

The thoughts of the past few weeks had been through my brain all damn night. I couldn't sleep no matter how hard I tried. I told him that leaving would have no affect on me but I was wrong. I didn't want him leaving but I understood. I wanted him here so we could enjoy the special things for the holiday. When he told me he was leaving and not to return till the week of Christmas my heart sank. I just had to be brave and be ok with everything. I knew I loved Edward but I didn't know why he loved me. I felt horrible breaking things off last night like I did but I knew that if I gave in it would not be the mind blowing night of my life I wanted. I felt his stirring softly so I closed my eyes to show I was sleeping. I felt a soft kiss on my forehead as he went to the bathroom. I turned over and fought the tears that were trying to form in my red eyes. I heard him pee the morning pee that we all did. I heard the toilet flush and him go downstairs closing the door behind him

Edward had been gone awhile doing who knows what. He was the one to surprise me all the time and I went through the paces of them. I loved it but on the other hand I didn't need money to have a special time with him. I turned back over not knowing when he would be back. He still thought I was asleep and I wanted it to stay that way. I heard him set something down and sit on the bed next to me. I felt his hand slowly go down my cheek and then his lips on mine. I slowly opened my eyes and looked at to a beautiful pair of green eyes looking back at me. I just hoped that I didn't look like I had not slept all night.

"Good morning beautiful. I made us some breakfast. I was not sure what you liked so I made the basics for us." Edward had a t-shirt on covering his muscles and the flannel pants he usually wore around me. I sat up trying to figure out what time it was as he brought over the tray for us.

He placed a napkin on my lap as he put the tray over my legs. We sat there in silence eating food all knowing he was leaving soon. I took a bite of my toast and noticed it was still early in the morning. It was earlier than I normally got up even for work. We both finished up and Edward took the tray back downstairs. He left the door open this time and I could hear him cleaning things up. The good side of me told me to go down and help him and the bitch side of me told me to curl up and try to get some sleep. I listened to the bitch side and rolled over. I heard him come back up and lay beside me kissing the part of my lips he could get to.

"Bella you have been awfully quiet is there anything wrong? Please tell me I can't bear to see you this upset." He sat up looking me taking his lips away from my face.

I laid there and thought don't be a fucking coward Bella just admit him you are going to miss him. My heart was yelling at me to tell him and I knew I had to. I didn't want to let him go even if it was for the family business. I felt his breath on my neck as he was kissing it. He ran his nose across my chin. He was making this harder for me to say good-by but it was three weeks maybe less I could do this. I put my hand on his cheek and graced it carefully. I could feel slight stubble under my palm and I smiled at him while looking at his green eyes.

"I know I told you I understood you had to leave but I don't want you to go. Please don't go, please don't leave me." I could feel the tears forming on my eyelids and then fall in strips down my face. He looked at me with such sadness. I never wanted to make him sad but I loved him.

"Bella love I don't want to leave you either but I have to go we all do. You are not the only one that has a heart breaking here. I wanted to take you to see the Nutcracker, Pioneer Square and shopping. I can't do those things now. As much as I dislike these clients we can't pass this up. They are going to put Cullen Construction into a new phase of the business. I love you and I am coming back to you. I know you are upset about last night but I am glad we didn't make love. As much as I love your home I want something romantic for us." He pulled me over on top of him.

He put his hands around my back and rested on my ass. I put my hands on his face rolling my fingers over every feature so I could put them into memory. I kissed his eyelids one by one and slowly moved down each side of his cheeks. I put my head into his neck and laid there listening to the blood flow through the veins in his neck. I felt his hands move off my ass and come up to my other cheeks. He pulled my face towards his and we just looked at each other. He lifted his head so his lips would come into contact with mine. How I would miss those soft supple lips I had loved to kiss so freely. His tongue graced the bottom of my lip then tried to part my lips. I freely opened them and let him in.

He tasted so sweet in my mouth. Our tongues swirled together not wanting to leave each other. He pulled out biting my lower lip then placing a sweet kiss on my forehead. I knew it was time for him to go I just hoped I could let him go this time. I laid there keeping a tight hold on him till he got up while holding on to me. We were sitting on the edge of my bed looking at each other. I could feel the tears fall again and he wiped them away dragging his fingers down the side of my face.

"Bella it is time I can hear Jasper downstairs. I love you and I promise to call when I can. Keep your computer on incase I can't get to a phone." He kissed my lips again and we entwined together.

He stood up while I was hanging on to him and he gently sat me on the bed. I could hear Jasper and Alice talking downstairs. I don't know when they came in but they were here and it was time. I looked up at him and he brushed my hair behind my ear. He bent down one more time to kiss me. I could feel his thumbs making circles around on my cheek. I never knew one of us leaving like this would hurt. I left those weeks back but at the time it was not like this. This time it was different, my soul mate and my best friend was leaving and taking my heart with him.

I saw him turn around, open my door and go down the stairs. I heard the front door close and I slid off my bed and started sobbing. I was falling apart now how was I going to deal with this if we were together in the future? I sat there in silence with tears down my face with my knees to my chin thinking….Did I want a future with Edward? In an instant I saw me in a beautiful dress standing in front of him declaring I would stay with him forever. I heard children's laughter around us as we were on the back porch. It was like an old time movie being playing out onto a screen. I knew at that moment what I wanted and that was him.

I heard Alice farting around down stairs. She had this funny way of doing nothing but making the most noise while doing it. I don't know how long I had laid there but I decided to face my best friend, my sister and start counting the days down before he would return back to me. I got up and went into wash my face. The cool water felt good as I splashed it all over. I heard the phone ring and Alice telling me to get it. I walked out of the bathroom and picked it up. It was my doctor calling to let me know the results on my last test results. I had a check up last summer but the results didn't come out right so I had to go back in a few weeks ago. I felt like a damn pin cushion with all the blood work and everything else. I was used to it as this was my life for years. I told them I would be into the office tomorrow and hung up.

I walked downstairs to get something to eat. I was starving and I knew a bowl of chocolate ice cream would make it better. Normally eating this kind of crap was not the best for me but this time my heart wanted it too. I simply gave in to the chocolate that was calling my name from the freezer. Alice was sitting at the table with her laptop open. We had a party Wednesday night to do and one next week. We would be free after that week. I knew I had said the week of Christmas but I gave up with the last minute calls and put the business answering machine on a new message that we were not going to take any more orders and we were taking some much needed time off. Alice had sent out Christmas cards out to all of our clients. It was a cute card with a snow scene and gingerbread men and what not. We had cards coming out of our ass but I loved every minute of it.

Alice popped her head up and smiled at me while I made the biggest bowl of ice cream I could. I sat down beside her and took a huge bite savoring the cold sweetness as it went down my throat.

"That good huh? Looks like someone is missing a certain hunky green eyed boy." She smirked at me because she was missing Jasper as much as I was missing Edward. I nodded at her and then flipped her off. She got up and grabbed a spoon so we could share in each other's misery.

"So who was on the phone?" She slipped her laptop closed and concentrated on just us.

"The results are back from the blood work I had done a few weeks ago. I am sure it is nothing but another pill change. You know nothing new there same drama different day. I just hope whatever she puts me on helps because I can't take much more of this."

Alice knew what that call meant. I was diagnosed with PCOS years ago and she knew how much I had struggled with the horrible cramps, the endless bleeding and one pill after another. I knew she worried about me but there was nothing one could do other than take medication and pray that it worked.

"Bella you have been down this road before and it always turns out right. At least you have a doctor that is caring enough to make sure everything can be done for you to have kids. I talked to Esme she wants us to go to lunch and then we can shop for dresses. I told her Saturday would be best for us both. Is that ok?" She took our empty bowl and spoons and washed them out.

"That is fine unless hell freezes over and someone calls me needing a cake or something I am free all that day. Sunday is going to be a bitch though. That crazy Palmer lady is throwing a house warming party for her daughter and son-in-law. Thank god most of the work was done before Ben and Angela left. I meant to ask you could you help me deliver. We don't have to set up or anything but there is no way in hell I can do it by myself"

"Bella I told you I would help while they were gone. I may be little but I can help. Besides I don't want you going all boxer on her if she pisses you off." We erupted into laughter at the thought of me taking her out.

I yawned and told her goodnight. She said she was heading there soon as she didn't get much sleep last night. I saw a blush sweet across her cheeks. I knew they had a romantic evening together and I knew there were more to come once she saw the ring he bought for her finger.

I crawled into bed with his lips on my lips and his touch on my body. New Year's was going to blow us both away. I heard Alice come up the stairs and crawl into bed. We were both exhausted from all the romance and emotions we were feeling.

JPOV/SAMEDAY

I drove Alice home after the wonderful night I planned for her. I knew she was happy because she was humming in the shower before we left to go back home. When we entered the house things were quiet. We sat on the couch enjoying the last minutes together before Edward and I had too meet dad and Emmett at the plane. I didn't want to leave but I knew we were going to be back. Alice and I had been intimate so we content with leaving each other. Emmett on the other hand was nervous wreck leaving his new little family. I was not sure how Edward was feeling but I knew he didn't want to go either.

We heard the shower run upstairs and I knew my brother was up and getting ready to go. I just hoped that Bella would be ok in all of this. During the two weeks she was gone Edward's heart was ripped as ours was. We knew that she needed this time to think and heal. Edward and Bella were meant to be together. They were pieces of a lost puzzle looking for a place to fit it.

I held Alice in my lap and Edward came down the stairs with his bag in his hand. He looked like he was going to cry any moment so I took that as my clue to get us out of here. I kissed Alice on the temple and told her I would try to call when I could. We walked out the door to my truck and climbed in. The ride was quiet yet I could tell something was going on in Edward's head. I knew that he would let me know what he was thinking and it was better not to push him into it.

I drove up to the plane and saw dad there with Emmett. Dad had a quirky smile on his face while looking at us all. We all piled out of our cars and into the plane. Dad sat next to me as I was sure we had some things to go over before we met the clients tomorrow. Emmett kept looking at the pictures on his iPod of what I was sure was of Rose in something sexy and the sonogram of the babies. Edward on the other hand sat there looking out the window with a sad look on his face. If I had to guess I would assume someone ran over his puppy and squashed it like a pancake. What a family we were…..I was happy being I had amazing sex last night with a vixen that made my loins quiver every time I thought of her, Emmett was wreck for leaving his impending family and Edward was so forlorn that he made me want to puke from all the sadness. Dad just sat there with a goofy grin on his face which meant he had a good or better night than I did.

We readied for lift off and Emmett freaked out. He started yelling and throwing things and saying get him off this fucking tuna can and back to his pregnant beautiful wife. It took dad and me to get him to come back to his seat. The next few hours would be entertaining as Emmett paced back and forth. Edward, dad and I went over the plans and tried not to piss off Emmett more than he was.

We finally landed in Chicago and headed to our hotel room. Dad got a two bedroom a suite with 4 beds. We unpacked, grabbed a snack and went to bed. I noticed that Emmett made several calls only to leave messages and Edward kept checking his lap top. Six months ago our family was dealing with the business and didn't see anything like this coming. Rose and Emmett had decided to hold of on kids, I was dating but not exclusively and Edward was being assward just like he always was. Look at us now…..Emmett was going to be a dad of not one but two new arrivals, I had Alice in my life and was going to ask her to be my wife and Edward was head over fucking heals in love with Bella. Our lives were thrown into turmoil but it was the best damn turmoil ever.

The next three weeks were going to be the best times and the worst times of our lives for everyone. I just hoped that we would be able to go home early after all this. These clients were demanding but from what dad showed me in the plane it would put us on the map for a long time.

BPOV/DECEMBER 2nd

I drug my ass out of bed to go take a shower. I needed to make sure every thing was clean and shaven so I didn't feel like a complete idiot in front of my gynecologist. It is a spoken rule in the girl handbook that no underarm, leg or hoo haa will be unshaven or unclean. I am grateful for the waxing now even though it was damn painful to have done. I let the hot water run over my body. I was achy and my eyes were still sore from crying when he left.

All I knew is I loved him and he loved me. Whatever was in our future being living together, getting married or having kids I knew Edward was the man I wanted to do it with. After everything we both have been through I knew that we could handle anything as long as we did it together. I got dressed in a polo shirt and some jeans. My doctor's appointment didn't need me dressed up but I did want to look nice when I made cookie deliveries today.

I went downstairs and noticed Alice was already gone. Her remnants of her breakfast were in the sink and there was a note on the dinning room table that said they made it safely but were going to be in meetings all day. I poured a mug of coffee and grabbed some toast. I sat down at the table eating and thinking of what to get Edward for Christmas. Everyone else so easy but I wanted to make sure he had a special gift from me.

I got up and cleaned up my mess. I put my boots on grabbed my purse and keys and headed out. I needed to grab the platters from the main house and I needed to make another platter to take to my doctor's office. Snow was falling again as I carefully walked over to the back porch. I unlocked the door and unset the alarm. It was eerie being here with Ben and Angela gone. I hoped that his mother was not being too crazy and they were having a good time. I checked the messages and saw that there was nothing new which I was grateful for. I loved our business and being so busy but with being our first Christmas together I wanted our time to be special. That went down the crapper when they had to leave for business.

I grabbed the platters from downstairs and did up another one and headed back out. I had to make several trips but it all fit. I locked up and hoped that traffic would not be bad so I could make it to my appointment on time. I hated waiting but I wanted to show them I could be on time even if they were not.

I traveled around the city delivering cookie orders. It was so nice to see people happy about cookies. Several of our customers wanted to put in another order and I told them to call soon as I was closing down the kitchen the next weekend. They were sad to hear that but happy that I was spending time with my family. Many of our customers had become family to us. One family we had done several dinners for and we had their daughters wedding coming up in the spring. I loved dealing with them as did Alice. They gave us a budget that made us swoon and gave us carte blanch for it other than telling us what colors she wanted. It was people like this that made my job easy and enjoyable.

I pulled up to my doctor's appointment and grabbed the platter of cookies. I was relieved when I walked in and I was the only one there. The office staff was happy to see me bring in food. Some of these ladies were big fans of mine even in the college days. I was brought back to Dr. Jameson's office and was relieved that I would not be going into those cold stirrups only to be told to scoot down. I hated that as you sat there with your breast out into the wind and your hoo haa hanging out for everyone and god to see.

The nurse let me sit there and said the doctor would be with me momentarily as she was just finishing up with a patient. I looked about the room and noticed the pictures of all the babies she had delivered through the years. The obligatory baby in a uterus was sitting on the book shelf along with pregnancy books. It was not but a few minutes later that she joined me with a cup of coffee and my cookies with a smile on her face.

"Bella these are scrumptious. Ok down to business the reason why I had you re-do your blood work is some of your hormone levels came back weird. After looking at the newest results everything is fine. It seems that you keeping an eye on your diet and taking the birth control pills are helping. I don't see any reason why to change anything now. "She took another bite of her cookie and drank some more of her coffee.

"I am relieved to hear that but I do have one question well several to ask you if you have the time." I blushed as discussing things like this still made me uneasy. She nodded at me while grabbing a pen to write any pertinent information in my file.

"I am with someone and….um…..shit. Ok we have plans well I have plans to be intimate with him. I want to make sure everything is ok…ok that is not it. I want to make sure it is not going to be painful. I love him and I don't want this to be an experience that will cause him pain too. There I said it so you can laugh at me now." I bit my lip and blushed again while looking at my hands in my lap.

"Bella I am so happy you found someone. I hope that he treats you the way you deserve but knowing you the way I do I am sure you still don't like being spoiled." We both laughed but I told her I was beginning to enjoy it though.

"Bella I don't see why sex between the two of you won't be enjoyable. If you want we can do a quick exam to ease your mind. You are already on birth control pills and with your history I don't see a pregnancy happening unless you are really trying." She made some notes in my file and went back to enjoying her coffee and cookies.

"Fine bring on the damn stirrups." I mumbled to myself. She laughed at me as she knew I hated this but we endured it together.

She walked me to an exam room and handed me a gown and sheet. The exam was quick and painless for once. She left me to get dressed and I met her back in her office. She made some more notes in my file and then looked back up at me.

"Bella obviously there was a reason for all this and knowing you the way I do I will just put it out there. You have no hymen so there is no need to worry about that. I am sure as long as your boyfriend treats you the way you deserve to be treated I see a great sex life ahead of you." She sat there smiling at me while handing me some trials samples of KY-Jelly. I blushed when I saw it but she said it would make things easier also to have a glass of wine to relax before hand.

"Stick a fork in me now and do me in please. At least I didn't have to bring it up. I thought that everything would be fine but I have issues I know that. Thank you for not laughing your ass off at me. "I got up out of my chair and she walked me out. I noticed the lobby was empty and the nurses were laughing and enjoying the treats I brought.

"Bella anytime you have questions you know where to find me and one recommendation I want to give you is be open with him. Tell him what you love and don't love. I am sure you will do fine. See me in 6 months. Have a great Christmas and even a great New Year." She walked back to her office.

I went to and got into my car thinking I made a good decision not to take the company van this time. I made a few more order deliveries and headed home. I was tired and needed some food and a hot bath. I also hoped that Edward would call. I was missing him more than ever and the thought of three weeks made me positively green.

I drove home and went upstairs to find Alice sitting at the table with her cell phone in one hand and typing with the other. She smiled at me and I mouthed dinner to her. She nodded as I went into the kitchen to whip up a meatloaf. I was in the mood for comfort food. I grabbed what I needed and got to work. I could hear Alice talking behind me with what I thought was a client.

I put the meatloaf in the convection oven. I loved ours it made cooking go faster and made things easier. I put some corn on the stove and made garlic mashed potatoes. I made quick gravy too and put it all on to keep warm while waiting for the main course to get done. I grabbed plates and silverware and quietly set the table around Alice.

I told her quietly that dinner would be ready in about an hour or so and went up to take a hot bath. After today I needed it and I knew the jets would ease my tired muscles. I went up the stairs in to my room and was blasted by his scent. It was sweet, musky and all together erotic to my senses. I noticed he left his t-shirt and flannel bottom. I smiled and the thought came over me to wear them. I figured if he was not here the next best thing was to have something on me that he wore.

I went into my bathroom and started a hot bath. I waited for the water to get high enough to turn on the jest. I have to give it to Esme she thought of everything when she designed our bathrooms. They each had a separate shower and bath. The shower had shelves built in for everything and a seat built into the wall making shaving legs easy. Our Jacuzzi tubs also had hand held spray nozzles to make rinsing off easy too. I worshiped Esme and finding out that she was the one that designed this for us make me love her even more.

I grabbed Edward's clothes, my cell phone and iPod. I turned on some music and lit a few candles and turned off the lights. I wanted to relax and desensitize myself from everything that happened. The jets felt so good on my tired aching muscles. I listened to Brahms and Beethoven float through the air and I felt the stress melt away slowly. I was in my own world filled with peace but that was interrupted with my cell phone ringing. I was hoping that my telepathy would work and he would call. I smirked when I realized it worked. I turned off the jets and reached for it flipping it open.

"Hello beautiful. Can I just say I have missed you?" His voice was like velvet to my ears. I was happy to hear from him but it made my heart ache a little more.

"I have missed you too. How did your meetings go today?" I turned the jets back on but made sure they were on low. My back was beginning to hurt again. I made a note to make sure I got a message sometime this week.

"They were eventful and entertaining. These men don't have a clue what they want for a site. Though we found a few in the area that can do the job but they are being damn picky. We are all hoping to be back early but don't count on it. Why do I hear water?"

I blushed at the thought of telling him where I was. I figured I could open myself up a little more and tease him just a bit.

"I am taking a nice hot bath. My back muscles were killing me so I thought it might help. By the way you left your clothes here and I am going to wear them to bed tonight. They smell like you." I heard a groan come through the phone and then silence.

"Edward are you still there?" I looked at my phone to make sure we were not disconnected.

"I am here my love and I am trying not to think of a way to come home sooner so I can join you. As for the clothes that made it worse and I can't wait to see you in them. Did I tell you I love you but you are evil?" I heard him laugh under his breath.

I smiled at my self score one point for me. My little plan was working as I thought of it on the way home. He told me that he would call me back he had to go kill his brothers. I hung up and realized just how much he loved me. I was very lucky that I got a chance to have someone that perfect to love. The minutes passed and I thought he had pummeled his brothers to death and forgot about me but I heard my cell phone ring again.

"Sorry I had to deal with my loving brothers and then got the idea to join you for a bath. I hope you have a rubber ducky I left mine at home." I could hear water being sloshed around in the background and a heat rise up my body of the thought of him naked.

"So how was your day? I hope you are not working yourself to death. I don't want to come back to my girlfriend dead from being taken out by catering." I heard him chuckle.

"Edward I am fine I just made some deliveries and then went to my doctor's appointment." Crap I was not going to mention that to him but it slipped out. I didn't want him to worry as it was over nothing.

"Bella is everything ok? I can take have the plane ready to go if you need me to come home. Everyone will understand." I could hear the concern in my voice and it made me love him more.

"Edward as much as I would love for you to come home and share my bed you need to stay there. It was just a check up and everything is fine." I meant that I was fine in more ways than one when I said that to him. He didn't know there was a hidden meaning behind it all.

"Bella I love you and I want to take care of you. As long as you are ok and it was just a check up I won't go running naked out there to catch the plane." I heard him chuckle as I moaned into the phone. He was just as evil as I was at this.

"My rubber ducky and I are turning all prune and I am sure dinner is going to be burned if I don't get down there to take it out. I love you and I miss you." I let the drain out and slowly got out not to fall and knock myself out. I would never live that one down.

"I miss you too and have a great week. I love you more than you know but now I need a cold shower after hearing that." We both laughed and I heard the shower turn on and then hung up. I toweled myself off and ran a brush through my hair. I got my underwear on and pulled his flannel pants on. His t-shirt overwhelmed me but I didn't care as it smelled like him. It was the next best thing without him next to me.

I walked down the stairs and saw two huge flower bouquets sitting on the table. I noticed Alice still working. She mouthed to me she was almost done and she pointed to the flowers with a huge smile. Pink roses and babies breath for Alice and blue roses with greener for me. Our men were thinking of us and missed us and I was sure Alice had talked to Jasper as I had talked to Edward.

I went into the kitchen and pulled out the meatloaf. I plated everything and brought it to the table. I started eating as Alice hung up.

"Damn fucking Palmers I love them dearly but they are going to make me take up boxing like they made you. So how did your bath go?" She smirked and raised her eyes at me.

"Damn Jasper….my bath was just fine thank you very much." I handed her a plate of food and we sat there and ate. We talked about how we were missing the boys and how we needed to get out more. Alice got a gleam in her eyes and picked up her phone. She punched in a number and all I heard was Friday night at 7pm at our favorite karaoke place. She hung up and kept eating.

"I take it you made plans for us?" We both started laughing and finished dinner. We sat there and talked over a glass of wine. She told me that Esme needed some help for the New Year's Eve party. She told me they felt bad that they didn't get me to do the food for it but the chef was already hired from last year. I was relieved actually I wanted to enjoy a party that I attended instead of working it. I asked her what I should get Edward for Christmas and she said she would think about it. She said that maybe Esme and Rose could help when we went dress shopping on Saturday.

Alice helped me do dishes and put food away. She said she was happy to help clean up and eat anytime I needed her to do it. She asked what I had planned this week. I had a wedding cake to do and finished cookie orders. We had the Palmer party on Sunday night so she said she would help me Friday to get everything ready for it. We finished our wine and climbed into bed. I sent Edward a text thanking him for the flowers and he sent one back saying I was more beautiful but they always reminded him of me.