holy cow 2 updates in what, a week? that's like... super uber duper rare. right bels?

Ummmm, tots. it means we actually came out of our bubble to post :P
whatever, i like our bubble. don't pop it :P

our bubble kicks ass. Rob wishes he was in our bubble.
Umm... duh. so, let's get the nitty gritty outta the way. 1) we don't own these characters (you'd think by now, right?) and 2) we love reviews they keep us plowin along in Topeka.

umm, tots. they make good rooster food :)

BPOV

I wasn't sure how long I laid there but it felt like ages. I knew Edward had to break up with Tanya, him being sarcastic and condescending was completely unnecessary. But I'm sorry; maybe I had grown used to the few days of not having to hide everything but when he brought up not being able to take something back for our future because of his present, it struck a cord. I mean, in the grand scheme of things the purse was nice, but it wasn't the end all be all. I just didn't get why he couldn't bring something for our future (however insignificant the bag itself was in the greater picture) to his studio if he really wanted to keep it for us. I tossed and turned fighting with myself but at the end it was the principle of it.

He wanted to take back a part of our future to keep things copacetic in his present. And that's the part that turned me into a Moody Mary. It wasn't having the bag or not having the bag or even Edward going back to Tanya to end it, but that he could and would so easily toss away something for us for our future, to keep his present happy. It almost seemed like he didn't want to rock the boat because he was intending to stay with Tanya for a bit.

And that's when I decided it would be best for me to go for a walk. Clearing my head might be good. I changed back into Edward's t-shirt, because who was I kidding? I needed him. It may have been pathetic and anti-feministic but I did. I need him near me and with me and loving me. After tossing his t-shirt back on and slipping into a pair of yoga pants I grabbed my key card and walked out of the room. As I turned the hall to the elevator I noticed a familiar mop of bronze hair on the floor, leaning against the wall.

"Edward?" I asked as I approached him. I saw his fingers rake through his hair as he turned towards me. "Bella..." I jogged over to him, flopping down beside him and wrapping my arms around him tightly. I buried my face in the crook of his neck as I felt his arms wrap around me.

"what's wrong, love?"

"I always want you around." I breathed into his neck pulling myself tighter against him.

He pressed his lips into my hair, sighing quietly. "I'm here, love. Whenever you want me, I'm here."

"And I'm sorry... I just... I'm scared we'll go back and things will go back to the way they were. That this will have just been a temporary bubble of like, the perfect world. And you'll go back to Tanya and marry her and I'll go back to James and it'll be like the past few days never happened."

His grip tightened around my body and I felt him shake his head against my shoulder. "Hey... Hey... don't say that, okay? If you still want those things with me, then we'll have them. I still want them, Bella. I wouldn't have promised them to you if I didn't." There was a brief moment of silence before I felt his lips on mine and it felt nothing short of apologetic. "I'm sorry I got so sensitive over the bag. I just wanted you to have something from me. That's all."

"I'll keep the bag now, if it's that important to you. I don't want you to think I didn't appreciate the sentiment. I love the bag, I love you for thinking enough of me to want to get me the bag. I love you for not denying us to Alice even though you probably should have." I murmured planting kisses along his neck after each declaration. "I love you because you're Edward and you're the only man I'm ever going to love."

"Baby, I love you too. And you know you're it for me... there won't ever be anyone but you, you know that. And it's not about having the bag or not having the bag. I just wanted to do something nice for you. I love you, Bella. You... you gave me my life back, and that's a priceless gift and nothing I ever give you can compete with. You deserve so much more than some leather and string."

I stood up and pulled him up with me. "I have you. There's nothing that could ever mean more to me than knowing I have you, always."

His arms came around my waist protectively. "But that's not the same. I want to show you how much you mean to me, and I... Bella, I don't know how." I pressed my lips against his softly and rubbed my nose against his. I didn't know what to tell him. Would leaving Tanya fix everything? I hoped so, but relationships are hard no matter how perfect two people are for each other. My lips found his again quickly before resting my forehead against his. "Baby, let's go get dinner okay? Bring some take out home and just veg. I missed you."

He nodded. "I missed you too." His arms released their grip on my waist and his hand found mine quickly. "What do you feel like?" I asked as we made our way to the elevator.

He shook his head, shrugging. "I don't care. Whatever's closest?"

"We could say fuck going outside and just order room service?"

"Mhm. We could. On me." I rolled my eyes and let out a small laugh. "I shouldn't even bother arguing should I?"

"No, you shouldn't." He said, kissing me. I laughed a little harder and kissed him again as we turned around and walked towards our room. "Fine... for now."

"For now?"

I nodded and opened the door with my card. "Mhm. You can't pay for everything Edward. Eventually you're going to need to be okay with me buying some of our things."

He scoffed as if what I'd said was completely ridiculous. "Like what?"

"Like food for us. You didn't seemed to mind when I bought us breakfast last weekend."

He plopped down on the sofa, reaching for the menu on the coffee table. "Correction, love. You went out and did it yourself. And I will get you back for that." I turned to follow him to the couch when I spotted a familiar bright orange bag in the corner of my eye. I turned, and bit my lip.

The purse. He hadn't taken it back. "Ed-- Edward?" I asked over my shoulder.

"What's up, Baby?" He asked, sounding distracted.

I couldn't take my eyes off the bag. "You didn't... take the bag back?"

"You didn't tell me to. You just told me to give you space. I was hoping you'd change your mind." He said sounding a million miles away, as I heard the beeping of dialing behind me.

"But.. but you said you were taking it back. You said you couldn't bring it home with you... that you'd get a new one if I really wanted one that badly later on."

I heard the phone click off and his voice sounded more certain. "Baby," he began. "If that bag means enough for you to tell me to leave, then I'll figure something out. And if you want a new one later, I'll get you a new one."

My head shot around and my body quickly followed; I was on him in an instant. A mixture of guilt, happiness, and just... love overpowered me. My lips moved against his feverishly as my elbows rested on his shoulders and my hands tangled in his hair. His hands moved up and down my sides rhythmically as I let out an exhale against his lips and he took that opportunity to slide his tongue into my mouth. We tasted each other for a few moments before slowly pulling away. I pushed my nose against his playfully as I whispered, "It was never about the bag itself Edward, you need to know that." He nodded and kissed my cheek softly. "I know baby. I didn't think you would have kicked me out over a fashion accessory." I smirked and nodded, thankful that he at least partially understood - even though I didn't remember kicking him out. I rolled my body off him and snuggled up to his side as we flipped through the menu for the kitchen downstairs.

"So why am I being subjected to this again?"

"Edward, it's Real Housewives of New York. We're in New York and this is like... the best reality show ever." I replied as we shared a plate of steak fries and a $16 dollar burger. Really, I was expecting it to like... glow or something with radiance for that price, but no. It was just a burger with cheese, between two buns. He smirked and shook his head. "Okay so that blonde one that looks like a man?"

I nodded "she's married to the douchebag with an accent who everyone thinks is gay." His eyebrows pushed up into his hairline. "Everyone?"

"Well... just me. But come ON! Watch him!" I said pointed animatedly to the TV. "Watch!" He laughed and took a bite of his burger half as he settled into the couch. I fell against his chest, holding a handful of fries. "Ew! The Countess..." I sneered as we watched her go off on Ramona at some charity function."

"Why is she such a bitch to her? Sure Ramona may be annoying, but that's not necessary!" He shouted. I lifted my head and looked at him wide-eyed before busting up laughing.

"What...?" He asked looking at me confused. "I'm right, watch!" He said, gesturing towards the TV. I continued laughing and nodded. He looked at me as if I'd sprouted three heads and turned back to the TV pulling me closer to his side.

"Sweet or salty?" I asked after the show had flashed previews for the next episode and we waited impatiently for the marathon to continue.

"Sweet. Hot or Cold?"

"Cold. You?"

"Hot. Brownies or cookies?"

"Brownies with nuts. Favorite fruit and you can't say strawberries because that's a cop out answer."

He kissed my forehead and leaned us both back against the couch. "I'm allergic to strawberries, so I couldn't even if I wanted to. Blueberries, you?"

"Umm... mango."

"Sex with or without a condom?"

"Doesn't matter."

I turned to look up at him. "It doesn't matter?"

He shook his head. "If I get to be in you, at least to me, it doesn't make a difference."

I smiled and let out a small laugh. "Well then I feel like a total perv."

"Why's that?" He said, laughing.

I leaned in partially for added effect but mostly to hide my blush. My lips grazed his earlobe as I whispered, "because I like feeling you cum in me."

"I don't remember saying I hated that?" He stated, kissing my cheek softly.

"No just that you're unaffected either way and have no preference." I replied pulling back and kissing his chin.

"Cause I get to have you. And I'll take however you'll let me." He said with a shrug.

I laughed at how democratic he was being. "Waffles or pancakes?"

He let out a puff of laughter and rolled his eyes. "Pancakes. Lucy or Ethel?"

"Ethel. Lucy's voice sounds like nails to a chalkboard to me. Favorite Peanuts character?"

"Linus. Greece or Italy?"

"Italy." I replied sliding over his lap to straddle him and face him head on. "Family Feud or Wheel of Fortune?"

"Family Feud, which is obviously a good answer." He shifted my body to rest against his thighs and leaned in to kiss my bottom lip before resting his head comfortably on my shoulder. "Watch me die slowly or quickly."

"I'd rather die first."

I felt his arms tighten around me as he murmured into my hair, "I won't let you."

"You'd rather make me suffer and have my final image be of you dying? Because baby when you die, I die."

His cool breath fanned over my warm skin and I felt his mouth open around the curve of my neck laying a moist kiss against the spot."Live for me"

I shook my head against him. "That sentence... that word doesn't even make sense unless you're in it with me."

I felt his nose graze the curve of my neck as he murmured against me. "I'm always with you. Always. We're never truly apart, love."

I pulled away a little, worried. "Edward... you're okay right? You're not like, sick or anything?"

"No, love."

I sighed and pressed my lips to his slowly. "Good. Because I want you around for the next 50 years."

"That's all I get?" He asked, grinning playfully.

My lips curved into a grin. "Yep, I figure on my 75th birthday I'll ask for a divorce."

He sighed, shaking his head and moving his head down to rest against my collar bone. My lips pressed into his hair firmly. "Baby, I'm kidding. You see how attached to you I am now? Imagine when I've had 50 years of this. You think I'm going to let it go without a fight to the death?"

"You might." He murmured against my skin. "Edward," I murmured into his hair. "Look at me." His head rose up slowly. "Edward, I love you. If there's only one thing I know I will never forget no matter if I live to be 200 and go senile, it's that I love you. I will always want to be right here with you. Trust that, okay?" He nodded, kissing me quickly. "Okay. I love you, my Bella." I placed a chaste kiss on his lips and inched off his lap to stand directly in front of him. "It's Sunday Edward," I pointed out as I hooked my thumbs under my sweats and pulled them down. "That means you, me, no clothes and that bed back there." I stated, pointing towards the bedroom. "I mean, unless you'd rather watch Real Housewives..."

He smirked and tugged his t-shirt off his head quickly, tossing it behind him. "I could always move the TV in there." I raised an eyebrow and slid Edward's shirt off my body standing in front of him in my white boyshirt-cut underwear. "You sure that's how you want to spend the evening? Wrapped up in the reality TV marathon?" I asked crossing my arms over my chest and creating the illusion of even more cleavage than I had.

He moved, dropping his pants quickly before getting on his knees in front of me. His hands reached for my arms and pulled them apart, away from my breasts. He sighed audibly before his tongue traced the underside of my tits, slowly making its way to my nipple, while the other breast was wrapped in his hand as he palmed it roughly. He moved his mouth to the other breast moaning against me. Once he'd had his fill of my chest, his lips meandered up to my lips slowly. Just before his mouth met mine he whispered, "I think this is better."

I sighed and pressed my lips to his before letting my lips wander down his neck. "Are you sure? I mean I know you were looking forward to seeing the fallout between everyone." I breathed against the crook of his neck before biting into his skin.

He groaned and slowly lowered his body as his lips made contact with every part of my skin along the way. He laid open mouth kisses between my breasts and down my stomach, poking his tongue in my belly button and making me squirm. He took a deep breath and groaned as his face made contact with the elastic of my underwear. "I wanna see your underwear hit the floor." I sucked in a breath and rolled my head back as I felt his lips move further down, kissing my mound through my panties. "Wh-what... don't you like my underwear?" I mumbled somewhat incoherently. "Not when they're coming between me and my dessert." He whispered as his lips pressed against my folds through my underwear. My throat let out a pathetic whimper and I felt him smile against me. His fingers pulled my underwear to the side as his tongue crept its way from my entrance up to my clit. "Fuck...." I puffed out quietly as one of my hands tangled in his hair. His lips dragged lazily back up my body taking their time around my breasts before coming to settle on my lips. "Baby," he murmured. "I need to fuck you. I've only had you twice today. That's like going a decade without in regular couples time." His hands moved down my sides and around my back slide under my underwear and cupping my ass as he pulled me up against his hard on. "Feel me baby," He whispered against my neck. "I need to feel you." I hopped up and wrapped my legs around his hips, tilting my head so I could attack his mouth with my own. His hands gripped my ass and my arms wrapped around his shoulders as he walked us towards the bedroom. My body couldn't handle not feeling this way. It couldn't ever go back to not feeling electrical currents run through it at a man's touch, or see stars from such intense orgasms. I wanted to memorize how Edward felt buried inside me so I'd never forget how good he felt.

We bumped against the mattress and laughed a little under the kiss. His arms lifted me a little higher and I unwound my legs from his body as he set me on the bed. I knelt down in front of him on the mattress and scanned his body. How the fuck did I get this lucky to have a greek god as a soulmate? I mean really, he made me wet enough when he had clothes on, naked he was just... breathtaking. My lips curved into a smirk as my eyes landed on the prize. I looked up and his hands shot up to his hair tugging on it. "Bella, you don't... I mean I'm obviously ready..." He said hesitating a moment. I smiled and shook my head. "No, no fair. You got a taste of me, now I want to taste you." I replied, wrapping a hand around his shaft and pulsing around him. "Shit, baby..." he huffed, leaning his head back. My tongue widened as it swiped along his tip, licking off all the precum and swallowing it down. "Shit..." he sighed. I sat up a little more, grinning. He only gave me one lick, that's all he was going to get. Ha, take that Mr. Tease. His head fell forward with open eyes. "That's... that's--"

"Fuck me Edward." I said, sufficiently cutting him off. I saw his chest fall as he let out a breath and leaned over, pushing my back onto the mattress. His arms bent at an angle so he could prop himself up above me as his lips grazed against mine lazily. It was incredible how quickly our mouths melted into one another. "Fuck," he panted against my lips. "Condoms are in the living room."

"So don't use one?" I asked. I knew I was just asking for trouble by not using protection but fuck, the living room was so far away it may as well have been Africa as far as my pussy was concerned and it needed Edward's cock stat.

"Bella, we can't. You're not on the pill, we have to use something."

"Edward, please? For me? Just bury yourself in me and fuck me til I cum around your dick and you release into me. Please baby? I love feeling you cum."

"Bella it's not... what if you..."

"Edward, please. I'm begging here. Your girlfriend is laying under you, naked, begging you to fuck her. Please baby? Please fuck me?" I asked in my most innocent voice. He sighed and his shoulders relaxed a little as one hand moved down to his cock and I felt his tip brush against me. "I love you," he breathed against my lips as his head pushed into me. I moaned into his mouth at the feel of him sliding inside me.

There was nothing that would ever feel better.

EPOV

I held still for about... a second before I couldn't take it any longer. My bare shaft, wrapped up in Bella's tight pussy was completely indescribable. I groaned and dropped my head to her shoulder as I began rolling my hips slowly in and out of her. Bella was mewing softly in my ear, one hand twisted and tangled in my hair and the other thrown over the bed, gripping the sheet. That shit made me go faster. I lost any control I might have had and I started moving quickly in and out of her. I wanted her to cum because I wanted to see it. I loved watching her let go and knowing that I made her do that. I never felt more like a man than when I was making Bella cum. I attached my lips to the soft skin before me and sucked on the spot while one of my hands went to work on her breast.

"E-edward..." Bella moaned, squeezing and tugging at my hair in time with my thrusts. I pulled and tweaked her nipple until I could feel her begin to quiver around me. I lived for this. I just hadn't known it until very recently. I moved my lips from her shoulder and kissed my way up over her neck and jaw until my lips found hers. I literally fit with her in every way possible. Her lips moves against mine fluidly, as though we were specifically designed with the other in mind. That was when it hit me. Bella and I were really meant to be. We were meant to do this. This... moving in and out of this perfect creature and making her gasp and moan was right. What Bella and I were doing could never and would never be wrong. We were never a game, nor were we a torrid affair.

We were fate manifesting itself.

"Edward... Edward... please..." Bella whispered, kissing the skin beside my ear. "I... I need to cum. Please baby... make me cum."

I sighed softly against her skin and trailed my hand down to her swollen clit, pressing down on it. Her response was instantaneous. She arched off the bed and into me, her walls beginning to flutter against my cock. "Bella, Baby? My Bella... baby, fuck... just... just fucking cum for me, love. Please, Baby, I need you to cum for me all over my fucking cock. Baby, please... I need to feel you.... please baby FUCK!"

I yelled her name as she came, clamping down on my cock and chanting my name. She milked my cock and I kept breathing, trying to ride it out. It was too much though. She was so hot and tight and wet... I couldn't take it. I'd meant to pull out... I didn't want to put us in that situation, but I couldn't. It felt like her pussy was pulling the cum from me. So I gave it to her. Hard. I buried my cock inside her and filled her up, kissing her passionately as I did. I wanted her like this forever, consequences be damned. I waited until her orgasm died down to pull out of her, placing light kisses across her face. I pulled out of her carefully and rolled over so that she was on my chest and curled into me. Where she belonged.

I kissed the top of her head and rubbed her back. "Baby, I love you."

She pressed a deep kiss over my heart, "I love you."

"I hate that I have to leave you, you know."

"Me too." She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "Do you know when you have to go?"

I scooted down so that I could rest my cheek on top of her head. "Tuesday at the latest, love."

She squeezed me tighter, "Tuesday's soon."

I nodded into her hair, "I know."

"So it definitely has to be Tuesday?" she asked sadly.

"Yeah. I left some work at the studio that I need to finish up and send out." I grimaced when I thought of all the emails piling up in my inbox. "But if you're out here for much longer, maybe I can sneak back out for the weekend."

She lifted her head and scooted back to look at me, "No, I should be done by Thursday or Friday at the latest. I'm not going to stay for the rest of the project. That could take weeks, and I don't know if I could handle being away from you for that long."

I furrowed my brow and look down at her, "Baby, you should do what you have to do. I can come visit you, and we'll be on the phone all the time. If staying is something that you need to do, then do it. I can wait."

"Yeah, but I can't."

I squeezed her tightly to me, wrapping my legs around her so that she was surrounded by me. "Love, I'll be right there when you get back. Really, time will fly. You'll see." I said it for her, but for myself as well. She needed me, sure. But I needed her just as badly.

She shook her head, smiling slightly, "No, I've already decided I'm going home after I'm done with this phase. If they need me I'll come back but I don't want to be here, without you, unless absolutely necessary."

I leaned down and kissed her. "Good."

She smiled up at me then asked, randomly: "Do you know how lucky I am to have you? Like it baffles the senses how fortunate I am."

I laughed a little and rolled my eyes. "Bella we discussed this. I am not a catch. You're definitely slumming it with me."

She laughed and shook her head, "You've obviously had the senses fucked out of you this weekend, because that isn't even close to being remotely true." She curled back against me. "I love you."

"I love you too. But really, Baby, this is it. I'm not hiding the best parts for later. This is all of me."

"I know. Because you're the best part, just... you." She looked up at me, her chin resting on my chest. "That's all I'll ever want Edward, I hope you know that. I don't care about the purses or surprise trips to New York. All I want forever is you. You the photographer, the lover, the man that listens to my insane theories on mushrooms... just, you."

"You have me, Bella. As long as you want me, I'm here. I might get frustrated, but I'm always here with you, okay? There's no better place for me than with you."

She sighed, "Edward?"

"Baby?"

She pulled herself impossibly close and I felt her eye lids flutter against my skin. "Can we try and get some sleep, on the promise that you'll wake me up at some point so I can feel you inside me again before sunrise?"

I laughed and kissed the top of her head, settling in. "Of course, love. Sleep."

BPOV

Twenty four hours, one and a half boxes of used condoms, and a full day of work later Edward and I were sitting in a Thai restaurant a few blocks from the hotel enjoying some good curry and noodles. We'd been relatively quiet with each other since I'd come home from work; his looming departure weighing heavily on our minds I suppose.

"So you'll call me when you land, right?" I asked as I plated a little more pad thai onto my dish.

"Of course, love."

"And if you get delayed, you'll call me no matter if it's 3am or 10am?"

"Yes, love."He replied, smiling up at me as he added more chicken curry to his plate.

I laughed a little putting my hand over his. "I know... I'm sorry. I just, I'm just going to miss you and I'm trying not to think of having to go another four days without you."

He pulsed his hand around mine and laced our fingers. "I'll miss you, Baby. But you'll come back to me. It'll be no time."

"I know, you're right." I said smiling back towards him. He was right, it was only four days. I was just being fucking dramatic. But still, the idea of going from 24-hours a day Edward as my boyfriend, to being nothing, to having to go back to sneaking around... it didn't sound that appealing when compared to having him all to myself here, where we could be a real couple and not hide.

We went through the rest of dinner, followed by finishing almost all of the condoms that were left in the second box by the time the dark sky was beginning to lighten.

"Baby you didn't get any sleep." He whispered as he dragged his lips softly down my neck.

Like I cared. I just spent 8 hours getting lost in Edward's naked form. I'd go a week without sleep for that if I could spend it getting lost under the sheets with him instead. I hummed and tilted my head, giving his mouth better access to my neck and shoulder. "That's okay. I'll just work from here today, call in for meetings and nap in between or something."

I felt him chuckle against my shoulder. "Have it all planned out, huh?"

"Obviously." I smirked. My breath hitched as I felt him bite my neck roughly and suck on it. "Mmm... Edward." I moaned as my hand trailed down to his shaft. "Did you want to go again?"

He let go of my skin with a quiet 'pop' and laughed. His hot breath wifting over my now damp skin and causing me to shiver. "Baby, I just wanted to leave my mark." I turned to look at him grinning. "Oh really?" His lips reattched to my skin and I swore I was going to peak right there. One of his hands slid down to my hip gripping it roughly as he continued to suck and bite hard against my skin.

"Edward..." I moaned, moving my head to the side to give him more room.I felt his lips release from my neck as he nuzzled my shoulder with his nose taking a deep breath. "Bella, baby... sleep for a few hours. We don't have to be at the airport until 10."

I nodded as he shifted his body to wrap around me snugly tucking my head under his chin and against his chest. "I love you."

"I love you too baby." He whispered pressing a firm kiss into my hair and tightening his grip on my body.

My eyes fluttered open to the annoying buzz of the alarm clock. I rolled over, trying not to disturb Edward as I turned in his arms and reached to hit snooze on the clock. Just as I was settling back against him his arms pulled me even closer and I felt his lips sprinkle kisses all over the top of my head.

"You're either going to have to start sleeping at the studio or I'm going to have to start crashing at your apartment more often, once you get home." He said resting his chin on top of my head. "Because I don't want to sleep away from you any more."

The minor details of our significant others apparently weren't on his mind, so I wouldn't broach the subject. Instead I placed a kiss on his chest and rubbed my cheek against it. "Okay." I sighed into his skin.

He flattened his cheek against my head nuzzling it affectionately. "I miss you too much when you aren't in my arms."

We laid there wrapped up in each other for a few more minutes before untangling our limbs and walking slowly to the shower. We showered together, and despite our track record, we didn't fuck or even come close. We enjoyed each other. We kissed and held on to each other under the spray for minutes at a time. I think we knew things were changing but we couldn't verbalize it. It was if saying out loud would just affirm everything; that we couldn't go back to Seattle and assume we could pick up where we left off in New York. It just wasn't possible. So we stood there as the hot water poured over us, our arms wrapped around each other tightly and our legs entwined and just soaked it all in, committing these feelings, these experiences over the last few days to memory because who knew when we'd experience them again. 'I love yous' and 'you're my life' were said more as a requiem than a declaration as our lips moved with purpose along each others skin. Once we had washed up he turned the shower off and we stepped out. We surrounded ourselves with towels and walked into the bedroom to change.

"Is Tanya picking you up from the airport?"

He rubbed the towel over his torso and around both legs, drying off. "No. I drove myself. Why?''

I shrugged dropping my towel and walking past him to my suitcase to grab underwear. "Curious."

"You okay, Baby?" I slid on my underwear on and turned to walk towards him. My arms wrapped around his neck and his hands slid to my hips immediately. I buried my face in the crook of his neck. "How much are things going to change when we're home?"

His hands ran up and down my back slowly as he whispered in my ear, "From what?"

"From how things are now."

I felt his chest rise and fall as he took a deep breath. His lips pressed against my temple and he murmured against my scalp, "A bit, love."

I sighed and kissed his shoulder. I knew that was more or less what he was going to say but it didn't make hearing it any easier. My body pulled away from his and I walked back over to my luggage putting on a tight black pencil skirt and white button down. By the time I turned around he had thrown on a pair of jeans and the green t-shirt I'd asked him to pick up at Lord and Taylor a few days ago. He zipped up the small carry on bag he'd had to pick up to fit his new clothes and dropped it to the floor. "Ready?" He asked.

For what? To watch him go back to Seattle? To Tanya? To a world where he and I were just a bedroom secret?

No, I wasn't. But I nodded anyway.

It was unsafe and illegal but I didn't care; seat belts be damned, my body did not leave his lap the entire ride to JFK. Dennis rolled to a stop and I saw him look in his rearview mirror at us sympathetically before announcing we'd arrived. I felt like asking him to loop around the terminal once more before we had to leave but we'd used up all of our leeway time in the shower that morning. I regretfully slid off his lap and out of the car as Edward followed behind me. Dennis sat Edward's bag on the curb and quickly moved back into the car.

I loved him a little bit for knowing we needed this last moment alone.

"So..." I said biting my lip and looking down at the sidewalk.

His arms surrounded my waist as he pulled me into his chest. "This isn't the end, love."

I nodded against him murmuring, "I know, it just feels like we're losing something."

He pulsed his arms against me and tightened his grip on my waist. "Nothing, Baby. We aren't losing a thing. We might not be able to shout it from the roof tops, but that doesn't and couldn't change the fact that I love you." He said, taking a deep breath before he continued. "Remember that, okay? I love you, Bella. So much. Baby, I love you."

I nodded against him again. "I know. I love you too. I'm just going to miss notbeing able to shout it from the roof tops."

"Soon though, love. Who knows... by the time it happens, you might not want to," he laughed nervously. I pulled away looking directly at him and saw his eyes were bloodshot and rimmed with unshed tears.

"Edward I'm going to love you forever, don't ever doubt that. And I will alwaysfeel fucking lucky to call you mine, okay?" I replied seriously. I mean after everything... how could he doubt my feelings?

He stepped back cupping my cheeks and brushing his thumbs over them delicately, smiling down sweetly. "I know, Baby. I was only teasing." He pressed his forehead against mine and nuzzled my nose against his own. "You're mine, Bella. Just always be mine."

I wanted to say 'duh Edward', but I felt that might be a little to crass. "Of course, always." My lips pressed against his and no matter how much I tried to shake it, it still felt like goodbye instead of just a last kiss in New York. He pulled away slowly, resting his forehead back against mine. "I gotta go." He whispered, his breath fanning over my face. I sighed and nodded against him. "I know."

"Bella, I love you. Come back to me soon alright?" He asked as his lips brushed against my nose, cheeks and finally back on my lips. "Of course, you're my home. I'm always going to come home." He smiled and sighed as he pulled away and grabbed his small duffel bag. "I love you!" I shouted as he walked towards the sliding doors. He turned around and smiled the Cheshire grin that made my heart beat a million times a minute. "I love you." He mouthed before pivoting back and walking through the doors.

He wasn't even 50 feet away and my heart already hurt. God, I thought to myself on the ride from the airport to the office, what a sad state of affairs.

EPOV

Bella wasn't even a breath away, and I was already missing her. I kept looking over my shoulder for her, but she was never there. I wanted to turn around and stay with her, but I knew I couldn't. I had to go home and deal with real life. With Tanya. And all of this business of getting rid of her. Bella and I would have to talk about that one. I knew that we had said forever, and I knew that I had meant it, but

how could I be sure? How did I know that this wasn't something she did all the time?

The fact of the matter was: I didn't.

I sighed and walked toward my gate, taking my time. What had started out as a little game to get back at my scheming fiancée had suddenly turned into me falling for Bella. I couldn't believe that I had once thought of using Bella. It all felt so wrong now. Bella deserved better than that; she deserved better than James, too. But unfortunately, we were all she had. As i handed my ticket to the flight attendant and got on the plane, I started to wonder if she would really choose Me over James. Well, she'd been with him for five years, and all of a sudden she was willing to toss it aside for me? I slumped down in my seat and sighed. Maybe. Maybe she was. Maybe she did want to be with me, and have my children. Maybe she did want to grow old with me and have stupid anniversary parties. And maybe I wanted that too.

No, not maybe.

I did.

I wanted everything I was supposed to be having with Tanya... with Bella. She meant so much more to me in a few short weeks than Tanya had in years. I was totally fucked. The rational part of my brain kept telling me to just leave Tanya and follow through with Bella's and my plan. We should, I knew. It was a good one. It gave me happiness and Bella. But the other part, the evil doubting part, kept telling me to stick with what I knew. I knew that Tanya would never leave me. She wasn't about to. She had everything she wanted. So what, exactly, did I have to lose by leaving her?

Bella.

And Bella was everything.

I began to realize that if I left Tanya to be with Bella, and then somehow Bella found out about Tanya and James... or that I knew about them. I'd be alone. I couldn't risk it. I needed Bella too badly to let her slip away from me. Bella had to be with me.

It wasn't long before we landed in Chicago, then went on to Seattle. It just wasn't fast enough. I wanted it to be friday, and I wanted Bella in my arms and with me. I felt so hollow with out her. I pulled out my phone the moment we landed.

"Edward?" She breathed, picking up after only one ring.

"Hey, Baby. I'm here."

I heard her sniffle a little, and my chest started to constrict. "Is it sad that I want you to come back?"

My fucking heart tore in two. She couldn't do stuff like this to me. She just couldn't. "Baby, I miss you so much." I sighed, leaning my forehead on the back of the seat in front of me.

"I-I miss you too." She whispered, her voice shaky in my ear. I hated it when she cried and I hated it even more when I wasn't there to fix it for her.

"Baby... Baby, please don't cry. I'll see you soon, love. Friday, right? That's only three more days, love."

She sucked in a deep breath and I stood, getting my stuff out. "I know. It just sucks."

I laughed sadly and began working my way through the airport toward the parking lot. "That it does, darling. But I love you. So it's not too bad, right?"

She laughed a little into the phone. "No. Not after that. I love you, too, by the way."

I sighed and dug my keys out, stepping into the rain, "You have no idea how good it is to hear you say that."

"I love you."

"Again."

"I love you."

I clicked the lock and got into the volvo. "Again."

"I love you, Edward. I love you more than you can imagine."

I sighed into the phone, wishing I could so that I would know I was doing the right thing. "I love you too, Bella. I love you so much."

There was a brief silence, and I just listened to her breath. It reminded me that she was there, and that there was really someone out there who wanted me... unconditionally. "Edward?" She whispered.

"Yeah, Baby?" I echoed.

"I don't want to have to be away from you anymore."

I pressed the phone into my ear, wishing I could hold onto her. "You won't, Baby. As soon as you get back, we'll figure everything out."

"You'll come over on friday?" She asked, sounding eager.

"Of course, Baby. I'm always there when you want me, you know that."

She hesitated, "Can... can you pick me up then?"

"Yes, love." It wasn't even a question. I would pick her up. I knew it even before the words left my mouth.

"Really?"

"Yes. I'll be there, love. Just tell me when, and I'll be there."

She laughed, an honest laugh into the phone. I couldn't lose that. I needed my Bella to be happy. "Can I call you back later? Once I know?"

"Yeah, Baby, that's fine. I'll be looking forward to it."

"Edward?"

"Baby?"

"I... I don't know how to say good bye to you."

I sighed into the phone, "You don't have to because it's not goodbye."

"Then what is it?"

"It's... I love you."

"I love you, then."

"I love you always." She giggled again, and I laughed at her laughing. "Bella, I love you."

"I love you, too. Friday?" She asked.

"Mhm, friday."

I listened to her breath through the line for a moment longer before she clicked off, and I followed with a sigh. She was so far away from me now, and I needed her with me. I drove home in silence and when I turned into my driveway it really hit me that this was no longer my real life. This was where I was pretending. This wasn't where I belonged anymore.

I belonged with Bella.

BPOV

I had gone into work but was a complete scatterbrain. A mixture of missing Edward and sleep deprivation did not make for a good workday.

"Bella?" Francois called from the doorway of his office. I lifted my head up from my laptop where I was barely keeping my eyes open and glance around my cube at him. "Hm?"

"Can I speak with you for a moment?"

"Sure." I replied, standing up and yawning before walking into his office and closing the door. I sat down on the plush black leather chair that sat on the other side of his desk, facing him.

"Late night saying goodbye?" He chided with a smirk. I laughed a little, too tired to blush at his comment. "Late night and into the morning." I replied yawning yet again. He laughed a little and laced his fingers together. "This will only take a moment of your time. Then I want you to go home and get some rest - work from home once you wake up from a nap or a few pots of coffee." He said as he glanced to his computer screen and back to me. I nodded and he took a deep breath before unclasping his hands and laying them flat on his desk.

"You fit in very well here at Chanel. I hope you know that. It's not something easily accomplished, especially as quickly or seamlessly as you've done. Everyone here both respects you as a professional and cares for you as a friend."

I smiled and nodded. "I feel the same way about the team. Everyone has been great to work with as well as talk to outside of the professional context." His grin returned and he folded his hands again. "Good, I'm glad to hear that Bella."

"Of course. I'm going to miss working with everyone once I fly back home later this week." Well, I'd miss everyone, but not more than I was missing my Edward who was already there.

"That's what I wanted to talk to you about. I know you were set on going home this week, but we'd love you to stay through this project and ultimately... indefinitely."

My eyes blinked rapidly. What? "Um, I'm sorry?" I asked pursing my lips, bewildered at his statement.

"We'd like you to finish this launch and then sign on permanently with Chanel. We'd like to have you on our team and onlyour team." He replied leaning forward a bit.

"Wow.. I--I'm flattered..." I began as I felt my heart quicken but immediately thought of Edward. I'd have to talk about this with him. See what we wanted to do, if this would be something we'd consider. We'd consider I thought, smiling to myself.

"So, what do you think?" Francois' question snapped me back into reality. "Oh, um... well I want to go back home at the end of this week. That's something I've already decided. I wouldn't mind come back out in a month or so to tie everything up and be here for the launch though." He nodded. "That seems fair. And the position?"

"Well, what position would it be exactly? Would I be signing on as a marketing manager? You already have a handful of those, I hardly see a need for another."

"Obviously there isa need if none of them could work cohesively together without you heading the project. But of course, you're right; there are five of them. And they need a director they can respect and who will be able to give them more attention, direction and guidance than I can with all the analytical number crunching I need to do. So with that said, we'd like to hire you on as as Marketing Director."

My jaw dropped. "Um... what?"

He must have found my facial expression amusing because his face softened and he let out a hearty laugh. "You and I would work together. You would be Creative Director of Marketing and I would be more of the... data analysis and budget side of Marketing. I believe the exact title they used was 'Financial Director of Marketing'." He replied making air quotes with his fingers.

A promotion, more than likely a bump in pay and a chance to start fresh with Edward as long as he was on board. It was perfect. "This is a lot to soak in..." I admitted leaning back against the chair. "When do you need an answer?" His forehead creased and he looked towards his monitor than down to his desk. "I know it's a lot and I definitely don't want your focus being taken away from this project. The position wouldn't start until January of next year, since we would have to factor your salary into the budget. However after speaking with them at length, this is something our head office in Paris is very interested in pursuing - you are something they are interested in pursuing." He paused and clicked around on his computer.

"Hm, well.. with the position not starting til the end of the year, the budget being done in October-November... how September 1st sound? That gives you about a month after the launch to work everything out and see if being with Chanel here in New York is the direction you want to take yourself."

"That's sounds great." I replied, nodding. He laughed and sighed clapping his hands. "Wonderful! Now get out of this office and go rest. I can only imagine how tired you must be after being up with that sexy man all night." I laughed and stood up. "You better not let your boyfriend hear that."

He shrugged. "Peter hasn't seen your man. He'd agree with me if he knew." I huffed out a laugh, shaking my head as I turned towards the door. "Bye Francois!"

"Bye love!"

Even just the innocent salutation made my heart wince. I missed my Edward.

I raced home and passed out for hours. When I woke up it was to the sound of my phone. Edward. We talked for a little bit and hung up after confirming that he'd pick me up from the airport. My body fell back down against the bed and I stared up at the ceiling smiling wistfully. Edward was mine, he wanted to be mine... forever. I would be his always. My eyes closed slowly as I drifted back to sleep, my head swimming with thoughts of forever.