Baby You Can Stop Running Chapter 28, a twilight fanfic

This chapter was once again inspired by a Rosi Golan song: Come Around. And the song will play a role in this chapter as well…
It's an absolutely beautiful song and I'm not sure if it's the lyrics or the piano or what… I just know that it's one of those songs that each time I hear it I get the chills. But it inspired the work that went into writing this chapter.

Baby You Can Stop Running
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight. Though I would love to go to some of these places with my own Edward…

Chapter Twenty Eight

Bella

Nothing had changed. Each and every picture was still in its frame on the mantle of the fireplace, the one of Emmett and I right after I graduated from high school, a picture I had snapped of Charlie as he lounged on the couch one spring afternoon while watching the Mariners on TV, even one that I had taken with Angela and Ben shortly before I left for California, before the baby bump was detectable. My eyes shifted to my book shelves where each book still rested in their alphabetical order; and I couldn't help but notice that even the magazines were still sitting on the coffee table, untouched, only a few of them with upturned corners from having been looked at. It was almost as though time had ceased to pass in the apartment and I would have believed that had it not been for the pile of mail that was stacked on the kitchen table, the tell tale sign that Sonia was making sure that my mailbox was not going to burst. I thought about thumbing through it, I was certain there were bills I hadn't paid, a few magazines that were now at least two months old, but I couldn't be bothered because I was too tired. It wasn't that the two hour flight was that trying, it was more the fact that I felt emotionally stripped.

"This place suits you Bella." Edward's voice broke the silence that had elapsed since we had walked into the apartment building in the Pacific Heights borough of San Francisco. The apartment had definitely surpassed my budget, but Emmett made me promise that I would live in safe neighborhood, and it didn't get much safer than Pacific Heights. "I can't believe you're giving this up."

I dropped my hand from my luggage while my eyes continued to scan the dark room before I walked to the large bay window with the best view that I had been able to find. It was just after seven and darkness had fallen over the city but it was that time of the day that I found San Francisco to be the most beautiful; when the city was dark and lit only from the lights of the street and windows of the large skyscrapers. I would miss it, but I knew that there would always be the opportunity to come back if I had to. "I'm not exactly."

"What do you mean?"

"I actually own this place and I'm not going to sell it. I have someone who wants to rent it for a while… At least until I know where I plan on settling down."

"You own this place?" He sounded surprised as he walked to the light switch and turned it on, illuminating the room so he could see it better. There would be a lot to pack up, though I had promised to have the apartment furnished, I did still need to find a way to pack all the other trivial things around, like my books and pictures and some of the art work that I had collected over the years. Still, I was hoping that we could get it done in a just a few days instead of the entire week that I had allotted. There were places I wanted to take Edward… Things I wanted to do here with him by my side.

"Yea… A few years ago I had a job at a gallery and I became fast friends with the owner who convinced me to let him show my work." I shrugged. "I never really expected to get that much for them. It wasn't as though I had a trained eye and the gallery is so prestigious, I mean, he sells stuff by Ansel Adams and Horace Bristol if people have enough money to pay for it. But he took a chance on me and it went so much better than I had imagined."

"I never knew."

"I never told you… Besides, I don't sell my work under my real name."

"Why's that?"

"I guess because if people don't like them then the criticism doesn't hurt quite as much. I can pretend that it wasn't me." I shrugged glancing out the window again.

"You always seem to surprise me Isabella Swan." He smiled before walking closer towards me and taking my hand into his own. I had never been a fan of my full name, but when it came from his lips my stomach always did flips. He sat down and pulled me into his lap and I sighed as I felt his lips against my jaw. "And I'm sure your work is amazing and don't even think about denying it. I can't wait to see something of yours."

We didn't talk after that, instead we just sat there in the comfortable silence that had managed to pass between us and I was content to hear his heart beat through his shirt. It was soothing and everything I needed and even if it was only for a short while, all the stress that I had been feeling seemed to melt away. I had never considered Forks my home, and at the same time, I wasn't sure I ever considered San Francisco my home either, but as I sat there with his arms wrapped tightly around me, I realized that home wasn't the place, it was truly where your heart lay and I knew that it wouldn't matter where I was so long as I was with him. He had captured my heart fully and completely and I was certain that he was home.

"Are you hungry?" I finally asked before nuzzling my nose against his shirt savoring the scent that filled my nostrils when I heard his stomach rumble with the telltale signs of hunger. We hadn't had anything to eat since we had gotten to the Seattle airport, and I'm not sure a glass of wine and a few olive nibbles could really be considered eating anything.

"I could stand to eat. Did you want to go out?"

"I was thinking take out. But if you want to go out we can go out."

"Honestly?" His voice a mix between a question and a statement and I turned my head up to look at him. I would have thought, after all the time that we had spent together, that I would have gotten over the intense wave of lust that always flooded my body when his eyes met mine, but even after two and a half months, each time I saw the green of his eyes, my body went weak.

"I always want you to be honest." I smiled as he leaned down and nestled his head against my neck. His warm breath against my bare neck sent a wave of pleasure through my back and I did all I could to stop the moan from escaping. Two and a half months and we had still done nothing more than some heavy petting. I knew he was only doing it because he was trying to be respectful, but I had never wanted anyone more than I wanted him and I felt myself growing slightly impatient.

"I would rather be here alone with you." He whispered. "I have something for you too, an apology of sorts for my behavior the past few weeks."

I groaned. "I don't like surprises Edward."

"I swear I didn't spend a dime." He replied before pulling away and standing up, bringing me up with him. He kept his arms wrapped around my waist, pulling my body close to his and I sighed into him, resting my head against the hard muscle of his chest. "What do you want to order?"

I had a few take out menus stashed away in one of the messy drawers in the kitchen and told him to get whatever. I wasn't in the mood to be all that picky and though I would have liked to have said I was hungry, I wasn't and I attributed that to the stress. After he had ordered I showed him around the apartment and we put our bags in the bedroom. He had offered to sleep in the spare but I told him no because the truth of the matter was, I slept better when he was next to me and I was thrilled to have a week alone with him to just be comfortable and safe in his arms. We wouldn't have to worry about Emmett or Charlie or Rose or Alice. It would just be us, together and I intended to take full advantage of that.

"The bed smells like you still." I heard him say while I changed into sweat pants in the bathroom. I would have changed in front of him but I didn't want to push my luck just yet. Though I had every intention of trying to seduce him on this little trip, I wanted to wait a few days, until he was comfortable and he could tell that I was ready for that step. I assumed that the reason that he hadn't pushed the sex issue with me was because of everything that I had been through with Jacob and I was thrilled that he respected that, but I was beginning to get impatient because I felt that my body was calling towards him and I often found that I was left wanting more. I was finally ready to do more and I needed to find a way to tell him that and I figured that this trip would provide just that opportunity.

I walked to the door of the bathroom and leaned against the frame watching as he pressed his nose into the pillow. I couldn't help but smile. "You know, the real thing is standing right here and you're opting for a pillow?"

"You're right… The real thing is so much better." He smiled widely as he tossed the pillow to the side. "Warmer and softer… Plus if I kiss the real, it doesn't look weird and it kisses back."

I laughed as I approached the bed and sat down tangling my fingers in his hair as he closed his eyes before moving his head into my lap. This was a side of Edward that I didn't know existed, or rather, I knew existed but I figured he would never let him show. He seemed at peace, relaxed and comfortable. The usual lines in his brow were smoothed out and it wasn't because I had to with my hand. He was light and free and I wondered how long this version of Edward would last.

"What did you order?" I asked before leaning down and pressing a kiss to his forehead.

"Chinese."

"From Eliza's?" I asked, suddenly hungry.

Edward shrugged, "Was that the only option to choose from?" I nodded enthusiastically. "Then I suppose so." I was peppering kissing along his jaw at his choice in food. Though I had not really cared earlier, I was thrilled that out of everything that he could have chosen, he had chosen my favorite without knowing. "Hmm… I would have had it flown in if I knew you would react this happily."

"Did you get the crab rangoons?"

"You are so lucky that we have the same taste in food, love." He smiled as the buzzer sounded, alerting us that the food had arrived. I started to get up but he put his hand on my leg, pushing down with some firmness so to keep me planted in my spot. "I'll get it."

"Baby… Um… How do you buzz someone in?" I heard him call and I smiled and ran from the bedroom to the door and pressed the button listening to him mutter under his breath. "I did that."

"I have the magic touch." I grinned as he leaned down to place a chaste kiss to my lips.

"You sure do. Now, go back in there and I'll be back with the food in a few minutes." I pouted and he just shook his head. "It's not going to work, I'm paying… Deal with it. Besides, I don't want some hormone crazed delivery boy lusting after you."

"Jealous?"

"Extremely." He smiled before leaning down and kissing me one last time. "Bedroom. Now. Go."

I complied with his request, mainly because there were so few things that he ever wanted from me and though I hated that he often took it upon himself to pay, I knew that I wasn't going to get anywhere by fighting with him. Not to mention that I was becoming more and more blissed out as the hours passed because I was drinking in Edward's improved demeanor.

"I didn't get dishes…" He said as he walked back into the room his arms holding two brown paper bags. I closed my eyes and smelled the delicious scent that was radiating from them and felt my mouth begin to water.

"I don't think we need them." I replied cheerfully as he began to take the food from the bags while I reached for the remote and turned the TV on, settling on some movie that one of those cable networks like USA or TNT were showing before leaning back against the pillows and grabbing one of the chopstick sets and one of the cartons that was sitting before me.

I studied his face while we ate. It was something that I did quite often when I thought he wasn't paying attention and I had been certain that I had memorized every line and curve of it, but I couldn't help but notice that something was different about him here and I wasn't sure what it was exactly. His strong, chiseled jaw seemed more relaxed, as though he wasn't clenching his teeth as he so often did back in Washington. His cheeks were relaxed, which made his almost hard face seem soft and more welcoming, much less menacing and scary. His brow, usually riddled with lines from tension, was smooth and I wanted to reach out and touch it, but he caught my staring before I could bring my hands up.

"Is everything okay?" The lines had returned and I reached forward and smoothed them out, feeling his head press harder against my hand as he leaned into it.

"Everything is wonderful." I replied, putting my chopsticks down before falling back against the pillows and closing my eyes. I could feel his eyes still on me and I opened one eye to catch his gaze. "You're different here." I commented and he pulled his eyebrows into that all too familiar quizzical v shape. "Good different… Relaxed… Contented."

"I think it's just being away for a few days… I'm not worried about anything back at home. I just want to enjoy the time that I am being given to be alone with you for a little while. Everything is always more... complicated back in Forks."

"It doesn't have to be."

"Bella…" He started, putting one of the Chinese takeout containers down before turning to face me. There was a look there that I had never seen before and I wasn't sure how to read it. His eyes had momentarily darkened, but it wasn't the lust filled look that I was use to. This one was different, one that seemed to remind me of the earlier days of our acquaintance, before he had confessed his history, his past with me and I began to worry if there was something that he wasn't telling me, something that he didn't want me to know.

"Yes Edward?"

"Never mind." The look was gone almost as soon as it had appeared and he turned back towards the food that was still scattered on top of the duvet. "I'm going to put this stuff away and then I want you to listen to something."

I nodded and closed my eyes, melting into the pillow that I hadn't realized I missed quite this much. My pillow in Forks wasn't quite as soft and plush as this one and I wondered for a moment how I had gone so long without it. I could hear Edward in the kitchen and I assumed that it was because of him that the pillow hadn't mattered, because it was the only logical explanation for anything. Most of the time I spent the night in Edward's arms and I used his hard chest as my pillow which was always better than a soft pillow to begin with. His chest allowed me to fall asleep to the steady beating of his heart. I had a hard time sleeping without it now days.

"Do you have an iPod dock here with speakers?" He asked, startling me from my thoughts as I turned to see him standing at the foot of the bed, his black MP3 player in his hand. I nodded and pointed to the bedside table and he walked over there and placed it in the holding.

"Okay… I wish I could say that I wrote these lyrics and the music for that matter but I didn't. I was talking to Alice a few weeks ago in her room and she was listening to music and this song was playing and I found it and decided to record it for you." He started. His eyes met mine for a moment while I nodded for him to continue. "Please don't laugh at my voice. I've never claimed to be a good singer… I just wanted to say some things to you and this song was the best way to do it because it's everything I've been feeling since I've met you."

He turned away and I noticed the slight blush in his cheeks, something that I had never seen before and I smiled at the fact that he was nervous, happy to know that it wasn't always just me. He pressed a button and I heard the piano and I smiled knowing that it was him playing. A few seconds later, his beautiful voice filled the small bedroom and I was doing all I could to keep my eyes from shedding the tears that were forming as I listened to the beautiful words of the song he said explained his feelings.

So high tonight and I don't feel like coming down
I can lie to you all my days, but you're the one, you're the one

And I'm a fool for waiting so long to let you know

Come around, come around, come around, come around to me
There's something in between you and I, come around, come around to me
You feel like breathing, Come around, come around, come around, come around to me

Like sunlight, won't you come and lay a ray down? You're the one
I could run, I could run for the life of me
But where would that get me? Where would that lead?

And I'm a fool for waiting so long

Can't you see? You're my life line

Tears were spilling from my eyes as the piano ended. I was afraid that he was going to get the wrong impression but I was certain that I had never bore witness to anything more romantic in my life. Here he was, a man that I was desperately in love with, confessing his love in song. I knew he cared, I knew he loved me, hearing these lyrics, hearing everything, knowing the effort that he went through to record it with his own music and his own voice to give it that personal touch… It was magical.

A hopeless romantic, I had dreamed of something like this, had imagined it time and time again in my head but as the years passed, and after everything with Jacob… I just never thought that a happy ending was something I would ever have in life. I never believed that I would find someone that I could love this much, or someone who would love me this much.

"Please don't cry." He whispered as he moved closer his arms encircling my waist and pulling me closer to him while he leaned down and began to kiss at the tears as they fell down my cheeks.

"I'm sorry… Maybe it was too much. I just thought that… I don't know what I thought. I know I haven't been very warm lately and I was afraid that it made you question my feelings but you have to know Bella… You must know that I don't want anything more than I want you."

"It wasn't too much." I said softly, breathing through the tears. "It was beautiful Edward… I can't believe you did that for me."

"You deserve so much more than that Bella." He replied, his voice soft as he looked at me with such intensity that it nearly took my breath away.

It was silent between us, the only other noise coming from the next song on his playlist, one that happened to be a song created from only a piano. I didn't want to move, afraid that if I did it would break the connection that had instantly formed between us, it was intense, and filled with something that had always been lacking before. There was passion and lust and a desperate sexual desire that circled in his green eyes and I was wondering if I could get away with pushing him to accept that, to give into it and to submit to his deepest desires.

He broke the trance first. "This song… The one that's playing now… It's the second part of my surprise."

He was silent once again and I looked down at the duvet cover, angry with myself for a moment for not acting on my impulse when it had begun but I turned my attention to the song. It only took a few moments but I realized that it was the same song that I had caught him playing on the first night that I had spent at the Cullen's home after that encounter with Jacob at the bar.

"This song was written for you…" He whispered.

"But I had only just met you that day." I was flabbergasted and I was sure that he saw it in my eyes.

He reached forward, his hand brushing a few strands of hair out of my eyes. "I know."

"How?"

"This is all so terribly clichéd Bella… But it's like I told you before… I have this indescribable pull towards you Bella… I think… I think I loved you the moment you collapsed into my arms in the hospital." He smiled. "I don't usually say things like this, especially where you are concerned, but I had never been more thankful that they wax those linoleum floors."

I reached towards him and tangled some of his silky hair between my fingers. "I'm glad you caught me."

"I love you."

"I love you." I replied as he moved his lips closer to mine.

In an instant he had captured my bottom lip between his lips and I closed my eyes, pressing my body closer to his, realizing that this was it, this was the moment that was going to define us and I had never been more prepared. Unlike the first time, when I had done this with Jacob, I felt completely at ease. I knew that whatever came of this, if I was to become pregnant or not, I would always have Edward and I wouldn't have to worry about him running away from anything. We had each other, and I had never been more willing, more ready, to show him just how much I cared. This was what making love should have felt like the first time. I was home.

"You realize that it's going to cost a fortune to send all these books to Washington right?" Edward called from the living room.

"Let's take a break…" I said walking from the bedroom and into the room where he was, my eyes on his backside as he leaned down to pick up one full box of books. "Those better be in order mister."

He started laughing. "You went through the instructions ten times love… I'm sure I did it right. I'm a doctor remember, I have to be somewhat intelligent."

"If you are expecting me to stroke your ego you are sorely mistaken." I grinned watching him as he moved the box to the middle of the room where the other boxes were sitting, ready to be shipped to Forks.

After setting down the box he walked over, that mischievous glint in his eye that I had grown to love over the past two days. Needless to say, after the first night we had not move from the bed for two days and I had enjoyed every moment of time that we had spent in that bed and I had an inkling that he had too.

"You can always stoke something else." He wiggled his eyebrows and I slapped his arm playfully.

"I thought I'd never live to see the day of a sex crazed Edward."

"I didn't think I would either." He smiled as he wrapped his arms around me, pulling my body up against his before he dipped down and pressed his lips against my neck in an open mouthed kiss.

"Mmm."

"You said something about taking a break?" He said as he pulled away and I nodded. "Bedroom?"

"No."

"Couch?"

"Edward!" I said loudly and he just laughed.

"Hey… A guy can dream."

"Haven't you had enough?"

"Enough!" He bellowed while shaking his head. "I don't think I could ever have enough of you. That would be like telling Cookie Monster that he has had enough cookies."

I was laughing and he blushed at what he had said. "Really Edward… Did you really bring Sesame Street into this conversation?"

"Hey… It was the only thing I could think of in such a short amount of time… Besides, I liked Cookie Monster when I was young." He muttered, hanging his head slightly as I continued to laugh.

"I'm sure you did."

"What's that suppose to mean?"

"Nothing."

"No, really… What do you mean?"

"I don't mean anything."

"Yea well… Who was your favorite?"

"Sesame street character?" I asked and he nodded. "Elmo."

"So typical. Everyone loves Elmo."

"Sorry to disappoint."

"So… As you had been saying… You wanted to take a break?" He asked and I nodded. "What do you want to do?"

"Well… It's getting close to sunset and I want to show you something… A place that I like to go sometimes… Grab a coat, it's going to be windy and a little cold." I smiled, standing on my toes to kiss his nose before pulling away to grab my own coat as well as my camera before standing at the door to wait for him.

It wasn't too long of a drive and when we got there, it was worth it to see the look on his face as the sun began to set on San Francisco which only added to the splendor of the Golden Gate Bridge. This had been a place that I had often come when I needed to clear my mind and though it was a common area, usually surrounded by tourists, I always felt that it was my place.

"What is this place?"

"Battery Spencer." I said, pushing the hair that was whipping around my face off my shoulder before reaching down to pull my camera from the bag.

"It's amazing." He said softly, his arm gripping my side tighter as he looked out towards the water.

I pulled away and walked a little ways, my eyes trained on him, studying his form and his posture and I couldn't help but notice the happiness that appeared on his face. Like the intense calm that I had witnessed when we had first arrived, this was the first time that I had actually seen such a look of pure and utter joy and it suited him. I wanted to capture that, to hold on to it because I wasn't sure how long it would last. His eyes were still trained on the water as I pulled the camera to my eye and began to click away while he remained totally oblivious. Swiftly I moved to his other side, which allowed me to not only get him in the picture but also the bridge and again I clicked away.

"What are you doing?" He asked, and I snapped out of my zone.

"Nothing."

"You better not be taking pictures of me."

"I'm not." I lied.

"Liar."

"I can't help it."

He groaned and I walked over towards him while I put away the camera. "Would it make you feel better if I took one of us?"

"Yes." He smiled and I reached into my pocket for my little digital camera. "No… With the big one."

"I can't hold the big one far enough away and I paid too much to trust that with a stranger." I replied and he huffed.

"I have longer arms."

"Nope. No one touches that camera but me… And Scott."

"Scott?" He asked while lifting an eyebrow.

"The one who owns the gallery that sells my photos."

"Should I be worried?"

"Well… He is awfully handsome." I laughed, picturing the aged man in my mind. "And he's really, very sweet."

He growled. "Does he make your heart race?" His voice was husky and jealous and confident as he pulled me close to him before placing his cheek against my own. His lips near my ear. "Do I need to hunt him down and show him that you are mine?"

My heart was racing at his proximity, at his words and I found that I could not speak so I merely shook my head.

"Say it." He whispered before placing a kiss against the back of my jaw. "Say it."

"I'm yours." I replied much more breathy than I had intended but it couldn't have been helped.

"You're mine." He said and I could hear the pride in his voice.

"Now… Are you done dazzling me?"

He laughed and nodded his head. "For now."

A/N:

Wow that's the fastest I've updated in a while!

I wanted to keep going but if I kept going this would have been a chapter that would have been 13,000 words or more… And that was just too much. So I've decided to make San Francisco into two chapters… The good… And probably one that won't be quite so fluffy… This chapter was much needed fluff because from here on out it will mainly be the climax… So get prepared. We are about to get some twists and turns very, very soon.

First off: A BIG thank you to zgirl21 for offering to help me work through the rest of this story and for bouncing ideas off for the sequel. Go read her story Bleeding Love… It's really good and I guarantee you'll like it!

Second: Thank you to everyone who continues to add this story (even in the long run, many of you are telling me you've just found it and that means a lot to me that you are sticking out all the chapters because there are a lot!). And thank you to those who continue to leave reviews! I appreciate that you take the time to do that!

xAxBitxObsessedx
Monstergrrlshow
FRK921
flower123
SWChica2005
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zgirl21
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lorit
mailbox killer: I know… James is a freakin' bastard isn't he.
dwebb88: I'm from the south bay… I love San Francisco so it had to make an appearance.
CBC1
cullenEyeser
Edward'sMainGirl05: Things WILL end happy. I'm a happily ever after, hopeless romantic… Keep that in mind… Especially if you plan to read the sequel (of course I need to finish this one first) which will have some New Moon qualities to it.
laceyndom
swtypie8705
bluebella.x

Thank you all so much! Please continue to send me your thoughts! They mean the world to me! I hope to have another chapter to you by Sunday… But it might take a bit longer. Classes start again on Tuesday so we'll see. But I'll try my hardest!