PRM ch42

A/n: Well, here we are again...I'm glad you all are pleased with the progress our boy is making. He's worked really hard to get his life back...he deserves a little happiness, don't you agree?

Thank you as always to my beta extraordinaire, Bnjwl. She makes my tenses and words all pretty. Trust me, you all should thank her too;) And, my twifey, Lvtwilight09 for her pre-reading skills! Love you both!

Three Months Later

EPOV

I walked down the hall to Dr. Mike's office for what would be the last time. Well, in this building anyway.

I would be going home today, to my parent's estate. I had asked my dad to sell my house. It had never been a home to me and it only brought upon bad memories. Dr. Mike and I had gone there a month ago and walked through it as I replayed some of the most horrible nightmares that I had lived through within those walls.

I knew that Tanya couldn't hurt me ever again, but I still had my fears.

Bella had been by my side the whole time. She'd held my hand. She'd kissed my cheek. She'd blushed when I told her how beautiful she looked as we stood in the sunlight on the front porch before we left it all behind.

Through the intensive one on one therapy with Dr. Mike and through the joint therapy with Bella, I had worked through some of the irrational and skewed ways I thought.

I had come to realize that I was in love with Bella.

Really in love with her.

She was my first love and I truly hoped that she'd be the only love in my life.

However, I still hadn't worked up the nerve to tell her how I felt.

I had a plan, though. Tonight I would ask her out on a date. I wasn't ready to tell her exactly how I felt just yet and Dr. Mike agreed with me. He also thought that I should wait until I felt that it was the right time.

I had confessed my feelings to my little sister, though. She had cried tears of joy at my revelation and had offered to help me set up a first date with Bella. I declined her help because I felt like for once in my life I really should do this all on my own.

Alice smiled and hugged me hard when I told her that. I was really happy to have her back in my life.

I had also really enjoyed reconnecting with my parents, both individually and together. It hadn't been easy to tell them a lot of my past. But both Dr. Mike and I thought it was important for them to know all that I had gone through. It was hard on them both, but it brought us closer in the end.

Bella on the other hand, wasn't the same. Due to her own personal history with domestic violence we both agreed that she didn't need to know it all. We talked a lot about my feelings and physical injuries but never really in detail about the abuse I endured.

I think it was very therapeutic for both of us and I knew without a doubt that it strengthened the bonds between us.

She was the best friend I'd ever had.

"Well, well, look who has the nerve to lurk about on my doorstep." Dr. Mike said with a laugh as I pulled my mind back to the present.

"Here I am." I said with a smile on my face.

"Come in and have a seat." He said with a wave of his hand towards the chairs that sat in the corner of the room while he walked around his desk to sit in one, also.

"How does it feel to know that you are about to leave this place?" He asked with a serious expression on his face.

I sighed and palmed my face, "A little surreal, to be honest." I let out a long breath and sat back in the chair.

"I'm ready, I know that, but, I'm still a little scared. I mean what if the press starts to hound me?" I asked with hesitation.

"Edward, we've been through this a thousand times. You'll handle it just fine." He said with honesty as he sorted through a stack of papers that he had picked up from the table beside his chair.

"Who will pick you up today?" He asked as he grabbed a folder to place the paperwork into.

"Oh, um Alice is actually. She asked if she could and it felt important to her for some reason, so I agreed." I replied flippantly.

"That's interesting, I would have assumed that Bella would be the one to spring you from this joint." He smiled at me as he put the folder on the table before us.

I smiled and I knew that I blushed because I could feel the heat on my cheeks, "Well, she'll be at the house for my homecoming party."

"Edward, I'm very proud of you and the progress that you've made." Dr. Mike said as he slid forward in his chair with his hands on his knees.

"You still have some work to do but honestly, the rest is all up to you. Once you completely learn to let go of the past and the abuse you suffered I see great things in your future. Especially where Bella is concerned." He smiled and it took me back to our past conversations about my relationship with Bella and where I thought I wanted it to go.

"I know and I plan to stick with my therapy." I said and closed my eyes for a second.

"Well, here is your release paperwork as well as your aftercare packet and appointment schedules. I expect to see you in a week in my other office." He said with a laugh and when I opened my eyes I swear I saw a tear in his eye.

He stood up and I followed his lead, "Let's go get your things. You have a house full of people anxiously awaiting your return." Dr. Mike gripped my shoulder as I turned to him.

"Thank you...for everything." I whispered and held in my own tears.

Here I felt safe and protected, but, I was ready to get out of here and start to actually live my life.

Thirty minutes later Alice turned her car into the long driveway up to my parents house.

"You ready for this big brother?" She questioned as she turned the car off.

I let out a deep breath, "Yes, Alice, I think I am. But...who all is here?" I said nervously as I spotted at least three unfamiliar cars parked around us.

She smiled, "Jasper, Emmett, Rosalie, Bella and Jake are all here, along with mom and dad."

"Oh...why would the old gang be here? I haven't spoken to them in years." I was suddenly curious as to what they knew. I could tell the moment that the panic began to set in. Would they judge me or pity me? Would they laugh behind my back about what I had endured?

"Relax, Edward." Alice said as she laid her hand on my forearm, "They are your friends that you've known all your life. They've missed you and were just as worried as we were. They all wanted to welcome you home." Her eyes were soft and held concern because my breathing had picked up slightly.

I fought back the tears that had formed.

"Now, let's go and have a party!" My little sister exclaimed with excitement.

I chuckled and grabbed her arm, "Thank you, Alice. Seriously..." I tried to control my breathing like I'd been taught. "I really mean it."

She giggled, "I know. Now, come on, let's go!" She pushed her door open and started to bounce around the car to help me with my bags.

Almost three hours later, I was exhausted as we said our final goodbye's to my best friends. It had been good to see them again and catch up.

Rosalie and Emmett had gotten married and were expecting their first child in six months.

Jasper confessed that he'd asked Alice to go on a date. They'd dated a few years ago but when things went south with me and Tanya they had butted heads about Jasper's decision to abandon our friendship. Now, they had worked it all out and were on the road to a renewed relationship. That made me happy because they had been so in love the first time around.

Bella was a hit with them all which pleased me greatly. She was so amazing so it was really nice to see her fit in with what I hoped would now become my inner circle of friends and family, again.

"Can we talk for a bit?" I asked Bella as she started to help clear the dining room table off.

"Oh, um, sure. Would you like to go sit in the garden? It's a beautiful night outside." She obviously worried about my request.

"That sounds great." I said with a small smile.

I didn't want to mess this up so I was really nervous as I led Bella down the path to our bench.

"Bella..." I hesitated and tried to stop my nerves from taking over.

She let out a small laugh before she grabbed my hands in hers. "Calm down, Edward. It's just me." Her eyes smiled along with the rest of her face and it had such a calming effect.

I took a deep breath and let it out.

"Okay, let me try this again." I entwined my fingers with hers and turned fully to face her.

"Bella, you've become the best friend that I've ever had. You saved me when I couldn't save myself but it's more than that." I smiled as she looked at me with such softness that it reminded me of how she always knew just what to say or do when I needed her.

"Bella...I'd like to ask you out on a date. I know it's kind of sudden but I've thought long and hard about it. Dr. Mike thought it was a good first step to show you that I'm ready to move forward with my life...and well, because I can't imagine my life without you. So, will you go out with me?" I said as I realized that in my rush to get it all out, I'd said all that in one breath and desperately needed air now.

She smiled and squeezed my hands, "I'd love to go on a date with you."

"You w-w-would?" I stuttered and that made me even more nervous.

Her soft hand came up to cup my cheek, "Edward, I've waited a long time for you to ask me."

Her smile set my heart aflutter...and renewed my sense of calm

I smiled back and held my tongue...it was right there, those three little words, but I wasn't ready to tell her.

Not yet.

A/n: everyone say it with me now...Ahhhhhhh...our little batteredward is growing up...and healing. He's in love...and he's learning what real love is supposed to be;)

See ya Sunday!

Kyla