The Twilight Twenty-Five
thetwilight25[dot]com

Prompt: Airport

Pen Name: Mcgt
Pairing/Main Character(s): Bella
Rating: M

This will be a multi-chaptered story.

Photo prompts can be viewed here: thetwilight25[dot]com/round-six/prompts

A/N

Thanks toLittleRedScientist for helping beta this for me and Jenequilter for her prereader skills.

Chapter 20 – Airport- See You Soon

It had been about a week since he broke the news that he would likely be one extremely rich man within a month's time.

He was terrified. Afraid to face his family, afraid he'd go back to gambling, and most of all he was afraid of what I'd think of him after my tirade during our first date.

I tried my best to reassure him that things would turn out alright but with his work schedule, we hadn't really spent much time together. I'd heard from Esme that he'd started going back to the Gambler's Anonymous meetings and had been over talking with Carlisle late into the night. The thought of him having this sudden windfall of money made me apprehensive knowing that our seemingly equal footing when it came to our relationship would come to an end. It wasn't that I was envious of him; rather I was afraid it would change him and how he treated me. I'd just started getting used to people helping me out and I was afraid Edward would jump in and take everything over, thinking his money would solve all my problems. And while it would help in the short term, that wasn't what I wanted out of our relationship.

It was now my turn to drive him to Seattle to catch his flight home to meet with his parents and their lawyers.

"Ready to go?" I asked getting out of the car in front of his apartment.

Leaning down he wrapped himself around me, his hands tugging my hips forward while his mouth descended onto mine. Giving me a searing kiss, he whispered that he'd missed me and was sorry for being a little distant lately.

Nuzzling back into his embrace I replied that I understood his need for space and was glad he'd asked me to take him to the airport since it allowed me to spend three uninterrupted hours in his presence. I also hoped I could calm his nerves somewhat before he stepped on that plane headed towards the demons he'd thought he left behind.

Once we'd gotten on the road he let his façade down, grumbling about having to work doubles for the last week along with when he returned to make up for the few days he'd had to take off to make the trip to New York.

"Honestly, they couldn't have just sent the papers here? They don't trust me and my recovery enough to realize I'm not that dumb kid anymore?"

I placed my hand on his knee squeezing it gently trying to share some kind of strength and support. "You've survived this long without them. If things don't go the way you want them to go, you'll survive again, and I'll be here waiting."

"I know. But can you imagine what we could do with that money?" His voice had a longing I hadn't heard from him. I'd never had any kind of wealth and didn't know what it was like to try and go without it.

Turning in his direction briefly, I restated what I'd been telling him since he told me about it, "Edward, it's your money. Not mine. I don't need you to spend a dime on me. With some of the changes we've made, the shop is doing better-"

Shaking his head he smiled knowing this had been my argument for the last week. "We'll see." He turned back towards his window and solemnly grumbled, "Who knows I might even be signing away my rights. It's not like they told me anything."

At his sullen yet quick mood shift, I grinned just a little knowing how it felt to be at such odds with yourself especially when things were out of your control.

We chatted aimlessly for the rest of the ride, me doing my best to talk about anything to get his mind off of heading to New York. Based on his far away expression I must not have been doing a very good job of distracting him.

Pulling up outside the airport, I was suddenly saddened that I wouldn't be there to help Edward with whatever he would be experiencing tomorrow morning. I longed to be able to go and stand behind him with one arm gently resting on his shoulder as he sat in a cold conference room facing the people who had lost their faith in their son. Even through all my problems my parents had been there for me no matter what, I knew I could count on their support. Maybe not financially but morally they were my rock.

"I wish I could be there for you. A friendly face in the crowd, you know." I whispered to him as we sat both staring out the windshield instead of getting out of the car.

"I know," he said, finally turning to look in my direction. "But this is something I need to do on my own. Maybe I'm the one that ran away from them? It's been so long maybe my facts have gotten fuzzy along the way."

Hugging him over the console I told him I'd be here waiting for him when he returned rich, poor, it didn't matter. As long as he came back I'd be here for him.

"Thanks, I needed to hear that." Kissing me gently he finally let go saying he'd call me tomorrow after the meeting.

Not ready for him to leave yet I pulled him back, letting my lips deliver the message I was unable to convey verbally that I would miss him, that I would be here, lovingly waiting for him to come back.

"God I'm going to miss you," he mumbled into my neck. "Three days. I'll be back and who knows, maybe you'll even let me pay to fix that espresso machine that keeps going on the fritz," he teased, giving me one last peck before getting out and grabbing his bag out of the back. "See you soon," he said, waving at me through the window.

"Good luck." I shouted as he walked towards the entrance, turning to wave one last time before his image was swallowed by the closing of the automatic doors.

I didn't have any time to mope because one of the airport rent-a-cops came over and told me I needed to keep moving or he'd be forced to give me a ticket.

"Fine, I'm going," I muttered, glancing once more over my shoulder even though there wasn't anything to see. He was gone and I could only hope he was delivered back to me none the worse for wear.

A/N

Thanks again. See you all on Tuesday! The story is winding down. *sob

Based on the reviews from my last chapter, either you guys didn't really like it, or I'm dropping readers faster than flies. Anyhow, hope everyone's having a great Friday & that you enjoy your weekend.