Disclaimer: The characters of Twilight belong to Stephenie Meyer.

All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The author (Emmamama88) is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended. All other characters, and the original story of Love Rescue Me are the intellectual property of Emmamama88, copyright 2010.

** the last chap of LRM gave me fits because I approached it with the intention of cutting out all repetitive dialogue from the V&V chapter. I realized that was a mistake, and had to rewrite the chapter twice before I liked it. With that in mind, this chapter flowed a lot more easily. I've realized I can't cut out all the dialogue, but I have 'tapered' it somewhat.

Hope you like it.

******************************LRM**************************

Chapter 7 - The Flipside of Despair For The Undeserving

The second part of the interview for Rose's show had gone very well. I was grateful that, despite our familial connections, she'd respected my boundaries.

I didn't enjoy talking about my involvement in charity work, it always felt like bragging. A lot of the work I've done, I'll never speak of in an interview. It means more to me if I can do it without any sort of fanfare.

Every now and then during the interview I would glance at Bella. Each time, she seemed to be hanging on my every word. She seemed most interested when I spoke of the upcoming movie in which part of the filming would be done here in Seattle.

I hope that means what I think it does.

I stood by as Rosalie said goodbye to Bella, promising to see her later tonight. I agonized all the way to the hotel about asking her to my parents' for dinner.

Why is this so difficult?

Back in my suite, Bella was rattling off my schedule for tomorrow. "Okay, so you've got a photo shoot with Seattle About Town magazine in the morning, it's supposed to last from 10am to noon. Then the last part of Rose's interview takes place in the television studio from about two-thirty to four-thirty."

I just stared at her, trying to work up the courage to ask her already.

"Edward, are you okay?" She looked apprehensive.

"God, Bella" I felt like a freak. "You're going to think I'm some kind of psycho stalker."

I paced the room as I thought of all the out of character things I'd done since meeting her.

If Bella only knew, she'd never speak to me again.

"Just say it Edward." She still looked apprehensive.

No wonder, she's probably figured out that she's in the same room with a crazy man. Better get this over with.

"It's just, I know I need to slow down where you are concerned, but I don't seem to be able to."

"I just want to spend more time with you. I may be developing an unhealthy obsession, there's a distinct possibility that I'm coming unhinged." I chuckled like an insane person. "The bottom line is that when I heard Rose say she'd see you later tonight, I realized I probably wouldn't, and that bothered me."

More than it should.

"Edward, I'm confused. What are you saying exactly?" She sounded concerned.

"Okay, well, here's the thing. Bella would you go with me to my parents' for dinner tonight?"

She's frowning. No doubt she's calculating how quickly she can sprint to the door, and get the hell away from me.

"Okay" She whispered.

"Really?" Did I hear her correctly?

"Of course Edward."

It was such a relief to know she'd actually give me a chance. I was so happy that I forgot myself and pulled her into a tight hug, not realizing my mistake until I felt her stiffen in my arms.

"Bella, I'm so sorry, I don't know what I was thinking."

"Edward" She said as she took my hands in hers, moving closer. "I said things were different with you, and I meant it. You just surprised me that's all. I thought you had come to your senses, and were going to tell me you were no longer interested in seeing me. I realize that the only thing about this" gesturing between the two of us, "that could truly hurt me, would be if you walked away."

Breathe Edward, just breathe.

I was stunned, she feared that I would leave?

"That will never happen Bella, I'm in this for the long haul."

She hugged me. I wrapped my arms around her, wanting to keep her there forever.

-V&V-

I called Mother as soon as Bella left.

"Hi Mom. Would it be okay if Bella and I arrive around six-thirty?"

She squealed in my ear.

Now I know exactly where Alice gets it.

"Oh honey, I'm sorry, but I am so excited." She continued. "Alice and I have been planning this dinner all day. She knew that Bella would be coming of course."

"I wish I could be as certain as Alice always is." I muttered.

"Edward, when will you learn to always listen to your sister." I could hear the smile in my mother's voice.

"Yes Mother." I answered playfully. "There's just one thing Mom."

"What honey?" She asked.

"Well, um, this is hard to explain but could you just let Dad and Jasper know that they probably shouldn't hug Bella."

My family members were huggers.

"Why ever not dear?" Mom asked.

"I can't really say Mom, but She went through some traumatic things, and she can't handle a lot of physical contact, especially from men she doesn't know."

Hopefully that explained without betraying Bella's confidence.

My mother was quiet for a moment. "Of course dear. I'll let them know. Edward, I don't know what to say."

"Mom, I don't know all the details yet myself, I just want Bella to feel comfortable." I explained.

Mother seemed to brighten then. "Good, yes, we will do everything we can to make her comfortable Edward. Don't worry honey. Well, I must go now. Make sure you dress nicely, we don't want Bella thinking that you're a scruffy bum."

That was unusual coming from my Mother, most of the time she left the wardrobe comments to Alice.

"Alright Mother, I'll see what I can do." I smiled.

"Okay, bye dear, and Edward?"

"Yes.."

"You've made me very happy." She said just before hanging up the phone.

I've made myself pretty damn happy too. I thought with a smile.

It wasn't something I was used to.

-V&V-

At precisely six o'clock I stood at Bella's door with a goofy grin on my face.

Bella opened the door, smiling brightly. Once again our color choices matched.

I suppose Alice will be pleased.

My eyes raked over her body. Drop-dead gorgeous. I was surprised to hear my own voice, because my brain had stopped working.

"You are so beautiful Bella." I murmured. "Are you ready to go?"

"As I'll ever be." She said with a soft smile.

"Don't worry Bella, my family will love you, Alice already does." I took her hand and led her down to the waiting car.

I kept her talking on the ride to the house, hoping to calm her nerves. As expected, Bella had quite an animated reaction to my parents' house.

I heard her mutter "fuck", and couldn't help chuckling. She looked slightly embarrassed.

"It's just a house Bella. If it affects you this much, you may need a valium before you see my place in L.A." I teased.

I can't wait for her trip to L.A.

"Excuse me for being a little stunned Mister movie star, who's used to this kind of thing." She pretended to be offended by my amusement. "Remember I'm from a small town. Hello… my Dad's a cop, and my Mom was a sometime kindergarten teacher, so I can be impressed by this."

"And since you think I'm so amusing, I'll just say that your parents have one fuckawesome house! So there." She stuck her tongue out at me like a five year old.

Adorable.

Unfortunately, she hadn't noticed my parents approach, and they were now standing directly behind her.

"I hope that's a good thing." My mother said.

There's that blush I adore.

I continued to laugh as Bella smiled and turned to face my parents, who were smiling brightly in return.

My parents are going to love her.

"If our son would compose himself, he could introduce us. I'm assuming you're Bella?" My mother asked as she shot me a glare.

I did not care. This shit was funny. When Bella turned to glare at me, I laughed harder.

"Thanks Edward, you're a lot of help." She said through gritted teeth.

"Yes, I'm Bella." She said, turning back to my parents.

"We're Edwards' parents, obviously. I'm Esme." Mom said as she grasped Bella's hand in both of hers.

"And this is Carlisle." Mom continued.

My Dad smiled and said "It's a pleasure to meet you Bella."

"Thank you Doctor and Mrs. Cullen for inviting me to dinner. I apologize for the um, you know, what you heard me say a minute ago. I'm really trying to curb my potty mouth. Obviously not trying hard enough…I'm seriously considering checking to see if there's some sort of 12-step program…"

She is one of a kind.

"Don't worry about it Bella. I've been know to 'let fly' with a few inappropriate words myself." Mom was trying to make her feel better. It was actually rare for her to use bad language.

We went inside where Alice and Jasper were waiting. Bella seemed to be mesmerized by the beauty of the house. We'd always lived in similarly opulent surroundings, so it was something that I never really thought about.

"Hi again Bella" Alice said as she hugged Bella. I hope Bella didn't notice that Jasper and Dad kept their distance.

We went to sit in the family room in the rear of the main floor. Next to the music room, my parents were aware that this room was my favorite. The outside lights were on, so we could see the dock and the boat. The view was nice, but not as beautiful as the sunset would have been across the water.

Bella and my parents seemed to hit it off. Alice kept grinning at me, with an 'I told you so' expression on her face. They talked about Mom and Dad's careers, Alice and my childhoods, and their charitable work.

I was afraid that Bella would get bored, but I could tell that was not the case.

At one point, I assumed that everything had just been too much for her. Especially after the frank conversation we'd had yesterday. She seemed to get a little lightheaded.

"Oh Bella dear, are you alright? You look flushed, can I get you something to drink?" Mom was concerned.

"I'll be fine Esme, it's just been a busy day." I felt like a jerk dragging her out when she was probably tired after the day we'd had. I took a glass of water to her, that seemed to help.

After dinner, I took Bella on a tour of the house. I couldn't resist the urge to take her hand in mine. It just felt right. "Is this okay?" I asked, gesturing to our clasped hands.

"Definitely okay, Edward." she smiled.

I tried to see things through her eyes, and realized the house was probably a bit overwhelming. The last room we visited was my old bedroom.

Bella started giggling inexplicably upon entering my room.

I wanted, no I needed to know why. "Bella, why are you laughing?"

At first, she wouldn't say. I kept asking until she finally relented. Hearing the story of her brother's fantasy of having sex in his childhood bedroom, and then fulfilling said fantasy Christmas night was amusing.

Then I realized that was the night I stalked her. The night I spied on her from my Dad's car.

I am such an asshole. She would freak out if she knew I did that.

I looked around my room, trying to distract myself.

I would love to fulfill that particular fantasy, but only with Bella.

I felt like shit for having those thoughts after everything she'd told me, but I couldn't help myself. Bella must have noticed that I was uncomfortable.

"Um, Edward, I didn't mean to make you feel awkward, I was just laughing at the ridiculousness that is Emmett. This being your 'childhood bedroom' just triggered the memory."

"It's fine Bella. It's just that it's been a long time since I've had any kind of fantasy like that." I sighed.

I suppose I must have had that fantasy about Meghan at one time. But everything that happened afterward has erased those memories from my brain.

I pulled her down to sit beside me. I looked into her face, and found the understanding and hopefulness I had been looking for.

"If I were to tell you that you were making me feel things I hadn't felt in a long time, what would you say?" I asked nervously.

"What things do I make you feel Edward?"

She was going to make me spell this out.

"If I were to tell you that I want to be with you all the time Bella, that I never want you to go home. If I were to admit that I hate saying goodbye to you."

I watched her face and saw nothing to deter me from continuing. "If I were to be completely honest, and tell you that I want the same thing Emmett wanted, but with you. Only with you, no one else, no one else ever."

Bella gasped and then grew silent as she pondered what I had said. Eventually, she turned to face me and clasped my other hand. "Edward, if you were to tell me those things, I would have to tell you that ever since we met, you're the first thing I think of when I wake up. You're the last thing I think of before I go to sleep. You're in my thoughts every moment that we're not together."

This is my life she is describing. How could fate be this kind to me?

I didn't even try to hide my happiness at her words.

"I would say that my logic tells me that it's impossible for someone like you to want someone like me, but my heart wants it to be true more than anything." She whispered.

No, no, no. I'm the one who doesn't deserve her. She's kind and beautiful and sweet and true. And entirely too good for me.

I shook his head. "Isabella, I told you before that you don't see yourself clearly."

I ran my hand through my hair while never releasing her other hand. "I always thought I was content, even happy within myself. I have my family, my career, my charitable work, and I always felt those were enough to sustain me." I said in answer.

"The moment I met you, everything instantly changed. I walked out of that television studio like a man who had been struck by lightning. I actually couldn't decide if my feelings for you were a good thing or a bad thing. It was so strange, so foreign."

It was all coming out now. My truth was being revealed.

"For the past several years, I have perfected my public image and demeanor into this calm, unaffected, arrogant, well let's be honest, everyone thinks I'm sort of an asshole. When I'm with you, all of that falls away and I sometimes feel like an insecure seventeen year old again. It's unnerving, exhilarating, but also calming all at the same time."

"I'm quickly learning that you're everything I never knew was missing in my life. Everything I never knew I needed and wanted."

Please Bella, don't overthink this, just hear it.

"Isabella" I looked at her and moved closer, the urge to kiss her had never been stronger "Bella" I clasped her shoulders, pulling her closer. "Keep very still, I just want to try something." I brought my lips closer, they were almost touching hers.

My door suddenly flew open.

Alice. Why? Why? Why?

"Okay Edward, you've monopolized Bella long enough." She sang as she pulled Bella from the room. "Mom and I want to have some 'girl time' with Bella, go find something to do with Dad and Jasper."

"But" I knew I'd never win against Alice.

"No buts, just go." My sister could be the most frustrating individual.

What could I do? I went in search Jasper and my Dad. As soon as I walked away, my arms felt empty.

-V&V-

I found Dad and Jasper downstairs in the game room playing pool. They smiled at me knowingly. I grabbed a beer and joined them. "I knew it was just a matter of time before Alice stole Bella away from you." Jasper laughed.

I just shrugged dejectedly. "You know I love Alice very much, but sometimes it's hard to like her."

Dad and Jazz just laughed at me.

So much for 'comrades in arms' or some such shit.

"Bella's a nice girl Edward." Dad remarked.

And that was it. No probing questions. No heart to heart. Not the interrogation that I would have received at the hands of Mom and Alice. It was nice hanging out with the guys. We just played pool and talked about sports.

After my second beer, I went in search of Bella. I found the women in the sunroom drinking cocktails.

"Let's go for a walk." I said quietly to Bella as I took her hand. After we put our coats on, I led her outside to the boat.

"Edward are we going somewhere?" She asked.

"No, I just wanted to sit outside to talk, and this boat has really comfortable seating." I smiled. We needed to be away from inquisitive ears.

And hopefully Alice wouldn't think of looking for us here.

Once we were settled on the bench, I held her hand again. I was loathe to lose physical contact with her.

"I wanted to ask you a little more about your plans for the future Bella." This was important, because I knew I had no future without Bella in it.

"Oh no Edward. I decided that since we're on your home turf, tonight should be a night I can find out about you."

"You decided this hm?"

"It's only fair Edward. I've bared my soul to you, I think I'm entitled."

I felt like a jerk once again. She has been so forthcoming while I sat back and allowed her to dredge up a number of painful memories. I kissed her nose before I spoke "I agree, I haven't been very fair. Ask away Miss Swan."

"Okay. Well, I hope it's okay to ask this, here goes. Have you ever had your heart broken?"

Wow, the first question was going to force me to talk about the one subject I wanted to avoid. Well one of two subjects. Meghan. I didn't even want to think of her while in the presence of my beautiful Bella.

"I thought I was in love once, and she did break my heart. Although, now that I've met you, I realize the feelings I had for Meghan couldn't have been love. Those feeling were nowhere near as intense as those I have for you. It's the difference between night and day. Therefore, I suppose we'll have to categorize what I felt for Meghan as a crush." I smiled, realizing the truth of my own words.

"Meghan?" She was curious.

"Yes, Meghan Walters." I guess I needed to get through as much of this as possible. I owed it to Bella. "We had been dating since we were both fifteen, in the spring during 9th grade. We broke up two years later, in May of our junior year, not long before I moved to Hollywood."

"Physically, we never did anything more than kiss. I was willing, even anxious. I was a normal teenage male after all. But she didn't want to, and I didn't push her. I assumed she needed more time."

What a naïve fool I was.

"For the night of Junior Prom, Meghan had agreed to stay over at a hotel with me. My parents were surprisingly forward-thinking, and allowed me to plan the weekend. I booked a beautiful suite and went there beforehand to fill the bedroom with flowers and candles. I was pulling out all the stops. I knew in my heart we loved each other, and that this would be the night we would both lose our virginity. We were almost eighteen and I couldn't see any reason to wait a moment longer. It just seemed like the right time."

I told her that although Meghan and I never had sex, unbeknownst to me, she'd been cheating on me with a guy that was in his twenties.

Before relaying all the gory details of that night and the days following, I looked into her eyes to make sure it was the right thing to do. I didn't care about what it would do to me, but I didn't want to upset her unduly.

If she only knew that being with her was the best therapy I'd found in seven years.

"After what you told me, I owe this to you. Bella, I'm about to tell you things I haven't spoken of with anyone outside of my therapist for years. But, you deserve to hear my truth."

Then I proceeded to spill my guts to Bella. I wasn't sure where this was coming from. Sure, I'd contemplated telling her, especially since she'd confided some of her past with me, but I didn't intend for it to be today.

By the time I'd gotten to the part about going back to my hotel room, getting trashed and passing out, my insides were in knots. If I hadn't been holding Bella, I couldn't have gotten through the rest.

"This next part of the story is very difficult for me Bella." I choked out. My own personal angel wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed my cheek.

"Edward, it's just me here. There's no one else around that can harm you in any way."

God I love her.

I pulled her closer and laid my head on hers.

"I was woken some time the next day by a roomful of police officers screaming at me as they tossed me around, trying to wake me up. I was aware that I was in nothing but my boxers, and the hotel suite was destroyed. Because of all the liquor from the night before, my stomach immediately lurched, and I vomited on the officer closest to me."

"I remember him throwing me back with evident disgust, and another officer reading me my rights, while placing handcuffs on my wrists. I was still so drunk that I couldn't understand anything they were asking me. I remember telling them that I had been with Meghan the night before and that she was a frigid bitch. I even signed papers without even reading them, I was so out of it."

"Finally, I sobered up enough to shut up and ask for a lawyer. After that, they were forbidden from asking any more questions. My father arrived with our lawyer and they informed me that I was being charged with rape, assault, and other unspeakable things. Meghan had given a sworn statement against me, and in my state of drunkenness and/or hangover, I had even signed a confession."

The emotions associated with those memories finally overwhelmed me, and I dropped my head into my hands. "I couldn't remember anything, I didn't know if I was guilty or not. Understand Bella, that at that point, I didn't know about the scumbag she'd been seeing behind everyone's back."

"The judge at my arraignment was a friend of Meghan's father, and he denied my bail. I was held in jail for several days, and as each day passed, because I couldn't remember what happened, I became more convinced that I was guilty. I imagined that I had found Meghan in my drunken state, and done those things to her. I was the lowest, most vile creature alive because I had hurt the thing I most cared about."

"My parents aged ten years that week. I felt so guilty for causing my family this stress and heartache. I hated myself. I wanted to die, and by the end of that week, I even went as far as to attempt suicide." I showed her my wrists.

"Oh Edward no." She was crying, and I felt horrible for causing her a moment's pain. I rubbed soothing circles on her back until she calmed.

"After my suicide attempt, I was kept under observation in the psychiatric ward of Seattle General, while under police guard. A couple of days into my stay, all charges against me were dropped."

"At first the only thing anyone would tell me was that Meghan's real attackers had been taken into custody. I was not a suspect, and had in no way been involved in the assault."

"I almost went out of my mind thinking about someone hurting her, even though I was relieved that it wasn't me. I still thought I loved her, and couldn't bear the thought of the horrible things she'd gone through. I also felt responsible for 'driving her away' to be hurt by some random guys."

"Since I was no longer in 'police custody', my parents were able to spend more time with me. I was still under 'suicide watch', but because of his position in the hospital, Dad was able to influence my doctors to speed up the process to release me."

"My Dad realized that the catalyst to the suicide attempt was that I believed myself guilty of harming Meghan. He also realized I needed the entire story so I wouldn't harbor any guilt about what happened to her."

"After Meghan had left me at Prom, she had the cab drop her off at Jimmy's apartment, Jimmy being her scumbag twenty-four year old boyfriend. She arrived unannounced and found Jimmy and his friend Dave snorting coke and having sex with a couple of girls."

"Meghan went off on them and starting hitting Jimmy. He sent the girls away, and was able to calm Meghan down. Once she was calm, he proceeded to beat her severely for embarrassing him."

I whispered the next part "He and his friend Dave raped Meghan and did unspeakable things to her until they eventually passed out."

"At some point, she was able to make her escape. A good Samaritan found her staggering alongside the road, and took her to the closest hospital. The emergency room staff called the police and her parents."

"Her Mother and Father immediately assumed that I was the one who had hurt her. The police arrested me, and Meghan was too afraid to tell the truth, and have to admit all the things she'd been doing for the last two years."

"Somehow she heard about my suicide attempt and what little compassion and decency she had left forced her to finally admit the truth to her parents and the police. Meghan went into rehab, Jimmy and his friend were arrested, and I was freed."

"After hearing the whole story from my Dad, I broke down. I was relieved that I hadn't hurt anyone, but I descended into a deep depression which left permanent scars on my mental well-being. I refused to let anyone get close to me with the exception of my family. When you told me about yourself Bella, the pain I saw on your face mirrored my own in so many ways. Although my physical pain was self-inflicted, the mental anguish I suffered was excruciating. I knew you were someone who could understand that, as I understand yours."

"I couldn't bring myself to return to school for the last month of my junior year. My parents made arrangements so that I could complete the work at home. I was just so afraid that everyone would know that I'd been arrested. And you know as well as I that even if the charges were dropped, there would still be those people that believe the accusation alone is proof of guilt."

I then explained to her the lengths my parents and their lawyers had gone to in order to purge my name of even a hint of scandal. Thankfully the many screw-ups of the Seattle police helped them with that particular goal.

Judging by the fact that no tabloid journalist had even brought up the story, I had to assume that their efforts had been successful.

Now that I'd confided in Bella, I started to relax. I was much calmer as I spoke about the legal foundation started by my parents, and how they made sure to be 'connected' with many persons of influence in order to be able to protect their friends and family.

"As for myself, the entire clusterfuck left me an emotional wreck. When I got the call to move to Hollywood just after my birthday, it was a Godsend. I was able to escape from Seattle, and anyone who knew about my ordeal. I was able to lose myself in my new life."

"Just after I moved to California, my parents let me know about all their efforts and assured me that everything had been taken care of, and that my public image and career would never be tainted by what happened."

"When you told me how you felt about your family Bella, I completely understood. I owe everything to my parents, Alice, and even Jasper."

"Alice was enrolled to attend college on the east coast. Everything was set, she even had an apartment." I went on to explain that Alice changed all her plans because she knew I would need her. She even gave up attending a school near Jasper's college in order to be closer to me.

"I can't even describe to you the intense guilt I felt for taking her from the school she'd had her heart set on, not to mention taking her away from Jasper. We had horrible arguments because I didn't want her to do that for me, but she wouldn't listen, and wouldn't change her mind."

"I'm so grateful she was so stubborn because there were many times over the next few years that I wouldn't have made it without her. When I was working, things were easier, because I would completely focus on the job at hand. It was the time between projects that was dangerous for me. My depression was all-consuming at times. My guilt was eased slightly when Jasper transferred to California for his last two years of school."

I then explained that my use of the family name of Masen, hadn't been solely for anonymity, I'd also hoped that my relationship with Meghan, and any associated scandal would not be brought to light.

We sat for a long time in quiet reflection.

Bella was the first one to break the silence "Edward, thank you for telling me what happened to you. It means more than I can say. What I mean to say is, you mean more to me than I can say."

"We certainly are a 'fucked-up pair'. Maybe we can help each other and go forward together. Now that I know you, I can't bear the thought of being without you." She added.

This was more than I could have hoped for. I looked at her as I smiled, brushing a stray hair behind her ear. I knew what I needed to say next, "Beautiful Bella, I can't face a single tomorrow without you. I love you."

There, I've said it. I've said what I needed to. I know it's too soon for her to reciprocate. That's okay. That's really okay.

I tried to convince myself.

"I love you too Edward, so much." She whispered.

Did that really just happen? Did Bella just profess to love me too? Maybe I'm asleep?

The elation I felt spilled over into a broad smile. I cupped her face in my hands.

It certainly seems like I'm really awake. Oh who knows and who cares? I only wished I'd thought to bribe Jasper to keep Alice the hell away. If she intrudes again when I'm trying to kiss Bella, I'm burning her fucking wardrobe.

I brought my lips to hers. The first kiss I was to share with the woman I loved. The electric spark was there, increasing as the kiss intensified. I wanted this kiss to last forever. More than that, I desperately wanted to make love to her. I could feel my heart racing as visions of Bella wrapped around me filled my mind. I wanted more. I wanted her heart and her body. The thought was all-consuming.

Pull yourself together before you take Bella's virginity on the floor of Mom and Dad's boat.

I'm an asshole.

We broke apart in order to catch our breath. "I've been wanting to do that for a week." Edward breathed. "How are you? I was afraid it would upset you."

"I'm fine, no, let me rephrase, I'm spectacular." She smiled.

I laughed, but then I thought how 'not fine' Bella would be if she'd known the lascivious turn my mind had taken.

At least she still believes me to be a gentleman where she's concerned.

"That was just, wow" she said brightly.

I couldn't help but to agree with her, "Wow is a bit understated, but it will do."

"Bella, do you remember the text on Christmas about what I wished for?" I asked.

She nodded.

"That was what I wished for." It felt so good finally being able to admit my feelings.

After a little while, and more kissing, Bella mentioned the time.

She's probably exhausted. Damn it, I need to pay more attention to her needs.

Actually, I was exhausted too.

We said goodbye to my family, and headed back to Bella's apartment. "The next time we come out here, I'll take you for a drive in the Vanquish."

"And when will that be Edward?"

Knowing Bella returned my feelings, I finally felt confident enough to admit wanting to spend all my free time with her.

"What are you doing this weekend?" I asked as I pulled her closer.

"I think I'm going for a ride in a fuckawesome car." She grinned and winked at me.

We laughed.

All too soon, I was saying goodnight at her door. "Goodnight Edward, sweet dreams, I love you." I would never grow tired of hearing it.

"Goodnight Beautiful Bella, I love you too. You are my whole world now." The truth was getting easier to admit each time. Who would have thought that the day in which I shared so much of my fucked-up past with Bella would turn out to be the best day of my life.

So far.

Because I knew that now that I had her, each day I spent with her, would be better than the one before.

I thought back to that moment earlier this evening. The moment in which Bella said she loved me. The moment in which Edward Masen, cynical jaded asshole, became Edward Cullen, hopeful lovestruck optimist.

*****************************A/N****************************

A/N I fail at life because I couldn't figure a way to have Edward in his underwear or a hot tub or even a frickin sauna this chapter. I'll keep trying…

There will be one more chap of LRM before we return to V&V's Easter Weekend. Need to tie up some loose ends here that will be mentioned there.

Hope you like it. Your feedback is my drug of choice.