Disclaimer- Stephenie still owns the usual suspects.

I own my original characters and original story.

**Sorry this was delayed….computer cord issues finally resolved. Here's the chapter that parallels Chap 17 of V&V. Chap 18 is ready to post also. I will post it early tomorrow. Thanks for everyone's patience.

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

Chapter 17 - Perfect Dates For The Redeemed

I was so glad that I let Alice guide me when reserving this restaurant. She told me to reserve the 'private' dining room, that way Bella and I wouldn't be disturbed by the unwanted attention of the other diners.

Unfortunately, when I phoned, the 'private' dining room was already reserved. For the entire evening. After speaking with the manager, I was able to convince him to contact the party that had the room on hold and find a way to get it. I even gave him permission to use my name.

Fortunately, the other party was a huge fan. Unfortunately, I now had to make an appearance at his daughter's 'sweet sixteen' birthday party in May.

Shit.

I had to admit, the guy was a very good negotiator.

When I saw the private dining room, I realized that it was worth whatever I had to do to get it. I would appear at ten birthday parties if it meant I could have Bella all to myself while enjoying the wonderful meal and spectacular view. Although, as usual, I didn't take my eyes off of her long enough to notice much else.

We spoke a bit about my schedule for the next few months. It's funny, I'd been so obsessed with the almost three weeks we'd be apart starting Sunday, that I hadn't given much thought to the much longer spans of time I'd be without Isabella after Aspen.

It made me sad to think about it, and I could tell by her reaction that she felt the same way.

I could have kicked myself when I realized about halfway through dinner that I was rattling on and on about the movie I'd start filming next week.

Damn it Edward, you've got to be the most boring date in the world.

Isabella, on the other hand, seemed to be hanging on my every word.

We skipped dessert, that would come later.

For the next part of our date, I took Bella to a little jazz club that I frequented when in Seattle. I knew the manager, and he always looked out for me by keeping the paps away as best he could. The crowd was usually laid back, and I'd never had any trouble there with overzealous fans. Every time I'd gone, it had been a great experience, and tonight was no exception.

After much begging on my part, I was finally able to coax Bella to the dance floor. She always claimed that she wasn't a very good dancer, but you couldn't prove that by me. When I held her close, it was like she was made to dance with me. Our movements were so fluid.

Of course the sex-driven part of my brain that seemed to have awoken the day I met Bella, started thinking of other ways we could move very well together.

Such a horny pervert. Think of something fast in order to kill your burgeoning hard-on before Isabella notices it.

Emmett. Emmett in women's underwear. Ew. Emmett in my Grandma's underwear. Even worse.

That did the trick.

After I mentally castigated myself for my perv tendencies, I gazed down into my girl's beautiful brown eyes.

The next few weeks were going to be more than difficult. While filming, I knew I'd be okay. I had a talent for easily losing myself in my work. It was the times when I would be alone that I dreaded. My arms would ache to hold Isabella, but I would have to be satisfied with phone calls.

"Bella." I murmured in her ear as we danced.

She looked up at me questioningly.

"This moment, right now is the one I want to keep with me. For the three weeks that we're apart, this is the moment I will think of when I miss you the most, it's perfect. This is my moment to treasure."

And then I kissed her. I kissed her with every bit of passion I'd felt since the day we met. I wanted her to feel everything in that kiss, my undying love for her, my hope for the future, my sorrow for the way I'd botched things, and also how much I was going to miss her while we were apart.

At that moment, in my arms, I held my entire world. Everything felt right when we were together, and I knew it would all feel wrong once we were apart again.

While I held her in my arms and saw the love she had for me shining in her eyes, it was easy to remember how much she loved me, but once we were apart I knew that my fear would begin to eat at me again. The fear that one day Bella would wake up and realize that it was just too difficult to be with me.

She didn't have any idea how cruel the media could be. How could I prepare her for that? Was I really willing to put her through that? What if she realized that this life in the glare of the media spotlight was not the one she wanted, and she eventually decided to leave me?

As I looked at her, I told myself to stop being a fool and make sure that I did whatever it took to keep that from ever happening.

I leaned down and sang along with the band, low in Bella's ear "Some day, when I'm awfully low, when the world is cold, I will feel a glow just thinking of you... And the way you look tonight."

"Edward, I never knew you could sing." She whispered.

"I also play the piano, but don't tell anyone. I don't necessarily want to do that in the movies." I definitely want to keep that part of myself private.

Dessert was the next stop. I had arranged with the owner of a little gourmet ice cream shop to open after hours just for us.

Isabella was thrilled.

It truly doesn't take much to please her.

I was happy that everything I'd planned had gone off without a hitch. The two or three paps that were shadowing us weren't going to ruin the evening, I wouldn't let them. Isabella seemed to be unaware of their presence.

The kiss in the elevator of her building wasn't long enough. When I kissed her again at her door, Isabella had to be the one to end it, because I wasn't able.

She finally broke away, and whispered goodnight before slipping into her apartment. I was halfway to the elevator before I realized our mistake.

Chuckling to myself, I went back and knocked, leaning against the door frame as I waited for her to answer.

"Bella." I said sweetly.

"Yes Edward."

"All my stuff is here." I grinned.

"Sorry." She laughed and blushed.

-LRM-

After getting ready for bed, I was able to coax Isabella to lie down with me on the sleeper sofa again. I was glad, because knowing I'd be leaving soon, I couldn't bear to be apart from her for an entire night.

"Edward."

"Yes, love."

"Tomorrow is our last night together for a while. You did such a wonderful job planning tonight, that I'd like to plan a special evening for us tomorrow, if that's okay?"

"Do I get to know ahead of time?"

"No, I think I'd like to surprise you. Are you game?"

"I'll go anywhere you lead Miss Swan."

Early the next morning, I was awoken by Bella's sleep talking. At first, I thought she was awake. When nothing she said made any sense, I realized she was still fast asleep.

I wrapped my arms around her as I watched her face.

Still asleep she whispered "Edward, love you."

She must really love me if even her subconscious is willing to say so.

I breathed out a contented sigh and held her close.

A short time later, her eyes opened.

"Morning beautiful. Did you know you talk in your sleep?"

She looked worried.

"What did I say?" She asked nervously.

I smiled. "It was very jumbled, most of it didn't make sense. You did say my name, and that you loved me."

That part, I will remember forever.

"I do." She said, and then inexplicably she tried to escape my arms.

What the?

"Where are you going?" I whined.

I have turned into such a pussy.

"Morning breath." She whispered with one hand over my mouth.

I laughed and released her while I flopped back down on the bed. "I don't care about that Bella." I really didn't.

"Yes, but I do." She said before running off to the bathroom.

I got up and started making coffee. When Bella returned, I decided brushing before kissing her was probably a good idea. Upon exiting the bathroom, I was finally able to give my girl a 'good morning' kiss.

"Hey I thought morning breath didn't matter?" She smiled as she asked.

"Yours doesn't, mine does." I laughed.

-LRM-

We went over to Mom and Dad's for the afternoon. They planned to take us out on the lake for lunch. Even though the air was cold, I knew it would be comfortable on the boat. I had the feeling that Mom wanted to speak with Isabella alone, and I knew that as soon as I was busy helping Dad, she would grasp at the opportunity.

"Feel better now that everything is out in the open between you and Bella?" My dad asked as we prepared the boat.

"It's like a weight has been lifted off of me." I admitted.

He smiled. "I can't tell you how happy it makes your mother and I to see you in love son. We've hoped and prayed for that for some time now."

"I'm sorry for making you worry Dad" I muttered.

"Don't be sorry son. You can't force yourself to fall in love." He grinned. "It happens when it's meant to."

"That's true. It wasn't something I ever looked for or expected to happen, and when it did, it hit me with the force of a Mack truck." I laughed. "The way I described it to Bella was as if I had been 'struck by lightning' the moment I met her, and it was true."

Dad laughed. "Son, you are a mess." He smiled as he shook his head. "The best part of all this for us is that we've got our son back. You're more the person you used to be, before…"

I sighed. "I know Dad. Every day I'm with Bella helps make the things that happened in the past matter less and less. She's the best medicine for me."

He continued to smile at me.

"She lived through worse than I did, so Bella really understands me Dad."

I saw his forehead crease as he took in what I'd said about Bella. I dropped the subject, knowing I wasn't at liberty to say anything more.

We spent a couple of hours on the lake, until the mist turned into more of a downpour, and forced us to head back to the dock.

Back at Bella's we took a nap because her plan for tonight was starting very late. I had no idea what we would be doing, I only hoped the paps wouldn't ruin it.

To be honest, the control freak in me was losing his mind.

When Bella told me to dress casually, I was already liking this date. I donned my comfortable 'disguise' clothing: jeans, t-shirt, hoodie and baseball cap.

We left the apartment at about 9pm, traveling by cab, at Bella's insistence. Amazingly, the paps never followed. All I could assume was that they didn't recognize us as we left.

The first stop was for hamburgers at a little place which Bella said was near our final destination. After eating, we started to walk up the street.

Obviously this place is really close by.

As soon as I could see the marquis, I realized what we were doing, and laughed. "Really Bella? The Rocky Horror Picture Show?"

I was a bit skeptical about how the people inside would react to my presence, but I had to admit I'd always been curious about the 'Rocky Horror' experience. I didn't have the life of a normal college student, and never got to experience these things. Until Bella, I'd never wanted to.

"Yes Edward. Emmett and Rose go all the time, I've never been. Of course I've seen the movie, but never experienced it with an audience. Emmett loves it because he can act like an idiot in a theatre and not get tossed out." She grinned. "I never wanted to go before, but when I'm with you I feel normal, and I want to try new things, it'll be fun. Besides, from what I hear, the entire audience becomes part of the act, so you should feel right at home, Mr. Movie Star." She grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the doors.

"If you say so." I smiled. She was always so unexpected.

Before I knew it, we were seated inside, waiting for the movie to begin. I had noticed a few looks from other moviegoers, but no one intruded on our little bubble.

They are all probably wondering why a beautiful girl like Bella would date an asshole like me.

Every time we went out, I wanted to kick my own ass for allowing myself to be branded a 'womanizer'. Bella knowing the truth helped, but I would be glad when Tanya finally puts an end to all the speculation.

Just then, a frightening thought crossed my mind. Bella had mentioned her brother and Rose.

"Bella, you said Emmett and Rose come to this all the time. Are they going to be here tonight?"

Please say no.

"Definitely not. I made sure of it. I got all the information about it from Rose, but she told me that they had plans this evening."

Thank God.

At precisely that moment a voice boomed in my ear, "Well look what we have here."

That sounded just like Emmett.

"I believe I've found two virgins."

Fuck! It is Emmett. He promised to keep that shit to himself. Son of a….

"Come on virgins. Get up on stage." announced the freaky-looking asshole, while some weird looking girl ushered us toward the stage. She whispered something to Bella.

"Rose?" Bella whispered back to her.

I did a double-take, and sure enough under that crazy wig and makeup was none other than Rosalie Whitlock.

We'd been had.

I truly believe that any date with Bella would be wonderful, but this plan may officially suck ass.

We held hands as we walked up on stage, feeling as if we were going before a firing squad. There were a lot of 'virgins' up there.

What's up with that? There's a dude and his girlfriend that were dry humping while they waited in line. No damn way are either of them virgins.

"Since this is your first time here, you are all Rocky virgins. Welcome to your initiation." Emmett announced.

Bella and I both sighed in relief.

I really don't think my heart can take much more excitement this week.

A single smack with a paddle symbolized our initiation into the world of all things 'Rocky Horror'.

We enjoyed the rest of the evening immensely. I had to admit that I kept my eyes on the 'live' participants a lot more than the ones on the movie screen. With our bag of props, Bella and I were soon participating as much as everyone else. It was a lot of fun.

After the movie, I spent a little time signing autographs and posing in photos with fans. Others just wanted to chat, and I obliged them. They'd all been so great before and during the movie that I felt the need to thank them somehow.

"Sorry my brother almost turned our night into a disaster." Bella apologized during the cab ride home.

"Don't worry about it Bella." I had almost forgotten about the 'virgin' nonsense. "I'm starting to get used to him. I guess with Emmett I should always 'Expect the Unexpected'."

-LRM-

Bella insisted on going to the early Mass the next day. Even though I was tired, I forced myself to go with her. I wasn't going to waste a minute that we could be together.

There was nothing out of the ordinary during the Mass. I wished I could say the same for what was awaiting us outside, and back at Bella's apartment building.

The damn paps found out where we'd gone.

Outside the Cathedral, they started their barrage of asinine and insulting questions.

"Hey Edward, how many other women do you have stashed in cities around the world?" We ignored them and kept moving.

"Isabella, does it ease your conscience to go to Church after spending the night with someone else's boyfriend?" It took every ounce of my strength not to go after that fucker.

More were waiting outside the apartment building. I said a silent prayer that as soon as I left this afternoon, they would go too, and leave my girl alone.

When we headed to the airport, I made Bella wear her earbuds and listen to her ipod so she wouldn't hear any more.

I still heard them though, as did Emmett and Rose, who looked as angry as I felt. They told me that once we got to the airport they would keep everyone away so I could say goodbye to Bella.

Knowing that Rose and Emmett would be there to look out for her once I left, made it a little easier to go.

No, it really didn't.

At the airport I held Bella in my arms for as long as I could. "Nineteen days beautiful girl. Only nineteen days and we'll be together again in Aspen." I told her as a couple tears streaked down her face. I wiped them away.

"I don't think I need to say this, but I will anyway. Please don't believe anything said about me while I'm gone." I said with a chuckle.

"Point taken Mr. Cullen." She grinned while she sniffled. "I'll never believe anything about you again, unless it comes from you."

"Bella, I'm going to miss you so much. I'm miserable even thinking about it."

"Hey, like you said, only nineteen days right? That's not long. You have work to keep you busy, I have school." She looked at me and began to cry harder. "Oh Edward." She sobbed.

I rubbed her back. "I've got to go beautiful, they'll be boarding my flight soon."

I didn't want to be like those other asshole celebrities that expect airplanes to wait for them. My reputation was bad enough already.

"I've ruined your shirt." She said.

"I think I'll survive." I couldn't care less about the stupid shirt.

"I have a confession." She half-smiled through her tears. "I stole the t-shirt you slept in last night because it smells like you."

I smirked at her. "I guess that's okay. Especially since I did the same thing with yours, it's in my carryon."

Not to mention your panties at the bottom of my suitcase.

We both smiled at each other. "I love you Edward." She whispered.

"I love you too sweetheart. I'll call you when I land." I murmured back.

We kissed goodbye, each not wanting the kiss to end, both panting for air when we finally broke apart. One last hug, and I turned to dash to security, and down the hall, away from my future.

Remembering the look on Isabella's face this morning when the photographers were shouting at her, I made a promise to myself that when Tanya finally said her piece, I was going to have my say.

I'd talk to Jasper about my options, maybe a magazine interview, or television appearance with someone like Oprah or Barbara Walters. Either way, I was going to make clear to them that Isabella was the best thing that ever happened to me, and express how much she'd changed my life. Not just changed it, saved it.

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

A/N So..I had this done as a combo 17 and 18 together. Evidently it was too large for Fanfic to handle..so I had to split it. 18 will post early tomorrow.

As always, let me know what you think. I love reviews…it will make me finish the next V&V faster….it's shaping up to be a funny one, btw.