BPOV

I woke up to Edward trailing kisses from my jaw down to my chin, and back up to my ear. "Bellaaa...baby, wake up," he crooned.

"Un-uh." I turned away from him and took the covers with me, snuggling into them.

It's Sunday.

I'd had a long week.

Conclusion: I'm sleeping in.

"It's moving day!" Edward whispered excitedly.

I suppressed a groan. There was that, too. Getting up meant moving. And I didn't want to move. Edward moved to get off the bed. I felt his presence next to the bed and peeked up at him before closing my eyes again.

He was already dressed in his grey cargo shorts and white wife beater. I thought I saw a curl in his hair and looked at him quickly to make sure. Yupp. A curl in the lock of hair he was twirling around his finger last night.

I heard him walk away and relaxed in bed, thinking about where winter had gone. It flew by in the blink of an eye, and the warm weather of spring was already here.

Edward became more outgoing over the past few months, and needless to say, I was relieved. I don't care if he's outgoing or not, but it killed me to see him hurting every time we went somewhere where there were a lot of people.

He seemed pretty happy most of the time – save stressing over his job – and if he was happy, I was happy.

I took him out two more times after our date at Fleming's, and to my surprise, he didn't complain too much either time.

Somewhere in the past few months, I'd suggested we push Edward's two beds together, and Edward suggested we move in together. I don't know how, but he got me to agree with him, and here we were, months later, moving into a condo in Edgewater.

Shopping and eating in New Jersey was one thing. Living there was a whole other story.

I flinched at the feel of a wet sensation on my cheek and opened my eyes to see Connor lapping at my face. The muscles in Edward's arms bulged as they strained to hold Connor up.

I scowled at Edward as he laughed and put the dog down.

"Finally! You're up. Come on, get dressed." He tossed me my clothes from last night.

He left as I got dressed, and came back a few seconds later with a hair tie in one hand. I felt the familiar tingle travel down my spine as he worked his fingers through my hair to get the knots out. He tied my hair up as I finished zipping up my jeans.

I brought a hand up to the top of my head. A bun. Probably I looked like Don King when I'd gotten out of bed.

Edward kissed my forehead before turning around and going downstairs. I looked out the window to see everyone carrying boxes into the U-Haul truck.

I checked the time. 7:12. I looked back outside. Wow. I don't think I've ever seen Emmett up this early.

I shuffled into the bathroom to brush my teeth and contemplated going home to take a quick shower before lugging boxes into the truck.

I went downstairs and grabbed a box off the living room floor. Crap, that's freaking heavy. I put the box down and picked up a lighter one.

Everyone was hurrying this way and that. After giving the box to Em, I jogged up to my dad to take a box out of his arms as he walked out of our house.

"Thanks, Bells."

"No problem."

I gave Edward the box and went back into my house. I went upstairs and stared at the shower for a few seconds before turning to the door when Alice came in.

"Hey! What are you doing?"

"Debating on whether or not to take a shower. I feel so…grimy. But I don't have time," I whined.

She pulled me out of the bathroom and into my room. "You can take a shower in your beautiful new condo after all of this is over." She leaned down to pick up a box and I leaned down to pick up another.

I wasn't going to take a shower while everyone was running around helping Edward and I move everything. I just wanted to…I don't know. Take one last shower in my bathroom.

I looked out my bedroom window before walking down the hallway with Alice. "I know you don't want to hear this, but your brother is looking extra delicious today."

Alice snorted. "Probably because he's lifting stuff into the truck." She stopped short of the last step and turned around to look at me. "Wait. Which brother?"

I stared at her. "Not the one I'm in love with. The eighteen-year-old. I think your baby brother is delicious."

She laughed as we made our way out of the house and toward the truck. As handsome as Emmett was, I could never think of him as 'delicious'. He was my younger brother.

I waited behind Edward as he put his bedside table in the truck. I put my box net to the table and turned to him.

"This is the last of my stuff." He used his forearm to wipe the sweat off his forehead and squinted in the sun as he looked down at me with his hands on his hips. "Why do you look like someone ran over your cat?"

"I don't."

"Yeah, you do." He chucked me under the chin with his index finger. "Cheer up."

He jogged toward my house and I turned to look inside the truck. I never knew we had so much stuff. How did all of this fit into two rooms?

I moved out of the way when I heard someone running toward me and shrieked when I was swept off my feet.

"Edward!" He threw me over his shoulder and jogged to my house. I watched as Connor trailed at Edward's heels, his tongue hanging out the side of his mouth as he panted. "Connor, help me!"

Connor did absolutely nothing. He looked up at me before looking back down at our feet and trailing behind us again.

Edward ran up the stairs and let me down when we were in my room.

"Do you not want to do this?"

"I do." I did. Once.

"Bells, you don't have to move."

"I want to." He was moving, so I was going to move, too.

"We'll still see each other if you stay here."

I stared at a black smear running the width of his shirt. "It won't be the same."

"You don't have to move with me. You can stay here until you're ready. I'll wait for you."

"No. I want to." What if he gets a new roommate by the time I'm ready?

He looked around the room before wiping the back of his hand across his forehead. "You sure? Because if I bring down all your furniture, I'm not carrying it back up."

"I'm positive." I looked away, hoping he didn't hear my voice falter.

He opened my bedroom window and yelled down to the front yard. "Hey, Em!"

"What?"

"Come up and help me bring down Bella's stuff!"

He closed the window and turned back to me. "This is it, babe."

"Okay." I didn't know what else to say. I grabbed another box and went downstairs, greeting Emmett on my way out the door.

I put the box in the truck and went back up to my room with Mr. Cullen right behind me. We dodged Edward and Emmett on the stairs, grabbed the last of the boxes, and made our way back to the truck.

We hurried over to Max's house, knocking on their door lightly and praying they were up at this hour. Mrs. Radkey opened the door with a smile, and Max came running after her.

Edward spoke first. "Mrs. Radkey, I'm so sorry. Did we wake you?"

"No, no. We were just watching cartoons. Would you like some breakfast to go? I'm going to make French toast."

Oh, my God. French toast sounded amazing.

"No, we're fine. Thank you, though." Damn it, Edward. I want French toast! "We just wanted to say goodbye and to thank you both for everything."

Max pushed his way to the front and looked up at us. "You're leaving already?"

"Yeah, buddy. But you can come over whenever you want to. And if your mom can't bring you over, Bella or I can always pick you up."

Max opened his arms and tried to hug Edward and I at the same time but his arms weren't long enough. Edward picked him up and he hugged Edward before reaching out to me. I took him in my arms and hugged him tightly before putting him down.

"Thank you both so much for everything. Max, say thank you."

"Thank you. Don't leave! Please!" He clasped his hands together and I almost kidnapped the kid on the spot. He was too adorable for words.

"Is Mr. Radkey home?" I asked.

Mrs. Radkey shook her head. "Business trip."

"Oh." Fucking his secretary.

We said our goodbyes and went back to the truck, just staring at our belongings in the big space.

My dad called Mr. Cullen over, and as I was about to turn around to look at them, Edward picked me up from behind and put me into the truck. "Maybe you can ride in here. You'll have fun. It'll be like a ride at the amusement park. Dodge the Flying Boxes."

I let out a small laugh and jumped off. I know he's trying to cheer me up, but I can't fake happiness. I gave Edward a quick kiss and walked over to my dad.

My dad gave me a tight hug and held on as he spoke.

"I'm gonna miss you so much, kiddo."

"I'm gonna miss you, too." I hugged him tighter. "Dad, I don't wanna go."

"Yes, you do, Bells. You have to move on. And later on, if you really feel like moving wasn't the right thing to do, you can come back. Your room will always be here."

"And my bed?"

"And your bed."

"Don't get a new one."

"I won't," he laughed.

Our bedrooms were going to be used as guest rooms, and neither of us was taking our beds to the condo. It would be pointless since we were going to buy a new bed tomorrow.

"I don't want to leave you here alone."

"I'll be fine."

I kissed him on the cheek and pulled away. I wasn't going to say bye to my dad.

I went to say goodbye to Edward's family as he came over to say goodbye to my dad. It broke my heart to see Mrs. Cullen crying, and I almost broke down in tears when I hugged her.

I picked Connor up and put him in the passenger's seat of my truck before walking over to the driver's side and getting in. Edward got in his car and Emmett got in the U-Haul truck.

Aaand we're off.

Aaand here come the waterworks.

I couldn't help it. The tears blurred my vision as I drove to my…house. Ugh. This place wasn't my home. New York was my home.

Forty minutes later, we parked in our spots in the parking lot and hauled everything up to the fourteenth floor. Thank God for elevators.

We all went out to get coffee, and Emmett hung out until the sun set. We basically just sat around and talked, because there was nothing to do in the condo.

No furniture, no TV, no computer. Nothing but kitchen appliances. But what good is an oven when you have no food to bake?

Edward and I walked Em back downstairs to say goodbye, and watched as he drove the U-Haul truck away.

Edward turned to me and I smiled up at him as my heart broke in two.

He put his arm around me and led me into the entrance door, greeting the man at the front desk before walking me into the elevator. He leaned against one side of the elevator and I leaned against the other. The entire elevator had an orange glow to it, and the sides were all made of mirrors.

He leaned his head back and looked at me through hooded eyes. "You're making me regret this, Bella."

"Why?"

"You look miserable."

"I'm not. I'm happy."

We waited in silence as the elevator reached our floor, and the doors pinged open.

We walked to our door slowly and Edward pushed it open, letting me walk in before following behind me.

I walked the length of the small foyer and looked at the bathroom and the flight of stairs to my left, and then at the kitchen to my right. I walked through the entrance of the kitchen and made a sharp left to leave through the other entrance and walk into the living room. I walked the length of the living room and out onto the balcony, looking across the long stretch of the parking lot and to the other buildings. I turned around and looked back into the house through the giant window. I watched Edward fiddle with the microwave in the kitchen before turning back around. I turned to my left and looked out onto River Road, the cars whizzing by well over the speed limit.

I turned to my right and looked out onto the Hudson River, then up at the New York skyline and the moon over the city.

As much as my heart ached when I saw New York, I couldn't bring myself to look away from the bright lights.

I heard the balcony door open, and Edward's arms wrapped around my waist. I leaned back into his warm body and he kissed the top of my head. "Thank you."

"For what?"

He hugged me tighter. "For coming here with me."

I ran my fingers over the soft skin of his arm. "Of course." As much as I didn't want to be here, I couldn't imagine being somewhere Edward wasn't. To me, that made no sense.

"Do you want to go for a walk?"

"I kind of want to be alone for a bit."

"Oh. Okay." He let him arms drop to his sides.

I tried to ignore the ache in my heart when I heard the disappointment in his voice. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay. Will you be okay in the house if I go? I wanna take Connor with me."

"Yeah."

I saw them to the door and locked it before going upstairs. I looked into the first room, which would be the guest room. The second door revealed the bathroom, the third door was the linen closet, and the last door led me into our bedroom.

I walked into our bedroom and locked the door behind me. I looked into the adjoining bathroom and nodded in approval. All white. Prettier than I remembered it to be. I opened the box that was next to the sink and took out all of our toiletries. The bathroom had His and Her's sinks, a bathtub with massaging jets, and a stand-up shower with a clear glass door. Maybe I would just stay in this bathroom forever. I like it enough.

I put everything in their places and moved on to the bedroom. Two closets. Thank you, Jesus.

I put all my clothing away before putting all of Edward's things away.

I looked around at the remaining boxes and slumped down with my back against the wall. I tried to think of the advantages of living here.

I really like the bathroom in our bedroom. I like the fact that we each have our own closet. I like the beige carpet that runs through the entire house, save the bathrooms and kitchen. And...oh, I love the fact that we have a balcony.

I turned my head to look out the window. Three tall windows were right next to one another, making it seem as if it was one big window. We had a view of the river and the city, but I hadn't figured out if that was a good or bad thing yet.

I drew my knees up to my chest and laid my cheek down on my knees. I just want to go home.

I understood Edward's reasoning for wanting to live in Jersey. It was cheaper than living in New York, and close enough to the city that we could still go to work and see our family and friends.

I listened to the deafening silence for a few more minutes. Too quiet.

I wish I'd gone out with Edward.

But…no. I don't want to be with anyone. I just want to go home.

I looked up when I heard the front door open. I listened as Connor ran up the stairs and toward our bedroom door. He clawed at the bottom of the door and whined. My heart sank even deeper in my chest.

"Connor, baby, give me a minute."

He stopped for a few seconds as he listened to my voice, then continued scratching and whining.

"Con, stop it." I heard his dog tag as Edward ged at his collar before trying to turn the door handle. He knocked lightly on the door. "Bells?"

"Yeah."

"Can I come in?"

"No." I tried to sound nice, but even to my own ears, I sounded like a bitch.

"Bella, it's my room, too."

"I know. I'm sorry."

"Baby, please. Come out. I'll leave you alone, I promise. I won't talk." I let out a long sigh. I didn't want him to stop talking to me. I just…didn't want to talk to anyone. "I know you don't like change. It feels weird for me to be here, too." He waited for a response and continued when he didn't get one. "I'm sorry, okay? I shouldn't have asked you to move with me. I feel like going home, too." So let's call the U-Haul people and move back. "But we'll get used to this place. This is our home." Connor began clawing at the bottom of the door again, and Edward pulled him away. "Promise me you won't cry again."

I felt my cheeks flare up. "I never cried."

"Right, right. Your eyes were swollen and rimmed with pink because you didn't cry in the car." I heard the smile in his voice, and I couldn't help but smile in return. "If I hear one sob, I don't care whether you want me to be in there or not. I'm breaking down this door and holding you until you stop. So, please, for the sake of this door, promise me you won't cry." I sat staring at the door for a minute, not sure of what to say. My chest felt tight, and I tried to focus and do the breathing exercises Edward had taught me. "I love you."

My breath came out in a rush. "I love you, too."

I heard Connor's dog tag and the shuffle of Edward's feet. It sounded as if he was standing. Had he been sitting?

"Come on, Connor. She wants to be left alone."

I wanted to open the door for Connor and give him a big hug, because it broke my heart even more that he didn't understand why I wanted to be alone for a little while. I wish I could explain it to him. The only things he knew were that something was wrong, and he couldn't make it better. The more I thought about it, the stronger the ache in my heart became. I just want to tell him I love him so much.

I heard the doorbell ring, and prayed to God it wasn't one of our neighbors. I wasn't in the mood to greet anyone right now, and I definitely didn't want to meet anyone new.

A few minutes later, I heard someone coming back up the stairs with Connor.

Knock, knock, knock. "Bells."

I was relieved to hear Edward's voice. "Yeah."

"I got pizzaaa…" He said in a sing-song voice.

My stomach growled. Pizza sounded amazing. "I'm not really hungry."

"And root beerrr…"

"Are you lying?"

"No, but if you don't come out soon there might be nothing to eat but an empty greasy pizza box. Con's been eyeing the thing since the delivery guy took it out of the insulated bag."

"You wouldn't let him finish it."

"I might."

"You wouldn't."

"I might."

He wouldn't.

"Are you coming out? It's nice and cheesyyy. And the other half is nice and pepperoni-yyy."

"Maybe later." Pizza and root beer sounded so good right now. But if I went out there, I would have to do this thing called dealing with life.

They walked back downstairs, and I lay down on the floor, looking up at the ceiling.

A long while later, another knock. I jumped, mainly because I didn't hear Connor coming up the stairs. "Bella…"

I sat up and quickly turned to the door. He sounded like a little child. He sounded pained. "Yeah?"

Silence.

"Edward?"

"I'm lonely."

I almost broke down at the meek sound of his voice.

Arghhh! He's probably lonely because Connor fell asleep.

Well, maybe he wouldn't be so lonely if we didn't move across the river. I wish I'd slept in my own house more often. I wish I hadn't slept in Edward's bed every damn day.

I…shit. I tried to erase those thoughts as soon as they came to me. What heartless thoughts. Edward would never think that way if he was in my position.

I forced myself to stay seated. I wanted nothing more than to open the door and hug him as tight as possible. The pain he was feeling was evident. I don't know what I'd do if he ever locked me out. Probably sit in front of the door and cry.

I shook my head and breathed in and out heavily. Bad memories.

I stayed quiet, and let out a long breath when I heard Edward going down the stairs.

I couldn't do this. I'm sure Edward misses his home as much as I miss mine. It wasn't fair to stay cooped up in this room and just leave him out there by himself. I needed his comfort, and he needed mine.

It's true that I have no one here, but neither does he.

The only person we have is each other.

I tortured myself with more depressing thoughts for a little while longer, and realized I couldn't just stay in this room forever. I wanted to be with Edward.

And I could go for some pizza and soda.

I unlocked the door and stepped out slowly. The hallway was dimly lit by the light coming from downstairs..

I walked down the stairs and bent my head down to look into the living room.

Edward was sitting with his back against the wall next to the balcony door, one leg bent at the knee and the other leg extended out in front of him. He was reading American Psycho for the umpteenth time, and Connor was sound asleep next to him. The pizza box was on Edward's other side, and I wondered idly if there were any slices in it.

Edward looked up from the book and smiled weakly as he put it aside.

"Hi," I said softly.

"Hey," he whispered.

He looked beyond tired, and it was obvious that he was struggling to keep his eyes open. I straddled his lap and kissed him softly. He kissed my neck, and I let out a series of sighs until he pulled away. I needed that.

His stomach growled and I giggled as rubbed small circles over his stomach. "Hungry again already?"

He flipped open the pizza box. "I didn't eat." I looked down at the pie. One slice was missing. I turned back to Edward with a raised brow. "Connor ate it." He smiled when my jaw dropped slightly. "I swear! I don't know where his food is, and I wasn't gonna let him sleep without having dinner."

I gave him another kiss and got off his lap. He tore the lid of the box off and we used it as a plate. I handed him a piece of pizza and took a piece for myself.

We ate in silence for a few minutes, both of us too hungry to do much else.

"Where's the root beer?"

"Oh, yeah. I lied about that."

I gasped dramatically. "Liar, liar. Pants on fire."

He shrugged. "Hey, it got you out of your cave."

"That's not why I got out." I smiled at him.

"Aw, thank you, baby." He leaned in to kiss me and I pulled back.

"I got out for the pizza." He pouted jokingly, and my insides turned into goo. "I'm just kidding. Get your ass over here." I curled my fingers around the collar of his shirt and pulled him in to kiss him deeply. He tasted like tomato sauce and Edward.

I pulled back panting, my head fuzzy.

I took another bite of my pizza and chewed slowly. "We should've gotten water or something when we went out earlier."

"Oh! I found a gallon of water in the fridge." He got up and padded over to the kitchen, coming back a few seconds later with the water.

"You randomly found a gallon of water in the fridge?"

"Uh huh." He pulled off the safety seal and popped the cap off.

"What if it's poisoned?"

"It was sealed." I watched as he chugged it down, gulping loudly in the process.

My tongue felt like sandpaper. "Edward, don't."

"Do you wanna go out to get something to drink?"

I shook my head frantically. I didn't want to leave the house. Except to go to work tomorrow morning. Going to work meant going to New York.

"Okay, then. This is all we have." He drank some more and handed the jug to me.

Water has never tasted so amazing in my entire life. I drank until I couldn't drink anymore, and gave the rest to Edward.

I'd had two slices of pizza, and Edward ate the rest. He put the empty box and water jug on the kitchen counter and shut off the living room lights when he got back. He took off his shorts and shirt before lying down on the carpet and pulling me down next to him. I shimmied off my jeans and tossed them to the side, the sound of them hitting the carpet lingering in the air.

And then the fear set in.

"Edward…"

"Hm?"

"I'm scared."

"Don't be. Everything will be fine." I looked up at him as he brought a hand up to play with his hair. Usually, I found it to be cute, but even that looked weird.

"No. I'm scared of the dark."

"What? Since when? It's not even pitch black in here. There's light coming in from the window."

"Since now. The shadows are different here." Seriously, everything looked creepy as hell.

He laughed, and I almost hit him. "The shadows…" He laughed again, and this time, I hit his side.

"Stop laughing. I'm serious."

"So just close your eyes. Don't look at the shadows."

"Then I see the room in my mind. This room is too spacious. Edward, it's seriously freaking me out." I was genuinely scared, and I had to consciously tell myself to keep calm.

"Remember that show Are You Afraid of the Dark?"

"Yeah. Stop it." I was going to kill him if he kept this up.

"Remember the episode when the girl goes into a house, but it's really a dollhouse or something, and then she turns into a porcelain doll?"

"Edward, please. I'm begging you!" I rolled onto my side and buried my face in his chest. That girl was so fucking eerie.

"What? That wasn't even scary. It was funny. Her hand fell off when she was a doll and she just stuck it in her pocket. Who does that?" He was laughing again, more quietly this time. "Babe, just close your eyes. Nothing's gonna happen to you. I promise."

I threw my leg over his body and curled my body around his. I forced myself to keep my eyes closed. "Good night."

He kissed the top of my head. "Good night."

I breathed in his familiar scent and felt more at ease. I just focused on Edward until the fear subsided.

Maybe living here wouldn't be so bad. Especially if it meant we could whatever we wanted, whenever we wanted to do it.

Like eat pizza and fall asleep on the living room floor in our underwear.

Ahhh! Sorry, I know this chapter was short. Also, I'm going to be moving the story along a lot quicker from now on.

Review, please! It makes my day.