Thanks again for the continued support. Cejsmom has been fabulous in pre-reading this mess for me. She rocks.

Location: Coeur D'Alene, ID to Yakima

Prompt: Book Store

First thing in the morning, while Bella was enjoying a nice hot shower, Edward made his way across the street to the garage. Emmett happily informed him that the part they needed was due to arrive any second now, and he expected the Volvo to be completed by noon at the very latest. Edward thanked him for his assistance and gave Emmett his number to reach him when the car was completed.

Though Edward was eager for a repeat of their activities the night before, when he arrived in the room, he was surprised to see Bella fully dressed and ready to go. "What's the good news?"

"We have, at minimum, 3 hours until we can leave."

"3 hours? Well, shit… I was hoping it would be fixed by now."

"Yeah, that makes two of us. If it helps, I noticed there's a diner down the road we can have breakfast at. That should pass the time, right?"

"It can't hurt to find out."

Edward and Bella spent the next hour enjoying a hearty breakfast at The Coeur Diner and their conversation began to flow easily once more. This time, Edward sat beside Bella with his arm draped possessively over her shoulder, and when the young waitress appeared, she didn't give Edward a second glance.

After each of them finished their huge stack of pancakes and their second coffee, Bella noticed a bookstore across the street and excitedly asked if they could make their way over there. Edward glanced at his phone and decided that since Emmett had yet to call, it was the perfect distraction for them.

The loud bell over the door signaled their arrival at 'The Prince and the Paper', and a kindly older gentlemen stepped out from the back, surprised to see customers so early in the morning.

"Can I help you guys with something in particular?" he asked curiously as Bella kept going through the store, loving the high shelves stocked to the very top with classics, little known titles and older books that she could find her self sifting through for hours. Bella was even enthralled by the rolling ladder down the far wall that was filled with fairy tales and literary classics she wished she could afford.

Edward enjoyed a lengthy conversation with the shop owner, who it turned out was Emmett's uncle, something which Edward found hilarious. It seemed everyone in this town knew each other and it reminded him of Forks.

It was almost half an hour later when Edward found Bella wrapped up in going through a photography book called 'The Americans' by Robert Frank, while sitting comfortably in a velvet chair in the back of the room.

"Find something interesting?"

"You could say that," Bella replied as she quickly lifted up the book, showing Edward what she was reading. "When I first started on my trip I quickly filled up my camera with photo after photo of my life on the road. I had adored the photography class I took in high school, but we learned more about the history and stuff, rather than spending hours in a darkroom developing photos."

"Ah-ha," Edward declared loudly. "It seems we finally found something you are really interested in."

"And what can I do with a photography degree, Edward? Run the portrait studio down at the local Wal-Mart?"

"Well, no... but at least you would be happy doing something you love. My dad wanted me to be a doctor," Edward began as Bella closed the book and shelved it before standing in front of him. "It was never my dream and caused a bit of a rift between us. He didn't see how I could be happy teaching and making music for the rest of my life, but I'm showing him, aren't I?"

"Some of us aren't as confident in their abilities as you are. I also haven't been taking pictures since I was old enough to hold a camera. This is new to me."

"Not everyone discovers their passion right away. Leonard Cohen didn't release his first album until he was 32 years old and Frank McCourt didn't publish his first book until he was in his sixties. Just because you didn't discover your passion as early as other people, doesn't mean you won't succeed, Bella."

Bella took Edward's words to heart and together they explored the rest of the store, with a little help from Emmett's uncle. It was nearing eleven in the morning when Edward's cell phone rang and Emmett informed him that the Volvo was ready to go. Edward purchased two books and they left, hand in hand, to go get the car.

Just before they stepped inside the shop, Bella grabbed Edward's arm and held it still. "I know we can basically drive home from here before midnight, but can we stay out on the road another night?"

"But I thought you had to get home?"

"I do... but I'm... I'm just not ready to face things there yet."

"Oh... well where did you want to go?"

"Well, if the maps I read are right, then the Snoqualmie National Forest will be about four hours from here. What if we camped for another night?" Edward contemplated Bella's suggestion and decided that it wouldn't really put a big delay in their plans. "It's only five hours from Yakima to Forks, so we will arrive tomorrow instead of today."

"Are you sure?" Bella nodded her head eagerly and Edward pulled her hand up to his lips and kissed her sweetly. "As long as you won't regret it, I'm good with it." Together they walked into the garage and Rosalie winked knowingly at Edward as she caught their hands tangled together.

As Edward and Emmett discussed the damage to the car and Edward made his payment, Bella shoved her bag into the car and got comfortable in the passenger seat. Before they left, Edward thanked them profusely for being so quick in fixing his car and then they were on their way towards Yakima.

"Oh, I almost forgot," Edward stated as they reached a stoplight and Edward reached into the backseat for the bag from the bookstore. He fumbled inside until he pulled out the exact copy of 'The Americans' that Bella had been reading in store.

"You shouldn't have," Bella declared as Edward handed her the book and she ran her fingers reverently over the front cover.

"Consider it my contribution to your future. I think you would make a great photographer. You just need to believe it too."