Disclaimer: The characters of Twilight are owned by Stephenie Meyer. The original characters, content and ideas of this story are mine.

Chapter 19

Wake up Call

BPOV

Thirty seven that is the number of missed calls I have had from Edward since I left and I haven't returned any of them. But when I woke up this afternoon I was alone for the first time in a week no Jessica, no Lauren, or James or the few friends that Lauren would sometimes bring by the hotel. And for the first time in a week I realized how much I missed Edward and just being with him. I've spent a good part of this week still mourning my parents and trying to drown out the hurt with liquor which only made me more depressed and without Edward by my side I am totally lost now. I looked at my phone to see I had a text from Jacob stating that he would be coming to New York to visit once his summer classes were over which would be at the end of July. I would have to remember to call him later.

Sitting up in the bed I called down to the front desk and ask for aspirin to be sent up for my splitting headache and then I dragged myself into the bathroom to hop in a quick shower. While standing under the hot water I thought about the argument Edward and I had and how poorly I reacted to it; Nor had I been the friend to Edward that he had been to me. I quickly washed up and while getting out the shower and wrapping a towel around me a soft knock on the door interrupted my thoughts and after looking through the peep hole I opened the door for Jessica.

"Hello"

"Good afternoon how are you feeling?" Jessica said walking in and sitting on the edge of my bed.

"I have a splitting headache and I am exhausted."

Just then there was another knock on the door.

"Jessica that is probably the front desk bringing me aspirin, can you get the door while I get a drink of water?"

"Sure honey"

"I just came by to check on you, you were pretty out of it when I left last night and I just wanted to make sure you were okay. I stayed until James and Lauren left because I had the oddest feeling they were up to something especially when they kept trying to get you to drink more and more last night."

"Thanks Jessica I appreciate you looking out for me and to be perfectly honest I don't know what has gotten into me because this is not me. The drinking, partying, going out and staying up to the wee hours of the night… all this is so out of character for me and if my parents could see me they would be so disappointed in me." I said popping two aspirins in my mouth followed by water.

"Bella there's lots of other things to do in New York besides partying that's what James and Lauren like to do and since we're being honest I don't really like it either."

"But Lauren is your friend and if you don't like to drink and party why do you hang out with her?"

"When Lauren and I first became friends we would party sometimes but we also did other things like shopping, movies, lunches and sometimes dinner, but then she met James and she changed. She became this person that wanted to party and drink all the time and everything now is about money and what she can get out of people. I guess I was trying to hold on to the friendship and made myself do things I really didn't enjoy."

"Well I think you should be honest and tell Lauren you don't like some of the things you guys do when you're hanging out and if she is really you're friend she will understand. And if she doesn't understand you may want to reconsider the friendship."

"Yeah, I guess you're right Bella; speaking of friendship have you called Edward yet?"

"No and I have a lot of miss calls from him"

"I'm sure he's probably worried about you. Bella, Edward's a good guy and I can tell he is crazy about you don't let pride keep you away from him. I see the way you look whenever his name is mentioned and you may have fooled everyone else, but I can see how much he means to you and all the drinking in the world won't change that. Tell him how you feel he deserves to know and you deserve everything he is trying to share with you. If you would just stop being scared and trust him with your heart, you'll see he will take care of it."

I sat there listening to Jessica with tears streaming down my face, because she said all the things my heart had been screaming to me, but my head refused to listen. I do love Edward and I have just been too scared to open up and tell him. Too afraid of rejection, but if I am being honest Edward has never made me feel anything but safe and secure and he has never given me any reason to believe he would hurt me. It was me and my own insecurities that has made me put up these walls trying not to let anyone in too close and I used money to buy companionship from people that I really don't know and who could probably care less about my well being.

"I think I may have really screwed up this time, Jessica."

"Look Bella, I know we haven't known each other long but you are an awesome friend and person. Don't be stupid like I did and let others influence you into doing things that you are really uncomfortable with and don't let an amazing man like Edward slip through your hands. Tanya didn't know what she had or how to treat him and it was all about the money and fame with her and I don't think she was ready for true love."

Wow, who would have thought such profound words could come from Jessica and here I was thinking she was an airhead. Turns out she was a pretty cool person and she was becoming a good friend.

"Hey Jessica, can you find out if Edward has to work today for me?"

"Hellooooo Bella I work for him I always know his schedule and yes he's working until 7pm today."

"Maybe I can take him dinner tonight around 8:00pm that will give him time to get home and get settled. I can pick up our favorite Italian dish mushroom Ravioli and maybe we can talk through this."

"Bella I think that's the best plan you've come up with all week." Jessica said smiling.

"I think you're right Jessica I have to fix this before I lose him."

After picking up dinner I arrived at Edward's apartment at about 8:20 and was greeted by Franklin.

"Hello Ms. Swan long time no see where have you been?"

"Hey Franklin how are you? I've been….away sorting some things out but I am back now."

"Oh I see well I hope everything has worked out for you. Mr. Cullen just left a little while ago but I can give you the key to get in if you'd like."

"No I have my own key but thank you Franklin… did Mr. Cullen happen to mention where he was going or how long he would be gone?"

"No, I'm sorry he didn't."

Disappointed flooded me as I tried to keep a pleasant smile on my face.

"No worries I'll just see him when he gets home, thanks Franklin talk to you later."

"Enjoy the rest of your evening Ms. Swan." Franklin said while getting the elevator for me.

As I entered Edward's apartment the smell of his cologne assaulted my nostrils and it was like breathing air after being under water for too long. I sat the food down in the fridge and slowly walked through the apartment turning on a couple of lights so that I could see. His apartment was spotless clean as usually almost as if no one lived here, but his scent lingered. The guest bathroom was just as I had left it; even the towels I had last used were still hanging in there. Next I opened the door to my bedroom and it also looked exactly the same except it did look like someone may have lay in the bed, did Edward have an overnight guest while I was gone? Finally, I went to his bedroom and noticed the door was slightly pulled up and as I opened the door I saw his scrubs thrown across his bed and the air was still moist as if he had just showered. I sat on the edge of his bed thinking of the last time I was here and how terrible I had acted towards Edward and as I became lost in my thoughts I scooted back on the bed laying my head on one of his pillows and then the flood gates opened. As I took in deep breathes inhaling the scent of the man I loved I wished more than anything he was here holding me. While lying in Edward's bed crying another very disturbing thought came to mind; so he had come in from work and showered and changed clothes to go out and wherever he was going he obviously wanted to smell good because he had put on cologne. Oh no, what if he was on a date and I was here in his apartment waiting like an idiot or worse what if he brought his date back here that would be a disaster.

Suddenly I couldn't breathe, my chest ached, my throat constricted and I had to squeeze my eyes shut to try to stop the tears from falling. What had I done, what was I thinking and now I may have possibly forced him into the arms of another woman? I buried my face in his pillow and continued to sob until I had nothing else left in me.

EPOV

As I drove to The Waldorf Astoria I kept replaying in my mind all the things I wanted to say to Bella. I just wanted her to see that in no way was I trying to run her life or tell her how to live it. I know Bella is a smart girl, but she is still in a very fragile stage following her parent's death and I truly believe she is still mourning and doing whatever she has to in order not to feel the hurt. I pulled up and had valet park my car at about 8:30 and I can only pray she is alone when I get upstairs to her room. As I walked up to the front desk I pondered on how I would get the young woman behind the desk to tell me Bella's room number.

"Hi, reservation for a Dr. Edward Cullen please." I said giving her my signature crooked grin that I sometimes used to get my way.

"I'm so sorry Dr. Cullen there is no reservation under that name, when did you make the reservation?"

"I didn't my assistant Jessica Stanley made the reservation about a week ago she arrived here before me."

"Okay I can check under that name for you. Ah yes there is a room for a Jessica Stanley and one guest but your name is not listed. I can ring her room if you would like…" she said smiling at me so I leaned over the counter and looking directly into her gray eyes and said."

"No that won't be necessary, I'm sorry I hope you don't get offended, but you have beautiful eyes are you married?"

She smiled and blushed while looking down at her computer screen and then she looked back up at me. And though this girl was pretty enough she had nothing on my Bella and her blush was nowhere near as appealing as Bella's.

"Thank you, so do you and no I'm not married I'm single." she said mirroring me and leaning forward.

"What, single? Now that is certainly surprising I was sure some lucky man had already claimed you."

She giggled while looking down at her screen again.

"I tell you what… Sarah…" I said looking at her name tag. "Why don't you give me a room next to my assistant that way I can have some…privacy." I said giving her my crooked grin again. "What time does your shift end?"

Her face lit up and I felt horrible for using this young girl and getting her hopes up in order to find Bella, but I was desperate.

"Dr. Cullen I have a room right next to your assistant, she is in room 2201 in a suite and the adjoining room 2203 is available"

"I'll take it." I said handing her my credit card and smiling. I can't believe I am paying for a $400 a night room that I would not be staying in, but Bella is worth it. After signing the credit card receipt I gave Sarah one final smile and headed to the elevators. As the elevator ascended the butterflies in my stomach made me light headed and after stepping out onto the 22nd floor I had to take a minute and take in deep breaths before heading to Bella's room. With one final deep breath I knocked on her room door, but there was no answer so after 30 seconds I knocked again but a little bit harder this time in case she was sleeping, but again no answer. I pulled out my cell phone and dialed the main number to the hotel.

"Thank you for calling the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, how may I help you?"

"Room 2201 please."

"One moment please."

The phone rang and rang but no answer and I could hear it through the door. I finally hung up and decided to wait in "my" room for Bella to return. I went in throwing the entry keycard on the nightstand and lay across the bed. At some point I fell asleep and when I woke up to voices in the hall I jumped up and flung the door open hoping it was Bella returning but it was a couple staying in a room across the hall. After they had entered their room I grabbed my room key and went to knock on Bella's door again and while waiting I realized I had been sleep for an hour and a half and it was almost 10:15 and there was still no answer. Feeling disappointed and defeated I put the room key on the nightstand and headed home.

As I drove I thought about where Bella could be and who she was probably with. It was obvious she was enjoying her time in New York without me and this caused an ache in my chest like never before. I arrived at home at about 11pm completely exhausted and just wanting to go to sleep and forget that Bella had moved on. As I walked into my building I was greeted by Franklin.

"Hello Mr. Cullen how are you?"

"Good and you Franklin?" I said sighing

"I am well… you don't look very good Mr. Cullen is everything alright?"

"Franklin I think I may have pushed someone very special to me away and I don't think I can get her back."

"Would this person happen to be the beautiful Ms. Swan?"Franklin said giving me a small smile

"Yes it would be"

"Well, the thing about love is if it's there and it's true she will come back, trust me."

"Thanks Franklin" and though his words did not encourage me too much I understood the meaning. "I'm going to head upstairs now."

"Enjoy your night sir."

"Thanks you too Franklin" I said as the elevator doors were closing.

As I opened the front door to my apartment I noticed the top lock was unlocked already. Strange because I thought I remember locking it. I headed to the fridge to get a bottled water and when I opened it there was a takeout bag from Cellini the Italian restaurant I took Bella to a few weeks ago. How did that get in there I wondered and then I slowly walked through my apartment. I noticed that the guest bathroom light was on and also Bella's room door was open. After seeing both rooms were empty I proceeded cautiously to my bedroom and what I saw when I reached the door made my heart pound in my chest. Bella was balled up holding my pillow sleeping her beautiful chestnut hair splayed across my pillows and I could hear her light breathing. I stepped into my room and stood on the side of the bed and just watched the rise and fall of her chest. I could see the tear stains on her cheeks and the way her lips pouted while she was sleeping was adorable. I gently sat on the side of the bed and stroked her hair with the back of my hand and she started to stir and then suddenly I was looking into my favorite brown eyes.

"Hi" she said looking up at me with a sorrowful expression on her face.

"Hey you" I said continuing to stroke her hair. "What are you doing here?" I whispered

"I came to see you." She said sitting up

I cupped her face in my hand while holding the back of her neck

"You've been here all evening?"

She nodded and I just chuckled to myself

"You've been here and I was at the Waldorf Astoria trying to find you. I thought you had gone out with your friends again."

"No, I picked up dinner and came here hoping that we could talk… I... I miss you Edward and I am so sorry for how I have acted towards you. You deserve better and if you give me another chance I'll…"

I cut her off capturing her lips with mine because I did not want to waste our time together on apologies. I kissed her with more passion than I'd ever kissed anyone with because I wanted her to know that all that mattered to me at this moment was this kiss and having her in my arms. I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her onto my lap and continued kissing her until I had to pull away to catch my breath.

"I love you Bella and I'm sorry I didn't tell you or show you earlier and I'm not talking about like a sister I mean I am in love with you… I'm crazy about you and I want us to be together, I'm so sorry if I've made you feel like I was not interested in you."

"I love you too. I'm in love with you and I need you so much… I'm so sorry that I put up these walls and tried to leave you out. You're my best friend Edward and …and …"

She tried to talk in between sobs and I pulled her close and just held her.

"Shhh, don't cry Bella we'll make this right together I promise." I lifted her chin with my finger so that she was looking in my eyes.

"Hey, we'll make this right, do you believe me?"

"Yes, yes I believe you." she said throwing her arms around my neck.

I would do whatever it took to make her happy and though she does not know it I have every intention on marrying Bella and making her the mother of my children.

A/N: Here you are chapter 19 and finally Bella came to her senses! Please take the time to review and leave me your thoughts and to those who reviewed last chapter thank you so much I appreciate all reviews.