A/N: Thank you so much for the love you've been showing this story! I know everyone wants to hear what Bella has to say about Edward, so enjoy!

Chapter 13

She bites her lip and gives me a small smile. "Yeah, it was." And then she proceeds to tell me her story.

"I wish I could pinpoint a time when it started," she says. My hands run over her body gently while we're wrapped up in each other, encouraging her to continue talking to me. "But, I know I can't. I just remember that even when I first met you, when Carlisle and Esme started dating, we always had a good time together."

"Yeah, I remember that, too." I smile at the memory.

"Sometimes we'd be goofing around, and other times we'd have serious literature discussions," she continues. "I mean, most adults wouldn't talk Shakespeare with me, but here I was having the best chats about The Bard with a sixteen-year-old."

I laugh with her, remembering some of those lengthy discussions.

"I don't know …" she says with a sigh. "I guess at some point, I went from seeing you as a kid to seeing you as an intellectual. I remember the night of your eighteenth birthday, when Esme made a huge dinner and it was just the four of us. Then, later that evening some of your friends came over. I remember looking at you, sitting with one of the girls that were there. This one was hanging all over you but you didn't seem to care."

I laughed lightly, thinking back on talking with Mrs. Cope last week. "I remember that. It was Jessica Stanley, and I never could stand her. She's a nice girl, but not much upstairs, if you know what I mean."

"That never was your type, was it?"

I shrug in response. "Not really."

"I think that was around the time when I really looked at you, you know? I was suddenly seeing a handsome, young man instead of a scrawny kid. You were so grown up, so different but yet, so much the same.

"Of course, Jasper and I were engaged by then, and I never really thought much about it. I just knew I was always drawn to you whenever we were around each other. I always felt like there was some kind of connection between us."

I smile at her and kiss her gently. "There was."

Smiling back at me, she continues. "When we were at the house for the Christmas party before we moved away, I remember watching you from across the room." Funny, I think to myself, because I was watching her from across the room. "I was miserable that night because I really didn't want to move. I already told you that things weren't great with Jasper by then … ugh, I should have known better!" she ends with a shout.

"Hey, none of that now," I soothe her.

"Sorry … anyway," she says before taking a deep breath. "I just kept looking at you, and what I was seeing was so different from what I thought I should be seeing. Is it weird to say that all I wanted that night was a hug from you? That I knew no one else's hug would make me feel as good as yours would? I knew I couldn't just walk over to you and hug you like I wanted, but it was like somehow you knew. Whenever I was feeling that urge, I'd look over to you and you'd give me a smile.

"I thought about you a lot while I was in Arizona. It's not like I let my fantasies run away with me or anything, but I just thought about you, you know? Some days, when I was feeling really down, I would think that if you were there, you'd kiss me and everything would be better. I don't even know how I got from needing your hug to wanting to kiss you, but once it was in my head, it wasn't going anywhere."

Her beautiful eyes lock on mine. "That's why I was so confused that first night."

"I understand," I tell her softly. "And, I don't think it's weird at all. If I'm being honest, I think we've both felt this connection, but we had no choice except to wait until the time was right … until we were both in the right place in our lives."

"You really are one of a kind, you know that?"

"I could say the same about you, Bella."

Our conversation ends for the night when we snuggle back together under the covers. I certainly didn't want to assume anything, but I am so glad she asked me to stay. Having her wrapped in my arms while we both drift off to sleep is one of the most amazing feelings I've ever had.

Esme and Bella go shopping on New Year's Day because Esme insists on buying us some decorations for the apartment. I gracefully bow out of that trip, trusting Bella's taste in whatever she wants to pick out, and spend the day getting things straightened out at home.

Before I know it, I'm back to work. I hate leaving Bella on Tuesday morning, but feel much better knowing that her car is arriving today. She promises to call me if there are any problems, and thankfully there aren't.

That night, she tells me that she spoke to the Principal at Forks Elementary School, where she used to work, and they may have a job for her. One of their teachers is about to go out on maternity leave, and they need someone to fill in. It would be a temporary position, but Bella is thrilled about the possibility. And, it sounds like the Principal was happy to have her back.

Unless something happens, the job won't start for three weeks. It will last for a minimum of two months, possibly more if the woman decides to extend her leave. The Principal assured Bella that he would look for another place on staff for her once the temporary job is over. The best part is that she won't need to go through all of the background checks since she already worked there before.

We celebrate in my bed that night with Bella on top of me. I watch her as we move together, and I can see the happiness in her features and the stress melting away. My heart soars as I see her fall asleep with a smile on her face.

As the week goes on, Bella and I develop a routine. Although things will change once she starts working, everything is pretty much perfect between us right now. She cooks and I clean, and she has even taken to packing me lunch for work in the mornings.

The divorce papers have been served on Jasper, so now we're just holding our breath that he doesn't try to contest anything. I have a suspicion that he won't, because he's not a stupid man. If he consulted a lawyer at all, he will know that Bella can prove his infidelity. Should he contest the divorce, she could not only drag him through the mud, but she can also ask for spousal support. Right now, he's got it easy since she really doesn't want anything from him.

In the middle of our second week of living together, Bella gets a call from the school asking her to start work immediately. It seems that the woman she's replacing needs to be on bed rest, so they need a substitute sooner than expected. She's thrilled to begin working—one more step in her new life.

I take her out for dinner to celebrate after her first day, and then shower her with orgasms when we get home. She cums first on my fingers, then on my tongue, and finally I take her from behind and she cums on my cock. It's a good night for both of us.

We do have nights where we're not together and we sleep in our own rooms. I have no hard feelings about this at all. I know we both still need some space as we figure everything out.

Towards the end of January, after Bella's been at work for a few weeks, my dad and Esme invite us over for dinner. Bella and I hadn't discussed when we'd tell them about our relationship, but this ends up being the perfect opportunity. We can't hide this forever.

Especially not when I want to be able to hold her hand or kiss her in public.

I can't say I'm not nervous about tonight. Not because I'm ashamed of our relationship, but I'm nervous for Bella. She values her sister's opinion and desperately wants to have her support. I wish I had a clue of what Esme's reaction will be.

We have a brief discussion before we go, and Bella decides she will take the lead when we talk to them. We both agree that we'll be honest with any questions they ask, but we're not necessarily going to offer up specifics, like when we first got together.

We arrive for dinner and walk right in to the house, greeting my dad first and then finding Esme in the kitchen. As usual, I jump right in and help set the table while Bella offers her help with the food.

Dinner is full of talk about Bella's new job. She's animated when she speaks about her kids, and she's thrilled to be back with some of the teachers she was friends with before moving. She's also met a new teacher, Rose, who she seems to have become very close with in a short amount of time.

It's not until we sit down for dessert—Esme's famous Chocolate Pudding Pie—that the real fun begins.

"There's something we wanted to talk to you about," Bella starts, looking from Esme to my dad and back again. I silently take her hand under the table in support. "Um, you know I came back to start my life over again, and, well … I have."

"And I'm so proud of you for doing that, Bells," Esme says before taking a sip of her coffee.

Bella pushes her hair behind her ear with her free hand before she continues. "There's more than just a new job and a new apartment. I'm dating someone." I squeeze her hand.

Esme's face lights up, but I watch my dad sit stoically beside her, his eyes moving rapidly between the two of us. Before Esme can jump in and start asking questions, Bella speaks again.

"It's Edward."

The room becomes deathly silent as the look on Esme's face drops. Several moments go by where no one moves. Esme eventually breaks the silence.

"Did you just say you're dating Edward?"

A/N: How do you think Carlisle and Esme will take the news?

If you're looking for another Sweetward, check out my other stories! Bass Instinct is a WIP that currently updates on Mondays and Thursdays. One Lonely Night is complete.

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