Author's Note: Let's see what's up with that police siren, eh? Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.


Chapter 68

I slowed down and parked on the side of the street, next to the curb. The cruiser parked behind me, and a young man got out and walked to my window. I lowered the glass. "What can I do for you, officer?"

The young man did a double take when he recognized me. "Uh..." For a moment, he looked at a total loss of words. Did I look that much of a wreck?

I raised my eyebrow. "Officer?"

"Uh..." He cleared his throat and shook his head a little. He tried to look stern. "Do you realize you were going over seventy miles an hour in a twenty-five limit road, miss?"

I blinked, then looked out the windshield. I recognized where I was. Shoot. I'd just broken a law that I'd never broken in my entire life. "No, I didn't. I'm sorry, sir."

"Let me see your license."

I reached for my purse and searched inside for my wallet. Nothing. That couldn't be right. I turned the light on, as the approaching darkness outside wasn't helping me. I searched again. Still nothing.

For a second, I thought I'd lost it. Perhaps it was stolen. No, I reminded myself. You took it out to pay for lunch, and you never put it back in your purse afterward. It was still on my desk at the hospital. Crap.

I turned to the officer, and said guiltily, "I left my wallet at work."

He frowned. "Looks like you'll have to come to the station with me, young lady." He shined a flashlight at my face, and I leaned back, squinting. "You're Isabella Swan, aren't you?"

"Yes."

He nodded. "I recognize you alright. Unfortunate thing to happen on your part."

I bit my lip. "So...what happens now?"

"You're going to go the police station," he informed me. "I'll follow you. We have to do some more investigating, I'm afraid. Who knows, you could've been drinking or something."

I pursed my lips, exasperated with myself. "Okay."

He gave me an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry about that. I'm sure you have better things to do."

"Actually, no," I sighed. "This is a good way to spend my night." I raised my windows, and I waited until the officer had gotten into his cruiser before joining the other cars back on the street.

When we arrived at the police station, I parked next to the officer's cruiser and followed him inside. I avoided the appreciative glances of other police officers as I walked. I felt self-conscious in my heels and tight skinny jeans that hugged my body way too much. To top it all, I'd had to choose this day to wear just a camisole and a long, light gray cardigan. Great.

"Look what I found, Chief," the officer who'd caught me said lightly. "Isabella Swan." He turned back to wink at me playfully. I fought back a grimace.

The police chief looked confused, but recognition flashed across his face. "Oh, dear." He chuckled. "What did you do, Miss Swan?" He shook his head.

I bit my lip and sat in the chair he'd gestured. I leaned back in resignation.

"Hope someone bails you out," the chief said before he left for his office.

I grimaced as another young man sat in front of me. He was good-looking, with bright electric blue eyes and blonde hair. "Howdy." He grinned and turned to his computer.

"Hello," I said without enthusiasm.

"What did you do?"

"Apparently, I was going seventy miles per hour at a twenty-five limit road," I said with a helpless expression on my face. I shrugged. "Didn't even notice."

"You must have had some distraction, then," he said. "Were you using your phone? You know that's against the law while you're driving."

I shook my head. "I was thinking."

He gave me an amused look. "I'm Derek Adams by the way."

I nodded once. "Nice to meet you."

"Alright," Derek said. "Let's fill this form out." He brought up something on his computer before saying, "Name?"

"Isabella Swan."

He smirked slightly as he asked for my information. I gave it to him, growing more and more tired as I watched the clock behind him turn eight o'clock. I should've been home by now, taken a shower, and would've been eating dinner with Rollie. I wondered if Alice had taken Rollie home yet.

"Now, Miss Swan," Derek said. "Do you have someone who can come bail you out?" He smiled. "I don't want to make a big deal. We have bigger problems tonight, I'm afraid. Huge robbery theft at a jeweler's, so you're lucky you picked this night to break the law. If you can have a lawyer come bail you out, we'll let you go with a three-hundred dollar fine. How about it?"

I was relieved. "We have a deal. I thought I had to spend the night in jail."

He laughed, then pushed the desk phone toward me. "Go ahead. Make your call."

I realized that I didn't know our family lawyer. So I had no choice but to call home. Renee answered the phone. "Renee Swan speaking."

"Hi, Mom."

"Bella," she said, sounding surprised. "What...? Who's phone are you calling from, honey? Did you lose your phone or something?"

I sighed. "You won't believe this. I'm sitting at a police station for speeding. And I didn't have my license with me."

"Oh, Bella, honey," Renee sighed. "You didn't. You know better."

"I do. I was just...distracted. You know, thinking too much, when I shouldn't."

I could tell she was shaking her head. "So...what? They need parents? You're an adult."

I couldn't help laughing. "No, no. They said they'll let me go with just a fine if a lawyer could come bail me out. But I don't know who my lawyer is. Who's our family lawyer?"

Renee laughed as though I'd just told a delightful joke. "Oh, baby. I can't believe we never told you that when you came back. I'm sorry, we should have. As for the lawyer, I think it's someone named Jonathan Harrison."

"You think?"

"Oh, I don't know, honey. Edward took care of everything for us. Mr. Harrison is a lawyer in his office. He's an employee."

"Great," I said flatly. "Just great. Edward again? He pops up everywhere I go."

"Bella, don't be mean," Renee said. "Why don't you give Edward a call, baby? I'm a bit preoccupied at the moment; I'm at a meeting with Charlie. I had to come out of the restaurant to take the call."

"Sorry," I said sheepishly. I sighed. "Isn't there an alternative. Emmett? I can handle Em."

"No, honey. Emmett and Edward have different law firms. I'm afraid Edward was the one to handle our legal affairs. I know you're uncomfortable, but you're just going to have to deal with it. Who told you to speed?" She was teasing, but I could tell that she was also glad that I'd broken the law. She was just as obsessed with Edward and me getting back together as everyone else was.

"Fine," I said. "I'll call him. It's not like I have a choice, or I'll be here all night. Thanks, Mom. You can go back to dinner."

"Good luck, hon." She hung up, and I dialed Edward's familiar number.

He answered after five rings, sounding confused at the caller ID, no doubt. "This is Edward Cullen speaking."

I bit my lip. I sighed, and said timidly, "Edward?"

He recognized my voice in an instant. "Bella!" There was a pause, and then: "Why are you in a police station?"

I sighed again. "I got arrested for speeding, and then I didn't have my license. Renee told me to call you because she didn't know the contact number for our lawyer. Harrison or something."

"Yeah, Jonathan." He was amused now. "So you got arrested? You?"

I tried to keep calm. Don't get annoyed. Don't snap. "Can you get this Harrison guy to come, please? They said I can be bailed out with just a fine if my lawyer comes."

"Okay," Edward said, and I could hear the silent laughter in his tone.

"Don't laugh," I snapped. "It's not funny."

He couldn't help chuckling out loud this time. "Sorry. I'll call John. Do you think you can wait, or will it be the end of the world?"

"Go away," I muttered, and I hung up on him, annoyed. What was so funny?

"Any luck?" Derek asked cheerfully.

My mouth twisted. "I asked a totally unreliable person to call my lawyer for me. Hopefully, he'll be here soon."

Derek looked at me strangely. "Why would you call an unreliable person?"

I gave him a small smile. "An exaggeration. And it's not like I had a choice."

He raised his eyebrow. "Are you sure about that? You can trust this guy?"

I laughed slightly. "Yes, I can trust him. An old family friend." My smile tightened.

He looked uncertain but let it go.

I watched the clock tick by. Five minutes, then ten. When the minute hand reached the fifteenth mark exactly, the automatic doors of the station slid open, and – to my shock – none other than Edward Cullen walked in.

How was it possible that he looked so incredibly handsome, increasingly, every day? He was wearing a pure black suit with a gray-white necktie. He really did look distinguished and confident, like a lawyer should.

I narrowed my eyes when he stopped behind my shoulder. "I'm offended. I never called for a criminal lawyer. I didn't know speeding was a such a big crime."

Edward smiled down at me. He turned to Derek, who gaped at him, recognizing him as well. "Evening, officer."

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. His deep, mature voice made everything about him seem so calm and confident, so...sexy. Even men were willing to fall for him. I bit my lip to hide my amusement.

"A-and...and you're..." Derek stuttered.

"Edward Cullen," Edward said, smiling, offering his hand. Derek shook it in a daze.

I sighed and looked away, exasperated. Why did I make every single thing that happened to me much bigger than it really is? I asked for some Harrison guy, and I got Edward Cullen instead. Why did he come instead of my real lawyer?

"So...the charges?" Edward prompted pleasantly, sitting down next to me.

"Uh..." Derek had to refer back to his computer. He gave himself a shake before replying, "Speeding down a twenty-five miles per hour road at a seventy. Not having a license with her."

Edward had to hide a laugh. "I see. Well, that seems like a huge crime. She could've killed someone. Are you sure you don't want to throw her in jail, officer?"

I threw him a sharp look, and, though he didn't look at me, he smiled in amusement. "If you're not going to help, leave."

Derek looked confused as he glanced back and forth between us. "We have bigger problems than a mild speeding problem. She wasn't drinking or taking drugs, so we can let her go. Can you confirm some information for me, Mr. Cullen?"

"Certainly."

I listened to Edward handle the situation easily and professionally with fascination, all the while staring blankly at the edge of the table. I couldn't help but be impressed at the way he did his job. Becoming a lawyer really had been the right choice for him.

"A bill will be sent home to you, Miss Swan," Derek finally said. "Though, I'm sure, three hundred is a piece of cake for you, right?"

I gave him a weak smile.

Edward chuckled, then rose to his feet, gesturing for me to do the same. He picked up my purse for me, like the gentleman that he was. "Thank you for your help, officer. Good night."

"Good night," Derek replied, nodding. "Drive safely, Miss Swan."

"Thank you," I said, before following Edward out of the station.

Edward led me to my car and pulled out my keys from my purse. He unlocked the door, placed the purse inside, then turned to me, handing over my keys. He was still amused. "Don't you think I deserve at least a thank you hug?"

"In your dreams," I muttered, snatching the keys from his hand.

Edward chuckled. "That was unexpected. Getting a call from the police station because my ex-wife got arrested for speeding."

"I should've told them that you speed way more than I do," I snapped back. "Why did you come, anyway? Did you even call that Harrison guy?"

"Of course I did," Edward answered mildly. "I was disappointed that I couldn't handle the situation myself because unfortunately, another lawyer handles all your family's legal affairs. But I was lucky John was out of town tonight. He's going down to New Jersey with his family for the weekend. He told me to handle it, and to report everything on Monday morning." He paused, then added thoughtfully, "I think I might have to give him an extra bonus for this month. He gave me an excuse to see you tonight."

I rolled my eyes exasperatedly and sighed. "Whatever."

He studied me. "Have you had dinner yet?"

I pursed my lips. "I'm not hungry." I was not going to have dinner with Edward. No way.

"You should eat something," he said gently. "The shock of being arrested is going to take over soon."

"I'm not that delicate," I sniffed.

Edward inclined his head. "Well, I'm hungry." He suddenly smiled angelically, making me breathless. "Will you cook for me, Bella?"


"I still don't understand why we can't go back to my house," I grumbled when Edward opened my car door for me. "I need to make sure Rollie's okay. He got a shot today, and he could have a fever."

"Sometimes, I think you care about a dog more than you care about me," he replied back.

"I do."

He shot me a mock hurt look before unlocking the door to his penthouse. He opened the door for me, and I walked into his house for the first time.

He flicked the lights on and disappeared into the bedroom to undress, leaving me to glance around the huge place. Every detail was correct. Everything screamed out Edward Cullen. All the furniture, the lightly colored curtains and the beautiful black grand piano in the corner was Edward's style.

A huge shelf dedicated to picture frames caught my eye. Slowly, I approached the glass shelves, and I studied the pictures of our childhood. Emmett, Jasper, and Edward were grinning out from one frame, their innocent teenager years radiating off of them. My eyes slid to the frame next to it, where Alice and I had our arms around each other, laughing our heads off. I looked so carefree and happy.

The next frame had all five of us in it. It was Halloween. Emmett was dressed as a cowboy, Jasper as Robin Hood with a realistic bow and arrows slung over his shoulder, and Edward as a prince, forced into it by his sister. Alice was a fairy, with her pink wand sparkling with battery-run lights, and I was a sexy cop, also forced into it by Alice. We were posing according to our characters, and I smiled as I recalled those days.

I moved onto the shelf below. Graduation pictures; high school and college. Emmett was wearing the cap and gown, and then, it was Alice and Jasper together. Then Edward, and then me.

I moved on.

I smiled when I saw Alice and Jasper making ridiculous faces at the camera. There were bright tiaras and crowns, with decorative balloons and flowers around them. I realized that the picture was from a sticker photo machine booth. The frame next to them had Alice and Jasper sitting on a bench together, looking perfectly happy and content.

The shelf below was dedicated to Emmett and Rosalie. Likewise, they looked happy together, with Rose linking her arm through Emmett's huge biceps.

I looked up to the next column of shelves and received a shock. The remaining shelves had pictures of me. Only me.

The first frame I noticed was with Edward and me at an amusement park, with arms around each other. We were seven and nine, and grinning toothily at the camera. The next frame was when we were twelve and fourteen, sitting on a hammock in Esme's garden, looking comfortable next to each other. We didn't even notice that someone had taken a picture.

There was a photo in which the photographer had taken me laughing naturally. Another one had me in a prom dress. I wondered if Renee had give him that. In another, I was wearing casual clothes, much like the ones I was wearing at the moment, and I was crossing my arms and smiling at the camera. It must have been taken when I was fifteen or sixteen.

The shelf below it had pictures of our wedding shoot. I was wearing a beautiful dress that I remembered, halter and tight, though gorgeous. I looked happy, not guessing that bad luck that was coming my way. In the next frame, I was leaning my head on Jasper's shoulder while he and I slept peacefully. In the next one, I was standing at the altar in my wedding dress, with Edward in his tuxedo.

The last photo shocked me. I was pregnant, probably in my sixth or seventh month. My hands were on my baby bump, and I was staring out the window blankly, thinking. I hadn't even noticed that someone had taken my picture. I still hadn't known, until now.

Why did he keep these pictures of me? Pictures of our wedding, our childhood? Didn't it hurt him?

I refused to keep any picture frames in my own house because it brought back painful memories. They were too painful that I couldn't live with them.

I jumped slightly when I heard a noise behind me.

"Sorry," Edward said quietly. "I didn't mean to scare you."

I relaxed, letting go of the tension that I didn't even realize I'd had. "It's fine." My gaze wandered around the shelves. "Why do you keep these?"

He walked forward slowly and stopped next to me. I saw the he'd changed into comfortable jeans and a striped T-shirt. "To remind myself."

"Remind yourself of what?" I said flatly.

He sighed. "Of my mistakes."

I swallowed hard. My eyes kept darting to the picture in which I was pregnant. My hand drifted toward the frame, and I put it face down, unable to see it any longer. I turned and walked to the kitchen. "What do you want to eat?"

I could see him staring after me. I wondered if he knew why I'd turned the picture down. "I don't care. Surprise me."

I washed my hands and looked through his refrigerator for an inspiration. I decided to make one of his favorite dishes, chicken breast pasta. I'd developed the menu back when I was fourteen, and he'd been the first to try the dish out. He loved it since then.

I quickly busied myself with the ingredients, washing the vegetables and setting the frozen chicken breast out. I was cutting up the mushrooms when I felt his presence behind me. Before I could move, his hands went on the counter, trapping me in front of him. I stared at the mushrooms, frozen, hating how my heart thudded.

"I didn't think you'd say yes," Edward said softly. "I missed your cooking."

Slowly, I resumed my chopping. "You have Esme's cooking. You're good at cooking too."

"Not the same," he breathed, fanning my face with his sweet breath. I couldn't concentrate.

"Edward," I warned. "Stay away. There's a limit to everything, and you're crossing the line."

"Am I?" He sounded amused. "What are you making?"

"Guess." I dunked the knife into the water in the sink and washed my hands. I reached for the chicken breast and began cutting it into smaller pieces.

"I told you to surprise me, but it's too obvious." Edward sounded almost disappointed. "Chicken breast pasta?"

I smiled at that. "Do you have a problem with that?"

"Of course not. Like I said, I missed your cooking."

"Go sit over there," I said, nodding at the bar stool. "If you don't want me to cut myself with a knife."

"Am I such a distracting presence to you, Bella?" Edward teased lightly.

"Don't you have any work to do?" I asked, annoyed. "Go do it."

"It can wait."

"No, it can't."

He grinned. "I'll be the judge of that, thank you." But he consented to move and sit on the bar stool.

I sighed as I sprinkled salt over the chicken. It was silent for a while before Edward broke it. "If we hadn't divorced...who knows? We might be here in the kitchen every day, you cooking, me watching. Did you ever think about that?"

I pursed my lips slightly as I heated up the frying pan. "Not really."

"I think about it all the time," Edward said, lying his head down on the cool counter, staring blankly at a cabinet door. "I regret what I did, Bella. So much."

I didn't have anything to say to that. I knew that I shouldn't be here. If I was trying to avoid Edward and even more so at getting back together with him, I should definitely not have agreed to cook for him.

Hesitantly, I said, "Tanya decided to keep her child."

He was silent. Finally, he said slowly, "Is that so?"

"I thought you should know," I said, shrugging lightly. "She and Jacob are finally together."

He sat up abruptly. "Jacob? As in Jacob Black?"

"Yeah. They had a thing. He's the father."

Another silence. And then, he said flatly, "That's disgusting. He hit on you when he got another girl pregnant?"

"I turned him down," I said mildly. "After Tanya told me about their relationship. Nothing happened. They're together now, so what?"

"It bothers me," Edward said in the same flat tone. "That's just wrong."

I flipped the chicken over. "Can I ask you a question? I'm just honestly curious."

"What?" Edward sounded wary.

"If you had gotten Tanya pregnant while you were still married to me..." I frowned. "What would you have done?"

I heard him shift uncomfortably behind me. "I...I don't know. I would have to take responsibility, of course...but I wouldn't have married her. I know that for sure."

"Really?" My voice was flat and bored; I sounded uninterested. "You would've stayed with me?"

"Yes. If I'd had the choice." He sighed. "But I didn't. And actually, I'm glad you made me sign those papers. I deserved it. I had to suffer to wake up and actually see. It was a good lesson for me, but now, I'm desperate to stop hurting." His voice was soft. "I want to be with you, Bella."

There was only the comforting sizzling sound of the chicken cooking. My shoulders slumped slightly. "Well, that can't happen."

"Why not? Because of Jasper?"

"Because of me." I dumped the vegetables in and spread them out. "I don't know if I can live with you in my life or not. I'm still not sure I can handle it, even if it's just seeing you once in a while."

"Do you think you'll ever be able to forgive me?" Edward asked heavily.

I poked awkwardly at a piece of onion. "I..." I sighed deeply. "I already have."

I heard shocked silence behind me. I grimaced to myself.

"When?" Edward asked, surprise evident in his tone.

"Why does it matter?"

"I'm curious."

I glanced at the clock. Nine o'clock. "When you came that night...to confess. I believe you, Edward. Everything you said that night, I believe."

"Really..." Edward murmured. "That's interesting. It changes everything."

"No, it doesn't. Just because I forgave you doesn't mean I forget."

"I know that. But that just means that I can love you freely now, without feeling guilty." He sounded almost happy now. "Thank you, Bella. I feel like I can relax for once."

I snorted. "I forgave you for me. I couldn't live properly without letting go."

"I'm glad you did it, anyhow."

I poured the tomato sauce over the vegetables and chicken. "Edward, do you think I've changed?"

"Changed?"

"Just in general." I sounded weary, which I was. "Have I changed?"

"Not at all," Edward replied. "Just as kind and beautiful as I remembered, and intelligent. The only thing that's changed is your behavior toward me. But that, too, has changed. You're warmer toward me now."

"Is it too much to ask for you to stay by my side as a brother and a friend, like you used to?"

He stopped. Then, slowly, he answered, "Yes. It's too much. We've come too far for that, don't you think?"

"Yes," I admitted. "But if we could...I would. It hurts me to stay away from you, Edward. But it'll hurt way more to accept you as a man. I don't have the confidence to do it."

"Is that a rejection?" Edward asked, laughing slightly now. "You know what? It doesn't even hurt anymore. I've gotten so used to it..." He sighed. "Isn't that sad?"

I reached for the mozzarella cheese and sprinkled it on top so that it looked like pizza. "Why us, do you think? Why us, and not some other couple? We could've been happy...with a daughter who would be nine years old now." My voice held tears, and I realized that I was on the verge of crying. My voice shook. "No Tanya. No miscarriage. She might have even had a younger sibling."

He was suddenly there, hugging me from behind. "I'm sorry, Bella," he whispered. "I was wrong. I shouldn't have..."

I watched the cheese melt, feeling my heart break all over again. I leaned against him slightly, feeling comforted by his touch. I turned off the fire. "We could've been happy," I said softly. "But maybe we were never meant to be."

"Don't," he said, his voice muffled by my hair. "I loved you, Bella." Pause. "I still do."

That made me start sobbing softly, and he turned me around so that he could hug me properly. I cried into his broad chest, knowing that I shouldn't be doing this. He wasn't mine, and will never be. I couldn't allow it. I couldn't let myself go back to him. What if I got hurt again? I was afraid.

"I love you, Isabella Swan," Edward whispered, hugging me tightly. "That will never change."

Slowly, my arms raised and tightened around his body. The electricity between us was tingling more than ever.

He may have been confused for some time, but he loved Bella. He's never stopped loving her, even when he was with me. Tanya.

He's like a drug for you, Bella. You couldn't help becoming addicted to his presence. I don't know how you survived alone without him for all those years. Jasper.

I was so blind...so idiotic to not realize that everything I had was perfect. It was all I ever needed. I can never forgive myself as long as I live. ... Have I ever told you that I loved you? Edward.

I crushed myself to him, feeling pain in my heart more than ever before. I still loved him. I couldn't be without him. "I..."

Could I say it? If I could, there was no going back. No time for regrets, no other way.

"I love you, too," I whispered, my voice barely audible, but he heard it.

He pulled away first, and his face full of love and desire. Slowly, he leaned in, and I didn't move as his lips pressed into mine. I felt the hurt, pain, and love of both of our emotions blend into our kiss as we deepened it.

And I felt something wet against my cheek...tears that did not belong to me.


AN: I thought it was time to bring up the closure. I see the end of this story as well. Very soon. Perhaps Chapter 70? Leave me lots of reviews before the end looms over us!