So guys, I plan to update this tonight and tomorrow. Tomorrow will be the chapter that we meet up at the prologue, and then hopefully I will update again this week.

Many thanks to Kyla713 for looking this over for me, and to Nikki, Packy, Heather and littleapollon. They seriously held my hand through these next two chapters.

So, here we go.

*.*

Chapter 6-

Things returned to normal after Bella went back home to Washington. I went back to my shifts at the hospital, often times working as many hours as I could, just to keep myself busy and away from the apartment. I was finding it hard to be there when she wasn't. It didn't feel much like home to me anymore; she was only there for a few days, yet made so many changes in my life.

She would call me often, excited about her upcoming finals and graduation, making sure to remind me to take the time off for the ceremony. I made sure to put in a request for a week, so that I could meet her dad and be a tourist in Seattle. I was excited for her, and even more so for her to return to Chicago. It didn't feel so far off now.

It was the week before I was due to fly out when I came home to find a package addressed to Bella from Northwestern. I couldn't help but wonder when she changed her address to mine, so I called her to make sure she didn't need anything in this package right away or else I would just bring it with me when I flew to her.

"Hello, Edward." I could hear the happiness in her voice, and it warmed me deep inside.

"Hey, Ba-Bella. I was just calling to let you know you received a package from the University today. Should I mail it out before I go, or just bring it with me?"

"Why don't you go ahead and open it for me? I'm sure it's nothing too pressing."

I carefully opened it, pulling out the letters and pamphlets to see what was what. "Well, looks like your welcome letter, pamphlets to programs, reminders of start days and when you can sign up for classes as well as tuition due dates. I could just bring this with me next week, yeah?"

"Yup, I think so. And Edward, I can't wait for you to get here! Charlie is actually making me nervous with his wanting to meet you," Bella said, laughing.

"Well, hopefully I can charm your father so that he will like me enough, so that you will hopefully give in and say yes. "

"Charlie will like you, Edward. I just know it. You have absolutely nothing to worry about. And I promise you that when the time is right, you'll get your yes." She sighed. "I unfortunately have to go. My shift at work starts soon. I feel like we never get enough time to talk. That better change in Chicago."

"It will, Bella. I'll make sure of it."

We said our goodbyes and I hung up. It was becoming harder and harder to get off the phone with her. I could honestly talk to her for hours and never truly run out of things to say or tell her. She made it easy, effortless.

The week before flying out to Seattle felt like it dragged on and on. Every shift change, I dreaded and wanted to be done. I was beyond exhausted and wanted to get to Bella sooner. The last shift I had was the day before I was to fly out. I hurried out, stopping by Garrett's popcorn on the way home to pick some up for Bella and Charlie. I packed up my suitcase and a suit for her graduation along with her graduation present. I wasn't at all sure what the hell to get her, but I got in contact with a fellow fandom member, Alice, who has known Bella even longer than I have. She, luckily, gave me some good ideas. I only hoped Bella loved it.

Right before I went to bed, I decided to send off a text to Bella.

E: In less than 16 hours, I will get to see you again.

B: Still too long. Can it be tomorrow now?

E: I wish my B. See you soon. Good night, and sweet dreams.

B: Can't wait to see you! Good night, Edward.

My heart was beating out of my chest from the moment I woke up to the moment I boarded my plane, excited to finally see Bella again. The flight felt like it took ages to get to Seattle. We ended up being delayed about forty minutes due to some electrical problem, which didn't help my fear of flying at all.

Four and a half hours later, I was finally deplaning and making my way to baggage claim. I looked everywhere for Bella, and finally saw her standing next to a tall man with a mustache. Her hands were clasped in front of her as she rocked back and forth on her feet in excitement. I knew the second she saw me, her eyes grew wide and a huge smile spread across her beautiful face.

Bella ran up to me, throwing her arms around my shoulders as she crushed me into a hug. I closed my eyes, kissed the top of her head and pulled back before her father could say anything to separate us.

"I am so unbelievably happy to see you, Edward!" She pulled back, kissed my cheek and turned around to face her dad. "So Edward, this is my dad, Charlie. He insisted on coming with me." She leaned up to whisper in my ear, "I really just think he wanted to make you nervous." She pulled away, laughing.

Charlie stepped forward, his hand outstretched to shake mine. "Well, about time I meet you. She's talked non-stop about you for the past few years. Nice to meet you, Edward. What do you say we get your bags and head on back to Bella's before I head back to my hotel."

"I booked a hotel, surely you'd rather stay with Bella. I don't want to inconvenience anyone."

"Nonsense. I know how she feels, and I trust her," Charlie said, winking as he slid into the driver's seat. Bella sat in the back with me. I finally took the time to take in her appearance. She looked so much skinnier than the last time I saw her, her hair seemed a bit duller, not as shiny as before. I wanted to tell myself that she was probably not taking good care of herself as she should be due to the stress of finals and graduation, but I had a bad feeling bubbling deep down inside of me. I wanted to grab her, protect her from anything.

*.*

The morning of Bella's graduation everything was in a rushed flurry of activity. She ran around, making sure her cap and gown was presentable, her hair done and all those other things girls fuss over while Charlie and I sat around making conversation.

"You're good for her, you know?" Charlie said, turning away from the television to face me. "You've done something these last three years that I haven't been able to do. She smiles a lot more, too."

I wasn't sure what I should say. A reply of, I try, seemed too stuck up. "She means a lot to me, Charlie. All I want is for her to be happy."

"You do. I don't think you realize just how much," Charlie said, his eyes growing a bit glassy.

"I'm glad I'm able to do that for her. She's done the same for me. Her words, her stories, and well, just her, mean so much to me. I honestly don't know what I'd do without her." I didn't know what made me want to lay my feelings out there for Charlie, but it just came out, seemed right.

"I know. And I think she's gonna need you more than any of us know. I know that you want her as more than a friend, and I know what she told you. But what you need to know is, you have my blessing to pursue her or whatever you call it. You make my baby girl happy, that's all I need. And I know what you're thinking, what about your age? She doesn't care, so neither do I." And that was that. I was now more determined than ever to eventually get her to say yes to being with me.

Her graduation was long, but a beautiful ceremony. The pride I held for her as she walked across that stage was overwhelming. I had to fight the urge to run up there and grab her, hold her in my arms so she could know just how proud I was.

At dinner, I presented her with spa tickets for a massage, and a few gift cards so she could get the things she'd need for her room back at our place. She loved her gifts, which made me beam with even more happiness. I had so much anxiety over this trip, but so far, no huge problems jumped out at me like I thought they would.

Though, I worried a bit when I could tell that Bella barely touched her dinner. She held conversations with Charlie and me well though, but she wasn't eating, only pushing her food around the plate.

"You okay, Bella?" I asked, worry evident in my voice. Charlie didn't seem too phased though, which made me think this wasn't a new development.

"Yeah, just not hungry. Haven't had much of an appetite lately. Stress from school," she said, flashing me one of her smiles, but it didn't settle the uneasiness that was now harboring itself in my stomach and heart. Instead of letting on, I just nodded and finished my dinner.

Charlie had to head back to Forks after dinner, so we said our goodbyes and headed back to Bella's. I was itching to voice my concerns, both as a friend and a doctor, but wasn't at all sure how Bella would take it. We sat together on the couch, a glass of wine in front of us both as she picked out a movie for us to watch.

"Hey, Bella?"

"Yeah?" she said, turning around.

"Can you make me a promise?"

"Depends on what the promise is"

"Promise me that you'll see a doctor before you come to Chicago. At least for a check-up?" Please don't say no, Bella. Please do this for me, for us. Squash my worries, please.

"Why, Edward? Why are you so worried?"

"I'm a doctor, Bella, and I just don't have a good feeling. You're skinnier than when I last saw you, your hair is different, and you're haven't eaten a whole lot since I've been here. Yeah, it could be stress, but please, just get it checked?"

She looked at me for a few minutes and bit her lip before she nodded. "Okay, I promise. For you, I'll get checked out."

We cuddled for the rest of the night, enjoying being close, making plans for what needed to be done when she came to Chicago. She had already booked her one-way ticket for the end of June, around my birthday. It was now the beginning of May, so we wouldn't have that much longer to wait.

*.*

The week spent in Seattle went by far too quickly, and soon, I found myself back at the airport saying goodbye to Bella. She called her doctor the third day I was there and made an appointment. I made her make me another promise to call me if she needed me, and I made a promise of my own to her that I would do anything to get to her.

I handed over my bag at the counter, grabbed my boarding pass and held Bella's hand as we made our way to security. She held on to me, holding me as tight as her arms would allow, before I went over to go through the line. I listened to her sniffles as I closed my eyes and tried not to cry myself and kissed the top of her head.

"Hey, my Bella, we don't have a long wait. You'll be in Chicago before you know it."

She nodded and wiped her tears away. "Call me when you land?"

"Of course. The second I get off the plane," I told her, trying to smile.

I turned around and went through security, frequently looking back at Bella until I watched her leave. If I had known then that in two weeks my whole world would crash down around me, I would have never left.