It took the better part of an hour for Edward and Bella to explain to Rose and Tyler the intricacies of what had been going on in America. Never realising the extent of the problem in its entirety all Rose could do was gape.
She'd never had a guest come to stay with a problem this big before and she had no idea what she could do to help. But by god she was willing to try!
Tyler was a little more worldly than Rose and had a little more experience with both politics and the law in countries other than Australia so he took the reigns as the first tentative shreds of a plan began to form.
As promised Jasper was present when the call was placed to America. He too had some ideas about how to enact the plan and in what order it should be done.
First Bella had to decide once and for all, out loud, what she wanted. Second she had to decide how far she was willing to go to achieve those goals. And thirdly, most sadly of all, she had to map out what she was willing to sacrifice should the need arise.
And then it was time for everyone to concentrate on Edward. His face flushed and the tips of his ears grew hot as they talked about how to get him out from under his own problems.
First he had to decide what he wanted, and put voice to it too. Then he had to work out how he was going to achieve that end and finally, just as sadly as it had been for Bella, he had to decide for himself just who he was willing to sacrifice to get what he wanted.
As the meeting came to a close there was only one thing that was abundantly clear.
The rot stopped now.
Mary Alice, good to her word, had driven from outside the cafe directly to her husband's office. His personal assistant took one look at her puffy eyes and told her to go right on through.
Jasper noted her posture first, the defeated set to her shoulders, and then the redness of her eyes. "Oh darlin," he'd crooned as he stepped out from behind his desk and folded her into his arms.
Nothing needed to be explained. He understood why she was upset. He wasn't shocked and he wasn't happy about what she'd learned – and he was sure that she'd learned that her mother was well aware of the deal struck between her father and his cronies – so he simply held her and let her cry.
Mary Alice begged him to come home. She told him she'd spoken to Isabella and that she was going to call back after meeting with Rose and Tyler. It starts now he thought as he watched the relief his agreement to that plan flit across his wife's beautiful face.
When she'd gathered herself just enough he clipped his briefcase shut, slung an arm around her shoulders and strode out of the office without looking back. His days at Hemple, Tomic and Roache were done he thought to himself as he settled Mary Alice back into her car and told her to drive carefully home. He'd follow shortly and promised to hurry so they wouldn't miss Isabella's call.
He used his key pass to get into the underground carpark where his company provided car was housed during the day and then he retrieved his sunglasses, the remote control for his home garage and his personal GPS unit from the glove compartment.
He handed in the keys to the car to the parking attendant and shook his hand firmly before ducking back into the main building. He stopped at one of the low tables in the waiting room of the foyer and took two envelopes out of his briefcase. One had the name Harvey Hemple written in his sprawling hand on it and as he handed it over to Janine, the company's senior receptionist, he thanked her for always working so hard. She thanked him in return; one eyebrow arched, and promised to put the envelope into Mr Hemple's hand personally. Jasper gave her the other envelope with a sigh. He asked her to give that one to his personal assistant Melinda and then he simply turned and went outside to hail a taxi to take him home.
Yes, his days at this firm were over. But he'd prepared for this day. Mike was up to speed with the outstanding cases he had and Melinda would coordinate with Mike's assistant to sort out anything else. He'd covered as many bases as he could. He hoped.
He had enough savings to see them through a year or so if he was smart with the money, just in case he was disbarred for his role in what was about to happen, and he wasn't able to get another job quickly. He had two residential properties he'd bought as investments years ago and if the need arose he could sell them off, but he really didn't want to have to. But, if his license to practise law was revoked he'd have no choice.
Their own private home was paid for and in Mary Alice' name solely. He had good life insurance and paid into a private health fund, so losing his company benefits package wouldn't bother either of them in the least. Returning his company car meant nothing as he had a private vehicle anyway.
He'd indemnified Mary Alice from any foreseeable backlash by keeping her unaware of what was going on until the last minute. His own parents were in the clear because they had no idea of anything that was going on. The firm itself was on its own. They'd done enough to be complicit but it would be hard to prove that they'd done anything illegal.
No, the firm itself had done its best to hide the things they'd done wrong. But Jasper knew who would be thrown to the wolves should anyone wish to try and prove the illegal acts he'd done himself with regard to the whole mess. He was about to blow the lid off a scandal that would make Monica's stint as a humidor look positively chaste.
His professional reputation was more than likely going to take a hell of a beating if it came out but Jasper was alright with that. This was the right thing to do. People meant more than reputations and professional standing. Mary Alice meant more, Isabella meant more and his own personal peace of mind meant more.
Yes, he'd prepared for this.
As the taxi pulled into the driveway of his home Jasper began to smile.
It felt good to no longer carry around the weight of the deceit that had gone on in that office. It felt good to let go of some of the pressure he'd been holding on to and it felt good that he'd shared that pressure with his wife. He owed her so much and now, finally, he hoped he was going to have the extreme pleasure of being able to do something for her. Or at least for her sister.
"Are you sure about this?" Edward asked as he tucked a stray strand of hair back behind Bella's ear.
Leaning in towards him Bella sighed. "I wish I could tell you I was," she whispered.
Ed's gut clenched. He'd expected the answer but hearing it come from her mouth was an entirely different beast to just expecting it.
They'd been standing in the conference room for over half an hour in total silence and the longer they stood the more uncomfortable that silence had become.
The meeting with Rose and Tyler had produced a plan, and the details of how to execute that plan were frightening to them both. They had disconnected the call with her sister and brother in law feeling nervous and scared.
Recognising that the rest of the issues were personal ones Rose had suggested a coffee break and had offered them the use of the conference room. Coffee ignored Bella and Edward had merely stood staring at the camp gardens for the longest time.
"We don't have to do this..." he began but was cut off immediately by Bella.
"I'm never again doing something I don't want to do. I outright refuse to do anything that isn't my own choice," she huffed, sorry for the harshness of her voice. She turned back to the windows but took a step backwards until her back was at his chest. As she'd hoped his arms circled her instantly. "And you know, better than anyone, that we do have to do this."
"Yeah, I know," Edward sighed. "I just don't want...I mean, Jesus. I want you to do what you think is right for you. You shouldn't worry about those decisions affecting me."
Bella was about to turn around and start yelling at him about promises and commitment, about manning up and just telling her what he wanted from her, when Rose knocked on the door.
"Sorry to interrupt. I've booked your flights," she mumbled sadly as she craned her head around the door. "A car will come and collect you right after dinner. Do you want me to arrange another one to collect you at the other end?"
Edward answered for them both. "Thanks Rose, but no. We'll make our own way ho...we'll be fine at the other end," he finished. They weren't going home.
Home was where you were loved and accepted no matter what. Home was where you were comfortable. Home was wherever the other half of your soul was. Edward didn't know where that was yet.
Rose left them alone then. She could see the anger and pain just below the surface of Bella's face and the utter desperation on Edward's. She hated that they were going to have to go through all this and for just the tiniest second she wondered if she should just offer to let them stay there, at camp, forever.
"Will you go to your sisters?" Edward asked once the door was once again shut.
Bella could only shrug. Knowing what she was going to have to do when she got back to the States was only half the problem for Bella. Not knowing where Edward was going to be was the other half. "Where will you go?" she asked, terrified of the answer.
"I can't go to my parents house," he shuddered as he said it, the thought of that too awful to consider. "I'll sort something out when I get there."
His answer made her anger rise again. Why wouldn't he just say it? Why couldn't he find his voice now, when it really mattered? After what they'd done in her bed only a few hours before...shit, she thought as she twisted out of his grip and took a full step backwards.
She took a deep breath, smoothed down her slacks and then stared at him long and hard. "Look, I really appreciate you staying with me through all this today. Well, since I got here really. But maybe it's time we just ..." her voice broke and she couldn't say the words. She was going to say split up for this next part, then regroup later. But she didn't get the chance.
Edward's heart skipped a beat as he waited for her to finish her sentence. Was she ditching him? Now? Right when they were at the last hurdle? Seriously?
And right then, as he stared at Bella as she did her best to keep her tears in check, Edward's own strength reared up inside him. It bubbled through his veins. It made him stand taller and square his shoulders and it made his minds vision clearer than it had ever been. Edward, faced with losing her, found his voice.
"Do not finish that sentence," he hissed, pointing at her sternly. "Do not say that maybe it's time we split up unless you truly mean it," he barked. He strode to where she stood and put a hand on either of her shoulders. "Think about it, really think about it, Bella. Mean it if you say it. If you tell me right now that this what you want then I'll abide by whatever you choose but there'll be no going back. If we part ways here and now..." he trailed off. He sucked in a good gulp of air and tried to fight off the need to hug her to him as she began to cry harder. "I told you not three hours ago that I was in love with you, that I am in love with you, and I meant it. If you didn't mean it in return you have to tell me now. This plan we're going home to enact won't be for shit if you didn't mean it."
"I do mean it," Bella whispered desperately. "But you can't even...you won't even..." she hiccupped.
"I won't what, Bella? What is it you think I can't do?" he roared, completely over beating around the bush now that his future seemed to be slipping away from him. "What is it you think I won't do, or give up, to be with you?"
Bella had startled at his roar and shivered at his last words. "Why can't you just ask me to stay with you, when we get home? Why are you so happy to send me off alone to my sisters when you don't know where you're going to end up? Why is that so easy for you when it kills me to think about being apart? Why can't we plan our future together? Why do you never mention anything about what's going to happen with us after? Why can't you just tell me what you want from me? Why can't you...I don't know...why aren't you as frightened as I am about parting at the airport and maybe never seeing each other again?"
"Christ," he said breathily, pissed off that she couldn't see the utter torment written all over his face when he thought about them being apart. "I do want to plan for that. Jesus Christ Bella, it's all I've thought about since that first night we went to the movies. I've turned it a hundred different ways in my head, how to just tell my parents to fuck off and live my life with you. But you never mention it!" he shouted, a little bit of spit flying out of his mouth with his frustration. "All you ever say is how great it is to be together here. I couldn't tell you what I want from you because it would scare the ever living shit out you!" he bellowed, his desperation for her evident. "I want it all, Bella. Every single fucking thing you're willing to give me I'll take," he said firmly. He softened his features then, when he took note of the desolation on her face at his harsh words. "But I don't want to pressure you," he told her truthfully. "You've been under enough pressure during your stay and what I wanted had to take a backseat to that. You're about to turn your whole life upside down and I don't want to be yet another problem for you."
"Pressure me? Pressure me? Do you hear yourself?" she hissed as she twisted herself out of his grasp. "Pressure I can deal with. Fuck, pressure should've been my middle name! You aren't a pressure, you're my future! At least I want you to be. You aren't a problem that needs a solution," she seethed, angry that he'd reduced what they felt for one another to the category of just one of a myriad of other problems. "There isn't anything between us that's broken. I don't need to spend hours trying to work out a solution to this," she motioned between them with her hand, "because this isn't broken. This, what we have, is the only part of my life that isn't broken. Okay, so neither of us had the courage to say something, I concede that, but I think it's time we did.
"I want to be with you, Edward. There I've said it too now. And I don't care how you want to define it, I want it all too. However you'll take me I'll be there. But I have to know what you're thinking about that. I have to know that this isn't all for nothing. I have to know..." she trailed off because her thoughts were so overwhelming, the terror of not knowing what the future held for them was almost more than she could deal with right then.
"We're the fucking same," Edward whispered more to himself than to Bella, but she caught it and frowned. "Bella, god...it would kill me if this was all for nothing. I swear to you, I'm only participating in all this because it means we can be together at the end. I'd much rather stay here safe and content with you and never have to deal with any of it. I came here prepared to relax for a while, to have some fun and maybe make a friend or two. Then I was going to go home and take up residence in my shitty life of responsibility. I didn't see any other outcome for myself. I didn't have the balls to change it. But now...now I've got someone to fight for. I've got something to fight for. Us, Bella. I've got us to fight for. It's only worth going against my father because I've got you and me, and what we feel for each other, to fight for. I'm sorry I haven't said that before. I'm sorry if I gave you any reason to doubt what I was fighting for. But I was scared and nervous and you didn't say anything either. But I meant what I said; I need you to do this for you, not for me and not for us. You need to go home and do this because it's what you want and if at the end of it all you want me then I'll be there ready, willing and able. But not until you've done this for yourself. You know you need to be free first. That's what this has always been about.
"But one thing you got right is that I'm not frightened of getting off the plane and saying goodbye at the airport because I know it's not goodbye. I know we'll see each other again. I know I can't, and couldn't, let you walk away. Not now. I love you Bella. I've never been in love before but I know what this is. I know that I love you because I can't see forever without you with me. So I'm not frightened, not to be leaving here, not to have nowhere to go when I get to the other end and not to part at the airport because I know it's not going to be goodbye."
Bella stood and stared into his beautiful, expressive emerald eyes for what seemed to Edward to be an age but was really only a few seconds. Her smile was a small one at first and then the glassiness in her own eyes cleared and she was smiling up at him full force. It took his breath away.
"Alright," she said, finally. Nothing else needed to be said. They were once again on the same page and she drew courage from his strength in the face of it. "I won't be frightened either then. And I love you too," she told him softly as she cupped his cheek with her hand. "Let's go pack and get this show on the road, we'll talk about where we'll stay once we're on the plane."
So that's what they did. They both knew they had a lot more to talk about but with the nineteen hour flight ahead of them they knew there'd be plenty of time to make plans for after. Neither would sleep, their nerves would see to that, and so they both took courage and strength from the little that had been decided.
Bella packed methodically just like she did every time she left a boarding school for the trip home. Edward threw everything he'd bought with him into his suitcase without thought. As long as everything he'd arrived with went back with him he didn't care how it went into the case. He threw the unused box of condoms into his bag with particular care though, hoping that one day soon he'd finally get to use one.
They met in the dining hall but it wasn't the exuberant affair it usually was. They were the only private guests left; barring Tyler who they both agreed didn't really count even though he did sit with them during the meal.
They talked a little about the plan but mostly about their stay. Tyler was supportive and encouraging and sure that with Jasper's help they would emerge victorious in the end. They both thanked him for his help when the meal was done and then they took a slow stroll back to Bella's cabin where their luggage awaited.
Bella said a silent goodbye to the cosy little rooms and gave a mental thank you to the little single bed where she'd laid with Edward just a few hours ago, before their bubble had burst for good.
Edward stood in the living room and said his own mental goodbyes to one of the only places he'd ever truly felt happy.
As they walked hand in hand by Edward's own cabin they paused and both smiled as they thought back on the little impromptu parties they'd had under the awning. Edward kissed her quickly on her cheek and asked her to go on ahead, that he wanted to make a call, and that he'd meet her in the admin building in a few minutes.
Bella nodded, unsure of who he would be calling, but left him all the same. If it was important he'd share it with her later.
Edward used his key one last time to go into his cabin. He said the same silent goodbye to it, and the bedroom and bed where he'd spent many blissful hours wrapped around Bella, and then went back into the little living room to call his friend.
Emmett answered on the first ring with his usual cheery greeting.
"What's up, dude?" he asked as he answered.
He could only laugh. It was typical Emmett. "Hey Em, I just wanted to call and let you know that I'm heading home in a couple of hours," Edward said, sadly Emmett thought.
But Emmett wasn't sad about the news at all. "Good for you, Ed. Good for you. But tell me, is Bella going too?"
"She is," Edward beamed despite the fact that his friend couldn't see him. "We're going home to make a stand," he said proudly.
Emmett smiled on the other end of the call. "Trust me, Ed; you'll feel a million bucks once you've done it, no matter what happens then."
"Do you feel a million bucks?" Edward asked in a rush, hoping he wasn't putting his friend under pressure.
"I do," Em answered easily because he did. "Nothing's perfect yet but it's getting there."
"You started your course?" Ed asked.
"Yesterday," Em replied with another of his trademarked chuckles. "Weird being in a classroom again but it went okay."
"But it feels different, being in class I mean, because you chose it this time, right?" Edward asked hopefully, thinking and hoping that the answer was yes.
"It does," Em admitted. "And don't tell anyone this, but I got home last night and did my homework before dinner voluntarily," he laughed.
Ed wondered where his friend was calling home right now but didn't like to ask. Instead he decided to ask another heavy question and steeled himself for the answer. "And Rose, have you talked to Rose?"
The sigh that Em led with gave Edward as much of an answer as his verbal one. "Not yet, but it's only been a few days."
"Call her," Ed begged. "Call her and tell her you love her. Call her and tell her you miss her. Don't wait. Tell her and make sure she understands."
"You saying that from experience?" Em asked half jokingly and half worried that his friend hadn't taken his advice and confessed his love for Bella.
"Sort of," Edward began. "I nearly left it too late."
Relieved to hear it but unwilling to go too much further into his own situation with Rose, Emmett changed the subject. "So you got a plan for when you get home then?"
"It's complicated," Ed sighed.
"I figured it was always going to be," Emmett replied truthfully as he thought back on all the details Edward had confided in him the night before he'd left camp himself. "You two aren't going it alone though, right? Her sister and brother in law are in for the ride, yeah?"
"Yeah. We aren't alone," Edward said as he began to smile. "In fact I don't think either of us will ever be alone again."
"Good, good. That's good to hear Ed," Em chuckled, pleased for his friends. "So, when you're all settled and everything is on track give me a call and let me know, yeah?" Emmett asked, hoping that their friendship wouldn't be lost to time and distance.
"I will, I promise I will," Edward swore. "And you make sure you do everything you can with Rose, right?"
"I will," Em agreed easily. He had no intention of sitting back and doing nothing. Not this time. She was worth it.
Edward heard him shout that he'd be right there and knew that their conversation had to end. "It sounds like you've gotta be somewhere," he told his friend.
"Yeah, dinners on the table," Em chuckled. "You two travel safe and don't take any shit from the olds when you get there, Ed. Give Bella a big kiss for me and remind her that I'm fighting in your corner, yeah?"
"Yeah, and thanks Em. For everything. The beer, the smokes, the money and even the trouble," Edward laughed. "You'll never know how good it all felt for me."
"I think I know, man," Em said solemnly. "And you're welcome. Now fuck off and go sort your shit out, my dinners getting cold."
Edward could only laugh. "I wouldn't get in between you and your food," he chuckled. "Take care Emmett, we'll be fighting in your corner too."
They each rang off with a smile and with just the tiniest little bit more confidence in their friendship than they'd had before. Emmett was doing his thing and Edward was about to begin doing his thing, however scary that thing really was.
Rose met him at the entrance to the main building and put a folded piece of paper into his hand as well as his plane ticket. They joined Bella, once again looking out the windows to the gardens, and then Rose wished them all luck. She made sure to tell them both that they deserved and had a right to be happy and that nobody could make them do anything they didn't want to do.
For the frightened and nervous pair it was exactly the right thing for her to say. They both hugged her tightly and thanked her for all her help but it left Rose wondering exactly what it was she'd done for them.
As she watched them load their luggage into the waiting car and then drive away Rose tried to find one tangible thing she'd actually done to help them. The reality of it was that they'd helped themselves. They'd blossomed at camp, sure, but they'd done that themselves too. They'd found something in each other that was worthy of the fight they were about to embark on and that too had had nothing to do with Rose.
Just like Emmett, Rose thought as she made her way back to her office.
Emmett had seen something in either himself or in her that made him want to fight for what he wanted. And Rose had shied away from that for the past few days.
After the office and the main building were locked up for the night Rose went back to her cabin and poured herself a nice glass of red. She stared at her mobile for a good long while. She was desperate for news of him but had chickened out of asking Edward if he'd heard from his friend.
He'd left the ball in her court.
He'd gone to find himself and do for himself exactly what she'd hoped he do but he'd left it up to her to contact him. She'd checked and rechecked for messages, emails or texts the past few days but deep down she knew she wouldn't hear from him.
He'd left it up to her.
She dialled his number with a trembling hand.
She took a good slurp from her wine glass as the ringer did its thing.
And when his deep, hearty voice answered she allowed herself to be overwhelmed by the relief that just his voice could give her.
"Blondie," he sighed.
"Em," she sighed in return.
"Tell me," he begged.
And she did. All of it.
It wasn't until they were settled in their seats on the plane that Edward uncurled the sheet of paper Rose had given him with his ticket back at camp.
As the stewardesses 'armed and cross checked' – whatever the hell that meant – and the plane began its ascent into the sky Edward handed the sheet to Bella and waited as patiently as he could for her to take in what he'd read himself.
"Wow," Bella whispered as she folded the page back up and handed it to a wide eyed Edward.
"Yeah, wow," he agreed as he tucked it into the pocket of his carry on.
Pete had written him a reference. A pretty glowing one at that. He'd made it sound as though Edward had spent months working with his music students and that each and every one of them had benefitted from the knowledge and experience of such a gifted musician as Edward.
Whilst not totally the truth – he'd spent just a few hours with several students, rather than months – what Edward balked at most was the use of the term 'teach'.
He wasn't a teacher. Not really. And he couldn't even name, if he was pressed, what he'd taught any of them. True to his word he'd listened and guided but wasn't sure if that constituted teaching. Maybe it did.
He was still grateful to have the piece of paper none the less.
And it gave him the opening he needed with Bella.
"I think I want to teach music," he whispered conspiratorially even though the other passengers weren't listening in on their conversation. It felt important enough to be quiet though.
Bella's smile was a radiant one. She slid her hand into his as she spoke. "I think I knew that about you," she whispered. "I saw how happy it made you each day."
"It did, though it bloody hurt at the beginning," he chuckled lowly. "I'll have to keep playing now, when we get back, so my muscles don't slacken again."
And just like that the floodgates were open for them both. The simple mention of him playing regularly gave them both the shove they needed to discuss the details of what might happen after.
"Do you have a piano at your home?" Bella asked.
"I don't have a home," Edward hissed softly. "But there are plenty of places I can go to play."
"Like?" Bella asked, ignoring his mention of 'home' for a little bit.
"Piano bars, open mike nights, music stores, the library of contemporary and classical music has a baby grand in the foyer you can play if you're willing to wait your turn. And my music teacher, from when I was younger, Mrs Derry, she's got a concert grand in her basement that I think she'd let me play when she's not teaching herself," he trailed off, lost in the dream to play whenever he could.
"I could buy you one," Bella whispered carefully.
"What?" he asked, eyebrows furrowed.
This is it, Bella thought to herself. This is it. This is what I've been waiting for, the chance to properly plan our future, she told herself as the words formed in her head. "I could buy you one," she began. "I know we haven't talked about anything definite, and I know this is going to sound all wrong, so hear me out before you say an outright no, okay?" she asked and sighed heavily when he nodded in agreement.
She turned in her seat a little, which was made easier by the fact that Rose had booked them first class tickets.
"So, I've been wanting to tell you this for ages, but the time never seemed quite right. And I know because you're a guy you're going to hate the idea, but please give it some thought. I've got money, Edward. Not millions or anything, but enough to give us a start at least. My grandparents left me it years ago and I've never touched it. Its mine too, nobody else has access to it. My parents can't tell me what to do with it, even though I know they'll try," she huffed.
"Alright," Edward said as he blew air out over his suddenly dry lips. What she was saying was fantastical, it really was, but she was right. He was a guy and he wanted to be able to provide for himself, and for her too if he was honest. But he'd said he'd listen to her idea, so he did.
"Ally got some too, so don't worry about her being left out," Bella continued, her unselfish nature making Edward smile. "I've been thinking I'm going to use some of mine to go to college. I wanted to go before but I wasn't allowed. I got into a couple of good schools but my mother refused to allow it. But now, if what we're about to do works, or even if it doesn't I guess, I think I want to use some of it to go to accounting school, or business school if I can't get into that. And I thought I'd use some of it to get a place of my own. Something small, close to whatever campus I get into. But that doesn't matter and it's not part of my bigger idea," she whispered quietly, suddenly nervous about voicing her hopes and dreams.
Recognising her hesitation for what it was Edward squeezed her hand and encouraged her to tell him what she was thinking.
"I guess, I mean, I was thinking, hoping really..." she trailed off. She took a big gulp of air and then laid all her cards on the table. "You have nowhere to go and neither do I once we tell our parents what's what. That's a given. Neither of us is going to be able to, or want to, stay in our family homes. We're going to need somewhere to live and I have money. Enough money to do that for us both. I want to live with you, Edward. I want to make a life with you and I have some money we can use to make that happen. If it's what you want too," she squeaked at the end.
"You know that's what I want, I've told you that, but Bella," he began but was cut off.
"Please don't say that you can't do that because I'd be paying for it, please don't say that," she whispered. "If we were to get married everything that's mine right this second, including this money, would be ours, wouldn't it?" she asked a wide eyed Edward.
"Married?" he croaked, totally disregarding the rest of her question.
"Calm down," she giggled, squeezing his hand, completely misreading his reaction to that word. "I'm not saying we have to get married, that isn't what is about and it's exactly what I was running away from in the first place. But, think about what I've said in the proper context. If you and I were to get married what I bring to the marriage becomes yours too, right?"
All Edward could do was nod. He was way back there, way, way back there, back at the point where she'd said marriage. The word echoed around in his head, bouncing off the corners of his brain that knew it's what he wanted. Deep, deep down in the caverns of Edward's brain he wanted Bella for his wife and he'd just worked that out, just now, as she'd said the word.
"Edward?" Bella asked quietly, nudging his shoulder to get his attention. "Do you see what I'm trying to say?"
"Yeah," he mumbled, still way back there.
"So this is no different. We're both going to be effectively homeless the instant we step off this plane. I have money and I can provide us a home, of sorts, until we decide what to do long term. Will you let me do that?" she asked hopefully of a glazed Edward.
Edward stared at her for a good long minute before he spoke next. "You want to go to college?" he asked, back tracking a fair way back in the conversation. Bella nodded. "You've got enough money to pay for that and somewhere to live and you want me to live there with you?" he asked as Bella began to nod again. "I have nothing, not a damn thing, to bring to that Bella. Not money, not a job to get any money, I don't even own my own car!" he hissed.
"But you will," she whispered, cupping his cheek in an attempt to calm him down. "You will. We'll get this mess with our families sorted out and I'll apply to colleges all over the place. Wherever I get in we can live there because I have enough to get us started. And you can find a job, doing something you love like music or teaching or whatever you want, and then you will have money for a car and to contribute. But at first, and I know you know this deep down, at first you're going to need help. Please Edward, please let me help you?" she begged.
"I don't know," he mumbled, dying to say yes to all of it, especially the marriage part despite the fact that she'd explained she didn't want that.
Bella sighed long and hard when she realised he wasn't quite going for her plan as easily as she'd hoped. So she changed tack. "Okay, think about it this way. What if we'd just boarded this plane and it was you who had an inheritance and I had nothing?" she asked.
"Go on," he told her hopefully.
"Well, what if you'd just told me you wanted to go back to college and become a, I don't know, a doctor or something, anything, that doesn't matter," she laughed. "What if it was you who had some money and you offered to help me by giving me somewhere to live while I looked for a job? Would you do that, for me, if the tables were turned?"
"Of course I would," he agreed.
"Why?" she asked, sure now that he would soon see the logic in her statement.
"Because I love you and I want to take care of you and I want to be with you, forever," he said pointedly.
Bella tried her best to put the 'forever' part of his statement aside for now. She'd replay it to herself later, preferably in her dreams, she thought. "Well, I love you and I want to take care of you and I want to be with you too."
"Before Rose suggested it..." Edward said, and then trailed off for a second. His eyebrows creased together for a split second while he thought about how to word the question. "Before Rose suggested that the easy answer for us was to just get married, did it ever cross your mind, like not as part of this plan or anything, but just like a vague sort of idea? I know you don't want to marry Jake but do you, um, you do believe in marriage, right? I mean, she had a point, if we got married neither of us would have to do what we're about to do, right?" he asked in a hushed whisper.
"I do believe in marriage, definitely," she said without needing to think. "And I have thought about it," she said softly, cupping his cheek with her hand and stroking it gently. "I love you, Edward. And I know that I love you enough to marry you and one day I'd like to think we will. I hope we do, I really do. But if we ran off and did it now it would feel like a knee jerk reaction and I don't ever want to think of us being together just to avoid what's going on at home. Does that make sense?"
His smile said enough but he voiced his thoughts anyway. "God I love you," he murmured before turning his lips into her hand and kissing it softly. "I love you enough to marry you too, I really do. But I'm so glad you see it that way. I'm so glad you're strong enough to finish what's been started before we start our life together."
Bella chuckled then and Edward raised his eyebrows in question at her. "Marriage might be a ways off," she giggled, "But I don't want to wait to make plans with you for our future. I want to go to college and get a job. I want to make a home with you and I want to take care of you and let you take care of me. I don't want to wait for marriage before we do that part."
Grinning widely Edward pulled her close and kissed her at the corner of her mouth. "There are a couple of things I don't want to wait until we're married for," he chuckled. "But a job and somewhere to live sound like good places to start. I want to teach music," he said again, just like he had at the beginning of their talk. "I think I want to teach music to children and I think I want to do that while making a home with you."
For Bella it was the most beautiful music she'd ever heard. The innuendo wasn't lost on her, and she blushed at the thought of all the things they could do with one another without waiting to get married, but what pleased her most was his quiet acceptance of her idea and his plan to be with her. It was lovely and she revelled in the feel of his love as he poured it all into a kiss.
A kiss that was interrupted by the stewardess bringing their meal to them.
They sprang apart, embarrassed, but kept their hands firmly joined between them as she set the trays onto the tables in their laps. She smiled warmly when Edward asked for a beer and she smiled just as warmly when she came back to collect their now empty trays.
Edward enjoyed that beer almost as much as he had the one he'd had on his flight to Australia because this one, like that first one, represented his adulthood. He could choose for himself what he wanted, be that something as simple as a bottle of beer or something as huge as where he was going to live and with whom. It was all the same to Edward. He had choices and he'd made them.
Bella chose bottled water over the beer and wine offered to her. She wanted a clear head for when they disembarked. But she too was thankful that she had choices too.
She'd made her choice, just like Edward had, and was content to know that they were going to live together, wherever they ended up. It was enough for her, for now.
She knew she still had a mountain of trouble to wade through to get to the point where she could set up home with the man she loved, but the clouds were beginning to clear and the most frightening of all her fears had just been alleviated.
She was going to live with Edward. Forever.
A/N: Thank you for reading.
My gorgeous husband found the error!
Emmett, being Australian, doesn't own a cell phone. He owns a mobile phone.
Might be minor to you, but it's been bugging me for days and days. Lol
This pair are on their way now. Things will get very, very complicated and very, very heavy from here on in. Hope you enjoy it as much as I have.
Please review.