See you all on Monday with the next update. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Chapter 13

The service goes by very quickly. All too soon Bella let's go of my hand. I continue to stand beside her, as she thanks the Reverend. I need to keep her close, so my hand is staying close to her lower back. Everything inside of me wants me to place my hand there, but I don't want to force more from her than what she can give me right now.

Once she's done chatting, she directs people that have come into the cars. I'm sure it's with the will of God that there's one too many people here for the amount of cars.

"I can take you in my car, Bella?" I say softly in her ear.

She looks between me and the already full car. She bobs her head as she closes the car door.

"Yes, if you have the time."

I just give her a simple nod, and we walk side by side to my car. I reach out to open her door, finding her hand already there. I swallow before letting out a soft sigh and removing my hand. She opens the door getting in and closes it. I walk around to my side getting in and start to drive. The whole way there, my mouth opens and closes, but no sounds come out. I try to think of something to say to her, but my mind comes up blank.

I pull up outside of Marcus and Debbie's restaurant, before I can get around to Bella's door, she's already out.

"Thank you for the lift," she says, before walking inside.

I follow close behind her, but give her enough room to not feel crowded.

"We have a small problem," a woman says softly to Bella. "The person that was supposed to man the bar, has had a family emergency and no one else here has the bar license."

"But it's free; there's no cost, so why does it matter?"

The woman shakes her head. "It doesn't matter, it's a licensed bar, you need a licensed person behind it."

Bella begins to rub her head and I step forward. "I'm licensed in the state of Washington, so I'll man the bar." I pull out my wallet and hand her my card and she nods at me.

"Don't you need to get back to work?" Bella asks.

I shake my head at her. "I'm here for you today. I'll work over the weekend to make up for taking today off."

"That's not what I meant."

I place my hand over Bella's mouth. "I know that. Now just let me be here to help you, please."

I watch her nod before she walks away. The afternoon goes by and I watch as Bella's serving the food. I watch her almost the entire time. It's clear to me that she's barely holding herself together.

When the last person leaves, Bella pays and dismisses the crew she hired to cook and clean. I help her clean up the small stuff after they exit in silence.

"May I drive you home?" I ask once we are done.

Bella just bobs her head, and I watch her lock up before guiding her to my car.

"Where do you live?" I ask when I start the car.

Bella tells me her address and I'm a little caught off guard by where she's living. She's living in one of the more middleclass neighborhoods, and not only that, but it's across from my own building. It takes us a short time to get there.

"Would you like to come in? I have a few things for Esme."

I nod at her, but hold back the excitement I'm feeling. I actually get to spend more time with her.

Bella shows me around her apartment. There are two bedrooms, a living room, kitchen, dining room and a very large bathroom.

"I like this place, it's very nice," I say softly, as my eyes go to all the pictures of Bella with her dad. "Were these all in your bedroom at your old place?" I ask as my eyes fall on a photograph of my grandfather and Bella smiling back at me.

"Yes, I sort of locked myself in my room there. So I put them there with me. I really had no reason to go anywhere else in the house."

I pull at my hair and turn to her, but before I can say anything, she is playing hostess.

"Do want a drink or something?"

I shake my head and she sits down on the sofa. I move to the sofa and sit down next to her.

"I just want to—"

I'm cut off by Bella kissing me. There's something a little off with this kiss. I go to pull back, but her tongue enters my mouth and I seem to lose the little control I had. I pull her to me, before pulling us both flat on the sofa. I remove my lips from hers and start to kiss her neck. It has been too damn long since I last did this. The more we kiss, the more I feel like I need her. I need to touch her everywhere. I make quick work of removing her top and bra.

"I need to be inside you," I say in a moan, which is followed by one of Bella's.

"I need to make this girl mine," My inner thoughts scream. I pull back looking at her and the sadness in her eyes is still clearly there. It's almost as if someone threw a bucket of cold water on me. I frown as I pull back from her.

"We can't do this," I say looking away from her. I can't believe I almost took advantage of her.

"I'm sorry," Bella says weakly. She gets up and runs out of the room and I go after her.

"Bella, stop," I say pulling at her arm, turning her to me. "I want more than anything to take you to bed and lose myself inside of you. But you're hurting and sad right now. By doing what I crave, I'd be taking advantage of you. I have already fucked up with you enough. Now, I'm trying to win your friendship back. If I were to follow through on what we started, I may just lose you completely."

Bella starts to sob and I pull her to me. "I just wanted ... I'm sorry," she cries out.

I sigh and kiss her head softly. I take hold of her hand leading her down the hallway.

"I'm taking you to your room," I say, and Bella looks at me in confusion. "I'm taking you to bed, so you can rest, Little Chef."

I walk into the bedroom with her and take her over to the bed. Bella looks at me full of worry. "To sleep, Bella, I'm taking you to bed to sleep."

I remove her shoes, and as my eyes run up her, I'm met with her still naked breasts. I take my shirt off and then remove my t-shirt. I pull my t-shirt over her head and help her get her arms in. I know that being in her room, I could've given her something of her own, but I want her in my shirt. I help her to remove her pants and then lie her down. I move to the other side of the bed, remove my own shoes and pants and move in behind her. I pull her to me. She rolls over facing me and I run my hand up and down her back as she sobs on my chest.

"I think you know nearly everything about me, so how about I tell you a story?"

She nods against my chest.

I clear my throat and kiss the top of her head. "Once upon a time, there was this young boy. He was very lucky, because he had a family that loved him. With the love from his family, he grew into a good young man that aspired to be something important. He had to study hard for years, knowing that he had to start at the bottom. He was working his way up in his job. The young man finally reached the coveted job, when his grandfather passed away. This brought a wicked, evil witch into his life."

Bella chuckles softly and smiles a little.

"She didn't like the young man, because he could see behind her great beauty and knew she was ugly and evil. He tried hard not to be fooled by her, so he toughened up his heart. It was a little time later that a beautiful princess came into his life. But because he was angry, and he had built a wall around his heart, he didn't see her for what she was. The young man was cruel and unkind to the princess. He was certainly not being the man he was brought up to be."

I stop for a second and kiss the top of her head again. I clear my throat and go on. "The princess took everything he threw at her, but was still kind to the young man and his family. Slowly, the young man's eyes began to open, and before it was too late, he saw the beauty that the princess held.

"Even after everything that he had done to her, she still was open to becoming his friend. And what an amazing friend she was to the young man. The princess and the boy shared a special magical moment together. The young man couldn't have been happier than he was that day.

"Sadly, it was not meant to be, as the wicked witch found out, and pulled the boy aside. She told him that she would hurt the princess if he and his family didn't stay out of her life. It was then the young man realized just how much he loved the princess."

Bella gasps and I stroke her face with my thumb.

"He was but a simple young man and he had nothing to offer the princess. He knew he couldn't protect her against the wicked, evil witch, and the thought of her hurting or being hurt because of him, crushed his heart. The young man pushed the princess away, saying some evil things to her that he never meant.

"The princess ran from the young man and he felt lost and alone. The wicked, evil witch had a plan for the young man. The young man did what he was told, taking his punishment fully knowing that's what he deserved for hurting his princess.

"The weeks seemed to blend together with only sadness for the young man. The young man's only reprieve from sadness was in his dreams. The young man still dreams of the princess. In his dreams she was always his, always laughing and happy. The wicked, evil witch made the young man hurt the princess again, only this time he didn't know he was doing it, until it was too late.

"The heartbreaking look on the princess's face made the young man take a stand. That same day he manned up, and took on the wicked, evil witch. It was then that he found out that the wicked, evil witch had been lying to him and everyone, about who she really was. Yet again, the princess had to pay for that mistake.

"When the boy saw the princess again, he was shocked and saddened. He knew it was his fault that she looked sick. He knew then just how deeply he hurt her. The young man now prayed every day. He hoped and wished that the princess would be okay. He even hoped that someday she would find a love that was deserving of her.

"The young man also prayed that one day the princess would allow him back into her life in some way. The young man would take any small role or amount of time she bestowed upon him. He knew that he will always love the princess – for she was embedded within his heart. No matter what, he will always keep her in his heart, because she's the true love of his life.

"The young man may never have her as his lover, but he will always hope that someday he will get to see her happy and in love. Even if it's not with him, because he knows she truly deserves to have a happily ever after." I stop talking and wipe the few tears that have falling from my eyes.

"The young man looked sick, too," Bella says after a few moments.

"Sorry – what?"

"You said the princess looked sick, but so did the young man. Even now, he looks tired and I know he's lost weight. The princess, of course, worries that this is her fault." Bella sighs and pulling back to look me in the face. "Are you looking after yourself? You've lost – what, fourteen to twenty pounds, right?"

I chuckle a little. "Don't worry about me, Little Chef. How about we sleep and then talk later?"

Bella just looks in my eyes and then bobs her head, before leaning back down on my chest. "I've missed you so much," she whispers.

I close my eyes as the pain in her voice hits me. "I've missed you, too. The whole family has missed you."

I stroke her back again and just talk, hoping to send her to sleep as I myself doze off.

I wake and look down to see Bella still sound asleep. I gently move her hair from her face. I sigh seeing that she looks so tired and full of hurt. I kiss her head, before moving away from her. I get washed up and put back on my pants. I put my button down shirt on, too, but leave it open as I walk into the kitchen.

I decide to make dinner for us, so I search out food to cook. After things are started, I grab my cellphone. I see Caius has texted, asking if Bella's okay. He also mentioned for me to tell her he's pissed that she never told him, but was glad I was there for her. I send him a text back saying that I'm still with her, and I'll talk to him tomorrow.

I'm just finished cooking dinner, when Bella walks in with her head down and tears in her eyes.

"Bella," I say and her head snaps up to look at me.

"I thought you left," she says with a sob, and I move to her.

"No, Little Chef, I was just making dinner for us. I would never leave without saying goodbye."

I pull her to me holding her close. "Come on, let's eat and talk?"

Bella nods against my chest, and I lead her to the table, before going back and plating up our dinner. I sit down by her and start to play with my food, like I've been doing at most meals. I glance at Bella and see she's doing the same thing.

"Bella, you need to eat," I say softly.

"So do you," she replies right away and I grin a little.

"How about for every bite you eat, I'll eat, too?" Bella takes a deep breath and takes a large bite, and I follow with one of my own.

Bella and I only manage to eat half of what's on our plates. I don't push anymore from her, knowing her stomach will need more time to get used to her eating again.

"I'm sorry," Bella says out the blue and I frown.

"What for?"

"Making you work for me. For what Tanya did to your family, and to you. For my dad, not being responsible and coming out, telling people that he was sick. If I did, then all of those people would've been able to protect the companies."

I shake my head. "It wasn't his fault, and not yours, either. The board should've been on it and known there was an issue."

Bella shakes her head looking at me sadly. "I'm sorry for the way I treated you, and made you and your family feel below me. I never meant to do that; it was never my intent."

I sigh pulling at my hair. "I didn't mean a word I said that day. The Viper ..." I stop and sigh. "Tanya, she had photos of you sleeping naked. Michael Newton took those photos of you. There was one with his dick in your face. She was going to put them on the Internet. I knew those pictures would hurt you. She also said she'd take away your dad's company.

"I wish now more than ever, that I'd listened to you that first day, when you talked about your company. But, I think I would've been an asshole to you, pushed you away and hated you. I'm not proud of what I did or how I treated you. At the time, I thought it was for the best. I never imagined that I was important to you."

Bella goes to speak, but I shake my head carrying on.

"Because I am nothing, and I have nothing to offer you. You are so above my class, in every way that matters. You never treated me like I was your slave or as if I was below you." I stop talking as I pull at my hair.

"You said the young man was in love with the princess, is he still?"

I chuckle in irony and nod at her. "I'm still in love with you—so very in love with you. For me the old saying is true – absence makes the heart grow fonder."

"Edward, I'm not sure ..."

I shake my head at her, not needing her to say out loud that she doesn't feel the same for me.

"No, Edward, I do love you, and was in love with you, but ..."

I swallow and look at her, seeing she's frowning and almost looks as if she's in pain.

"I hurt you so much," she finally says.

"What? No you didn't. I—" I'm cut off by Bella tilting her head a little.

"I have hurt you, and you hurt me. When you sent me away, I felt my heart being ripped open. When I saw you with Tanya, my heart was pleading with me not to believe what I saw or heard. But I just couldn't see any other reason.

"That wasn't until I was arrested, that it all came together then. I realized that the reason you didn't ask for my company's help, was because you never knew how big and powerful it was. I knew that you would never use anyone, so that led me to believe that I had hurt you in some way. I believed that I made you feel everything you said that I did. I was so ashamed of myself and thought I deserved everything that was being thrown at me. I was even willing to stay in jail. It was Jasper that came and got me out. Jasper was not happy that I wasn't fighting to clear my name.

"It was you. You sent Sue to find me, and she helped me. Debbie and Marcus, they tried to tell me that something was not right, there was something you didn't tell me. Jasper told me about how you reacted to seeing me on the news. He made me see that just maybe you weren't being fully truthful with me. So I called Aro, who told me about Caius. With his help, I was able to prove everything in court.

"But you scared me. I was and still am scared. I never felt what I felt for you before, and what I feel now. When you were gone, I felt empty, like something inside of me was missing. Even the loss of Debbie and Marcus in the car crash and the loss of my father doesn't compare." Bella puts her hand on her chest. "I never want to feel that pain again, so I can't just ..."

I shake my head at her, covering her mouth. "Please, don't say that. Let's just start off as friends, and see where it leads. Please don't write me off." I look at her pleading and hoping she will give me—us—this chance.

A/N: So what did you think of their talk? Do you think she will give him, them, this chance? What are your thoughts of the story he told her? See you all on Monday. The end is coming near, only seven chapters to go.