Twilight…not mine (sigh).

Chapter 191

EPOV

"Edward, you better take care of yourself," Esme sniffled, hugging me tightly.

"Mom, I'm twenty-seven years old," I quipped, tightening my hold on her. "I'll be fine. The rental that I got is in a safe neighborhood, plus, I'm still licensed to carry in all fifty states and Puerto Rico." She pinched me. "I promise we'll be okay."

"Call me on the road and don't push it," she chided, glaring at me. "I don't want you driving for hours on end."

Bella and I were driving to Boston so I could get settled in my new rental house near the campus of Harvard. It was going to take us at least a week to get there. It was the day after New Year's and I was antsy to get going since driving across the entire country in the winter was not high on my list of things to do. Granted, I was looking forward to doing it with Bella. However, it only left the weekend for me to get settled into my new rental home before I started classes and my internship. "Mom, I'll be fine. Bella and I are sharing driving responsibilities and we have the trip planned out."

"But, you could get caught in a snowstorm or something could happen to your car or get in an accident…" she trailed off.

"Es, relax. You're making me nervous," Carlisle quipped. "Edward's a good driver and the weather is supposed to be clear the entire time."

"Fine," she huffed. "Promise me you'll call."

"I promise, Mom," I said, kissing her cheek. Backing away, I leaned against my car. Bella was chatting quietly to Emmett, making sure he knew to feed Carino while we were on the road. "Little One, we've got go."

"Feed my cat, Emmett," Bella hissed, kissing him on the cheek. "She's getting too skinny." Emmett rolled his eyes, gently pushing her toward me. I enfolded her in my arms, inhaling my girl's. Strawberries and crème. Yum. We got into the car, stuffed to the gills with four huge suitcases, all filled with clothes for me. I also had a few boxes with my law books and pictures. With a wave, I pulled away from the curb in front of my parents' home and we started our journey across the country to Boston.

My new place was already furnished. It was a three bedroom house a few minutes away from campus and a twenty minute drive from my internship. I was excited about this chapter in my life, but anxious to fully begin my life with Bella. We had all but promised each other that we were it and that we were done looking for that elusive other person. Bella, though, wanted both of us to finish school and get to know each other before we fully committed. However, we survived a tremendous ordeal. Each day, we were getting stronger, mentally, physically and emotionally. Not to mention, Bella is almost back to her usual self in the bedroom.

Driving was going to be a challenge today because we were up most of the night making love. I'll be drinking a lot of coffee, that's for sure.

The trip across the country was fun. Despite the fact that it was the coldest winter in history, Bella and I visited some randomly quaint locations as we drove from Seattle to Cambridge. We treated it almost like a vacation. We were silly and having a great time. What could have been arduous with traveling for a week in a car, was immensely fun with Bella. I was grateful, though, when we pulled up to my rental in Cambridge. I was looking forward to not sleeping in crusty hotel rooms and in a brand new bed. The neighborhood was quiet for being near a college and the soft snowfall added to its ambience.

"It's pretty," Bella said as she held her face to the sky. The white fluffy snowflakes caught in her hair and her adorable little beanie hat with a purple puffball on the top.

"Not as pretty as you," I said, wrapping my arm around her waist.

"Charmer, you," she giggled. "Come on. I want to see inside your new bachelor pad and make the bed because I'm tired!" Tugging on my hand, we walked to the entrance of my rental and opened it with the key that was sent to my condo just prior to my departure. I opened the door and flipped on the lights. Feeling silly, I swept Bella into my arms and carried her over the threshold. "What are you doing?" she laughed.

"Practicing," I smirked crookedly.

"Dork," she snorted. I shrugged, placing her on her feet inside of the slightly chilled house. She scampered to the thermostat, turning it on and began exploring. "This is really kind of nice, Edward."

"It smells like a brewery," I grumbled. Prior to my lease, six guys lived in this house and completely trashed it. The owner was hesitant on renting it again, but assured him that it would just be me and occasionally my girlfriend, no extra parties or moronic roommates. I was twenty-seven, for heaven's sake, not some stupid college kid, having keggers and getting shitfaced on the weekends. I had a job to do. That was complete my law degree, work on my internship and take the Bar exam.

"We'll just get some candles tomorrow when we go shopping," Bella said, wrinkling her nose. "Come on, amore, let's get the stuff out of the car and make the bed. You've got two days before you start classes and before I head back to Seattle."

I scowled, remembering the fact that she was leaving on Monday evening, after I got home from my first day of classes and my internship. "Stop with the face, Edward. We've got tonight, all day tomorrow and a few hours before I leave on Monday," she purred, slinking past me and out to the car. I followed her, grabbing as much as I could and dragging it into the house. After three trips to my car, we had the suitcases, boxes and other random shit inside of the apartment. Bella and I made the bed. She had a wicked glint in her eyes. "Now, we're on borrowed time, Edward. Shall we christen your new digs?"

I was tired and slightly cranky, but the mere thought of being with my girl in my new bed caused my body react. "You have thirty seconds to be naked and ready for me on my bed, Miss del Cigno. I plan on loving you all night long."

A/N: We're getting close to the end, folks. Anyhow, pictures of Edward's rental home in Cambridge are on my blog and tumblr. Links for those are on my profile. You can also find me on Facebook: Tufano79's Twilight Fanfiction Appreciation or on twitter: tufano79. Leave me some!