An: Thank you so much for all your wonderful thoughts and reviews. I'm posting this morning from beautiful Atlanta, Georgia.

Huge shout out to my wonderful and amazing prereaders and beta. Without them, this would not be possible.

**Fiddling was had. All mistakes are mine.

Chapter 30

"Is there a universe where our paths never crossed?
Where I caught your eye but then someone arrived and we both forgot
I traveled all corners where destiny called me
And it almost killed me but I got good stories
While you were out somewhere in your own nightmare
But now we're both here

And we talk of how lucky we got
As we watched old lovers we dodged
While the world's falling apart
You make you so easy to love

To love, to love, to love (oh-oh-oh)
To love, to love, to love (oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh)
Oh, how lucky we are

Is there a space somewhere in your world that was always for me?
And was it your face at the back of my mind haunting my dreams?
Kept waking up lonely with voices around me
They tell me you're out there waiting to hold me
What did they tell you? I read you were lonely, too

Now we talk of how lucky we got
And we could've flown on like stars
But you told me right from the start
I'm easy to love

To love, to love, to love (ah-ah-ah)
To love, to love, to love (ah-ah-ah)

Now I found myself this kind of love, I can't believe it
I'll never leave it behind
I thought I'd never get to feel another fucking feeling
But I feel
This love, this love, this love
Oh, I feel it
This love, this love, this love

Oh, how lucky we are
Oh, how lucky we are
Oh, how lucky we are"

"To Love" By Suki Waterhouse

~oOo~

Edward's conversation with his brother was a hard one. The conversation with his parents…unbearable, but it had to be done. Sitting around the kitchen table, Edward told his parents what he'd learned about himself and the process he went through with Jason. Esme was upset yet understanding. But it was Carlisle who took it the hardest.

"So, this treatment you went to, it really helped you dig up everything? Find out the whys?"

"Yes, sir. It was quite intense. We figured out a lot of things I didn't even realize I was harboring. The bottom line is that I was putting all those expectations on myself. And I needed to acknowledge that, so I could overcome it."

With his elbows on his knees, Carlisle scrubbed a hand over his face. "I'm sorry, son, if I put any undue pressure on you. It was never my intention to saddle you with the burden of the Cullen name. You always seemed so happy to play…be a part of the game."

"Dad, this is not on you."

"How can I not feel like I have some part of the blame here? I'm your father. It's my job to help fix things, not make them worse." Carlisle choked on his words. "I raised you, played with you, and coached you."

A lump formed in Edward's throat, one so large he struggled to get out the words he needed to say to comfort his dad. "Because I wanted to. You did not make me play. I wanted to play. Hell, Dad, I wanted to play so much, I would stay up late at night doing push-ups in my room to build up my skinny arms."

"Edward…" Carlisle rasped his son's name as his red-rimmed eyes welled with tears.

"I promise. You did nothing wrong. I'm so proud of being a part of this family, this 'baseball dynasty,' as everyone calls it. To wear the Cullen name when I'm out there on the field…Damn, I can't tell you how much it means to me. It's never felt like a burden. Not once. The problem was that I let it consume me."

Carlisle wiped his wet eyes with the back of his hand.

"Neddy, why didn't you say anything? I would've done more if I'd only known." Esme sniffled into a tissue.

"You did everything right, Momma. You always tried to help me with my anxiety when I was younger. Special breakfasts before big tests, vitamins, nutrition. You didn't let me down. You know I didn't realize how badly I needed extra help until it all crashed down on me in college. And I really thought I'd dealt with Emma and the baby and all that shit. It felt like I had in my mind, but the fear of not being good enough still lingered."

"Oh, precious. You've always been good enough to us, to your grandparents. You know that, right? Because it never mattered to us what you did."

Edward grasped her hand and squeezed it. "I do. You and Dad have never let me feel anything but love and support. I promise."

Esme let out a soft sob.

His mother's tears broke his heart. He really had the best parents, and for them to harbor any blame was more than he could bear. He wanted nothing more than to rectify the guilt he knew they were carrying.

"After my rookie season, my anxiety took over my performance," Edward continued. "I've been afraid to fail for so long, but then it was amplified, and it consumed me. It became the driving factor in everything I did. The injuries have always been a setback mentally, but this last one really did a number on me. It took a while for me to grasp that with Jason, but I totally see it now. It's just how I'm made up. Now I have the tools to get out of my head and accept that each day I go out there, I'm giving one hundred percent of myself, and some days, it may not be enough. I have to be able to draw a line in the sand so I can live each day. And yeah, I'll still take a loss hard—I'm competitive as hell—but I'll also be doing my damnedest to accept that a win or a loss isn't based solely on my performance."

Carlisle sat back in his chair and exhaled. "Sounds like you and Jason covered and conquered a lot."

"I wouldn't say conquered, but I'm definitely moving in the right direction. I have my work cut out for me, don't get me wrong, but with everything he gave me to work on, and seeing him regularly, I'm stubborn enough to come out of this a winner."

Carlisle moved away from the table and stood, the chair legs scraping loudly along the floor. "I'm so proud of you, son." He opened his arms wide, inviting Edward into a hug.

Edward stood and fell into his father's arms. "I love you, Dad."

"I love you too, Neddy. Always."

Carlisle patted him on the back. "You're the strongest person I know, Edward. There's nothing you can't do. Your mom and I will support you any way we can."

Edward's eyes stung with unshed tears. "Thanks, Dad." He hugged his father tighter. "That means more than you'll ever know. I'm so proud to be your son."

Esme wiped at her tears, watching two of the three men she loved most in the world have their moment.

"Momma…" Edward reached for Esme and pulled her into their hug. Carlisle eventually released Edward, letting his wife have a moment with her son.

"I love you, Neddy. We've never doubted you, nor will I ever doubt what an incredible man you have become. I'm so proud of you for dealing with this head-on. You make your father and me so proud to call you ours."

Edward squeezed his mother hard as silent tears ran down his cheeks. He felt as if he was six years old and his mother was comforting him after fixing a scrape on his knee. Nothing was more comforting than a hug from his momma.

Esme pulled back and cupped her son's cheek, staring at his handsome face before she spoke. "May we see more of you and Bella the rest of this season? I know it's going to be crazy while y'all make a run for the division and her schedule, but I just feel like you being with your family more may be helpful?"

He smiled. "Consider it done."

"And if I may ask, how's Bella handling all of this?" Esme inquired.

Edward drew a hand through his hair. "Bella's amazing. She's been such a trooper. She'd been noticing the signs for a while and was pushing me to call a doctor. I feel awful she had to bear the brunt of the panic attack. I'll never forgive myself for how badly I've behaved or how it all went down."

"But she forgave your behavior, right?"

"She did."

"Then you need to forgive yourself, Edward," Esme insisted.

He laughed quietly. "I'm working on that."

"I'm so grateful you've found a partner in Bella. She's perfect for you."

A grin stretched wide across Edward's face. "I couldn't agree more."

~oOo~

Edward went back to work with a completely new lease on life. He felt stronger mentally, as well as physically. Dr. Jay, his mental coach, commented numerous times on how well Edward sounded and how strong his mental acuity was. He and Bella were solid as well. They went back to their respective playing fields, and their confidence in each other shined in their performances.

Edward's batting was pure poetry, and his defense continued to be strong. The commentary on his game was lighting up the airwaves, and the sports commentators were jonesing to interview him.

On September 30, 2021, the Braves clinched the National League East division title with an 88-78 record. It definitely wasn't their best showing, but the team and the front office were ecstatic. Goggles were worn, and champagne and beer were sprayed throughout the plastic-lined clubhouse. As excited as they all were to be in postseason, the Braves still had work to do. They were making a run for the pennant to seize the National League Championship Series title, so they were not going to rest on their laurels. They would accept nothing less than success in their quest to be World Series Champions.

Based on their record, the Braves were the third seed for the league championship. They were happy to keep their momentum going and continue to play.

The team had a rare day off in between games, so Edward and Riley made plans for an early morning walk around Kennesaw Mountain before Edward went in for practice. As kids, they used to hike the mountain, racing to see who could make it to the top first, but today, Edward couldn't take any risks. A leisurely walk to keep his muscles warm was all he was allowed to do, and that suited Riley just fine.

"Thanks for coming with me, man." Edward clasped his brother on the shoulder. "I needed to get some energy out today."

"Glad to do it. Anytime I can work these legs out is a bonus for me." He looked at Edward with determination.

Edward knew Riley's legs had improved a lot over the last six months, but his brother was impatient. He had never been good at the waiting game; he was an immediate-gratification kind of guy. The injury had been a life lesson in not only humility, but also in patience. The doctor had told Riley that with the progress he'd made, he would make a full recovery. But the doctor refused to give him a timeline or exactly what his recovery would look like. Edward knew that was tough for him to accept.

"Wanna drive up to the top?" Edward asked, not quite ready to go home yet. "It's been a while since I've been up there."

"Let's do it."

They drove to the top and parked Edward's truck. It was not crowded, so they walked around and looked at all the Civil War embattlements and visited the museum. Edward kept a low profile, wearing his FSU hat down on his brow. They bought a couple of waters at the gift shop and walked back out, looking over the city below.

"Remember when we were little? We felt like we were on top of the world, looking down on our kingdom. Now it doesn't feel so mighty, does it?" Riley reminisced.

"Yeah, not quite the same, is it?" Edward replied, looking over the edge of the mountain. "It's not Grandfather Mountain high by any stretch of the imagination."

Riley huffed a laugh. "Definitely not."

Anxious to take a load off, they walked down a path until they came to an area of large rocks and sat on a large boulder. The break was good for Riley, as Edward didn't want to push him too hard.

"We need to do this more often." Riley broke the quiet.

"We should. Nothing like a good morning walk to get the blood pumping." Edward patted his brother's knee. "Whenever you're ready to finally hike this mountain again, let me know and I'll do it with you. Then, when you're ready, we can hike Stone Mountain."

Riley nodded. "Sounds like a plan. I've been real anxious to get back out here, so today's been a positive step in the right direction. Maggie's worried I'm pushing myself too hard, but I'm not going to fuck up all the progress I've made."

"Good. You don't want any setbacks. And Maggie's only worried because she loves you. Don't give her too much grief. You scared the shit out of everybody, and you know it."

"I know, I know," Riley lamented. "I hate it more than you know. But I'm so close to being able to do all the things I've missed out on for so fucking long. You'll never know…" Riley glanced over at some people sitting on a cannon. "And God do I hope you never do, brother. But you'll never know how much it broke me not to be able to pick up Liam. I never want to be that helpless or broken again."

Edward's heart broke at Riley's confession. His brother was making amazing physical strides. Today was only the beginning; he could feel it.

"I'm sorry. I know it's sucked for you. And you're right, I'll never know what that feels like. But what I do know is that nothing can keep you down for long. I'm proud of you, man. You'll get there, trust me."

"Thanks, Neddy. I'm working on it." Riley cleared his throat, his voice thick with emotion. "So, enough about me. How are you feeling? You've been on fire lately."

"I feel…dare I say, good?" Edward took off his hat and combed a hand through his hair before putting it back on backwards. "I hate even saying that. I don't want to jinx myself. But I'm in a good headspace. Am I nervous about this pennant race? Hell the fuck yeah."

"It's to be expected. I remember my first run at it. I threw up before every game. Maggie was convinced I was bulimic." He laughed.

"You? Mr. Health Freak? No way."

"I know. I was just so nervous. Afraid to fuck up on such a major stage."

Edward's breath left him in a rush. "Exactly. I'm just trying to focus on having fun and playing the game. If I freak the fuck out, it will affect the rest of the team, so I'm trying to focus on one game at a time."

"That's the best you can do."

"Yeah, I know." Edward paused for a moment. "If you would've asked me how I was doing right now, and I hadn't met Jason…shit, I'd be a mess. That dude fucking saved my ass."

Riley draped an arm around his brother and pulled him close. "I'll always be grateful for what he did for you. Seriously. But one thing I know about you is that you'd have found a way around this no matter what. Things have always managed to work out for you."

Edward started to pull back to object, but his brother held him close.

"Hold on, little brother. Let me finish," Riley retorted.

Confusion etched between Edward's brows. "Okay…"

Riley released his hold on Edward and turned to face him. "You've succeeded even when there's been adversity. And you've always risen to the occasion and stayed true to who you are. You've never let anything beat you down. And trust me when I say this: since you met with Jason, there's a confident air about you that I haven't seen in a long time. It looks good on you. Gone are those worry lines that wrinkled your forehead. I loved those lines," Riley murmured as he shook his head. "They made you less pretty. Now I have to deal with your pretty all over again."

Edward snorted. "You're obsessed with my so-called pretty. I can't help I got all the good looks in the family."

"Shut the fuck up," Riley teased. "What I'm trying to say is that I am so fucking proud of you. You look happier than I've ever seen you, and that's saying something since you've always been a happy motherfucker."

"It's been a ride, let me tell you." Edward poured some water over his head to cool himself.

"It's been a great ride, Neddy. Sure, some things have sucked along the way…but look at you now." Riley gestured, sweeping his arm around. "You're at the top of the world. A beautiful girl by your side, a division champ, and the opportunity to be a World Series champion. People would kill for just one of those. Dude, you have them all."

Edward contemplated what Riley said as he stared out into the woods he knew so well. "I know I'm blessed. And I'm incredibly grateful. But I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you, Mom, Dad, and Bella. Y'all have supported me my whole life, and Bella…shit, she supports me just by breathing."

Riley clapped Edward on the shoulder. "Of course, man. We're Cullens. And because we're Cullens, we take care of our own."

Riley pulled a chain out from underneath his shirt. The pendant hanging from it, the Cullen cross, glinted in the narrow beam of sunlight shining through the trees. It had been their great-great-grandfather's, passed down to the oldest son of each generation.

"The Cullen cross," Edward murmured.

Riley took the cross off his neck and placed it in the palm of Edward's hand. "It's yours now."

"No, no, no, no…I can't have this. It's your birthright." Edward attempted to give it back to his brother, but Riley only shook his head.

"I can and I will. I talked to Dad, and he agreed with me."

"But—"

"No one deserves this more than you, Neddy. It's brought me so much love and luck. And yeah, one could question that with my accident and all, but it's always guided and protected me. Look at me now: I'm walking when they said that may never happen. I'm a dad, and I'm married to the love of my life. Now, it's your turn. You're on center stage, and I want you to have the cross. Wearing it, you'll always feel us with you, no matter what."

"I don't know what to say," Edward rasped, squeezing his hand over the pendant.

Riley put his hand over Edward's. "Say you'll wear it."

Edward could feel a lump forming in his throat as he croaked out his response. "I'll wear it." Edward hugged his brother hard and whispered in his ear, "I love you, man."

"I love you too," Riley whispered back.

"I'll wear this proudly, but I want you to know, when it's time, it's going back to you to give to Liam. I'm considering this a loan."

"Okay. Whatever you want, but for now, it's yours."

They patted each other on the back and broke apart. They each needed a minute, so they took a large drink of their waters and composed themselves.

"And speaking of Bella…"

Edward arched a brow at his brother. "Yes?"

"Since she makes you all dreamy from merely breathin', when are y'all gonna get married?"

Edward rolled his eyes at the dreamy comment but smiled. "We've barely started living together. Let us settle in before you start asking those questions. I'm content to have us in the same house right now."

"All right, all right. I'll back off…for now. But you know inquiring minds want to know."

"Yeah, yeah."

~oOo~

Bella was in Houston, Texas. The Storm was working hard for the same goal as the Braves: to capture their own brass ring. Edward hated to miss Bella's game, though Bella completely understood. All eyes had to remain on the prize. He settled for watching the game with Riley and the family later that day. The Storm beat the Dash 3-2, with Bella scoring two of the goals.

The moment the game was over, Edward called Bella's phone and left her a voicemail. He wanted her to know how proud he was of her.

"Damn, baby. You were poppin'. Two fucking goals!" Edward's excited voice rang through the phone. "I'm so proud of you, shug. Now hurry home to me. I love you."

An hour later, Bella returned his call. She couldn't wait to talk to him, so she called him from the Uber taking her to the airport. She loved the way he got excited about her games and the way she played. She had converted him into a soccer fan.

"Hey, darlin'. Thanks for the call."

"Shug. You were amazing. The whole family ended up getting together to watch. You've made everyone soccer fans in the Cullen household."

"Aww. I love that. It was quite the game. They're so, so good."

"Well, I couldn't tell today. Y'all were lighting up the field."

"They play hard, and sometimes..." Bella sighed. "Sometimes they play a little dirty. Did you see what they did to Leah today?"

"Yeah. What the fuck? Is she okay?"

"She will be. Nothing's broken or torn, just a slight sprain. She's pissed as hell, though. At least she was able to walk off the field with her dignity."

"I'm glad they didn't mess with you, shug." Edward felt protective. He didn't want to see Bella sidelined again like she was at the beginning of the year.

"Oh, they tried, trust me. My girls kept me pretty well protected today."

"Thank God for that. You at the airport?"

"Not yet. We're about fifteen minutes away. I'm ready to be home. I'm tired."

"How about I draw you a nice hot bath and you can have a long soak?"

"That sounds like heaven. Thank you."

"I have a car all set to pick you up."

"You're the best."

"Nothing but the best for you, shug."

"See you in a few hours. Love you."

"I can't wait. Love you too."

Edward got busy for the next few hours putting his plan into motion. He picked up her favorite sushi, a bouquet of flowers, and had her favorite Chardonnay chilling in the fridge. At the last moment, Edward decided to make a sign with her name on it to look official. Without another moment to spare, Edward grabbed the flowers out of the fridge, threw on a black baseball hat, and headed to the airport.

Bella came out of the terminal and walked toward baggage claim. She was exhausted and very grateful Edward had thought ahead and ordered her a car to drive her the hour to the house. As she came off the escalator and turned left, she saw a row of drivers with people's names on their boards. She walked slowly, looking for her name. When she didn't see it, she started to get worried, but then, at the end of the long line, stood Edward. He had a board with her name on it and a gorgeous bouquet of pink roses in his arms. His black hat was worn low on his head to avoid recognition, but the mega-watt grin was one hundred percent him.

Bella squealed when she saw him and leaped into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist and kissing him silly. Her carry-on and bag were completely forgotten.

Edward balanced the flowers and the sign in his hand, trying not to drop them as he supported her body against his.

"Darlin'," Bella whispered against his lips.

A big smile tugged at Edward's mouth. "Good surprise?"

"Fantastic surprise."

"Get it, Swan!"

Edward and Bella heard one of her teammates cat-call as they walked past them. Bella buried her head in the crook of Edward's neck, giggling.

He smiled and nodded at the girls as they continued to make their way toward baggage claim, but all he cared about was the woman in his arms.

"Here." Edward brought the flowers from behind her back and handed her the bouquet. "I almost forgot."

"They're beautiful. Thank you, baby." She kissed him some more, not realizing they were making a scene. Edward fell into her enthusiastic kisses until he heard the unmistakable sound of a camera clicking. He pulled away and gave her a final kiss before putting her down.

"Well,"—Edward chuckled—"so much for anonymity." He looked around and saw two cameramen pointing their lenses.

"Oh my God," Bella groaned as she glanced around too. "I didn't even think…shit. I'm sorry."

"Sorry for being excited to see me? Naw. It's all good. You have everything? Or do we need to go to baggage claim?"

"I have everything."

"Okay, let's book it. I have someone watching the car for me."

Edward grabbed her carry-on and threw her bag over his shoulder. He took her hand and led her out of the airport, though they couldn't get out of there fast enough.

"Edward, are the Braves going to win the pennant?"

Edward stopped at the question, knowing it would behoove him to appease the press. They were swarming the airport with everyone coming in for the series.

"That's the goal," he replied with a smile on his face.

"Edward, how does it feel to play in postseason?"

"Outstanding. I'm excited to have the opportunity. We're ready to bring this baby back to Atlanta."

"Hey, Cullen. When are you and Bella getting married?"

"No personal questions, guys. Keep it on the series." Edward gripped Bella's hand tighter with that question.

"Cullen, can the Braves make it to the World Series?"

"I have no doubt we're the best team in the NCLS. Hopefully, we'll be able to prove that on the field tomorrow."

The questions were endless. Edward was excited about the interest the pennant race brought to Atlanta, but he was ready to get his girl home.

Finally, Edward had enough. He sent a pacifying smile to the two reporters and gave them a final parting comment. "Hey guys, it's cool y'all are excited about the series. We are too. But for right now, I just want to get my girl home, okay? I'll answer questions at the next press conference. Thanks so much."

They started walking, but the reporters didn't relent.

"Bella, what are your thoughts about Jacob Black's DUI and his arrest for domestic violence today?"

Bella and Edward both stumbled on that question as a slight gasp left Bella's mouth, but they kept walking. Neither of them was willing to give the guys any answers or reactions.

When they reached the car, Edward threw Bella's gear in the backseat and gave the guy a couple hundred for taking care of his truck. They jumped in and Edward pulled away quickly from the curb.

"Holy shit. Did he say what I think he said?"

"He sure as fuck did. Damnit." Edward hit the heels of his hands on the steering wheel as he sped out of the airport. "I never should have spoken with them. They were just waiting to ask you that question. I thought I could just answer a few questions and be on our way. I should have known better."

"You did great. I thought you handled it well, and you sounded very professional. But, are you okay?" Bella asked, worried that could trigger something in Edward.

"I'm fine. Are you okay? That's the more important question."

"I'm okay."

Edward reached over and linked their fingers together, giving her a squeeze. "That's the first time I've ever been bombarded like that." He blew out a breath. "They've never come at me like that before. But, for them to ask you…"

"Edward, I'm used to people asking me questions, especially about Jacob. It just knocked the wind out of me for a second. It's been so long since his name has come up. I can't wrap my head around what that pap asked. I need to see what the news says."

Bella pulled out her phone and saw the numerous alerts on her screen. Sure enough, there was one about Jake's arrest today. She hadn't turned her phone back on once she left the plane.

Jacob Black was arrested after police responded to a domestic disturbance at his Atlanta-area home on October 10. Reports say the forward for the Atlanta United assaulted his girlfriend. Charges initially include felony aggravated assault by strangulation.

Black is on suspension from the Atlanta United, pending an investigation. His arrest violates the Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse Policy of the MLS.

"Wow, that poor girl." Bella read the alert aloud to Edward as he drove up the highway.

They both sat in silence, neither one knowing exactly what to say.

"That could've been me," Bella whispered into the darkness.

Edward raised their linked hands, kissing the back of hers. "But it wasn't, thank God."

"You know what? I don't even feel the slightest bit sorry for him. I refuse to feel one iota like this is on me. He's made his fucking bed. He needs to lie in it."

"Damn straight. Like I said before, baby, you can't be responsible for his bad choices. We're all responsible for how we choose to handle things and live our lives. No one makes us do anything."

Edward was thoroughly disgusted. Jacob was never worthy of Bella. The asshole was a fucking train wreck. Edward was so grateful that he was at Bella's house the day Jacob unexpectedly showed up. His visit could have taken a very serious turn. Edward shuddered at the thought.

"You're right." Bella leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "And I am not going to let this ruin our night together. I've missed you, and all I want to do is focus on us."

"I like the sound of that."

"Therapy has served us well, hasn't it?" Bella gazed at Edward's handsome profile as he was driving.

"It's only made us stronger, shug. And there's no one I'd rather be in this boat with than you."

"Agreed. I just hope…" Bella shook her head. "Nope. Never mind."

"No, what were you going to say?" Edward wondered.

"I just hope he's held accountable. Finally."

"Well, it's on record now. I think he has no choice but to be held accountable."

"Good. It's about time."

They arrived at the house thirty minutes later. Bella was hungry, so she couldn't wait to dig into the sushi. But mostly, she was excited about taking a nice long bath with Edward.

"Shug, this is just for you," Edward said as he finished filling the tub. "I have the speaker set up, and the iPad is fully charged. Whatever you want."

"Well, what I really want is you." Bella kissed him fully on the lips.

"Baby, I want you too." Edward stifled a groan. "But I need to get to bed. I have a big game tomorrow."

"I know. I just want you to soak with me. Let me help you relax." Bella toyed with the button on his shirt. "Come on. Can you stay up just a little longer? I promise, no hanky-panky. I know how important these next two games are. I just want to be with you instead of soaking in here alone.

"Will you promise to be good?"

"Oh, I'm always good."

"Bella…"

"I'm just teasing. I swear. I'll keep my hands to myself, unless you ask."

Edward relented. He peeled off his clothes and climbed into the tub, holding his hand out for Bella to join him. They both sank into the hot, Epsom-salt-filled water, sitting on each end of the tub, and allowed their muscles to luxuriate in the heat and the salt and the quiet.

"So, this is new." Bella stretched her foot out and toed the chain around Edward's neck. "What is it?"

Edward captured her foot and began to massage it. "The Cullen cross."

"It's beautiful. Where did you get it?"

"Riley gave it to me. It was my great-great-grandfather's. Historically, it's handed down to the oldest Cullen male. Dad gave it to Riley early on when he was drafted. Riley gave it to me this morning on our hike."

"That's so special. Kind of like a good luck charm."

"Yeah, he told me how proud of me he was and that he wanted me to have it, so I'd always feel the family around me."

Bella's eyes welled up with tears. "You are so loved, Edward."

"I'm a lucky man." He squeezed Bella's foot. "I feel blessed every day."

Edward released Bella's foot and motioned for her to turn around and lay between his legs. They both closed their eyes and rested while the hot water relaxed them.

"I could get used to this." Bella sighed. "I love lying here in the silence with you."

"Me too. I don't know why we haven't done this more."

"Because, usually, when we take a bath, it's for sexy time." She laughed as she wiggled her ass into him, feeling him already hard against her back.

Edward placed his hands on her waist and stilled her movements. "Behave, little girl."

"Oops. Sorry."

"Sure you are." Edward tickled her waist.

Bella giggled and squirmed under his touch. "I promise, darlin'. No hanky-panky. I remember."

"I love you." Edward ran his hands over Bella's arms and up to her neck, massaging her achy shoulders.

"I love you too. Oh my God. That feels so good." Bella moaned. "I'm so sore after the game."

"I believe it. You were killing it today."

Edward continued to massage her shoulders and neck, occasionally skimming his hands over her breasts. He simply couldn't refuse the temptation, but he kept it PG.

After they soaked in the tub for a good half hour, they wrapped themselves up in towels and moved to the bed.

Neither one bothered to put on their pajamas as they slid under the covers. Edward opened his arms in invitation for Bella to snuggle in, and like an old married couple, she nestled into her favorite nook and they both fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

~oOo~

When Bella woke the next morning, Edward was gone. She stretched her tired, sore limbs and got out of bed. Once she left the bathroom, she walked into the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee. As she made her cup, she noticed there were signs all around that Edward was still home. The coffee maker was still on, as well as the TV, though the volume was low. She looked out the big back window in the living room to see if Edward was in his new favorite spot.

There he was, sitting on his yoga mat, his back strong and tall with his legs crossed, barefoot. Edward had his AirPods in and his palms facing up as they rested on his knees. Millie sat right beside him, soaking up the morning sun. He was a beautiful sight to behold. Seeing him so peaceful made Bella's heart full. She was amazed at how far he'd come in so little time. Edward embraced what he and Jason had been working on and stayed dedicated to their treatment plan. He'd had Jason on speed dial since postseason started.

Edward's mental health was his number-one priority. He never wanted to feel out of control again. The lightness he carried after his weekend with Jason never waned. If one thought Edward Cullen was charismatic before, the new and improved Edward Cullen was a whole new animal. The clubhouse was uplifting and supportive. The guys looked to Edward as one of their leaders, and with that, he no longer felt like a phony. Being one of the faces of a franchise came with its own set of complications, but Edward maintained a good balance between his baseball life and his personal life.

Every day had its challenges, some bigger than others, but the one thing that never wavered was his relationship with Bella. They came out of all their adversities stronger, and that only made their relationship more solid.

Sipping her coffee, she admired his ass as he stretched in her favorite position: downward dog. He really is delicious, she thought as she moved away from the window, giving him his last few minutes of peace in private. Once he made it to the stadium today, he'd be in full baseball mode. The Braves were leading the series against the Dodgers 3-2, and if they won tonight, they'd be going to the World Series.

She was gathering some items out of the fridge to make his favorite frittata when she felt his arms around her waist.

"Good mornin', baby," he crooned in her ear as he pressed his rather large presence into her backside.

"I'd say good morning to you too, but I can already feel that it's a good morning for you."

"Oh, it is." Edward thrusted his pelvis into her and groaned in her ear. "I wish I had more time to properly show you just how good this morning could be."

Bella laid her head back onto his chest, reveling in the feel of his body against hers as he slid his hands up her sides and cupped her breasts.

"Edward," she moaned, "you need to stop. Please don't start something you can't finish."

"Oh, I'm going to finish this…" He backed away and swatted her ass. "Tonight. After we win the pennant."

"I'm gonna hold you to that." Bella closed the fridge door and put the items on the counter.

"Good, 'cause I plan on making love to you all night long." He pulled her to him, bent her back, and kissed her soundly on the lips.

"All right, lover boy." Bella patted him on the chest. "Go take your frisky self to the shower while I whip us up some breakfast. I know you want to head to the stadium in a while."

"Love you, shug." Edward walked out of the kitchen and headed to the shower.

"Love you too, darlin'."

Bella made the frittata and put it in the oven. As she was working on the fruit salad, her cell rang.

"Hey, Mom. Y'all on the way?"

"Hey, lovey. We are. We left super early. I'd say we have about an hour and a half left to go."

"Dang. Y'all made amazing time."

"Well, you know your father," Renee bemoaned.

Bella giggled, knowing exactly how her father was. Charlie was so excited about going to the game. He hadn't stopped talking about it for weeks.

"Can you blame him? Dad's been a Braves fan his whole life."

"Trust me, I don't need reminding." Renee chuckled. "He has one of Edward's polos on, and he brought a jersey. He couldn't decide what to wear, so he's wearing both."

"I love it." Bella chuckled and continued to cut some strawberries. "Now, I want you to know the tickets and the parking pass are on the counter in the kitchen. I'll meet you at the seats, which are right over the dugout."

"Thanks, honey. I'll see you tonight."

"Drive safely. Love you, Mom."

"Love you too, Bella."

As soon as she hung up, Edward came back into the kitchen and sat at the table. "Was that your parents?"

"Yep. They're almost to the house." Bella walked over with their plates and sat down.

"Wow. They must have left early."

"Charlie."

A slow grin spread across Edward's face. "He's excited, isn't he?"

Bella snorted. "That's an understatement. When Emmett was acquired by y'all, he thought he had died and gone to heaven. And now that there's two Braves in the family? He's losing his mind. He may have played it cool with you, but Charlie has been an avid Braves fan his whole life. He's super excited about tonight."

"He showed a few cracks in his veneer when we were talking trades. He knows his stuff."

"If y'all make it to the World Series, we may have to resuscitate him."

"When we make it to the World Series. And when we do…I'm gonna make sure Charlie gets to go."

"You'll have a friend for life. That's for sure."

"That's what I'm hoping for." Edward winked at her as he took a bite of frittata.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you. I talked to Kate. She was telling me how excited Garrett is about going to the game tonight."

"Yeah. He might have called me a time or twenty." Edward laughed. "All the guys are coming."

"You're going to have your own cheering section from the way it sounds. Oh, and Kate said, and I quote, 'Don't forget when you go to the World Series, you promised me tickets.'"

Edward laughed as he wiped his hands on his napkin and threw it on the table. "She's right. I promised her tickets for helping you out when you were injured and finding me a good florist."

"Get ready to pay up, buddy. She killed it. And by the way it sounds, you're about to go on the trip of a lifetime."

"As long as you're onboard. That's all that matters to me."

"Such a smooth talker."

A crooked smile bloomed on Edward's face. "What can I say? It's a gift."

An: Some hard, yet loving conversations were had in this chapter, and Jacob reared his ugly head, briefly. Darling and Shug's relationship is strong, so you don't need to worry. And they have their act together.

I'm looking forward to hearing all your thoughts and theories. I love and appreciate the time y'all take to let me know what you think. XO

I have a FB group called DrivingEdward Fanfic. Please join us for all things Darling and Shug, updates and pic teasers.

See you in two weeks

~Be Happy

~Be Kind

~Be Blessed

~DrivingEdward