I'm grateful to Stephenie Meyer for her dream/vision. Enjoy this last chapter of my one-shot series.

EPOV

I exited the shower in my hotel room and took stock of my life. I'd graduated from high school with honors and left Seattle for Chicago to go to a well-known university for an architecture degree. I'd done well for myself, securing a position at a prestigious firm right out of college. They'd been impressed with my work and I'd been focused on my career ever since.

My boss suggested a transfer out West for me, saying I needed a change, to slow down and "enjoy the good life." My extended family was still located in Seattle, so I took the opportunity as it was presented. Now I was staying in a hotel until I bought a house and my belongings arrived from Chicago.

Crazier still, my one-year-younger brother, Emmett, almost demanded we attend a high school class reunion tonight. I'm not sure why I agreed to go. I could easily go out to a nice dinner with him and Rosalie, his wife. He'd married her right out of high school – the quarterback and the head cheerleader. They were the parents of two growing boys, living the life I imagined.

There was only one girl I'd ever thought about all this time – Bella Swan. I hadn't seen her in ages, but I wondered if she ever missed me and where she was located now. She probably married Mike Newton, who had always hung around her like a puppy.

My thoughts went back to our senior prom. I'd finally screwed up the courage and asked Bella to dance on the last slow song. She'd looked up from serving punch, so surprised. I'd dated other girls throughout high school, but no one seriously. If a man was looking for a lifetime partner, Bella would be my choice, every time.

I can still feel her head on my shoulder underneath the disco ball, hoping that song would never end. I remember brushing the curls back from her face so I could see her eyes. I also remember – very distinctly – leaning in to kiss her. She didn't recoil, horrified. She leaned in, enjoying our first kiss.

We spent a wonderful summer together after that. In the fall, she stayed in Seattle to go to a community college. I remember receiving some letters from her at college, but in my stubbornness, I laid them aside and didn't answer – too focused on my schoolwork and internship at the firm.

I mentally shook myself and continued dressing. I'd probably lost one of the best things in life due to stupidity and wanting to get ahead in life. The old saying was true – "The best things in life aren't things." I'd dated a bit in Illinois, but no one seriously.

Soon, Em and Rosalie were knocking on my door. It was great seeing them again after such a long time away.

As we situated ourselves in the car, Emmett asked, "So, bro, who are you most excited about seeing tonight?"

"Bella," her name slipped out of my mouth before I was barely aware of it.

Rosalie turned and arched an eyebrow at me. She said, "She was pretty hurt when you never responded to any of her letters. I don't know if she'll be here tonight."

"I know," I responded. "I messed up – big time. Have you seen her around?"

"I haven't," she replied. "But then again, the boys keep me pretty busy."

Before I could mire myself in more self-loathing, Emmett lightened the mood by talking about the Seahawks current record, new eateries in town, housing developments I should ask my realtor to inquire about, and if any of his football buddies had gained weight. Emmett was the jokester in our family. He balanced us out nicely, along with our younger sister, Alice.

The reunion committee had done the right thing and rented out a hotel ballroom instead of subjecting our high school gymnasium to the crepe-paper-streamer treatment. I was grateful for that.

I began to lose count of the number of former classmates who came up to me and said, "Long time, no see!" Rosalie thoughtfully brought me a drink as I explained yet again where I'd been since high school. I exchanged business cards with a few of the guys, promising we'd get together for a business lunch now that I was back in Seattle. I was glad I was mostly well-liked in high school.

Seeing who ended up marrying – that was a different story! People I never thought would be in the same room were there as husband and wife. Some of the girls who were former cheerleaders married guys who were nerds before – and they looked great together. A few girls who were average-looking before were stunning beauties now and had the men to show off.

I kept looking around for Mike to stroll up to me with Bella on his arm, showing off his prize. I knew it was going to hurt, way deep down in my chest, when he did and I was mentally preparing myself for it.

During dinner, a few of Emmett's football buddies and their wives joined us at our table. The conversation was loud and boisterous as you might expect, them reliving their glory days on the gridiron. I was glad when the music started and several of the couples got up to dance.

With the crowd thinning out around the tables as more people joined the dance floor, I could look around. Some faces were easily recognizable; with others, I knew I'd need an introduction. Then my eyes wandered to a table near the periphery of the room. There sat Bella, who had only grown more beautiful over the years, next to Angela Webber and Ben Cheney.

I got up and walked purposely in their direction. I didn't see Mike around. Would she even speak to me? Would she order me away? I wasn't sure what reaction I'd receive.

Ben saw me coming and greeted me, "Hey Edward, how are you doing?"

"I'm doing well," I replied, trying to catch Bella's eye. She was staring down at the table. I continued, "My company just transferred me back to Seattle, so I'm here for the duration."

"That's great news!" he said. Looking at Angela, he asked, "Do you want to dance, honey?" She smiled her assent and they both stood after Angela squeezed Bella's hand.

"It was good seeing you both," I said to their retreating backs. They seemed to leave in a hurry.

I looked at Bella again, still seated, and sat in the chair next to her.

I asked quietly, "How are you?" and attempted to take her hand.

She withdrew it immediately. She said in a small voice, "I'd just like to know why, Edward."

"You want to know why I didn't answer your letters?" Upon her nod with a sad look on her face, I continued, "Will you take a walk with me – just outside?"

She stood and wrapped her sweater around her shoulders. We were soon outside, walking through the extensive lit gardens of the hotel. We found a gazebo and made our way to it, discovering we could faintly hear the music from the reunion inside.

"Let me explain…" I started.

"I wish you would," Bella said, as tears began flowing from her brown eyes. "All these years, Edward! I thought we had something special the end of our senior year of high school and then that summer afterward. Apparently I was mistaken. I was holding on to false hope."

I was finally able to grasp her hands in mine. I looked into her eyes and said, "No, Bella. You weren't holding on to false hope. I received your letters and wanted nothing more to answer them. I was a jerk for not doing so. But, I knew as soon as I put one word to the page, I'd want to throw everything back in my suitcases and book the next flight back to Seattle. Forget my tuition, my career, everything!"

Bella looked at me doubtfully, trying to find any trace of insincerity and found none. I wiped her tears from her face. "To me, love, you are everything. Focusing on my career was the hardest thing I've ever done. I didn't want to be away from you at all. I want to marry you and spend the rest of my life with you."

"Well," she said, "there is a bit of a problem."

"What is it? We can solve it together," I enthused.

"My dad took the Chief of Police job in Forks. So we live there now. And I've been working as a cashier at the Newton's store in Forks," she continued.

I groaned, possibly audibly, "Ugh, don't tell me you're dating that creep, Mike."

A small smile played around the corners of Bella's lips as she replied, "Hmm, possibly."

"You wound me," I replied.

"I couldn't wait forever for you, not knowing if you cared about me or not. Besides, I'm sure you dated someone while you were away," she said.

I said, "It's true, I did. But they didn't capture my heart like you."

"Likewise," she responded.

With that, I lifted her from the gazebo bench and held her close to the strains of music we could hear. Although this time when I kissed her, I wasn't letting her go.

I whispered in her ear, "Will you, Bella? Will you marry me?"

She said with a smile, "Yes, Edward." We sealed the deal with another kiss.

We ended up back at my hotel room where I finally got the privilege to see all of Bella. As I made her body ready for me, I'd never seen anything more beautiful. When I was inside her, it was like coming home and I never wanted to leave.

Epilogue

That high school reunion was twenty years ago. Bella and I chose a house and got married shortly after. We were blessed with two great children – a girl and a boy – who have finally moved out and started lives of their own.

Every day I go in to the office instead of working from home, I make sure to leave her a love note somewhere in the house. I try to make it fun for her – sometimes it's on the kitchen counter, in the dishwasher, taped to the vacuum cleaner, inside the washing machine – somewhere she'll find it after I'm at work. I understand how important those love notes are to Bella.

In the evenings, even when the kids were growing up and they were totally grossed out by the display of affection by their parents, we slow danced together in the living room. A lot of times, those dances ended up in the bedroom later. But Bella knew she was always dancing away with my heart.

Author's Note: As always, thank you for reading.