Thanks so very much to MariahajilE for taking this on. I am forever grateful.

I hope you readers enjoy :-)

Chapter 10 - The End

Bella rubs her hands together. She's nervous ‒ completely and totally nervous. She lets out a held breath when there's a knock on her door.

With a smile on his face, Edward stands holding a bouquet of flowers. He's not nervous. She's stunning, and he's ready for this, for them.

"Hi."

"You look amazing," Edward says softly to her.

Rattling down the hall alerts her to passersby. She looks down. "Do you want to come in?"

"No." He knows what she's thinking. "I told you. No hiding. This is it," he reminds her softly.

Bella nods and sucks in a breath. "Are these for me?"

"Yeah," he smiles. "I didn't know how practical flowers would be. Wasn't sure if you had a vase or not, so…"

She takes the heavy vase of flowers from his hands. "You've thought of everything so far." She smiles, turning and placing them on her dresser, away from her computer.

Edward doesn't step inside, though he notices her room is nice.

"You can come in, you know." Bella smiles over her shoulder.

Her hair is longer, and her body is slightly fuller. Wider hips. He soaks in her appearance and smiles to himself.

"Where are we going?" she questions, grabbing her jacket. He comes and helps her into it. "Thanks," she mutters, blushing a bit.

Edward smiles and kisses her head. His lips linger there. "I needed to do that," he whispers against her skin.

Bella inhales deeply. "I think I needed that, too."

He pulls back and smiles. "Let's have a nice evening."

"Yes." She smiles up at him.

Edward takes her hand in his as they walk down the busy street. "How's Alice?"

"Crazy. We speak almost every day. It's different."

"You had her for a good two years."

"Yeah," she sighs. "But she loves New York."

"And Garrett?" Edward tiptoes slowly.

Bella smiles to herself. "He's good from what I know. Seeing someone."

His eyebrows arch. "Really?"

"I know you're glad," she laughs.

"I am." He nods.

"Why?"

"Silly Bella." He stops their steps and pulls her close. "Isn't it obvious?"

Bella stares up at him. "I don't know."

"You have a full scholarship, and you don't know?" His hands hold her waist.

She shakes her head.

Edward dips his head. Her stomach sounds the alarm between them. He stops and smiles inches away from her lips. "Saved by the grumbling."

"I should have eaten earlier," she pouts.

He kisses the tip of her nose. "Let's go," he mutters.

"Cullen for two," Edward says, his hand still holding hers tightly. She fits so perfectly against his side, her hand in his.

"Very good, sir. This way."

Bella is helped into her chair. "Thank you." She smiles at the waiter.

"Can I offer you something to drink?"

Edward looks to Bella. "Water? Wine?"

"Both?"

"Red and some sparkling water," Edward orders.

"This place is too much, Edward."

"Really?"

"Yes," Bella hisses with wide eyes.

"Can you just enjoy it? For me?"

"I suppose," she sighs, a hint of a smile on her lips.

He laughs. "Thank you."

"I try."

The conversation is light, fun. They're almost transported back to when they were in high school. The times they spent alone were the best, but now that feeling is out in public; it's wonderful. Bella sips her wine and smiles over the glass. "What?"

"Just you," he notes.

"What?" She rests the glass down.

"I love you, Bella," he states simply. He didn't want it to come out like that, just in the middle of dinner, but he couldn't help it. Looking at her, happy and carefree, so wonderfully perfect for him, he had to tell her.

"Edward," she whispers, staring at him.

"I do, and I want you to know, if you're not ready, I get it. I understand," he rambles.

She stares at him.

"I know you need time, and you're probably still angry and hurt because I treated you so…" He shakes his head. "I treated you like crap, but you matter. You matter to me. You're my better half, and I love you. I want you to know that."

"Edward‒"

"I mean it, Bella. I'll give you all the time in the world, but I'm not going to give up. Without you, I don't feel right‒"

"Shut up, Edward. I love you, too."

He looks at her, his eyes wide. "You do?"

"Yes, you know I do. I have always. I loved you first. You know that. I loved you when you didn't even know it." He didn't know. He was a stupid teenage boy who was into his friends more than her. She was into him. She's always been into him. "I loved you from the moment we made love for the first time. Even before then."

Edward smiles. "Bella Swan, you wreck me."

"You, Romeo," Bella laughs, "wreck me."

"So we're going to try?"

"I'm ready if you are."

"I'm very much ready, Bella," he whispers. "Let's get out of here," he suggests.

Bella laughs, walking next to him. He pulls her close and kisses the top of her head.

"I don't want to rush you," he mutters, stopping them and wrapping his arm around her shoulder to keep her close.

"You won't." It's beautiful tonight; cold but beautiful.

"I did before. I knew you weren't ready, and I took it anyway."

"I was fine, Edward," Bella assures him. "I wanted it. I did."

He rests his head against the top of hers. He stands holding her. "You feel so good."

Bella snuggles closer to him. "You, too," she whispers into his chest.

His hands rub up and down her back.

"What have you been doing, Edward?" she whispers. She wants to know. Maybe she doesn't want to know.

"I haven't been with anyone, Bella. No one since you."

She pulls back. "What?"

"I just couldn't." He looks down at her. "I know you and Garrett…" He shakes his head. "It doesn't matter."

"No one?"

"Not since you," he whispers. There hasn't been anyone since her.

He kisses the top of her head. The air is cool, and she's soft and warm.

"I want you."

"It's too soon," he whispers, kissing her head, the side of her face, her nose, eyelids.

"Don't make me beg," she whispers.

Edward chuckles. "What do you want to do with your degree in biology?"

"I have to get it first," she smiles.

"You will."

"Become a nurse," Bella says, unsure.

He brushes her cheek with his knuckles, pushing her hair back. "You're such a wonderful person," he whispers, kissing her mouth lightly. He didn't think she could get any more caring and wonderful, and yet, she did.

Bella moans into his lips. "I want it," she says into his mouth.

He smiles. "Me, too."

"We can go back to my room."

"We can," he agrees.

Bella grins and stares at him a moment. "Is this really our chance?"

"If you'll have me." He nods. "I want to do this right."

"What's right, Edward?" she wonders, staring at him. She kisses his knuckles as they graze across her skin.

His hand around her back tightens. "You and me."

Edward shuts the door and watches her pull off her coat.

"Do you want something to drink?" she asks. She has a mini-fridge in her room.

"Your room's really great. I think I need to talk to someone about this," he exclaims as he walks around, touching things lightly.

Bella smiles she pulls out a bottle of water and slips her shoes off. Handing it to him, she climbs on her full size bed and sits with her legs crossed. "What are you taking?"

"Sociology."

"Interesting." She cocks an eyebrow up at him.

"Wait until I tell my dad about you," He takes his shoes off and climbs on the bed with her.

"Why?"

"He tried to help me with the situation with you in high school."

"He knew?" Bella questions with a frown.

"Towards the end."

"So, Emmett and your dad?"

"Yeah."

"No one knew about you," she tells him. Her mother didn't and certainly not Charlie.

"I was a secret."

"No, I was the secret," she reminds him. The words are out before she can stop them, and his face falls slightly. "I didn't mean it like that, Edward."

He smiles and shakes his head. "Starting over?"

"Yeah." She reaches out and touches his hand.

Edward pulls her hand and brings her to her knees. "Come here," he says in a gruff voice.

"I'm here." She shifts closer on her knees and grabs the sides of his face, steadying herself. His hands on her hips help that, as well. His legs are now out stretched between hers.

"Sit." He pushes her down on his lap, making her laugh, and he chuckles.

"I'm not a dog."

"No, you're a beautiful woman." He kisses her nose, lips. "Beautiful."

"I don't mean to be pushy, Edward…" She whines a bit as he kisses her neck. "But I haven't been with anyone in a long time, either."

He laughs. It's always been like this between them. They were so relaxed with each other when they spent time together alone in high school. It was so easy and fun. He kept going back and kept up the secrets, because he longed and lived to spend the time with her. But he was stupid. Now that high school is over, he's not as stupid. He's growing up. He's finally caught up to her. They can do this. They can have their special moments for the world to see.

Not this one, though.

THE END, MY FRIENDS