As always, huge hugs and love to Iris, Nic and Nan. I couldn't have done it without y'all. And anybody that's reading this right now, I say a big thank you. See you down below.

EPOV

I remember driving through Atlanta when I was a kid. Every summer, we'd drive ten hours to visit my grandparents in Florida. We always left at night so we could avoid traffic. I don't remember much about the journeys, except the lights of the city. They would brighten the whole interior of the car while I was trying to sleep. The glow of the lights made the buildings jump out of the dark.

I now understand my parents' reasoning for trying to avoid the traffic here. Bella and I barely made it in one piece. I got cut off, flipped off, and pissed off more times than I could count. But that's okay, because we're here now and I'm trying to give this place a fair shake. I'll do whatever it takes to be wherever Bella is, and it seems possible she may end up back here.

When we were younger, that was always the plan, but as I sit in a coffee shop, watching suits pass by and drinking overpriced coffee, I wonder if I'd ever belong here. Not that I've ever felt that I really belong anywhere, except by Bella's side. That's the only place I know I'm supposed to be.

I guess I could expand Jasper's brand down here. There are a lot more people here, so logically, there have to be more landscaping needs, right? I'm getting too far ahead of myself. I have to take this step by step and let Bella lead the way. She was so excited when we got here last night. She kept chattering about all these different places she wanted to take me to, but this morning, she seemed really nervous.

She was quiet and fidgety, despite looking smoking hot in that librarian get up.

Good God, that skirt…

And the shoes? Fuck me! Those heels…

Fucking her in those heels. Hopefully, once she's finished with the interview, she'll be in better spirits and will want to make that happen.

The table I'm sitting at is next to a window and has a direct view of the elevators that took her up to one of the floors above. I keep watching its doors open and close, with a never-ending stream of people coming and going.

Finally, after I've Candy Crushed my way through the past hour, I look up to see her exiting the elevator. In her haste to exit, she runs into someone. Her hands immediately shoot out to steady the guy, even though he's much larger than her, but it's obvious she knows whoever this person is. My hackles are instantly raised, not because it's a guy she's talking to but more because she looks like she's seen a ghost. And I guess, maybe she has. The ghost of fiancé's past. I'd bet anything that the fucker she's talking to is Garrett.

I'm on my feet and out the doors of the cafe once I realize who she's talking to. Before I break up this happy reunion, I take a moment to collect myself so I don't make a scene. Keeping myself out of her line of vision, I stand slightly behind him and try to keep from picking her up, throwing her over my shoulder, and running away.

In a vision of clarity, I realize this might be the best thing that could've happened. I was worried he'd insert himself into our lives at some inopportune moment, but she can now end his pining once and for all. I don't want it to look like I'm pissing on her leg, but I know he'll read between the lines and understand what my actions are saying without me having to verbally say it: Back the fuck off.

I step around him, going to her side and wrapping my arm around her waist. My lips land on top of her head, and whatever he was just saying floats into the air around us. "How'd it go, baby?"

Yes, I fucking did.

She hesitates for just a second, looking between us before she makes introductions. "Edward, this is Garrett James. Garrett, Edward Cullen." I fucking knew it.

Mustering up all the manners my mother taught me, I break out the fakest smile known to man and extend my hand. "Nice to meet you." He looks at Bella, takes a deep breath, and begrudgingly shakes my hand. "You, too." His mouth sets into a firm line while his eyes visibly frost when he locks them onto my own.

I have to admit I feel for this guy. I do. I've been in love with Bella, and I've lost her. I know what he's feeling right now. Do I feel bad enough to step back and let them talk without me?

Abso-fucking-lutely not.

So the three of us continue to stand there, looking awkward as hell and staying silent until Bella decides to jump in. "I was just telling Garrett that the interview went well." Her eyes are wide, and the smile on her face is one of nauseated discomfort.

"I'm glad, Bella, really. I know you've always wanted to work for PwC, and when I worked with Jonathan on a case a few weeks ago, I took the opportunity to slip him your contact info. I'm happy he listened when I told him you'd be an asset." He straightens his back and puffs his chest, head cocked to the side eyeing me.

I raise my eyebrows to my hairline. This is all his doing? I knew he wouldn't go away quietly. Goddamnit.

Before I can formulate a response or punch this cocky fucker in his mouth, Bella jumps in.

"That was really considerate, Garrett, but I don't think the position is for me."

Now we both have eyebrows in our hairlines with matching "Are you kidding me?!"expressions. Garrett's mouth opens and closes like one of those ridiculous singing wall fish.

"You're sure about this, Bella?" He looks crushed.

"If you'd have asked me yesterday, I don't think I could've told you yes, but today…" She pins me with her gaze and makes me fall that much more in love with her. "I can honestly say without any doubt that I'm sure. I know where I'm supposed to be, and it's not in Atlanta." I try to rid my face of any possible smugness, but I can't help my beaming ear-to-ear smile.

She steps forward, rises onto her toes, and wraps her arms around his shoulders, hugging him as platonic as humanly possible. He returns it—just a little too enthusiastically, I might add. His eyes squeeze tight for just a second, and I watch as the resignation sweeps his features completely.

"I've got a meeting I need to be getting to. Bella, take care of yourself." He then turns to look at me. "It was nice to meet you, Edward."

"You too, Garrett." No, it really fucking wasn't, but I'm a good liar, and my girl has just made me the happiest man alive. He darts into the next elevator, and we watch as the doors close him out of our lives for good. She exhales next to me, like she's just dropped that ten-pound weight she's been carrying all afternoon.

"You're really going to turn the job down?" I don't want to sound hopeful, even if I might be just a little bit.

"I really am. The entire time, I kept thinking how much I didn't want to be here doing this. I might not know what I'm going to do with myself, but I do know that whatever it is isn't here." Her face is serene despite the awkward interaction that just took place. We hold hands and grin stupidly at one another until some rude asshole runs between us, breaking our visual and physical connection in an effort to not miss an elevator.

"Do you wanna go see that corpse museum?" It sounded so grotesque when she floated the idea yesterday, but at this moment, I'm on cloud fucking nine. Nothing can bring me down, not even corpses.

"I think I'd like to go back to the hotel and change, and then maybe we can go to the World of Coke?" She looks so hopeful, like I'd ever turn her down. I lean down, gently kissing her lips, and say, "So much better than dead people."

She laughs and pushes me away with her fists on my stomach. Back at the hotel, much as the same as last night, I'm having a hard time keeping my hands to myself. I want her to be mine in the most conventional way possible, and the ring I brought with me is burning a hole in my pocket. I'd wanted to wait until we were back home, maybe at our spot in the woods, but I want everything so much and I want it all now. I don't think I can wait any longer.

Letting her walk through the door in front of me, I drop to one knee and wait for her to turn around. She's laughing at something, pausing for me to join in, and once she realizes I'm not laughing, she finally turns. Her eyes widen immediately. She knows what I'm doing but doesn't stop me, so I'm taking it as a sign that she's not going to reject me.

"I only waited this long because I didn't want you to think my asking was contingent upon you being in Waynesville. Here or there, it doesn't matter." Taking a deep breathe, I blow it out and continue. "I love you... Jesus, do I love you. I've wanted to marry you since I was seventeen. I would've back then, and I hope to now. Tomorrow, next week, next month, next year… I'll take you whenever you'll let me have you."

I slide my hand into my right pocket and pull out Mamaw Cullen's ring and hold it up to her. "Please say you'll let me have you." Two tears slide down her beautiful face, making twin tracks down to her chin. Clenching her eyes shut, she tries to catch any more rogue tears before they make their escape. Once she's caught them, her watery whiskey browns open to meet my gaze once again. A smile breaks onto her beautiful face as she drops to her knees in front of me. Wrapping her arms around my neck, her lips place kisses all over my face.

"Yes." Kiss. "Yes." Kiss. "Yes."

She leans back and plucks the ring from between my fingertips and slides it onto the ring finger on her left hand. She flits her fingers out to look at the ring. "Edward, it's beautiful," she says, though it's to the ring because she hasn't stopped looking at it.

"It was my dad's mother's ring. She and Papaw Cullen were married for fifty-three years. I think we can beat that." Her eyes are still swimming, but they seem to be happy tears.

"We're finally doing this?" She's still talking to the ring.

"Yeah, baby. We are." My heart is trying jump out of my chest. I've never been so happy in all my life. I take her face in my palms and pull her mouth to mine. Pressing the lightest of kisses to her swollen lips, it's a promise I'll always keep.

"Come on, beautiful girl. Let's go explore this city a little before we have to go home." I try to get us back to our feet, but Bella keeps her arms wrapped around my neck, pulling my attention back to her.

"But that's just it. I am home. Wherever you are is my home. I can live anywhere, but my home is where you are, and having my sister and her family nearby is an added bonus I never thought I'd appreciate as much I do." She looks down and the floor and takes a breath, steeling herself for whatever she's about to say.

"But I need you to know something. There's a possibility I may not be able to carry a child. I know how upset you were back then…" Her eyes dart to the side, one hand coming up to quickly dab away a stray tear.

She still doesn't understand.

"Bella, look at me." Once she finally lets her eyes connect with mine, I continue. "I don't care whether you carry our babies or they come from China or Africa; it makes no difference to me. I just want us to be their parents."

A small smile tugs at the corners of her mouth. "Really?" Sniffling, she wipes at her nose, allows the relief to spread throughout her features, and promptly jumps into my arms, knocking us down to the ground.

"I love you so much. I can't wait to start our life together." She kisses me softly. "I really just want to go home now, but I want you to taste the nasty Cokes they sell in Italy, too. It's called Beverly, and words just don't do the disgustingness justice."

And if anyone ever needed an explanation for why I love this girl, it's that right there; her ability to go from serious to playful in half a second flat. She changes her clothes quickly, putting on some ass-hugging jeans and a t-shirt. She pulls the door open and is in the hallway before she's calling out to me, asking if I'm coming or not.

"Yes, baby. I'll always follow you."

And we're done. Thank you guys again. It's been a ride but I'm sure I'll see you around. 3