10.

EPOV

"Are you okay, man?" Jamie asks as we're packing away some stock for the upcoming Black Friday shopping marathon. I hate this time of year. I also hate that I can't rely on any of my staff to make sure this shit is put away correctly.

I nod. "Yeah, why?"

He scoffs. "You don't see yourself, do you?" I shake my head and raise an eyebrow, confused as to what he's getting at. "I mean no disrespect, man, but since you went on vacation a few months ago, you've been an emo fuck to hang around with."

"Pardon me? Should I remind you who you're talking to?" As his boss, he's starting to cross a line here.

He stands and puts his hands up in surrender, before pushing up his glasses and rubbing the back of his neck with the palm of his hand. "Look, Edward, man. We're friends. We've been working together here for the last three years."

I count back in my head and yeah, I guess after graduating from college, where I took a course in computer repairs, I took a job here as a repairman and eventually made it to manager. Three years would make sense, so I nod and wave my hand around indicating for him to continue.

"I know you," he says. "You're usually in a good mood. You crack jokes; keep this place fun, but lately it's like we can't even talk to you without being afraid you'll jump down our throats."

I'm taken aback and let his words sink in. "Have I been that bad?" I know I've been moody. Mom says I need to do something about Bella. I know I need to do something about Bella. My mind is solely focused on her and how much I miss her. We've been talking but we're both incredibly busy with our schedules and this long distance thing is really hard. "I'm sorry, man." I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts. "Are you okay with this?" I point to the boxes of stuff we still haven't unpacked and checked off for inventory. "I'll get Embry back here to help you."

He nods. "I've got this, Edward. Do what's best for you, alright?"

"Yeah, thanks."

Later, when I get home, I call Rose and we talk for a long time about this whole thing. I open up about my feelings and she tells me Bella's just as bad. I don't like any of this. I don't like that she may be feeling this way too. Something has to be done, and I'm afraid I may know what it is. I just need to make sure I'm doing the right thing.

The next day, I call in sick at work and visit Mom at her shop. She owns a little gift shop downtown, so I drop by with coffee, feigning nonchalance, but she knows me better than that.

"Do you love her?" she asks and I don't even know how to answer that.

My mind draws a blank, but my chest feels like it's heavy. It hurts to think about not having Bella in my life. If anything happened to her, I'd be devastated. Is that love?

"I don't know, Mom. I mean, how can you love someone you've only known for a few days?"

She smiles and pats my cheeks. "Sweet boy. If you love her, go to her. Nothing is holding you here. Your sister lives there too so it's not like you'd be alone. Edward, you have to do what's right for you." She emphasizes the "you" part.

I nod and let her words wash over me. "What if she doesn't want me there?"

I'm feeling vulnerable and exposed, but Mom being Mom just smiles softly, her eyes tender. "You take a chance. Is she worth putting yourself out there?" I nod without even having to think twice. "Then go to her and tell her you love her. You don't get too many chances to find true love in a lifetime, Edward. Once it's there, you hold on to it."

"But what about you guys and my friends?" I furrow my brows; I'd be crazy if I said I wouldn't miss my life here. That's all I've ever known.

"Your father and I retire in a few years. With Rose living on the West coast and possibly giving me grandbabies soon, there is a real possibility your father and I may decide to go there too. You can't live your life for other people, Edward. If you want something, go after it, honey. You've conquered your fear of flying, albeit with a little alcohol, but still." She looks at me pointedly and squeezes my arm.

"And you guys are okay with this?"

"Honey, if you're happy and in no harm, you do what you need to do. Just don't forget that I want grandbabies. Lots of them." She smiles and stands, taking her coffee with her as she greets a customer.

After hugging and thanking her, I leave her shop with a weight lifted off my chest. I know what I have to do. It's crazy and I may live to regret it, but if I don't do it, I know I'll regret it.

I call the head office at work and tell them my predicament, that I am moving out of state and it's sort of a rush kind of thing. I tell them Jamie is a great guy and totally prepared to do this job blindfolded. I have absolutely no doubt that he is.

Next step is to call the landlord and tell him I'm moving. He makes a stink about it, but since it's a month-to-month lease, there isn't much he can say. I've always paid my rent on time, so he just tells me I have to vacate by November thirtieth.

I call Bella throughout all this and we talk freely like we've always done. She sounds just as sad as I do, which tells me I'm doing the right thing by going to her. I don't tell her any of my plans, just in case I chicken out and end up on my parents' front porch jobless and homeless. There is still a slight possibility that I'll come to my senses and not follow through, but with every step I take, that possibility lessens.

I can't fly there because I have a bunch of shit to bring with me. It's a great excuse to give myself time to clear my head as I drive the massive U-Haul down the interstate. I hope the thumping in my heart and adrenaline pumping through me are good indicators that I'm doing the right thing.

I'm excited and for the first time in weeks, I can't stop smiling.

I keep in contact with Rose during the entire leg of my trip, she'll be there for me if any of this goes to shit, but she says she knows I'm doing the right thing.

As I drive, I whip past landmarks I'd seen with Bella and the closer I get to her, the more I'm resolved that what I'm doing is for the best.

It's for us. If I want a chance at a real us, and every part my soul does too. I need to do this.

After days of endless driving and a few nights of seedy motels, I make it past the first sign indicating that I'm finally in Forks, Washington.

Rose texts me Bella's address and I quickly find it on the GPS. It's almost eight PM, so I know Bella's not in school.

I call her and she immediately picks up.

"Hey, Edward." Her voice sounds great and the butterflies in my stomach act up. I'm smiling, almost to the point of tears. I can't help it.

"Hey, baby. What are you up to?" I'm stalling. Standing here looking at her building. I don't know which apartment is hers. Peeking through each window, I feel creepy, but I can't help it. I can't help any of this, it's as though I'm going on instinct.

"Nothing. Grading homework and watching television. You?"

"Come outside, Bella." I blurt it out before I lose my cool. The adrenaline rush is too much and my entire body buzzes in anticipation. I'm horrible at keeping surprises to myself.

"What? Why?"

"Just, humor me, and go outside for a minute." God she's stubborn, but I love her.

"Edward, what did you do?" Her voice sounds frantic.

"Bella," I plead, walking toward the front door of the building. "Please, come outside."

She doesn't hang up, but I hear her footsteps and then watch her come down the stairs in the building's lobby. I grin, holding the phone to my ear as I hear her gasp.

"Edward?"

My smile can't be contained for this woman. "Yeah?"

Our eyes meet but she's not moving. "Edward?"

"Bella, can you come outside, please?" I chuckle and watch as she chews on her bottom lip for a second before sprinting for the door. She whips the door open and throws herself into my arms. Catching her, I hold her close and whatever I thought I'd feel is multiplied tenfold.

"Oh God, you're here," she says and sniffles, her face buried into the crook of my neck and the phone forgotten.

I sooth my hands down her back and revel in her closeness. "I'm here."

"You...drove?" She pulls her face back to look into my eyes and then looks at the massive truck parked in the visitor parking.

I duck my head and smile sheepishly. "Yeah, I'm not going back. Bella, I'm staying here. I can't go back. I can't be without you."

Tears slide down her cheeks and she smiles. "Really?"

"Yeah, I can't...I love you, Bella." I rest my hands on her hips and search her face.

She threads her fingers together behind my neck and stands on her toes. "I love you too, Edward. I...I've been miserable. But this is too much, you can't just leave—"

"I can and I did. I want to be here. You are my life now, Bella." I emphasize my words by pressing my lips to hers in a chaste kiss. "I don't know how or when, but somehow, somewhere along the way I decided you were it for me."

She nods. "You're sort of it for me too, Edward. I love you so much." We hug and kiss and then walk up to her apartment.

Once inside, we settle on her sofa and I pull her into my lap.

"I can't believe you're here." She leans down and kisses me.

With my lips only millimeters from hers, I confess, "I'll be here until you tell me to go."

She rests her head against my shoulder. "Then you'll be here forever."

"So be it." I run my hands over her thighs, and kiss her deeply, showing her in a kiss how much she truly does mean to me, while thinking back to all those times when I'd wanted to do as much but couldn't.

It was a long trip to get here. Every mile marker bringing me closer to her. Getting Rose's wedding invitation and deciding I'd take the bus might have seemed senseless at the time, but now that I'm here with Bella like this, it looks as though heading West was the right way to go all along.

THE END

*sniff* yeah, so there you go, it's done... they are so lovely, I will miss them... I know, again, some may want more, but this is fluffy and sweet and yeah...I *may* write a futuretake. We'll see. :)

A huge thanks to everyone reading. I do this for myself as much as you guys. Thank you for all the pretty words of encouragement, they mean more to me than I can express.

Midnight Cougar, I couldn't have done this without your words either. Thank you.

Joey, stop trying to corrupt my characters, woman.

'Til next time,

xox

Missy