I'm sad to say this is the last chapter. I don't have an epilogue in mind, but I'm open to suggestion. This story would not be the same without the patient care of JulieToo. Likewise the talents of Beachcomberlc. They both helped me enormously through the conception, execution and delivery of Uncredited. For this and many other things, I thank them. Thank you also to IpsitaC77 who made a beautiful banner and is a wonderful friend.

I dedicate this story to Judyblue95, who's enthusiasm kept me writing.

Chapter 28

Dear Ms B. Swan,

We are pleased to welcome you to the College of Art and Design as a mature student. We have examined your transcripts from other institutions and are delighted to offer you 60 credit hours towards the Interior Design Bachelor of Arts degree you indicated as your area of study. Enclosed, please find the truncated course list required for completion of this degree. The architectural courses must be taken as an addition to the required courses. A fee schedule and campus map are also included with this package. Any questions or concerns in regards to this letter can be forwarded to the office of the Dean of Admissions.

Sincerely,

Judy Makenna

Admissions Administrator

To: e_cullen gmail

Subject: Thank you

Hey, how are you enjoying the tour? Three cities down, great press for each date; I can imagine you're flying high. I caught a few YouTube videos and you guys sound great together. I find there's an energy that had been missing from your stage shows for a while. I especially love the crowd's reaction when Jasper flew onto the stage. It was a very Pink move and they loved it. I'm glad he was able to join you. It was my pleasure to stay with Alice for the two days he was gone; the entire Cullen clan did not have to send flowers, you know!

So, I have to thank you for the tee-shirts you've been sending. I don't know where you've been able to find such unusual and quirky prints, but I'm tickled. I particularly like the one from The Snake Pit. I've never been voted Queen Cobra before and to answer the question in the smaller print, 'Does she spit or swallow?', I'll never tell. However, I didn't inspect the shirt very well the first time I wore it. It made for a very long, frustrating day before I realized it said "Nice Asp" on the back. Thankfully, I wore it to spend the day with Angela. I swear she had to change her pants after seeing it. She blamed her lack of bladder control on pregnancy, but I blame you. She and Ben are eagerly awaiting babies two and three, but four months seems like a really short amount of time to get everything ready.

I was shocked by just how Earth Mother Alice had become. It's a good look for her, although I'm not giving up coffee for kale smoothies any day. It took me long enough to jump on the coffee train, compared to some, but who can resist good Sumatran coffee when you get try it fresh roasted by the farmers themselves? I might need another trip to Indonesia to relive the experience soon.

I miss you. I miss having you closer and that doesn't scare me as much as it used to.

Love, Bella

People Watch Magazine - August

Uncovered's temporary front man and keyboardist Edward Cullen was caught out with mystery brunette babe this Friday at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. While a musician paying homage at this location is not unheard of, the fact that formerly "Sullen Cullen" was smiling, playing and seen to be having fun in public with another person is what caught our attention. And it looks really good on him, don't you think?

To: bswan17 gmail

Subject: Hey

Did you leave a pair of tiny black panties in my hotel room just to torture me? I would have loved to see them on you, but I'm happy with our slow approach. Well, happy may be overstating, but like I said, I will wait for you.

Thank you for coming to visit. You made Cleveland my new favourite city, and I know Alice really appreciated your help with James on the plane. She still feels really guilty that he both threw up and pooped on you during the flight home.

We've decided to end this tour with a bit of a bang. I know you have classes starting next week, but could you come to the closing show? Mom and Dad are coming and Alice is hiring a nanny for the trip. You can study on the plane. Chicago is only a couple hours away. Please, please, please?

Thinking of you,

Edward

Rolling Stone Magazine - October issue

"Recovering Uncovered" by Jane Marcus

I first interviewed Edward Cullen and the rest of Uncovered years ago as they were making their rapid ascent to stardom. For this meeting, I found Edward Cullen is still quite lickable, and I still kept my professional demeanour, but this time he's also likeable. Gone are the one word answers and evasion. In its place is an open, happy Cullen and band.

I was quite surprised to receive an invitation to attend their Chicago show, the closing show of their Loon Lake album tour. I was further surprised to find the invitation came not from a publicist's assistant, but from the band themselves. With a handwritten note inviting me backstage for the last set.

I hope I won't be wrong in thinking that this concert will go down in history as one of the more unusual. You could feel the giddiness, not from the audience, which was disproportionately female and ranged widely in age groups, but from the band and crew, both on and off stage. I was given a folding director's chair in the wings stage left and the best view for what unfolded that night. To be sure, it's a concert I will never forget. Especially knowing it could very well be the last concert Uncovered ever plays together.

One of the drawbacks of writing for a monthly magazine is that breaking news isn't something we cover. We do, however, get to delve deeper into the issues and events to get at the meat of the story. By now, you all know what happened. Admit it, you are a fan of Uncovered, that's why you're reading this article. You know all about Jasper's comedic arrival on stage, the oversized diaper he wore and the heartbreaking rendition of Sweet Baby James he sang before announcing he was leaving the band to stay home to raise his baby son.

I'm certain you've seen the YouTube video clips of Rosalie strutting out from behind her drumkit, dropping to one knee and proposing to Emmett. Just as I'm also sure you saw the tear that ran down Edward Cullen's face as he announced he too was leaving the band before he introduced the band's new line-up with Riley Biers as the lead, Rosalie and Emmett and newcomer, Garrett Strange taking over guitar. Many bands have broken up and reformed over the years, but none with such grace as Uncovered. It was a true passing of the torch. The new band played some of our old favourites as the former members left the stage.

However, what you did not see was the activity in the dressing room after the show. You didn't get to see the usually sombre Emmett McCarty dancing with his fiance, laughing and grinning like a fool. You didn't get to see Jasper and Edward sing The Proclaimers' 500 Miles in falsetto just to piss Rosalie off. You also didn't get to see the look of Jasper's face when his wife, Edward's sister, called to say good night. You didn't get hugs and kisses from the band, nor invited to join them the next night for drinks at their favourite bar. The bar where they started getting notice all those years ago. I don't mind if you hate me, but please keep reading.

The following night I arrived at the bar at seven-thirty, hoping to grab some dinner and organize my notes before the band arrived at nine as planned. I was surprised to find Jasper, his wife Alice, and Edward there doing much the same. I joined them for some very tasty burgers and astonishingly bad french fries. It was like meeting up with old friends. Despite years in the spotlight and all the troubles the band and its people have been through, they are still just small city kids, nice and happy.

Jasper and Edward disappeared behind the stage, tucked into the back of the bar, to unearth the moldy karaoke machine for the owner. Alice and I had a short, but illuminating conversation. She was frank, almost blunt. She told me the reason Jasper was taking a step back from the band and touring was because she was suffering from postpartum depression. She was quick to assure me that she wasn't psychotic, just severely depressed. Alice told about her search for a good psychologist and their efforts to regulate her hormones. Her parents have been helping out as much as possible with taking her to appointments and keeping her on a schedule. Jasper and Edward returned and joined in the discussion when they were done, all shiny-sweaty and dusty from the effort. He mentioned the fact that Alice, in her position as junior vice-president of the investment firm where she is employed, makes a far better and more steady income than he did, so his taking a few years off wouldn't hurt the family coffers.

"Jasper is much more domestic than I am. We both want children, but I need to work outside of the home. I need regular adult interaction, I need the stress and pace of the business world and he can cope with homelife much better than I can. It may be unusual, but it will work for us."

A few minutes later two women entered the bar, one pushing an old fashioned baby carriage, the kind you'd see watching Downton Abbey or some other British period show. Jasper introduced me to their nanny, Tanya, a young Russian woman they're sponsoring and to Bella Swan, an old friend of the band and former classmate of Alice. Edward's face lights up instantly at the sight of the two women with the baby and it takes me a while to figure out who it is that elicits such a response from him. Baby James, or Jimmy P as his father calls him, is passed around for cuddles. At five months of age, he is a roly-poly chunk of a baby with his daddy's curls and his mommy's serious stare. Until he is in the arms of Uncle Edward, who, unbeknownst to me is the funniest person on the planet. James finds him hilarious, and I find the faces Edward pulls to be quite funny myself.

The arrival of Emmett McCarty and Rosalie Hale stops the baby's laughter, but brings a smile to the faces of the rest of the group, mine included. They don't stay for long, a few hugs and a quick chat but they offer to return Tanya and the baby to the Cullen family home. I'm still sitting with Alice and I can't help but overhear her conversation with Ms. Swan. She gives Alice a progress report of sorts; the nanny is here in part to improve her English language skills and they spent the afternoon together chatting. I ended up joining in the conversation, completely forgetting my surroundings and company, and we had a great discussion about idioms and colloquialisms. It wasn't until the return of Emmett and Rosalie that I remembered why I was there.

The karaoke machine was kicked into life and Alice's name was called as the first singer of the night. She was too busy laughing at the selection on the screen to start the song, but she gathered herself together enough by the chorus to begin belting Meredith Brooks' Bitch. Rosalie turned to me and filled me in on the inside joke.

"We used to do this in college; she and I had a few songs we called our theme songs, and she would always choose Bitch. Every time."

I asked Rosalie what her song was but she waved me off.

After a few more patrons gave the old system a try, the bartender called for a break. I decided to try to do my job and looked around to see if I could find Edward Cullen for a quick interview. I spotted him at the bar, standing beside Bella Swan as they waited for the bartender to serve them. I watched as she reached into the back pocket of her jeans and passed him a folded piece of paper. He unfolded it and read it; all the while her eyes were on him. He looked up, and although I couldn't hear what they said, it was easy enough to guess from their expressions.

"Really?' He asked her.

"Yes." She nodded

"You're sure?"

"I am."

I could hear his cheer of delight. I think the people in the restaurant next door could hear him. I, and everyone else at the table, watched as Edward bent slightly, wrapping his arms around Ms. Swan's waist as she threw her arms around his neck. He picked her up and spun several times in a circle with her in his arms, until he put her feet back on the ground. Her arms still around his neck he brought his hands up and cupped her face, then kissed her gently. The kiss grew more and more heavy as we all watched before Rosalie cleared her throat, forcing us to stop staring.

Now, I'm the first to admit, I'm a nosey person. That's part of the reason I got into journalism in the first place. I want to know, I want all the information before I make my decisions. But watching this kiss, seeing the affection between those two, I didn't need any more. There was nothing to dig up. Edward Cullen had found love and he was a happy man.

I'll always be thankful I was invited to witness the last hurrah of the band Uncovered. Not that I was a huge fan of their music before. They'd had a few catchy tunes, some great melodies and lyrics that stay with you, but I have other favourites. But I got to see a real group come together. They may not have always gotten along in the past and there were dark years, but now at the end, they seem closer than ever. I'm glad I got to see the beginnings of their happily ever after. I'm sure Rosalie and Emmett will have a successful marriage; they seem to be good friends as well as crazy for each other. Alice and Jasper have lots of help and I'm sure eventually, Jimmy P will be a rock maven or a business star. Riley Biers will take Uncovered to new places, and if nothing else, Edward Cullen will have the love of Bella Swan.

"How are you doing?" Edward bumped his hip with Bella's as they stood together at the bar. The bartender was at the other end, making a round for another group.

"I'm alright. I was thinking back to the last time I sang karaoke. How different everything is now. How much I've changed from those days."

Fear pooled in Edward's throat. Things between them had been good. They had connected well over the last couple on months, very well during her visit to Cleveland. She had taken him to her bed and allowed him to show her his feelings physically. Other than sound check, concerts and one trip to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, they spent all their time in bed learning the other's body, wrapped around each other and sleeping together. It was mind-boggling to Edward that finally he had everything he ever wanted, while being nestled in her arms. He hoped she loved him even a fraction of what he felt for her. The last few days since the band had returned home were much the same. Every stolen moment was shared. Not nearly enough moments for his liking, between her schooling and his obligations. They lived rather far apart, on other sides of the city and traffic ate into their time together.

Edward was worried, both that remembering the past and how he treated her then and the inconveniences of trying to build a new romance with busy lives now might cause Bella to pause and re-evaluate their relationship.

"I've changed too, I hope you can see that, Bella. I can't be that guy again." She glanced at him, but continued as if he hadn't spoken.

"I confused need and want back then. Confused them both for affection. I thought if you needed me, that meant you cared. You needed my words, but you didn't need me. I don't think it was love, it was too selfish."

"Bella, I…" She stopped him by laying her hand over his.

"It's amazing how time changes one's perspective. Last time I sang karaoke, I sang a sad song about youth. I've been racking my brain to think of what I might sing now, but nothing is coming to mind. For the first time, I can't find the right words."

His gut twisting, Edward let a silence grow between them. The bartender took their orders but nothing else was said for a painfully long time.

"Just about ten years ago, I fell in love with an up-and-coming rock star and he broke my heart. This time, I think I need to fall for the guy next door. The handsome, hard-working, and kind guy next door."

"Please, Bella, don't."

She reached into her back pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. She didn't look at him, she just passed it to him while staring at the display bottles of liquor behind the bar.

Edward unfolded the piece of paper and read. He didn't see her face turn to his and watch for his reaction.

If the music hadn't been so loud, everyone in the bar would have heard his gasp. He looked from the paper to her shyly smiling face.

"Really?"

"Yes" Bella couldn't help but nod.

"You're sure?" Edward felt the hope build back up in his heart.

"I am." She barely got the words out before he grabbed her around the waist and lifted her in the air, spinning and laughing. The piece of paper fluttered down to rest on the bartop. Dizzy, he lowered her to standing and kissed her. If it weren't for the crowd, the kiss would have led much further, but the sound of someone clearing their throat reached them over their own passion and a quiet lull in the music.

"Hey guys, tone it down, okay? That'll be sixteen dollars together. I'm assuming from that kiss that you're together, right?"

Pulling his wallet out of his pocket, Edward winked at the bartender, handing him a twenty.

"We're together."

Bella picked up the piece of paper.

"The loft next to mine is a bit smaller due to the elevator, but with some work I can turn it into a great musician's apartment."

She grabbed a pen from the bar and began to sketch on the reverse of the real estate listing.

"If we put your kitchen along the same wall as mine, we don't have to move too much of the plumbing. There'll be room for a soundproofed studio in the far corner with a small guest room above it. I definitely think a smaller bathroom, and then an office above that. But we'll make your bedroom bigger, so that one day, when we're ready, we could turn it into our room. Maybe knock down a few walls?"

AN: Thank you for reading.