As promised, the last chapter.
I'm grateful to all of you for reading. Your kind words and support has been a ray of sunshine in these stormy days. I truly appreciate your support.

I couldn't do this on my own. I owe so much to my team, Edwardsfirstkiss, Sazzledazzled and Twi2escape, for lending their talents and time to my stories. You guys all rock!

SM owes everything Twilight, but this kilt wearing Edward is mine. Mine! All Mine!

A Year in the Life of HOA President, Bella Swan

July

July 1st.

"Cookie, you need to make a decision." Edward rubbed her shoulders, trying to ease the tension in her body. The impeachment of Jane Jackson had just ended. Actually, it pretty much ended before it even started. Surprisingly, it was Alec who had ultimately sunk his wife's ship. When a little bit of pressure was applied, he'd come clean about the insurance. It turned out; Jane was getting a five percent cut of the total insurance premium. He'd also admitted that he wasn't keen on mowing lawns and the whole thing had been cooked up just as a way to force the neighborhood to use his service and keep all of the money.

The vote had been quick and decisive. The HOA had voted by a landslide for impeachment. Jane hadn't even stuck around for the vote. Once Alec started spilling his guts, Jane had flounced out of the HOA community room without so much as a "screw you" to the assembled crowd. The dust hadn't settled from her abrupt retreat when the gathered crowd had unanimously voted to reinstate Bella.

"Isn't this great? The wicked witch is gone and President Swan is back in charge!" Emmett gushed, plopping down in the chat next to the shell-shocked brunette.

"Emmett, she hasn't accepted yet." Edward reminded his exuberant friend while keeping a keen eye on the silent woman leaning heavily into his chest. He could feel her breathing deeply as she contemplated what to do.

"But she's going to accept, right?" Edward shrugged and continued to rub Bella's shoulders.

"Wait, Bella, you have to say yes. We need you," Emmett proclaimed, leaning forward in his chair so he could look into her eyes. "You understand how much we need you. Don't you?"

Bella looked at her friend and then looked around the room. The community hall was packed. More people had attended Jane's impeachment hearing than had ever attended a normal meeting. Twenty-two homeowners had stood up to bear witness against Jane. More than had ever bothered to speak at any meeting before. As they stood up to list their grievances, they'd also talked about how much better things were when Bella had been in charge. Some had gone on to say how much they appreciated the efforts she and Emmett had gone to the past year to schedule community events. Mrs. Cope had looked at her with caring eyes and had said she knew Bella's grandma would have been extremely proud of her for making their community such a wonderful place to live. Seth, Jake, Leah and Emily had stood up in front of the room and had thanked her for always looking out for them and making them feel part of the community, not just the kids of the homeowners.

Overcome with emotion, Bella remembered last July fourth, and how she'd felt walking past all of the happy families. She'd felt completely left out and ignored. Now she was being hailed as someone they all liked and revered. Was it really her they wanted back in charge or was it just that they wanted Jane gone?

"What do you think I should do?" Bella asked Edward. She knew that whatever decision she made it would have to include him.

Edward moved to crouch in front of her. "I don't want to be that uptight Bella again." She said softly, remembering how he'd hated that version of her.

He gently caressed her cheek bone, losing himself in her dark eyes as he remembered the events that had caused him to call her uptight. "Cookie, you aren't that person anymore. And you don't have to be again, even if you take over. I'll support you no matter what your decision is, I'm not going anywhere." Edward was confident that Bella would not return, except for private appearances, in their bedroom.

He leaned forward until their foreheads were touching, he could feel her relax at the contact.

"Okay. I'll do it." She said definitively.

Edward leaned back. "Say it again so they can hear you." Bella let out a deep breath and stood up to address her neighbors and friends.

"Okay, I'll do it but there are going to be some changes."

July, 3rd.

"Do you want to grab a couple of waters before we board?" Bella nodded, taking Edward's offered hand.

"Good grief! Can you believe $5.00 for water?" Edward groused, setting two bottles up on the counter and getting his wallet out.

"Um…" Bella grinned, setting a packet of Hot Tamales, peanut M&Ms and a chocolate-chip muffin next to the bottles of water.

Edward shook his head and handed over his Amex card to the clerk. "That's not a very nutritious breakfast."

"Breakfast is whatever I decide it is." Bella shrugged, grabbing the Hot Tamales, pouring several in her hand and popping them in her mouth with a cheeky grin.

Stocked with snacks for the first leg of their trip, they walked over to the gate and waited to board their flight.

Edward took out his phone and quickly scanned his email, answering a few from the doctors that were covering his patients while Bella pulled out a new paperback. She no longer hid the covers of what she was reading. Edward had showed her that it didn't matter what other people thought as long as she was happy. And right now reading about a certain mind reading, vegetarian vampire and his human girlfriend, made her happy.

She'd just gotten to the part where the gorgeous yet broody boy had revealed his true nature to the human girl when the chorus of "Hail Columbia", began playing from the depths of her purse. Groaning, Bella stashed her book and dug out her phone. Edward chuckled beside her when he heard the official song of the American Vice President ring out. That song meant one thing, Emmett was calling.

"Hello, Emmett. No, not yet, but anytime, so hurry-what? No, you cannot paint the HOA hall pink. Why would you want to do that? I don't care that it's Rose's new favorite color." Edward nudged her to indicate they needed to get in line to board. Bella grabbed her things and followed him to the gate, phone still in hand.

"The check is already made out; all you have to do is drop it off at Marcus's office. Yes, that one. Well, you know where the rule book is, talk to both of them and figure it out," she said before covering the mouthpiece to answer Edward's questioning look, "Mrs. Cope and Mr. Bauer are fighting over the height of their shared hedges." He chuckled and gently urged her forward in the line.

"I don't care what Pik tries to tell you, don't give him cheese! He's lactose intolerant. No, he does not need soy cheese. In fact, don't feed him any people food. Is that screaming? Oh my God! What's happening? How many eggs did he run over? Emmett? Emmett?" Bella looked up in alarm as Edward grabbed her phone and turned it off, before shoving it back into her bag.

"Let your Vice President handle it." Edward ordered, kissing her lightly on the lips. "You're off duty, right?"

"Right." Bella agreed quickly, taking Edward's hand.

Edward handed their tickets to the attendant. She smiled at the handsome couple as she quickly scanned their boarding passes.

"What a lovely couple," she remarked, "Are you on your honeymoon?"

Edward raised their entwined hands to place a sweet kiss on Bella's knuckles. His eyes filled with love as he answered, "No, but maybe next year."

A/N

I'm marking this story as complete. But I can see posting an outtake or two in the future. If you love these two as much as I do, hit alert, just in case.

Thank you for reading!

ruinedbyrob