**DISCLAIMER: ANYTHING RECOGNIZABLE DOES NOT BELONG TO ME!!!**

BPOV

I forgot how much I hated moving I realized as I fell back onto my couch panting and sweating. I was now drained physically, as well as emotionally. Good thing I was finally done, now all I had to do was wait for the movers.

Scratch that, I also had to say goodbye.

That was the task I dreaded the most, I thought as I saw the movers pull up. It was now also the one thing I couldn't put off any longer. I was going to miss Edward so much; hell, I missed him already. I had taken our friendship for granted and now, after these past few weeks without him teasing me, laughing with me, helping me, the world was a bleak and lonely and miserable place.

I can't count how many times over the past few weeks I've glanced out my window into Edward's house just thinking. Did he think about me as often as I did him? Did he just sit and wonder what I was doing? Did he stare at my house wondering if he could get up the courage to say hello?

I shook my head to clear my thoughts. There was no way anything could come of me and Edward. I needed to be someone's number one…and he already had that spot taken. Moving was the only solution, at least the only one I could come up with.

Out of sight = out of mind.

Will it work?

With a deep breath, I got out of the house to give the movers room to get my stuff and headed across the yard to Edward's. I was just about to climb the front porch stairs when Joel bolted out, wrapping me in a hug.

"Do you have to move?" he cried and I felt the tears spring up in my eyes. Not only was I going to miss Edward, I was going to miss these two just as much.

"Yes," I whispered, not trusting myself to speak any louder. "I have an apartment now."

Just then Chloe raced around from the backyard, wrapping her arms around me as well.

"You're moving already?!" she said, and I could hear the sadness in her voice which made my throat get that much tighter.

"Looks that way," I responded, trying to fuse a little humor into the mood. No one was amused though, least of all me.

"I don't want you to go," Joel stated, squeezing me tighter. This time, I couldn't stop a few tears from escaping. I wanted this to be over quickly because I didn't know how much longer I would last until they all broke loose.

"We're never going to see you again are we?" Chloe asked softly.

"Of course you will!" I responded strongly, pulling myself back so she could see the truth in my expression. No way was I making this a final goodbye, I cared about the two of them too much to willingly never see them again.

"When? Where?" Chloe demanded, still not entirely believing.

I handed them both a piece of paper. "Whenever, wherever. This is my phone number and new address. Any time either of you want to see me or need to talk to me, I'll be there. I promise."

They both read it but neither seemed entirely satisfied.

"It won't be the same," Chloe declared.

"No, it won't be," I agreed. Just then the movers informed me everything was loaded into the truck. Chloe and Joel followed behind as I walked about one last time through my condo, making sure I wasn't leaving anything behind. When I walked back outside, Edward was there in his front yard.

For a moment we just stared at each other, unsure what to say. Then I cleared my throat.

"Uh, the children are with me," I told him, thinking that might be why he was outside.

"I know," he stated, giving me that intense gaze. I wanted nothing more than to run and throw my arms around him, begging him to let me be number one. But I refrained myself. "I thought I'd just come tell you goodbye myself."

I nodded. "Oh."

"We're ready for you miss," one of the movers called to me. I shook my head to let him know I heard.

"Well, you better go," Edward said, his hands stuffed in his pocket.

This was hell – all this saying goodbye and loving him so much stuff. I found myself wishing, praying, and hoping things would be different…and knowing they couldn't be.

"Dad, Bella said we can go visit her new apartment anytime we want. Can we?" Joel asked.

Edward looked at me. "If Bella says it's ok."

I nodded. "I'd really like that. I'm going to miss…all of you." I was going to say just the kids' names, but I knew that'd be a lie. I would miss him, and what could-have-been the most.

"Goodbye Bella."

"Goodbye Edward," I said back. I gave the kids one last quick hug and goodbye before turning and walking towards the moving van. I didn't look back once.

The dress Rosalie picked out for me to wear as her maid of honor was absolutely stunning. It was easily the most beautiful dress I had ever owned. It was a floor length midnight blue gown that did wonders for my figure and skin tone. Every time I put it on all I could think about was Edward and his reaction to me in the dress. Then again, I thought about Edward and his reaction for everything; it had become something of a pastime.

Scratch that; it had become more of an obsession. He was the first thing I thought of when I woke up, the last thing I thought of before I went to bed, and all the other thoughts in between.

"He'll go out of his mind," Rosalie whispered softly.

I had been so lost in my thoughts that it took me a minute to realize Rosalie was referring to Emmett when he saw her in her wedding dress.

"He will," I agreed, thinking to the wedding that was to take place in a few moments. The ceremony itself would be really small, with only me, Edward, family, and a handful of close friends in attendance. Afterwards though a large reception was planned, Rosalie and Emmett having invited everyone they knew to share in the celebration of their marriage with dinner, drinks, and dancing.

It would be my first time seeing Edward in two weeks. Fourteen days that felt like it had been fourteen years. I'd anxiously looked forward to this day while at the same time dreading and now that it was finally here I still couldn't decide which feeling was stronger.

Taking a deep breath as I heard the organ music start to play, I started to walk forward as the doors began to open. I managed to avert my gaze to avoid looking at him while I walked down the aisle but in the middle of the ceremony our eyes accidentally met. Though inside my heart was breaking, I managed a small smile only to have it not returned. I quickly looked away before I started blushing in embarrassment.

As short as the ceremony was, in the end my face was covered in tears and when it came time to sign the wedding certificate, my hand was shaking. Edward however showed no such emotion. Throughout the ceremony he remained stiff, completely ignoring me, and signed the certificate with a confident and bold signature.

After climbing into the limo to be driven to the reception, Chloe hurried to my side, giving me a huge hug. "You look so beautiful Bella! Doesn't she Dad?"

"Lovely," Edward nodded, letting his mask drop for just a second to let the appreciation show in his eyes.

Just this one quick, admiring look boosted my sprits immensely.

"Dad's new neighbors moved in and they don't have kids," said a disgruntled Joel. He was wearing a suit and it was obvious that he was more than uncomfortable in it. I'd bet that it took quite a bit of bribing on Edward's part to get him in it.

"The new neighbors are ok," Chloe said.

"I'm sure they'll have kids soon enough," I told them. I had met the couple myself and they were both young and extremely nice.

"What actually bothers the kids the most is that the new neighbors aren't you," Edward stated nonchalantly. "But that's just life; people come and people go. They'll adjust, just like I have," Edward ended with a shrug. It seemed he was going out of his way just to make me see how much he didn't miss me and how much he didn't need me…and inside my heart was breaking even more.

"We all miss you Bella," Chloe said, seemingly try to soften her father's cruel words. "It doesn't seem right without you there."

I didn't think it seemed right without me there either but I could hardly say so out loud.

The reception was already filled by time we arrived. The reception line went quickly, followed by dinner where Edward and I were both seated at the head table with Rosalie and Emmett. I don't know if it was the salmon, the champagne, or what, but through the dinner I caught Edward looking at me and I smiled, wanting to lessen the tension between us. Luckily, I noticed Edward visibly relax so I did too.

After dinner was cleaned up and the cake was served, the music started. Rosalie and Emmett had the first dance and they looked so beautiful out there on the floor. The love in their eyes as they held each other close nearly brought me to tears all over again.

As tradition, Edward and I joined them on the floor for the next dance. By the loose way Edward held me, anyone would have thought I was his sister. Despite this, and the fact that we had never danced together before, we danced perfectly together. My normal clumsy self actually managed to stay balanced and in tune with the music and Edward's movements, as though we'd danced together for years.

When the music ended, I could have sworn I heard Edward give a sigh in relief.

"Come on Edward, it wasn't that bad was it?"

He just gave me a blank look.

"Dancing with me," I elaborated.

He reached for a new glass of champagne before answering. "Bad enough."

"I didn't step on your toes did I?"

"No, just my heart," he muttered.

"What about my heart," I hissed, angry at his response.

"It looks pretty great to me in that dress your wearing. Let me guess who picked it out. Rosalie, right? That woman is too smart for her own good."

"And what's that supposed to mean?" I asked.

"It means I need to sit down and shut up before I make an even bigger ass of myself," Edward said, finishing his glass of champagne and walking away.

Still angry, there was no way I was letting him walk away and instead I followed him. However, if he knew I was right behind him he didn't show it. Instead he sat down at the table where Joel and Chloe were waiting for him. When I was two feet away from sitting down next to him, a balding man who I remembered as being one of Emmett's uncle-in-laws grabbed my arm.

"What's a pretty gal like you doing without anyone to dance with," he said, slurring slightly and trying to put his arm around my waist.

"I'm so sorry Thomas, but I promised this dance to my friend."

"Your friend?"

I winked over at Joel. "I believe you wanted this dance?" I smiled.

Joel nodded and hopped up, quickly coming over to take my hand and lead me to the dance floor.

"Dad needs a new bowling partner," Joel announced as soon as we started dancing. "I told him he should ask you."

"Oh really?" I said nonchalantly, not knowing any other way to respond.

"He said you wouldn't be interested."

"Oh?"

"Are you," Joel pressed.

"I…I'm not sure," I told him honestly.

"Is it 'cause you have a new boyfriend?"

I chuckled and shook my head. "No."

We were silent for a couple minutes before Joel started talking again. "Did you know Kip's back?"

I nodded. "Yes, Chloe told me."

"He's divorced. Mom was afraid he might be a bigamist, but he's not."

I nodded again. I could imagine the worry Tanya must have gone through while that mess was sorted out. It also helped explain the big disaster the night that Edward disappeared. Not for the first time, I felt guilty for my overreaction that next morning.

"I asked Dad if he was going to marry again and do you know what he said?" Joel asked, breaking into my thoughts.

"No."

"He said that if he couldn't marry you he wasn't going to marry anyone else ever again. He even joined a men's bowling league this year."

I swear I stopped breathing and just at that moment Edward walked up.

"Mind if I cut in?"

A/N: I am so Soo SOOOO sorry for this crazy long wait!! I know this chapter's not too long but I really hope you enjoy it. There's only one or two chapters left, plus an epilogue. I'm also home from school for a month so I have plenty of time to get an update in so the next chapter should be up pretty soon. Please please Read and Review!!!