If you haven't already, check out Cupcakes by AngelRen. It's the prequel.

so I lied. Sorry guys. But you love me for it. I added more, after all. NOW I'm finished with it." -Ren, when she posted part seven of Cupcakes.

Remember when I said that? Remember how I lied before when I finished with six? Apparently I'm a filthy liar. I loved this so much, I'd re-read it from time to time. And as I was reading, I'd be thinking about what Edward was doing or thinking. And then I decided maybe I should just rewrite the damn thing from Edward's perspective (so it's quite a bit longer). So here it is!

(Oh boy.) Lemme know what you think!

Cupcakes, Part 1: Ingredients

Government. What was it with this course? I knew ten times more about the history and construction of the different eras of government than this pompous windbag could ever dream of understanding. Little did he know that I had taken the same course from his father, some decades ago. Perhaps it was a good thing he didn't look through the old record files. The course had only been slightly different then, same boring principles, same boring, monotonous voice. Must be hereditary.

"And so, in honor of the celebration, we will be having a party in class tomorrow." My ears perked. What was he talking about? I quickly tore my gaze from Bella and my mind from the past.

This will be so much fun! I need a break, too. If they keep handing in papers every day, I'll never get them graded! This will be the perfect excuse for me to catch up. I doubt anyone will mind, either.

What in heaven's name was he thinking about?

"I would like each one of you to prepare a special homemade dish to share with the class tomorrow. As easy as it might be to go out and buy something, I want this homemade." He wasn't serious. I looked swiftly over to Bella.

She looked thoughtful. Divine, even. I could only imagine what was running through her head. The angel was very good in the kitchen, from what I understood from the people she cooked for. She probably had an arsenal of different dishes to bake and was trying to sort through them all. I watched her lips move slightly as she spoke in a whisper.

"Lemon squares."

I just stared. Bella was going to make lemon bars? I couldn't help but smile slightly. Her eyes suddenly turned and locked onto mine, a delicious blush colored her cheeks. I clenched my teeth together, feeling the venom start to flow. I tried to smile.

"Are you going to bake lemon bars?" I inquired tightly. The monster was already subsiding as her blush faded. Bella bobbed her brunette head up and down in response.

"Yes. What about you? What will you make?" I just stared at her. I had no idea. What was I going to make? I couldn't make anything. I had no idea how to make anything. Did I have to make something? No, of course not.

"Nothing," I replied with a smile. Bella scowled.

"You have to make something," she persisted. How I loved the way her eyes sparked to life when she was angry. The blush on her cheeks was intoxicating.

"No I don't. I just won't come to school tomorrow." Bella's face changed from a scowl to anger. Why was she angry? Was it something I said? I can't cook, and therefore I wasn't going to. Why would she be angry? Perhaps she thought it was some kind of personal insult? It was so incredibly frustrating not to know what she was thinking!

Edward looks like he's fighting with Bella. Maybe I'll ask her about it later…

I ignored Mike Newton. Besides, turning and snarling at him wouldn't have helped anything. Bella was still glaring at me. Her deep brown eyes glanced around, and she finally looked back, satisfied no one was within earshot. Her voice rushed out in a hissed whisper.

"Look, just because there's one tiny thing you might not be able to execute flawlessly doesn't mean you can just quit! That's cheating. You, Edward Cullen, are going to bake something, and I'm going to help you." I sat back a little bit, startled by her. Her expression was priceless. Her brows furrowed, her lips puckered into a pout. She was trying to act angry and scary. I couldn't help it. I started to laugh softly. Her expression then turned incredulous, then sheepish. Perhaps someday I would just surrender the concept of wishing to get inside her mind. It simply wasn't going to happen, no matter how much I desired it.

"Alright, you win. You're truly terrifying," I smirked. She blushed. When the class was dismissed, we walked hand in hand out the door.

What's Edward got that I don't?

I chuckled softly at Newton. He had no idea. Bella cast me a peculiar look and I just smiled mysteriously. She looked frustrated. Her frustration disappeared when I opened the passenger door for her. Her thin, frail body folded into the Volvo and I forced myself to walk slowly to the driver's side and slide in beside her.

Within the minute, we were racing home. I was going to take her by my place first. Maybe I could convince her to help me bake something. I still had no idea what. The idea of having to swallow such pride was… unfathomable. Alice would know. Perhaps I could keep it from the others. I could bribe Alice… perhaps the Turbo. She'd probably be waiting inside the door when I got there to tell me what I could give her.

"Edward?"

I glanced over to Bella. She looked confused. "We're home," she continued. I glanced on the windshield. The Volvo was parked in the driveway, I had already killed the engine and had been sitting in the driver's seat, thinking. I nodded to her and got out, moving at my natural pace to her side to open the door for her. I heard her heart rate increase. Gathering her things, we headed inside.

Bella moved quickly into the kitchen, and I glanced around for any sign of Alice. Where was everyone? The house was conspicuously empty. I listened, following behind her.

London Bridge is falling down, falling down, London bridge is falling down, my fair lady!

So Alice was thinking something she didn't want me to hear, clearly.

Alice feels particularly excited… I wonder what's going on. I smell Bella. They must be home.

I could only find Jasper and Alice. None of the others seemed to be around.

Damn wrench.

I heard a clatter from the garage. So Rosalie was here, too.

"Edward? I was thinking cupcakes. They're pretty easy." Cupcakes. Cupcakes! It couldn't be something more masculine like… like… seasoned trout or something. It had to be cupcakes.

Again, I turned to look at Bella. She was smiling, looking down at the list. Was I really going to let her show me how to bake cupcakes? It wasn't too terrible to not go to school. Really, she was being insensible again. I'd be more that happy to hover about her while she made her lemon squares.

"Is this really necessary?" I had a thousand reasons in my head why I didn't need to humble myself. Her whole body stiffened, and she raised her head. I watched as she stared at the wall, swallowing. Slowly, she turned to face me, trying to look determined. When her eyes met mine, they floundered. Her heartbeat became erratic. Soon, her breathing ceased all together.

"Bella?" What if she didn't start breathing again?

"Yes, Edward…?" Her voice was light, frail.

"You're not breathing again," I pointed out. I watched as she quickly looked away, inhaling deeply. I felt a tiny smile prickle at my lips when her heartbeat returned to normal. Her heartbeat was my favorite sound. I loved the way it drummed. Its cadence, though not unlike any other heartbeat, was unique. I'm not sure how it was unique, but I know I could pick her heartbeat out of a room of strangers. Inexplicably.

"Well, Edward. Do you want to bake your own cupcakes? Or would you like me to do it for you?" My smile faltered. I could feel my lips tense together. I glanced to her quietly. Did she really expect me to answer that I had no desire to bake anything at all? I didn't much like humiliating myself. I bet I could look up a recipe on the internet. It wouldn't be too hard. Just follow the directions, right? If I followed them, I wouldn't need to taste it to make sure they were alright.

"I can bake my own cupcakes," I replied curtly. Perhaps too sharply. I checked Bella's expression. She didn't seem offended. Only… amused. What was that girl thinking?

"Can you?" Her gaze was mesmerizing. If this was what she meant by dazzling, I could understand. I could get lost in her eyes. "You know, one of the most important parts about cooking is being able to taste what you've made. What have you baked recently?" Her voice interrupted me. I glared, perhaps a bit childishly. How often I chose to indulge in baking some human food was no testament to my ability.

"You're not upset because there's one teeny, tiny, little thing that this pathetic human can do that you can't, are you?" My eyes widened. I could feel the shock, and I quickly looked around the kitchen for something to occupy my mind with. This was ridiculous. At least it was only Bella. I could handle enduring this for her. My sweet, precious angel. As long as no one else knew… and then I heard it. I cringed.

"Edward's baking?" Where the hell did Emmett come from? I swear he wasn't here before. Why did he have to come home now? I wondered if Alice told him. I pressed my lips together thinly, trying to calm myself down before turning to face him. I was pretty sure I had arranged my expression into something close to polite.

Edward's baking… Eddie's baking… heh… that's funny. Pink apron, too?

All pretenses of politesse were off. Bella turned to look at Emmett. Emmett was smirking back at me. My hands clenched into fists. I tried to control the urge to punch him. Calming myself, I began to explain slowly.

"Bella is going to assist me in making… cupcakes." I tried not to choke on the last word.

"Cupcakes, eh?" Emmett moved into the kitchen, glancing around. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Bella looking between the two of us, worried. I pressed my lips together tightly.

"Yes. See, in one of our classes, everyone in the class was asked to bring something homemade for the bake exchange tomorrow… and… well," Bella trailed off. I smiled down at her tenderly. She really did want me to try this baking thing and had no interest in destroying my dignity. Sweet angel. I sighed.

"It's alright Bella… you can say it," I murmured quietly to her. Perhaps I could stay calm. I could do this for Bella, undergo sacrifices. If I did it for Bella, then it wouldn't be so humiliating. I could bake cupcakes with dignity.

"Say what? That Edward can't cook?" Or perhaps not. I let my anger get the best of me. The rush was incredible, and punching Emmett felt great. I smirked as Emmett landed across the room from the impact, looking surprised.

"I said Bella could say it. Not you." There was a difference. Emmett needed to figure this out. I glared at his scowling face and moved over next to Bella. "Now, what do we need to get?" She was blushing. I wasn't entirely sure how well I would be able to keep my concentration on baking fluffballs of dough with Bella around. I was so intoxicated by her presence, I barely caught what she said as she handed a list to me.

I glanced down, looking over it. Eggs, oil, mix, measuring cups and decoration. Shouldn't be too difficult.

"Shouldn't take too long," I commented, breezing over it a second time.

Ooo! Shopping!

I groaned and rolled my eyes.

"Can I come?" Emmett peeked over my shoulder at the list. My hands itched to punch him again, but Bella was far too close for me to risk losing control like that again. I glared at him.

"Why do you want to come?"

"Well, Bella's always a riot. I figured there might be entertainment in the grocery store. Please please?" Without looking to her, I could smell Bella's blush.

"Of course you can't go," I said quickly. This was ridiculous. I didn't want sweet Bella being humiliated in front of Emmett. Not after she was helping me with this. Besides. Emmett was obnoxious. There was no way I was going to let him go. Absolutely not. Not in my car, anyway.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Emmett turn his attention on Bella. No… he better not, absolutely not. He wasn't going to…

But he did.

"Please Bella? Please can I come? I'll be good, I promise. If you say yes, Edward will have to let me."

I couldn't believe it, but Emmett did it.

"Emmett. That's low, begging Bella and using her against me," I growled. I was not about to let him use Bella into tricking me into letting him embarrass her. That made perfect sense.

"Well, I don't have a problem with it, Edward…"

I sighed. I couldn't win.

"Oh alright! I'll go get the car," I growled, marching outside. I threw open the door and stalked over to the Volvo, yanking the door open. I slid inside and let out a deep sigh. I couldn't believe I just agreed to take Emmett to the Thriftway.

Huzzah! Bella and me are gonna have so much fun!!

Heaven help me.