AN: as long as Tears of Love is still in the hands of my editor, I've decided to post another story. Be warned: loads of fluff!

Disclaimer: Twilight isn't mine . . . sniff

"Bella!" Alice yelled from outside the door of her bathroom. Once again she had dressed me up, but much more casually this time. I pulled up the pair of blue designer jeans she had given me and stumbled out of the door.

"I'm ready," I breathed. The next moment I was falling over the pair of sneakers Alice had put right in front of the door. As always a pair of cold, strong arms grabbed me from behind. Shivers fan down my spine when Edward pressed his cold lips against my neck.

"Alice! I'm going to kill you if you do that again. That was so irresponsible of you!" Edward yelled down the stairs. Of course Alice would have heard him had he just whispered these words, but he seemed really angry. Why? Not a clue. But he was certainly not only freaking about the shoes in front of the bathroom door.

Then Edward scooped me up and within a second, or at least before I managed to shut my eyes, we were at the car and out of the driveway.

We were heading towards Seattle to get my mother and Phil. They were visiting me for one week, because Phil had a game somewhere in the area, and my mother thought that that would be a great opportunity to have an eye on her daughter. She thought the idea was great. I hated it.

I leaned back against my seat and sighed. That week wasn't going to be comfortable. She would surely try to stick her nose in mine and Edward's matters. That would be no problem if I wasn't

a) spending more time at the Cullens' mansion than elsewhere

b) afraid that she would discover something about them that she should better not know

c) sure that I could spend less time with Edward while she was here.

"What are you thinking, Bella?" Edward asked, concerned.

"Do you think my mother will have a problem with me spending all my time together with you? What if she eventually finds out about your family? What if she tries to split us up? What if she wants me to come back to her? What if . . ." A cold and very soft kiss shut me up.

"Don't worry, Bella. You know, since she is uncomfortable with being around Charlie she will come to our house as long as she wants to be with you. Besides, she will be here for only four days, since they are driving to the place where Phil has his match for the remaining three days. If she tries to split us up . . . well, I love you Isabella, mo matter what anyone else says, even if that someone happens to be your mother. If she finds out about us . . . we will have to deal with it, but I really doubt that she could find out, anyways. And if she wants you back . . . you are over eighteen, so it's your decision. I won't hold you back, but . . . Bella, I don't want you to leave, you know this, right?"

I was startled. This was the first time he admitted that much that he needed me. I always kept telling him I needed him, and asked him to promise me that he would never leave me. "Of course I know this, Edward. But . . . don't be offended . . . what happend to 'I want you to run away screaming'?"

"Bella, I love you, nothing can ever change that. I know as much by now. You have taught me to love . . . to live. Before you came into my live I barely existed . . ." He stroke my hair back and rested his hand on my cheek, looking me deep into the eyes.

As always I got lost in his gorgeous topaz eyes and flushed a deep red. He smiled my beloved crooked smile as he heard my heart speeding up rapidly.

Just then a cough emerged from the backseat and I could have sworn that nobody could get as red as me in that moment.

"I'm sorry to interrupt you two lovebirds, but Edward you better turn right or we will end up somewhere in Australia," Alice giggled from behind us. I heard Edward swear and closed my eyes while I felt the car turning very sharp right. When I dared to open my eyes again, we were already driving into the airport car park and pulling up into a parking spot.

Ten minutes later we stood at the check-out waiting for Renee and Phil to come out of their plane. Edward of course spotted Renee long before she reached my eyesight. He lifted me up into the air so I could see my mother coming, and she she was pleased when she saw me waving for her so she would know where to find us.

When she was only some feet away Edward let me down and I ran towards my mother and she hugged me tightly. Despite my earlier worries I was somewhat glad to see her again.

"Bella, you look so good." Then she looked at me all over my body to see if I had 'fallen down the stairs' again. Edward smiled, obviously Renee had thought something he found amusing. I had to ask her later on.

Phil greeted me with a handshake and we went back to the Volvo, put the luggage into the trunk and sped off back to Forks. I was seated between my mother and her huband in the backseat. When I looked out of the window next to my mom I had to smile. Edward threw me a questioning look and I answered with a demonstrative look at his speedometer which showed 'just' seventy miles per hour.

Edward reached with his hand past his seat and I pleasantly took it. Renee gave me a disapproving look, but I ignored her.

"Now Bella, don't you want to tell your mom how things are going in Forks."

The meaning of that sentence was undeniably pointed towards my relationship with the unbelievable beautiful vampire holding my hand, and of course Renee knew that I had understood her perfectly well.

Edward, having listened to her thoughts, squeezed my hand lightly. "Well, school's pretty fine and everything. Charlie still hasn't learnt how to cook and so on . . . isn't that your hotel" I was almost proud of myself that I had managed to emerge the minefield so well.

"Yes. Edward, could you please turn left there?" I could hear that she was mad about me not fully answering her question.

"Of course Mrs Swan." Edward politely responded. My mother had kept her old name and though she was officially Renee Swan-Dwyer most people who had known her before and Edward and the Cullens (until now just Carlisle) also called her by her old, and also my, surname.

We stopped in front of the Hotel and waited for them to check in, have their luggage brought to their room and then come out again to spend the evening with the Cullens and me.