Disclaimer: I'm not Stephenie Meyer, and I don't own Twilight. I just play with the characters.

NOTE: Another time jump, but this one takes place before the first chapter, and after the second chapter. You'll see my plan with chapter placement soon, dears, I promise *smiles widely*.

XOXOXOXO

December 20, 2006

Bella

She made her way through the front door, her arms laden with bags of groceries from the local Thriftway.

"Edward, are you here?" Bella called out into the quiet apartment.

She waited for a moment, still as a statue, listening for any sign of his presence. Hearing none, she walked forward stealthily and set down the paper bags on the kitchen table.

"Edward?" she called again, louder than before. She had to be sure he wasn't there; it would ruin the surprise if he saw what else she'd picked up while running her errands that day.

Bella unwrapped her scarf from around her neck and hung it up on the stand behind the front door. She shivered slightly before walking over to the thermostat and turning the heater up.

Only a little bit. The electricity bill was high enough.

She reached into her purse and grabbed the gift from inside. This was sure to make Edward happy, Bella thought to herself as she tapped the edge of it against her pursed lips. She wondered where to hide it.

She anxiously walked around the apartment, thinking and searching for a good hiding place. Everywhere she thought of was someplace Edward would notice it. Bella heard footsteps coming up the stairs; it was Edward! She had to find a hiding place quickly.

Running through the small hallway and into the bedroom, Bella stopped only long enough to take off her thick winter jacket and throw it on the bed before hearing keys in the front door. Just as the lock turned, she slipped silently into the bathroom and softly closed the door.

Bella heard Edward in the kitchen. "Bella? Baby, you home?" he called out.

"In the bathroom," she called back through the door. Great, now she was confined to the smallest room in the house and still had to hide the envelope from him. She twirled around in a circle, eyeing her hiding spots quickly. Her heart hammered in her chest. I should've just given Alice the damn thing to hold on to, Bella thought ruefully.

She heard Edward enter the bedroom. "How was your day? Did you get everything done that you needed to?" he asked loudly, so that she could hear him through the door.

"Yeah, we even had some extra cash, so I bought you those rice crispy treats that you love so damn much," she laughed while still trying to think.

Then it dawned on her. The one place in a bathroom that men will detest and try to stay clear from at all times. Her box of tampons.

She opened the cupboard and pulled out the blue box. Dumping its contents onto the countertop, Bella put the envelope down at the bottom and quickly replaced the cylindrical wrappers inside. She replaced the container quickly and closed the cupboard door, turning the handle of the toilet at the same time to mask the noise. She straightened up and washed her hands, then turned and opened the bathroom door.

"Hey, sweetheart," Bella said as she walked up and gave Edward a quick kiss on the cheek. "I didn't expect you home so early," she continued as she picked up her jacket from the bed and turned around to hang it up with her scarf.

Edward grabbed her around the waist and brought her body flush with his. "Nuh, uh, uh," he sang lowly before dipping his head down to hers. "That is not a proper greeting for newlyweds, dearest," he continued before his mouth descended on hers.

His plump lips pressed against Bella's, the both of them inhaling deeply at the contact. It was like they were coming home. Bella, one hand still wrapped around her jacket, reached up and ran her fingers through the hair at the back of Edward's neck. She felt his fingers twitch against her hip and his moan reverberate through their chests. She loved it when he moaned.

He parted his lips against hers slowly, running the top of his tongue over her bottom lip lightly, teasingly. She opened up to him, breathing him in as their kiss deepened. They could've happily stayed there all day, kissing each other until the sun set and the starry night sky darkened.

"Mmm, I could just eat you up," Bella said playfully as she bit on Edward's lower lip. Then, realizing that she'd left food out on the table, she broke their kiss abruptly. "Shit, I forgot about the groceries!" she exclaimed, running away from him.

"Bella, it's Forks! It's not like the food's going to thaw," he chuckled at her retreating form. He shook his head at his wife; it was too easy to distract her sometimes.

Granted, it was an awesome distraction, but still.

Edward changed quickly into a comfortable pair of dark-wash jeans and a black long-sleeve shirt, and then went into the kitchen to help her put away the groceries.

"Did you just get home?" he asked, noting how many bags still needed to be put away.

"Yeah. Did you know that everyone in Forks does their shopping on Wednesdays? I swear I ran into your mom, my dad, Angela and Ben. I even saw Mrs. Cope getting her car washed by Eric Yorkie behind the Thriftway," Bella explained while reaching up to put a box of pasta in the cupboard.

"Did you? How is everyone?"

"Angela and Ben want to have a date night with us sometime next week," she responded, looking over at him quickly.

"Before, or after Christmas?" Edward laughed lightly.

"Oh, crap! I completely forgot about Christmas being next week when I was talking to them." She sighed. "Well, I guess we'll figure something out."

Christmas was a big occasion for the Swan-Masen household. It would be the first one that they shared as a married couple. Bella and Edward hadn't talked about whose parents' house they were going to yet, but the conversation had to be breached some time soon. The big day was less than a week away.

"Edward, we really have to talk about what our plans are for Christmas," Bella brought up as they were getting ready for bed that night. "I mean, do you parents want us to go over there for presents? Should we go to my dad's for dinner? Are Alice and Jasper planning a big shin-dig that we'll have to go to?" she continued as they both pulled the comforter and blankets down the bed.

"Bella, I don't know. I haven't talked to my mom yet about it, and I'm pretty sure my dad doesn't care. Your dad, on the other hand, said that if I didn't show up with you on his front porch some time on Christmas Eve, or Christmas Day, said he'd shoot my balls off," Edward replied as he fluffed a pillow.

"He did not!" Bella exclaimed in shock at his words.

The grin Edward had been trying to hide threatened to show on his face.

"He did. He also said that I had to go with him to pick up your chastity belt's key from his safety deposit box at the bank tomorrow," he chuckled as Bella processed his words.

"You low down, dirty liar! Edward, I'm trying to be serious about all of this and here you are making jokes. I can't believe I married you," she laughed as she threw a pillow at him.

Edward caught the pillow in mid-air, and made to reassure his wife. "Relax, love, I don't think our parents are going to disown us if we don't go over to their house for Christmas."

"But I don't want them to be mad at me," she pouted, standing at the side of the bed with her arms crossed over her chest.

"Bella, they're big people now, I don't think they'd be mad at us for wanting to have our first Christmas alone," Edward chided as he crawled on top of the bed towards her. He stopped before Bella on his knees, looking into her brown eyes. "I don't like talking about our parents before we go to bed. It's creepy. The only talk of parents I want around here is when we decide to start having our own kids," Edward said as he laid his head on top of Bella's arms, still looking into her eyes.

"Kids," she echoed, softly, as if to herself.

"Yes, kids. At some point, you know, I want to have them. With you," he said as he slowly started moving Bella's arms away from her chest.

"I want babies with you too, Edward." A smile formed on her lips. "But not yet," she added as she bit her lower lip.

"Now? Of course not—we're nowhere near ready for that kind of responsibility," he agreed as he started peppering kisses along her fingertips.

"I want to do a whole lot of practicing first," she giggled as he moved up her arms.

"Oh, yeah? What a coincidence—so do I," he said with a straight face.

"Yeah, that is quite a coincidence. Edward?" she asked breathily.

"Baby?" he replied, now kissing her shoulders.

"I'm on my period, and I'm too tired for practicing tonight."

He paused for a heartbeat before reaching up and kissing her softly on the lips.

"I know. That doesn't change how much I want to kiss you, though," he answered.

"Good answer." Bella laughed as she pushed him back onto the bed.

"Besides, it's after midnight and we both have to be at work early tomorrow morning," she reasoned as she climbed into bed.

Edward got up and turned off the bedroom light, then joined Bella. As they snuggled under the covers, Edward pulled Bella's back into his chest. "You're right. You're always right," he whispered into her ear. He felt her laughter against him, her body rubbing deliciously against his hard member.

"Just keep that in mind fifty years down the road, okay Edward?" she laughed as she pulled his hand from her waist and brought it up her chest, holding him to her.

"That won't ever be a problem, Bella. Goodnight, I love you," he said into her hair and kissed her on the cheek softly.

She wiggled closer to his warmth, the winter night seeming colder than usual, and replied, "Sweet dreams, I love you too."

The phone rang while it was still dark outside. Bella bolted upright in bed, Edward's hand and the bed sheets slid down her chest while her heart raced and her breathing sped up. Phone calls in the middle of the night always brought bad news, being the daughter of the Chief of Police had taught her at least that much.

Edward jerked awake. "Huh? What's the matter?" he mumbled sleepily, catching on to the phone ringing a moment later. He twisted in the sheets, rolling over to pick up the phone.

"Hello?" he said thickly while rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.

"Isabella Swan?" the gruff, formal voice asked. For a second, Edward thought it was Bella's father, Charlie.

"No, this is her husband. May I ask who's calling at," he checked the clock, "three forty-two in the morning?"

"This is Officer Brandon Kronstat of the Jacksonville Police Department. I'm sorry to be calling so early sir, but it's very important that I speak to your wife. Is she available?" the gruff voice asked.

Edward's heart turned to lead in his chest. He licked his lips slowly and handed the phone to an expectant Bella. "It's for you."

She took it from him with trembling fingers and shakily spoke into the receiver, "He-hello?"

"Is this Isabella Swan? Daughter of Renee Swan?"

Her mother. This was about Renee.

Bella's heart beat frantically against her ribs. "Yes, she's my mother. What's happened?" she asked quietly.

Car accidents, house fires and grisly blood spatters on white walls flashed behind her closed, trembling eyelids.

"My name is Officer Kronstat of the Jacksonville Police Department. Your mother was found wandering the streets of downtown Jacksonville this morning. When we tried to ask her if she was okay, she kept talking about the people who wanted to paint her kneecaps blue. At the time, we first assumed that she'd been out the night before, consuming alcohol. But we were able to take a breathalyzer and it came out negative."

Bella was slowly processing the man's words.

Jacksonville, kneecaps, alcohol.

She shook her head to clear some of the confusion. She didn't know if she should be relieved, or worried, that the test showed no trace of alcohol.

"We were obviously concerned about her welfare and managed to get her to the police station. We were just going to place her in an interrogation room, and told her as much, but she became very physical and proceeded to hit another officer in the process."

Bella gasped, her hand coming to her mouth quickly.

Edward sat up in the bed beside her, his knee folding under him as he placed a warm hand on her back and began rubbing it in comforting circles.

Officer Kronstat continued talking as Bella listened intently. Edward's hand reached her shoulder and he squeezed it softly. She absentmindedly reached up and placed hers on top of it, wrapping her fingers around his gently.

"Unfortunately because of our policies, we had to book and place her in a holding cell. After taking her possessions we found your phone number scrawled on a piece of paper in her coat pocket, saying to call you in case of an emergency. Mrs. Swan, are you still there?"

"Yes, I'm still here. Why couldn't she have made this call? Did something else happen?" Bella asked fearfully.

"She's not really focusing on reality, ma'am. See, while she's been here, we noticed that something, well, something wasn't quite right. She was all by herself, but kept talking as if someone else was in the cell with her. We thought that maybe she'd fallen and got a concussion, so to be on the safe side, we brought her to the Baptist Medical Center. Some doctors checked her out and when we were waiting she threw a tray at one of the nurses. We had to place her in restraints."

Bella let go of Edward's hand and ran it over her face. When would the surprises end?

"The doctors didn't find anything wrong, but they have a psychologist making his way over in a few hours to see if something psychological is affecting your mother. That's what they're presuming, at least. Now, am I correct in assuming that you're not located in the area?"

Bella cleared her throat, so many thoughts running through her head. She just needed a minute to organize herself. "No, Washington State."

"Is there any family of hers out here?"

"Um, no—not that I know of. You really should be talking to my dad about these things. She left when I was young; I haven't seen her in years. Is there a number where I can contact you at, when I find our more information?"

"Sure, Mrs. Swan. It's-"

"Hold on a sec, I need a-oh god, thank you, Edward." She'd begun looking around in the dark for a piece of paper and a pen, but Edward had beaten her to it, and now held these things out to her.

"Go ahead, Officer Kronstat."

"Okay, it's 555-597-3431. Just ask to talk to me and they can patch you through to my cell. I'm her arresting officer, so I'll be with her through the entire day. Do you have any questions?"

"Is everyone okay? The officer and the nurse she hit?" Bella asked slowly, hoping for the best.

"A couple of bruises for the officer and a few stitches for the nurse, that's all. They'll both be fine, though. Those kinds of things come with the job. I look forward to talking with you later, Mrs. Swan."

Bella released a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. "Yes, have a good day, officer. Bye."

Bella hung up the phone and handed it back to Edward. He took it from her mutely and placed it back in its cradle. The both of them sat in silence for a minute, Bella needed to think and Edward gave her the chance to do it.

"What time is it now?" she finally asked as she blinked away her stupor.

Edward turned back to the clock. "Four."

"I need to call my dad."

"Okay, but does it really have to be this early? Tell me what the officer said," Edward asked logically.

"My mom's in the hospital, under restraints."

"Is she okay?"

"They don't know for sure, Edward. Physically, yes. Mentally, I don't know. You know that my mom and dad split when I was five; I haven't really seen her since. I used to talk to her on the phone but then it just got too painful to keep asking her why she wasn't here with us."

Bella shivered and Edward wrapped a protective arm around her shoulder, pulling her into his broad, shirtless chest and hugging her tightly. She rested her head on his shoulder, tears threatening to spill down her cheeks as she thought back to all of those conversations that always ended with her mother saying, "…because I don't know."

XOXOXOXO

A/N: Many thanks go out to PTB, Lauren, Ellie, Melody, Tammy, and my mom. They all know why.

This would've been up way earlier if not the for FF fail and the fact that I had to work late. Huge thanks for sticking with me! I hope you enjoyed a look into Bella and Edward's not so distant past (from the first chapter). What do you think Bella's hiding, hmm? And Mama Swan's in trouble, what do you think happened in Jacksonville?

I'm on Twitter and yes, I post teasers: (at) AmoreBella88.

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

See you next week,

AmoreBella88