A/N: Thanks for the reviews. And glad you liked their first time.

Disclaimer: Don't own anything except for copies of the books. SM rules.

Rating: Back to a T.

Chapter 3: Unexpected Surprise

"I love you."

I didn't know if it was me who said it, or if it was him. I closed my eyes, intending to rest for a little while.

So was it a bad thing that I didn't know where I ended and he began? We were one, nothing else mattered?

"What? Did she actually say that?"

I cracked my eyes open a tiny bit. "Edward, why are you speaking of me in the third person?"

His eyes widened. I could see the fear and amazement reflected in them. "Bella…Bella, what did you say?"

"I said, why are you acting as if I'm not even here? I can hear what you say, Edward…Is something wrong?" I watched in concern as he watched me, eyes wide, mouth hanging open, eyes unfocused.

"Bella," he said slowly. "You do realize that neither of us has opened our mouths to speak to one another?"

"What are you…" I trailed off, then noticed he was right. I was too tired to speak, too tired to open my mouth. But he could hear me.

And I could hear him.

I made an effort to speak this time. "How is this possible?" I whispered. I could still hear his thoughts, blurring so quickly it made my head spin.

"Sorry, love," he brushed his lips on my forehead quickly.

I stared at him, confused, then realized that he must have heard my complaint in his head. I flopped back against the blanket, and covered my forehead with my hands. "Edward, stop thinking so much. You're making me dizzy," I groaned, rolling over to my side.

A sudden gust of wind blowing on my skin made me realize I was still naked, still not wearing a single article of clothing. I blushed.

Edward chuckled at this, and I scowled at him. I liked it better when he couldn't read my thoughts. "Any ideas why this happened?"

He shook his head. "I'll have to ask Carlisle," he mused.

I panicked. "Does this mean he'll…know…" I couldn't bring myself to finish the sentence. I wasn't ashamed of what we did, but Carlisle is still my future father-in-law. This would be an awkward thing for him to know.

"Yes, I suppose he will. He'll need to know everything that happened beforehand, Bella," he reminded me. "He's been around for three centuries. He knows the physical needs of vampires and humans alike. He understands," Edward shrugged.

I know he does. It's still awkward. And embarrassing. And very uncomfortable.

"You'll get used to it once you're a Cullen."

I groaned again.

"Edward, what time is it?"

He disappeared in a flash and returned before I could blink. He was carrying our discarded clothes. He found his watch hidden beneath them and checked it. "Eleven thirty."

Oh, no. Charlie!

EBEBEBEBEBEBEBEBEBEBEBEBEBEBEBEBEBEBEBEBEBEBEBEBEBEBEBEBEBEBE

"Bella, where have you been?" Charlie demanded, the moment I walked into the front door. I had told Edward not to come in-it would only make things worse. Besides, he hadn't exactly calmed down from our, uh, encounter. I knew only I would be able to tell the difference by looking into his eyes, but there were certain other…aspects…of him that could give him away.

I sighed, starting to reach to shrug off my jacket. Remembering the back of the dress, I stopped. "Sorry, C-dad. We got stuck in traffic, in Olympia," I lied. "I was just so annoyed at it that I forgot to call."

Charlie seemed a little appeased that my being late for half an hour had nothing to do with pleasure, but with annoyance.

I was a little surprised that I could have lied to him so easily. But then again, it might have nothing to do with me and everything to do with Edward. He was outside of Forks, driving back to the Cullens' house, and I could still hear him. It was more distant, his thoughts, but there were still audible.

"Well, I was worried sick. You should have called me," he glared.

I didn't want to say anything horrible to him right now. My head was still throbbing, hearing all of Edward's thoughts was painful as well as exhilarating. While I'm glad to actually be able to hear every single one of his thoughts, he has a tendency to think a million things at one go. It was hard to keep up, and I haven't found a way to block him out yet. All he was succeeding in doing was giving me one nasty migraine.

I brought my hand up to my temple and rubbed. "Dad, I'm sorry. I just…I have a really bad headache, could I go up to my room?" I grumbled.

Charlie must have seen me wincing in pain, so he nodded, concern taking over. "Sure, Bells. Just tell me if you need anything," he added awkwardly.

Charlie and I weren't very good at being outwardly emotional, not towards each other nor towards others. It was awkward for him to ask and equally awkward for me to answer. "Sure, dad. Thanks."

I climbed up the steps slowly, trying to shut out a few of his thoughts. His concern and worries were starting to be overwhelming. I stepped into my empty room, and looked around. I wondered if he was going to be here tonight. I don't know if I'll actually get any sleep with him around. If his thoughts are screaming at me from such a distance, just imagine what they'll sound like if he's right next to me. But I needed him, and his support. I felt so strange right now.

I took out a pair of my pajamas, and my toiletry bag and went down the hall to the bathroom. Turning on the faucet, I ran my toothbrush under it, and started to brush my teeth. When I was done, I stepped into the shower, hoping that the warm water would help to decrease my headache.

It did, a little. I could even start hearing my own thoughts amongst Edward's after a while.

The water pounding down my back grew colder, and I realized that I'd used up all the hot water tonight. Turning off the shower, I glanced at the door guiltily.

I ran the towel through my hair, and slipped into my pajamas. Drying my hair a final time, I ran my brush through it. I didn't know if Edward was going to be in my room tonight, but I wanted to look nice for him. I had gotten some new pajamas recently, but still…It was the first time we would see each other after being intimate together. I wouldn't know from my lack of experience, but I feel it's a very big deal.

I slipped out of the bathroom, yelling 'Good night dad!', and stepped into my room. Edward wasn't anywhere in the room, but I still had hopes. I went to my drawer, pulling out a bottle of painkillers. I grabbed the bottle of water I had on my desk and popped two pills into my mouth, swallowing. Whatever it was, I didn't want to risk it.

I climbed into bed, more exhausted than I'd ever felt in my entire life. The migraine was taking its toll on me. My back was starting to ache. My head was getting foggy. As soon as my head hit the pillow, I fell asleep.

It was one of those dreams you know is just a dream. It's like you're half way between an interested observer, and the person in the dream. I was at the clearing where Edward had taken me to watch his family play baseball that first time. It was the night I'd met Victoria, and James and Laurent. It was so dark out, I could hardly see anything. I stepped forward, and nearly jumped out of my skin when I stepped on twigs. I heard laughter behind me, and spun around. There was no one there. I frowned. I was sure I'd heard someone.

A flash of red.

I froze.

Red? As in, Victoria? No, it couldn't be.

But then again, why not? She was still missing, still out there somewhere. Edward had been unable to find her during our time apart. And she had come after me, hadn't she? Why would she do that and leave me still alive?

It was Victoria, I realized with a sinking heart.

"You took him from me," she whispered. I looked around me wildly. I couldn't see her, couldn't find her. Oh, God. Was she going to kill me?

"So I'm going to take him from you."

Suddenly the clearing became bright as day. I saw Edward, coming towards me, his chest bare, his skin glittering, his smile beautiful. I smiled back at him, my tension gone momentarily.

Out of nowhere, Victoria appeared and pounced on him. "Edward!" I screamed, but it was too late. He hadn't seen her coming, she was too fast, too vicious. I heard a sickening sound, then saw Edward's head snap up. "No!" I yelled, sobbing by now.

"Bella!" He was calling me, calling my name. But how? How could he do that when he wasn't even attached to his own body? "Bella, wake up!"

Wake up? Ah, yes. This was a dream. ThankGodthankGodthankGod.

My eyes snapped open, and I registered the handsome Adonis hovering over me, staring at me concernedly. I sat up quickly and, ignoring the head rush, I wrapped my arms around his neck and sobbed into his shoulder. "Edward," I wailed.

"Shh, Bella. You don't want to wake your father," he said, alarmed at my outburst. But he didn't understand. That dream…It was so real. It felt so real. Edward rubbed my pack soothingly, rocking me gently.

When I finally controlled my sobs, I pulled back slightly. "My dream…"

He shook his head. "I know, Bella," he whispered. At my confused look, he tapped his head. I blinked. Of course. I hadn't realized that he would be able to hear my thoughts when I was unconscious.

I collapsed into him again, trying to regain my control. If it was hard for me to see him being decapitated, it couldn't have been all that easy for him to see himself being killed either. I needed to stop being so crazy right now.

"I've seen much worse," he whispered, his fingers entangling themselves in my hair as he soothed me. "Over the course of my existence, I've come across several enemies, the Volturi being the worst."

I shuddered at the mention of the Volturi. Not only did they made an appearance during the darkest time of my life, they were the scariest creatures I've ever met. Just the name alone brought back memories of Alec, Felix, Jane, Aro, Marcus, Caius, Demetri.

Even Giana bothered me. The human who wanted to be a part of Volterra, even after seeing hordes of people being led to their death, even after hearing their screams, and knowing their terror. Seeing their final moments. Knowing what goes on behind the closed doors of Volterra, she still opted to stay and wait to see if they would either eat her or keep her.

I shuddered again.

What sort of a person would allow themselves to do that? I would have run screaming in the other direction if I hadn't been too terrified.

"It's alright, love," Edward comforted, pressing soft kisses on my still throbbing forehead. This only made me feel worse, knowing that he could hear every single one of my irrational fears and thoughts.

Edward's hands running up and down my back brought memories of our time together at the meadow tonight. I blushed furiously at the memory, and ducked my head against his shoulder. Edward kissed the top of my head. "I love you, Bella," he whispered.

I expected to feel awkward around Edward, maybe even embarrassed. But all I felt was love. I wanted to be closer to him, and never let go. I wanted to know for a fact that he'll always be safe, always be with me.

My mom always said that sex wasn't what people say it is. Sex is more than that, it's a connection. It's strengthening your bond with someone you're in love with.

I agree completely.

If it would have killed me before to have Edward away from me, not knowing if I'll ever see him again, or understanding that he would be in danger, it would just push me over the edge of sanity now. And kill me, quite literally.

"I love you, Edward."

Then I remembered something. "Edward!" I gasped, pulling back. "What did Carlisle say?"

He chuckled, shaking his head. "In the morning, Bella. Rest now," he gently pushed until I was lying down on the bed.

I stared at him, adamant. "No, Edward. I need to know now," I insisted. He opened his mouth to argue with me, but I clamped a hand over his mouth. "Edward, if I go back to sleep now, I'll just start having nightmares again."

He eyed me skeptically, but he could read my thoughts now, so he could see, or hear, my honesty. Finally, he sighed, and nodded his head. "Carlisle thinks that because of our physical connection, our emotional connection was heightened," he told me.

I frowned, thinking this over. "Wait, is that even possible?"

Edward laid down next to me, his arms still around me. I twisted around so that I was face to face with him. "Well, your special attribute was blocking off everyone from your mind," he told me. "I couldn't read your mind, Aro couldn't read your mind, and Jane couldn't inflict any pain on you."

I bit my lip, thinking about his words. "But Jasper could still feel my emotions. Alice can still see my future," I reminded him.

"Ah, but those aren't connected with your mind, per se. Jasper's gifts comes from his mind, your heart. Alice comes from her head. But the rest of us…For Aro and I to read your thoughts, we would have to penetrate your mind. Jane has to do the same thing to make you think you're in pain. You blocked that out."

He withdrew a hand and trailed a finger down my bare arm. "But due to our…Encounter, for lack of a better term, our emotional bond also grew stronger. Carlisle says that because we were open to each other, without restrictions, your mind did the same thing," he gently tapped my forehead with an icy finger.

I smiled at him, and rested my head against his chest. "But what about you? I can hear your thoughts. That's not something I would normally be able to do, reading your mind. Why do I get to do it?" I asked, suddenly worried.

"Because, my Bella, love goes both ways. My love for you is strong enough that I must have projected myself, and my gift, to you."

"That's not normal."

He laughed quietly, shaking the bed underneath us. "And everything that's happened in these past years were?"

"Good point."

We lay in the dark in silence for a few moments before he spoke again. "Carlisle is still… Cautious. He would like us to see him tomorrow, see if there's anything he could do to help."

I groaned, burying my face in Edward's shirt. "Do we have to?" I mumbled. "I'd sort of like to not see any of your family for about a thousand years."

"Why not?" he asked, genuinely confused.

Because they know!

I didn't know how it happened, all I know was that my thoughts were all screaming that same sentence. Edward must have heard it because he started laughing again. "Love, compared to what I've seen in their heads over the past century, we've got nothing to be worried about."

Still. It was embarrassing. I'd been caught having sex with my fiancé before the wedding, and now my brain's doing some other freaky thing I have no control over. This was just pure humiliation.

Edward was still chuckling, so I glared at him. I wanted to do physical harm, but it would most probably hurt me more than it would hurt him. "I'm glad you find my pain so amusing, Edward," I said bitterly.

Suddenly he stopped laughing. Bending his head slightly, he kissed my sore head softly. "I'm sorry, love. I just…You have to know that being a Cullen would mean a lifetime of awkward situations. It's the price to pay for living with a bunch of vampires who could hear everything within a fifty mile radius, and having a psychic and a mind reader in the mix. Not to mention Jasper…"

He grinned down at me. "Call it an initiation."

I snorted, then brought my hand up to my forehead and rubbed. "I don't think painkillers work for this," I grumbled.

Edward brought his cool fingers to my head and started massaging gently. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the feel of his velvet skin against my human one. "Another reason why Carlisle wants us to meet him tomorrow," he whispered. "He wants to make sure that this doesn't hurt you in any way."

My eyes snapped open. "Can't Alice see?" I asked in panic.

He shook his head, frowning. "No. She couldn't see anything about this. That's what worries us," he told me. Catching himself, and switching to protective Edward mode, he smiled slightly. I could see the strain behind it though. "Sleep for now, my love. We'll have tomorrow to worry."

I wanted to protest but he was giving me that favorite crooked smile of his, and I rolled my eyes, giving in. I sighed and closed my eyes, waiting for sleep to come. Edward started to hum my lullaby and I drifted off to a dreamless sleep.

Well, what do you think? I wanted to delve a little more into this two-way connection thing they have going. It's going to be a little more supernatural before the angst kicks in because as we all know, things have to happen before our favorite couple start having problems in paradise.

Read and review!!!