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I do not own Twilight or the characters.

I walked out of the bathroom into Edwards's room, wrapped in a towel. In my haste to get in the tub so that I could have some privacy with my thoughts, I had forgotten to bring my overnight bag with me into the bathroom. Even though I knew that the family would be home from their hunting trip, I was still surprised to find Edward sitting on the bed waiting for me.

I jumped back startled to see him there and immediately noticed his mouth drop open and his gaze went down my body and back up to my eyes. "I forgot my bag," I said uncomfortably as I walked to the corner by the bedroom door and picked it up, "I'll just…go get dressed real quick." I knew I was acting awkward and I had never been so happy that Edward was unable to see into my mind.

On my way back to the bathroom, Edward grabbed my arm gently and pulled me towards him. Inside, my surprise turned into shock as he crossed something that definitely seemed out of his careful character and my stomach became a tense tangle of uncomfortable knots. He stood up and while putting his hand on my cheek to cup my face he placed a soft, brief kiss on my lips. His other was hand was on my shoulder and he was caressing it with his thumb.

The look on his face was a mixture of confusion, awe and…lust. The guilt swept over me in a rush and I contemplated for a moment telling him everything, but then I thought of Emmett. I had to learn to push this guilt aside for him, to protect him and to keep his family intact.

Edward broke my chain of thought as he brought his forehead down to rest on mine and whispered, "I missed you."

I mentally spoke to myself trying to calm the spring like nerves in my system, chanting, Bella be calm…calm…and normal.

I relaxed my shoulders, "I missed you too." I was still surprised that he had not backed away from me yet. My lack of attire was something that I would have thought would make him feel uncomfortable.

He brought his head to the side of my face and his breath was cool, tickling my warm skin causing my body to shiver in his arms. "Bella…" He breathed in deeply and sighed. "You look so tempting right now, I've never…ah …seen this much of…you. You're so much more beautiful than I ever realized." His hand that was on my shoulder was now tracing the top of the towel that was snug over my breasts.

As he continued to look at me, I began to feel lightheaded and my mind felt cloudy. I brought my hand to my head and stumbled back. I wondered to myself what that was all about and rubbed my temples.

"Are you alright?" He asked me with concern in his voice.

"Yes, I just felt dizzy for a second."

Raising an eyebrow, he gave me that crooked smile that usually made me weak in the knees. "Are you sure?"

"It felt like you were trying to dazzle me but more intense. Were you messing with my head on purpose?"

"No, of course not."

I nodded my head, the pressure turning into a slight pounding behind my eyes. "I'm getting cold so I'm going to get dressed. I'll be right back."

I retreated into the bathroom quickly, closing the door behind me and then rested my head against it. Releasing a shaky breath, I thought to myself that I did fairly well dealing with our first contact, at least better than I had anticipated. I needed to get a firmer sense of control before Edward notices…or Jasper. I need to do this for Edward and I needed to do this for Emmett. Thinking of Emmett I noticed that I immediately felt calmer and I went with that and took a few deep breaths.

Once I was dressed, I walked back out and Edward was still there waiting for me with an intense look on his face. "I'm sorry about before. I thought about it while you were in there and I think that I might have reacted to strongly to…well to your lack of attire. Do you feel alright?"

"It's alright, I just have a headache."

"Let's go downstairs and I'll get you some aspirin." He grabbed her hand and they headed down to the family room.

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The whole family was sitting in the family room watching T.V. and chatting amongst one another. When we entered the room everyone welcomed us with hellos, Edward led me to the couch and disappeared once I was sitting next to Alice. Within seconds, he was back with aspirin and a glass of water, which I accepted eagerly.

"Thank you."

"Your welcome." Edward sat next to me on the couch and put his arm around my shoulder before leaning back. He pulled me into him and I relaxed my back into his side.

I saw Emmett was sitting on the double video chair lounger with Rosalie in front us and she was cooing in his ear. I felt myself longing to be in her place…

"Bella…earth to Bella…" Alice said while waving her hand in front of my face.

Edward grabbed her hand, "Chill out Alice, she has a headache."

I looked at Alice and I tried to smile but I am pretty sure it came out as a grimace. "Sorry Alice, I guess I was spacing out."

Alice giggled, "Are you sure you weren't just thinking about your sexy, naughty dreams?"

I sucked in a breath so deeply that I started choking, Edward hissed at her while patting my back and Emmett started cracking up.

Once my choking calmed, I looked at Alice with tears pooling in my eyes and I am sure my face was more red than usual.

"Hey Edward," Emmett called out still chuckling, "maybe your doing something wrong…if your doing anything at all."

I gasped and switched my horrified face from Alice to Emmett. As Edward told him to shut up Emmett's eyes briefly met mine and then he looked away.

"You guys give her a break, she doesn't feel well," Edward said in my defense and I saw Carlisle and Esme shaking their heads at what I assumed was their disappointed at the ill manners of Alice and Emmett.

I turned to Edward and whispered, "Edward could you take me home? I'm not feeling so well."

"Oh Bella," Alice cried practically bouncing in her seat, "I'm so sorry. I was just playing with you, I mean they are just dreams right? I'm sure all humans have…you know, those dreams."

"Alice, just be quiet your continuing to embarrass her." Esme scolded.

Edward stood up, "I'm going to go get your bag and then we can go."

The seconds that it took Edward to get back seemed like an eternity. I had my elbows on my thighs and my head was in my hands. I wanted so desperately to look at Emmett but I could not trust myself to keep it to a glance.

When Edward made it back with my overnight bag, I hugged and kissed Esme on the cheek. Then saying goodbye to everyone we went out the front door.

As Edward was opening the passenger car door for me I realized that I had forgot to pack my little bathroom bag, it was still on the counter. "Oh, shoot. I forgot something, I'll be right back."

"Do you want me to get it?"

"That's okay. I think I want to have a short little talk with Alice also. Do you mind waiting a minute?"

"No, it's fine. I'll warm up the car." He kissed my forehead and walked around the car.

I headed back up and into the house, Carlisle and Esme were the only ones still in the family room watching T.V.

"I forgot something in the bathroom," I said to them as I rushed by them heading for the stairs. I did not run into anyone on my way up the floors and into Edwards's bathroom. However, when I turned around to walk back out Emmett was standing in the bathroom doorframe. I jumped back slightly but managed to stay silent as he brought his finger up to his lips silently requesting me to be quiet.

My heart started racing I was so excited to see him, to be able to look at him without having to worry about lingering or what others would think. Seeing him also made me frightened and tense at the thought of why he was here, where was everyone else and what if someone came looking for one of us.

Then he smiled flashing his dimples, his eyes sparkled onyx and then he crooked his finger at me. Without thinking, I ran into his arms, resting my head on his chest and breathed freely for what seemed like the first time since my bath.

He put his index finger under my chin and softly lifted my face up to his, our eyes met and I felt a warm churning in my stomach. He brought his face down to mine and ran his nose from the back of my jaw to my chin, breathing deeply in on his caress. When his eyes met mine again, he crashed his lips onto mine and kissed me as if he had been thirsting for me. I frowned when he pulled away and rested his forehead onto mine. He kissed my nose and put something into the front pocket of my jeans letting his hand linger on my hip.

He slowly and reluctantly pulled away and pushed me toward the door. When I looked at him, he just motioned to his watch and pointed to the door. Reality crept back in and I realized he was telling me to hurry back. I smiled at him and he winked, then I rushed back out to the car.

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Edward and I walked into my house and we were greeting by Charlie, who was watching a sports game and stuffing his face with pizza. "Hey, kids. Did you have nice weekend?"

"Hi Dad. Yeah it was nice. Alice asked me to thank you for letting me keep her company."

My Dad blushed at the mention of Alice, whom he adored and turned to Edward, "How was the camping trip?"

"It was good."

"Bella you got a package in the mail today, I put it on your bed."

"Thanks Dad." My mind instantly went to Emmett and the items that he had ordered for me, which was now a dreaded reminder that I needed to inconspicuously get Edward to stay the night at his own house.

"Your welcome." As I turned to head up the stairs to my room my father called out, "There is pizza in the kitchen."

"Thanks," I called back.

I walked into my room with Edward following close behind. I lay down on my bed dramatically bringing my hand up to rub my head. I sighed in what I hoped came across as discomfort.

Edward sat down next to me on the edge of the bed and asked in a concerned and loving voice, "Are you alright?" He brought his hand to the side of my face pushing my hair back tenderly.

I shivered at his touch a plan forming in my mind. "I don't feel very well, and I'm freezing."

He pulled his hand back a sadness reaching his eyes that his touch was making me uncomfortable because of my fake sickness. Once again, guilt washed over me and I closed my eyes.

"Bella if you are sick you need to get some rest. Why don't you put your night clothes on and I will go see if Charlie will mind me making you some soup."

When he left the room, I grabbed the package from the other side of my bed and set it on the floor. I grabbed my sweats and went into the bathroom to change. I dabbed my face and hands with a wet washcloth hoping that it would make me feel clammy. Just before I was going to walk out the door, I remembered that Emmett had put something in my pocket. I picked my jeans back up and pulled a piece of paper out of a front pocket. I quietly opened and read the note. I felt a warmth wash over me and reminded myself that this was the reason, the reason for all of this. The note said 'I can't get you out of my head' and just reading it made me tremble. I put the note back in the pocket planning to retrieve it later.

I put my dirty clothes into the clothes hamper when I got to my room and Edward was still not back, so I got into my blankets and cuddled up. If I was going to play sick, I was going to make it Oscar worthy. Okay Edward is always teasing me about my lack of acting abilities so maybe not Oscar worthy…but definitely Golden Globe worthy! I closed my eyes and I got to work on the shivering and looking listless.

Edward came in with a T.V. tray that was loaded down with a bowl of soup, saltine crackers and sprite. He set it down and next to the bed and set on the edge of the bed next to me. I increased my shaking to indicate that he made me feel colder. He felt my forehead with his hand.

"Bella you feel sticky, does Charlie have any cold medicine around here?"

I moaned like I was in pain and whispered, "In the medicine cabinet."

Once again he was gone, but he was back this time with vampire speed. He helped me to sit up, placed two cold pills into my mouth and brought the drink up to my lips. With his closeness, I began to exaggerate my shivering and he laid me down and got up.

"You need to burn off that fever, so I'm going to put your soup in the microwave and I'll let Charlie now that it is there. I'm going to leave the drink and crackers in here for you and I just set your wastebasket next to the bed."

I looked up at him and squinted at the light, "Thank you."

He bent down to me and kissed me on my forehead lingering for a moment until a shiver coursed through me. "I'm going to go home Bella so that you can rest. I seem to be making your condition worse." His face looked so sad and worried as he stood back up.

"I'm sorry. Thank you for taking such good care of me." A tear rolled down my cheek with remorse at my deceitful ways.

"Don't cry, love. You just take care of yourself and get better soon. Call me when you wake up, alright?"

"I will."

He turned out the light and closed my bedroom door. I listened to him say his goodbyes to Charlie. I waited ten minutes before getting out of bed and I went to my window to close the drapes.

I turned on the side table lamp, grabbed the box from my floor and started to open it when my cell phone rang. I grabbed the phone figuring that it was my mom doing her routine check-in call. But when I checked the screen to see who was calling, I read Emmett's name. I quickly answered feeling the smile beaming on my face.

"Hi," I said quietly.

I thought that I heard Emmett sigh, "Hi. Are you okay? Edward said that you were sick."

"I'm fine, just following through with Operation Emmett."

I heard him chuckling, "That's cute. You surprise me Miss Bella, I wasn't sure if you had it in you to pull it off. I must give you props."

"Oh, well sir, I'm not sure I have the time right now. Someone sent me this box of books and videos and I really must start studying." I laughed softly into the phone.

"Ahh, so you're cute and evil. Why don't you come over to your window and let me in."

Silence ensued.

"Bella, are you there?"

"Yes. Are you sure it is safe?"

"Yeah, Edward came home brooding and hopped on the piano so he'll be there for hours."

"What about Rosalie?" I asked this with very obvious fear in my voice.

"She's is playing makeup with Alice, which includes lots of mirror gazing. She is content trust me. Besides she wasn't too happy with me when I dismissed her advances saying that I needed to hunt." He paused and then his voice took a rough tone, "I won't let her hurt you Bella."

I was already at the window and I moved the drapes aside. I saw his beautiful face staring in at me while hanging out of the tree like a monkey. I pushed open the window and kneeled down onto my knees.

He leaned in bringing his lips inches from mine. "Were in trouble, I can't even stay away from you for one day."

He closed the distance and softly pressed his lips onto mine. I wrapped my arms around his neck and ran my fingers through his dark hair. I returned the pressure but more firmly and I parted my lips in a quiet moan. His tongue slipped into my mouth and smoothly moved with mine, it felt insanely good and I never wanted it to end. I tried to pull him closer to me and the tree branch shook. He pulled away licking his lips while staring into my eyes. His stare was so intent and so difficult to read, but I knew that he wanted me and I knew that he needed. We were risking everything and at this moment…I just did not care.

"So…are you going to let me in?" He asked seductively.