Disclaimer: These characters are not mine.
(Now for some fluff…)
Epov
I waited silently while Jasper called Alice for me. I needed her to keep Bella away so I could plan the perfect first date for her. I racked my brain trying to come up with something special for her. She wasn't impressed by fancy restaurants, in fact I think they made her down right nervous. I planted my self on a kitchen chair and tried to think.
"Jasper, what did you and Alice do on your first date?"
He grinned and thought carefully. "Well we went to dinner and then a movie . At a loss as to what to do for Bell 's?"
I shook my head frustrated.
He laughed. "Bella loves being home. Emmett's working and I'll be out most of the night. Why not just stay home? This has all moved really fast. Get to know her a little."
He was absolutely right. I thanked him for the advice and pulled out my phone.
My mother was one of the sweetest people I'd ever known. She was caring but at the same time fiercely protective. I was her only child. Her miracle as she liked to call me. My parents never thought they would have children. It was a concept that broke both of their hearts. Imagine their surprise when she found out she was expecting me. The pregnancy was hard on her body and after me there couldn't be more. I always wondered if they'd wanted more kids. I couldn't ask for more supportive parents then mine.
"Hello son. How's it going?" my father said when he answered immediately.
"Good, good. Is mom home? I need to ask her a food question."
Dad chuckled, "Hot date?"
I blushed and stammered.
I could hear my mother yelling in the back ground, "Who has a date? Edward? Give me the phone Carlisle !"
She was so impatient.
"Who is she honey? Did you just meet her? What's she like?"
I stuttered at her never ending questions, "She's very nice mom. I met her a long time ago, but tonight is our first date officially."
I smiled at the thought of a date with Bella, not to mention telling her we could be together.
"You're going to cook for her for a first date? That's very intimate. She must be special."
I went red again at the casual use of the word intimate by my mom.
"She is special. She likes Italian. I was thinking of lasagna but yours is better then mine."
She laughed, "That is because yours is frozen dear. I'll email you the recipe with a wine suggestion. What are you doing for dessert?"
I could hear her flipping pages of a cookbook for suggestions. I thought about it for a moment. The thought of dessert made me think of Bella's plump lips. My body buzzed over the idea of feeding her dessert.
"I am going to go to Godiva and get Chocolate covered fruit. Girls like chocolate, right?"
We both laughed.
"Yes, yes we do son. Edward, this is so romantic. I am very proud of you. So, can we meet her when we visit for the Hale wedding?"
I liked the idea of my mom's face when she saw Bella. It made me smile. She was going to fall instantly in love with her. I suspected my mother would love having a daughter.
"Yes, that could be arranged. She lives rather close." I gave a little internal snicker. Telling my mother she was Emmett's little sister would open up a barrage of questions I couldn't answer until I made this official with the girl of my dreams. I thanked my mother and headed out the door.
Bpov
Alice had me out all day shopping for an outfit and that stupid shower gift. She insisted one of the outfits she picked for me looked so amazing I had to wear it home. I didn't see what was so special about a purple halter top and black Capri 's. She'd made me take my pony tail down, too. Evil little pixie was acting so strange. When we pulled up in the drive way I noticed the house was mostly dark. It was almost 8:30 at night. My feet hurt, my back ached, and to top it all off, Edward's Volvo wasn't in the drive way.
I scowled at Alice . "Great! He's not home. I'll have to wait even longer now to know if I do in fact have a boyfriend."
Alice giggled.
I sighed loudly, "Do you wanna come in? We could watch a movie or something. This waiting is torture."
She shook her head 'no' and practically pushed me out of the car.
I got my things from her trunk and went up the steps. I unlocked the door and the scent of roses hit me immediately. Looking down at my feet, I saw a post it with an arrow pointing to the back door. I smiled wide. There was another post it with another arrow a few feet away that was pointing the same direction as the first. The lights were off, but there was a single candle surrounded by pink and white rose petals every few feet. I grinned and bit my injured lip. I walked painfully slow to the back door. There, through the glass, I could see a million tiny twinkle lights. Edward was standing with his back to me. He was wearing a bright white button up shirt with the sleeves rolled up and khakis. He looked like a dream come true. He turned then and saw me as he finished setting the patio table. He had found all the things we never use like linen napkins, places mats, wine glasses.
His beautiful face broke out in a dazzling smile. I smiled back. I didn't want to be the first one to speak. If I spoke I might wake up and this dream would be over. He stretched his hand to me, I took it letting him tug me out to the deck. He kissed my knuckles and I smiled wider. My face was going to bust with happiness. He rubbed his nose over the end of mine before he spoke.
"I talked to Emmett." He Eskimo kissed me again and my breathing hitched.
"And?" I spoke softly.
He grinned like a fool. "We have his full blessing."
I jumped into his arms wrapping my arms around his neck. He lifted me off the ground and swung me around. He was mine and I was his. This moment could not have been anymore perfect.
Edward laughed and set me back on my feet. "He had some conditions."
My face fell.
"He made me promise to give you romance......and time with your friends. I told him there was nothing I would ever deny you."
My arms were still around his neck, our mouths inches apart.
"Edward you didn't have to...." He cut me off by kissing my lips gently as his hands stroked my back and my hands tangled in his hair. His tongue gently stroked my lower lip. I swept my tongue over his lips. His tongue met mine for the first time. I tingled from head to toe. He broke the kiss with smaller ones and looked deep in my eyes. The world was spinning, I had to remember to breathe.
"Are you hungry, love?" He asked me with his lips barely above mine.
I shook my head 'yes'.
His fingers skimmed down my arms causing my breath to hitch. He brought my fingers to his lips and kissed each one then my palm.
"That smells amazing. I am starving!" I said as he pulled my chair out for me.
I sat down while he disappeared into the house . He came back with two steaming hot plates of lasagna. He brought salad and bread next. He dressed and tossed the salad right in front of me. He was so cute. He looked like he was trying really hard to concentrate on what he was doing. He portioned out the salad and put some on each of our salad plates. I took my napkin and put it in my lap while he poured us each a glass of wine. He sat down across the small table from me. I waited till he picked up his fork before I started eating. I didn't know where to start. It all smelled and looked amazing. I took a bite of salad and smiled.
"Good?" He asked sweetly.
"It's amazing. This is all so perfect."
I reached across the table with my palm up. He laid his large hand across mine and squeezed my fingers. We sat and gazed into each others eyes. I never wanted to look away from him.
"You know it's not fair for one person to be so charming." I said to him.
A flash of pink went over his cheeks and the bridge of his nose. He couldn't be more perfect.
"How was your day? Did you get everything you needed?" He asked as we ate.
"I got too much. Alice is like a force of nature with a credit card. We did manage to get a shower gift and something for me to wear. It's a dress, of course. Alice always puts me in dresses." I moaned slightly as we ate.
He was an amazing cook.
"Dresses are lovely on you. You have beautiful legs." he said.
It was my turn to go pink at his comment.
Every thing he made was fantastic. I was completely full by the time we were done eating.
"I have another surprise." He looked like a little kid at Christmas. He was beaming with pride I couldn't deny him his fun even though I didn't like the idea that he spent money on me.
He cleared away the dishes, not letting me help at all. I silently drank my wine and listened to the noises coming from the kitchen, trying to figure out what the next surprise was. He appeared in the door way with a serving platter full of chocolate covered fruit. Bananas, strawberries, raspberries and even cherries. He sat the platter between us and picked up a strawberry as he sat down. He offered it to me. I ate it straight from his fingers. My heart was pounding rapidly in my chest as I offered him a sticky sweet banana. He took it sucking slightly on my finger tips. We went back and fourth feeding each other and trying to talk. He took both of my hands in his and looked deep in my eyes . I got lost in his for a few moments before he spoke.
"Bella, what's your favorite color?" He looked so serious as I thought for a moment and giggled out my answer.
"Green, why?" He dazzled me with his eyes.
"Well, if we are going to be together these are things I need to know about you." He was rubbing his thumbs over the back of my hands.
"What's your favorite color?" I asked sweetly playing along.
"Royal blue." He answered without a moment's hesitation.
I knew that was the color of the dress I wore last night.
"What's your favorite book?" He asked me as he pulled me into his arms. I was so comfortable on his lap that I laid my head on his shoulder and brushed the tip of my nose along his neck. His scent made me dizzy.
"Romeo and Juliet. Also, Wuthering Heights . I can't decide."
He rubbed my back. I rubbed his chest gently. He made a gentle purring noise. I wanted him. I leaned up and kissed his neck gently.
It was my turn to ask a question. He kissed my forehead as the summer night's breeze ran across us.
"What did you want to be when you were growing up?"
He thought quietly, "It's changed a lot. I wanted to be a solider and a doctor."
He kissed my hair and asked quietly. "Ever been in love before?"
I curled tighter into him. He intertwined our fingers and laid our hands against his chest. His heart was thudding wildly. I loved the idea that I made his heart pound.
"Not like this. Never ever like this before." I answered honestly.
His smile was joyous when it spread across his perfect mouth.
"Have you ever....." I played with a button on his shirt.
I wasn't sure if I wanted to know but it was already out there and I couldn't take it back.
"Not ever like this. I think that this is what true love should feel like."
I sat up and looked his eyes. "Oh Edward this has just been the most perfect date ever. I don't want it to end."
I cupped his face in my hands. I crushed his lips to mine and I sighed when he ran his fingers into my hair and deepened the kiss. He stood up and carried me into the house into the living room. Small candles burned on every flat surface surrounded by pink and white rose petals. He set me on my feet. I kept my arms around his neck. We were nose to nose and chest to chest. My body molding into his.
"This isn't over yet, love," he smiled as he grabbed the remote for the stereo.
He was almost too gorgeous to look at and he was mine. After all the silly dreams and fantasies, he was mine. Gavin Rosdale 'love remains the same' played. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. ]
He smiled at me in center of the candle lit living room. "Will you dance with me?"
His arms were around my waist holding me against his perfect frame as he swayed us to the music. The words to the song were so perfect. He leaned his forehead on mine. His mouth kept opening and closing like he wanted to say the words but they wouldn't come out.
"I love you, Edward. I love you with all my heart."
He let out a chest deep sigh. "Bella, I love you with all that I am. I'll love you forever if you'll let me," he said barely audible.
I shook my head 'yes'.
He stood back from me and took my hand turning me out slowly from him and back in gently. I laughed the way I had in the dance studio. That made his face light up. I positioned our hands in a 'proper' dance stance. He pulled our clasped hands against his chest and looked deep in my eyes as we danced. He sang the words of the song softly to me. The words of the song were clearly not lost on him either. We danced that way song after song, just staring into the others eyes. For the first time in my life, I felt like a gift. When he looked at me, I felt like a prize to be won.
He kissed the apple of my cheek and whispered, "happy my love?"
I smiled, "I've never been this happy in my life."
He leaned down and kissed me. My knees went weak . I could hear his heart beating. The sound was like home calling me. I'd found the place I belonged there in Edwards arms.
A/n- I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter. It felt like we needed some happy moments.....as always read and review!
