Chapter 7 Adjusting

BPOV

It was dark by the time we made it back to the house. We'd run some of the way, walked the rest. We just talked and walked. It was blissful to never get tired or stumble.

I knew we were in for a heavy time when we got back to the house, there were so many things I needed to do and so many people to speak with, but as we walked I could put all that out of my mind and just be with Edward.

As we got to the jetty he kissed me tenderly on my lips and held me close for a while. I knew he was worried for me, that this was going to be a very emotional thing I'd have to do, but if he stayed with me I'd manage.

He led me into the backdoor and into the kitchen and so began the first and last night of my new life.

"Hello dear. How are you feeling?" Esme asked, as she always asked, whenever I came indoors.

"I feel fantastic, thanks." I waited for the blush that would never come. "I have to go and call Charlie and Renee now though, so that might change." I grimaced at the thought.

"They just want to hear that you're alright, so just be yourself." She patted me on the arm and went back to packing casseroles into little clear plastic containers.

"Um, what are they for?" I asked her.

"Edward is going to take them to your fathers, dear. I had a whole load of food delivered, thinking you'd be human a little longer. I don't want it to go to waste." She smiled.

"That's very kind of you Esme, thank you for looking after them the past few days." I said.

"You're welcome dear. Go on, go make your phone call before it gets too late. Use Carlisle's study love." She nodded towards the stairs.

Edward came to my side and kissed me on the temple, "You'll be fine love. I'm here if you need me, just call for me, I'll hear you."

"Thanks." I went up the stairs and gritted my teeth.

I wasn't looking forward to this at all.

EPOV

This was going to be hard for her, to speak to her parents without being able to see them for god knows how long. I wanted to be with her while she did it, but it was part of the whole process of her change and knew it was something she had to do on her own.

I'd talked to Carlisle about it yesterday, before she'd woken, and he'd agreed. She wasn't the first of us who'd had to do this, Esme's parents had gone through this with her though not in the same way. She'd never told them what she was, just that she'd had to leave. She talked to them often on the telephone and wrote to them constantly during the first few years of hers and Carlisle's marriage.

Bella was in a fairly unique position, we'd told her parents the truth and they'd decided to support her through it. She would one day be able to see them and spend time with them. It would hurt now while she couldn't, but eventually she would be able to have a fairly normal relationship with them.

From what I saw of her control today in the forest it wouldn't be too long before she could be out in public at all.

I went to find Jasper to tell him about it while I tried not to listen to the conversation she was having in Carlisle's study.

BPOV

"I love you too dad. I'm fine, really, I feel fantastic." I tried to soothe him. I could tell he was at his wits end and I cursed myself for having left it all day before phoning.

"Does it still hurt?" he asked.

"No dad, not at all. I feel really strong." I didn't know what else to say really.

"Have you, you know, been for something to eat yet?" He asked cautiously.

"Yeah dad. I'm just back from that now. I don't want you to worry about any of that, Edward will help me, and he wont let anything happen to me."

"I realize that Bell's, I just wanted to know that you were alright, you know, they told us it would hurt you, your thirst." And then I understood. They knew everything.

"It did at first dad, I won't lie, it did. But after I'd hun…had something to eat it felt much better. I've been out twice already, because it did start to hurt a bit earlier, but I'm fine now." It felt so strange to be having this conversation.

"That's good Bell's. That's good. Your mother wants a word. So…" He trailed off.

"Ok dad. I'll call again tomorrow. Don't worry, I'm going to be great. Better than great, I promise. I hope I can see you soon. I love you." I waited for him to answer but he just huffed and handed the phone to Renee. It seemed our newfound openness was at its end for now.

"Oh Bella honey, how do you feel?" Renee yelled down the phone.

"I'm great mom, really." Déjà vu set in, same conversation, different parent.

"I need to talk to you about some things Bella, about Phil and me and your dad. I know I can't see you yet but I need to talk with you about this at some stage." She sounded panicked.

"It's okay mom, there's plenty of time for all that. I know Phil's gone home, I heard all that." I said it softly, I didn't want to upset her too much.

"Oh honey, I'm so sorry for all this. He didn't really mean it, it was just a bit too much for him. But I'm not going anywhere, I'm staying here till I can see you again, I promise, okay?" She sobbed into the phone.

"Really? You're going to stay in Forks, for me? But you hate Forks?" I was shocked. Renee didn't do this sort of thing, she did what she wanted, and everyone else just followed her.

"Of course baby, I'm staying here at Charlie's, I'm not going anywhere. I've quit my job and Phil is going to send my things. I mean it baby."

"Oh mom, thank you. I'm going to try so hard to control myself so I hope it wont be long and I can see you both again. I love you so much mom, thank you so much." I felt like I should be crying, though no tears came.

"It will be a good chance to get to know the Cullen's, before the wedding you know? Esme and Alice want me to help them plan it, when you two set a date that is. I guess it will be a good chance for me to get to know both you and Charlie again too." She trailed off in a whisper and I caught something in her voice that seemed out of place. Was it regret? Did she regret leaving Charlie all those years ago?

"I haven't really changed all that much mom, I'm still me. I look a bit freaky though, red eyes, you know?" I laughed a little, testing how far I could push her tonight.

"Edward told us about that. I can't say I'm looking forward to seeing it, but I do know it wont last forever. He's a very kind boy, man, isn't he?" she asked quietly.

"Yes, he is. He'll be coming over there soon, he has some food for you both, Esme has been busy." I laughed lightly.

"Oh that's so thoughtful of her, I've not even thought about food all day. We pretty much slept since we left there this morning."

"Well he's going to leave when I get off the phone, so he won't be too far away. He drives like a lunatic, so your dinner will be on the table in a few minutes." I giggled.

I could hear the loud huff that came from somewhere in the house, it was obviously Edward, though I wasn't yet used to locating his sounds yet.

"Ok baby. I'll let you go, I'm sure there's a million things you still need to organize. I love you, I'll talk to you again soon wont I?" I could hear the desperation in her voice as she asked.

"Tomorrow mom, I'll call again tomorrow. I promise." I waited a beat and then continued, "Actually, mom, tomorrow someone will be delivering some stuff to you, will you stay home and sign for it please?" I asked.

"Sure. What are you sending me?" She asked.

"You'll see tomorrow mom, gotta go, Edward wants to leave. I love you."

"I love you too baby. Bye for now." I waited until I heard the click of the receiver and then I sighed. That hadn't gone too badly. I was so grateful that Edward had taken the time to explain things to them both, that would've been a lot harder had I had to skirt around issues like hunting or not sleeping.

I saw my cell phone sitting on the end of the desk as I was leaving so I pocketed it and went to find Edward.

I didn't have to look far.

EPOV

"I do not drive like a lunatic Bella. I'm very careful actually." I pouted, trying to conceal my grin.

"Is that what you call it? Careful? Hmmm, I think not. Lunatic is just about right I think." She crossed the room and sat in my lap on the sofa. She cuddled into my chest and I kissed her temple.

"That went ok then?" I asked.

"You know it did. It's a bit weird being able to hear shit, from all over the place, its going to take a bit of getting used to I think." She wrapped her arms around my shoulders and relaxed against me.

"You're a natural honey, I've never seen anything like you. After what you managed to do today I am betting that within six weeks you'll be back at school raising hell again." I grinned down at her as she rolled her eyes at me.

"Do you really think so? I mean, I know I stopped myself but only after you yelled at me. What if you aren't there next time?"

"I'll always be there Bella. Always. And there's no hurry love." I kissed her on the lips and patted her to get up, I did want to go to Charlie's now before it got too late for them to eat.

"There is a bit of a hurry actually." She giggled.

"Oh, is there?" I couldn't think what it could be.

"I have to get my shit together so that we can get married as soon as possible." The most angelic smile took her whole face over and I was lost. I dived onto her as she sat on the sofa and I pulled her to me, tugging her bottom lip with my teeth.

"Ahem. Edward, it will be cold if you don't take it now." Esme was stood at the entrance to the living room laughing at us.

"Yes mom." I sniggered and Bella giggled under me. "You I'll deal with when I get back. I wont be long love. Will you be ok?" I asked. I knew she would be but I wanted her to know that I cared either way.

"I'll be fine, everyone is home aren't they?" She asked, looking around at the empty room. I knew she found it hard to isolate their individual sounds, but it had been less than one day and she was already doing amazingly well. The rest would come with time.

"Yep, all off doing their own thing. So the study is vacant till ten, till Carlisle comes home from his shift. Mr Davis' number is in your cell phone and your laptop is in our room." I winked at her and emphasized the 'our'.

"No bloody privacy here is there?" She giggled again. It was a magical sound, one I thought I'd not hear again for a long time, and now that I had I wanted to make her laugh like that always. "Go." She admonished me, pointing her finger towards the front door. I kissed her quickly on her upturned cheek and ran out the door with the hideous smelling package.

BPOV

"Hello Mr Davis, this is Bella Swan. I'm sorry for interrupting you at home." I said politely into my cell phone.

"Not at all Miss Swan. To what do I owe the pleasure?" He asked.

"I need to move some money around and I need some made available to my parents by tomorrow, can you help me with that?" I held my breath, I hoped he could.

"Of course. If you can give me the details I'll make all the arrangements first thing in the morning and we'll have it all sorted for you by midday." He didn't sound put out and I guessed that was because the Cullen's were very good customers.

I told him I wanted Charlie's mortgage paid out immediately and gave him as many details as I could think of that would help him locate the correct policy document.

Then I gave him the same details only this time about Renee and Phil's mortgage in Phoenix. I wanted it paid out then put solely in Phil's name. I gave him an amount and asked him to please have it delivered to Charlie's house tomorrow, that my mother was going to sign for it and I gave him her details. He said that was no problem and I thanked him profusely for his help. I wished him good night and hung up my phone. I was pretty pleased with the way it went. Mission accomplished.

I closed Carlisle's study door and went up to Edward's room. I would have to get used to calling it our room, but for now it was still his. I'd have to arrange for some of my things to be delivered seeing as I couldn't exactly collect them myself. All I had with me was my book bag and one change of clothes.

I found my laptop and set it up on Edward's desk. I opened an internet page and marveled at how fast it all connected, pretty soon I was clicking away, knocking the hell out of my new platinum credit card. Alice would be proud.

"I am." I heard her singsong voice and sighed happily.

"Hey." I called to her as she came and sat on the end of the bed.

"I heard what you just did for your parents, that was really nice. If you click on that link there at the bottom you can get one in every colour you know?" She pointed a dainty finger at the bottom of my screen and I chuckled.

"I might just do that." I was ordering clothes for my mother online. I knew she'd arrived with barely anything and it would be weeks before Phil got any of her stuff organized enough to send to her. So I was buying her coats and boots and jeans and things, just some stuff to tide her over.

I'd also ordered a pair of laptops, the same as mine, to be delivered tomorrow to them both. I could at least videoconference with them via the net for the next year if I had to.

"It wont be a year, you know that right?" she said matter of factly.

"Won't it?" I asked. I hadn't dare hoped it might be sooner.

"Edward told Jaz what happened out in the forest today, I had seen a little bit of it but not how you handled yourself. It was pretty impressive Bella, so I don't think it will be a year, no." She grinned and I smiled in reply.

"That's good to know." She knew I wanted more info, but I left it at that.

EPOV

I put the horrible smelling gunk on the counter and both Renee and Charlie thanked me for delivering it.

"It's no problem, it's from Esme, you know how she is." I tilted my head and grimaced, they both laughed.

"Yeah, I do." Renee laughed. She had a similar laugh to Bella's, lyrical, but not as carefree as Bella's.

"I wondered if you'd given any thought to what you'll tell the school?" I didn't ask either of them in particular, just in general. They looked at each other and I could tell they hadn't. "There's no hurry, and there is only two more weeks of the year left anyway, but someone should let them know she won't be back this year."

"Probably wouldn't go down too well if you phoned them huh?" Charlie chuckled. He seemed much more at ease now, in his own home, and I hoped we'd be able to be closer one day.

"Probably not." I smiled. "My brothers and sisters and I will be going back to school come Monday morning, Bella will stay at the house with Esme during the day, but we need to go back. Perhaps you could tell the principle that she's ill? We could think longer term over the break about what to do about next year." I tried to be helpful rather than controlling. She was still their daughter despite the fact that she was about to become my wife.

"Does she need anything Edward, for you to take to her I mean?" Renee asked.

"I'd like to take her pajamas if that's ok? I know it seems silly, of all the things she should have with her to want those, but she feels comfortable in them even if she wont actually be sleeping. It will take a while for her to get used to that. I think I should take her toiletries bag and probably her robe too." I couldn't look them in the eye now, I felt so awkward asking for these things. "And her books. But I'll come by for those another day."

"Sure, you can go on up and take what she needs son, it's not like you haven't been up there before." Charlie chuckled and I looked at him shocked. "What? We aren't going to play coy now are we Edward?" he laughed.

"I guess not Charlie." I laughed in response. Not so awkward after all. I excused myself and went up to Bella's childhood bedroom.

BPOV

"I know you know Alice, so quit it with the grinning woman, just spit it out." I sneered at her as she bounced on Edward's bed.

I'd heard Edward's mental voice twice now, both times while he was either experiencing his orgasm or I was.

"What's it like?" she asked, still bouncing.

"Weird. It's only happened twice, and both times it was different. The first time I thought I'd imagined it, but I was more sure the second time." I tried to hide my eyes, I knew the blush wouldn't come but my embarrassment would.

"Huh. I didn't know what it was when I saw it. I thought he could read you for a minute, and then I realized I had it round the wrong way. So, only when, you know?" she winked and I cringed.

"Yeah, so far, only then. He doesn't know, so don't tell him." I warned her.

"Ooh, big scary vampire girl, I wont tell." She laughed.

"There's more." I waited for that to peak her interest and she stopped bouncing and stood at the foot of the bed staring at me. "My tattoo changes."

"No shit?" She squealed and I winced, that was even louder now than it was before. "Show me." she said, advancing to where I sat.

"I can't just show you it changing, but look…" I pulled apart the collar on my shirt and showed her the butterscotch colored tattoo. She sucked in a breath and whistled.

"Wow. Cool. It's a gorgeous colour, not as nice as your eye colour used to be, but close to what it will be soon."

"Yeah, I know, but it changes. Earlier when we were hunting it was a rusty red colour, I think because I was thirsty."

"And?" she grinned and I knew she knew.

"During, it went black again." I was embarrassed but she didn't giggle or anything. She just shrugged and said she'd never heard of it happening but then again, she didn't know any vampires who had tattoo's either. That made us both laugh. I heard the car in the driveway and knew that Edward was back. I looked to Alice and she nodded, she'd come and see me later.

I hugged her quickly and flew down the stairs, straight into his arms as he came through the door.

EPOV

"Wow. Hello love." I crowed into her hair as she flung herself at me from the bottom step. I buried my nose in her hair and drank her in. I hated being away from her, next week would be murder.

She clung to me and I hugged her tightly to me, dropping the bags at my feet.

"I missed you." She whispered against my jaw as she kissed me.

"I missed you too love. How did your business go?" I asked her as I untangled her from my waist and led her to the sofa.

"All done. Will you help me sort out a car for Renee tomorrow? Charlie will go back to work soon I think and she'll be stuck." I put the carrier bags on the sofa and sat, patted my lap and she plopped down into it.

It was rare that Rose and Emmett weren't sprawled out all over this thing, but I knew they were keeping to themselves, giving her time to come to grips with everything. So far they needn't have bothered. It was as if she'd always been one of us.

"I surely will help with that, no problem. Don't forget our own cars will be delivered in two days time. Then I can show you how I drive like a lunatic." I pouted again. And she laughed.

"Oh I had forgotten that!" She squealed excitedly. "Wow, I'll be able to zoom around fast now, won't I?" She seemed really excited about it and I was pleased for her.

"Oh yeah, then you'll be the lunatic. Don't forget that your own father is the law around here." I laughed.

"How are they doing?' She asked, a little seriousness crossing her face.

"They seemed fine. They're getting along really well. I even noticed that your bed hadn't been slept in recently, I think they might be sharing a bed Bella. Just for support, you know, emotional support." I tilted my head to see what her reaction to that might be.

"Wow. That's weird. But I guess I understand it. It's been a rough few days for them." She sat thoughtfully for a few moments and I stroked her hair, as she got lost in her thoughts. This would happen quite a bit over the next weeks, Bella getting lost in the caverns of her own mind. There was so much more room to store information in a vampires mind, we sometimes took a while to reach the back paddocks so to speak.

"I've bought you a few things from your room. Want to come upstairs and have a look?" I tried not to be too obvious that I wanted her alone, in my room, preferably in my bed, as soon as possible. If she caught onto my evil plan she showed no sign of it as she nodded and pulled me up the stairs behind her.

BPOV

If he doesn't kiss me soon I'm going to jump him!

Sweet kisses in my hair and at my temple are lovely, thanks so much, but fuck…what does a girl have to do to get a little tongue around here?

I watched as he tipped the contents of the bag out onto the bed. I saw my robe and my toiletries bag and gasped as I saw my favourite pajamas!

"Oh thank you, thank you. Oh wait, I don't sleep anymore." I squinted at the pile of fabric.

"Maybe not, but you're going to be spending a hell of a lot of time in that bed Isabella."

"Holy fucking white man that's so hot." Oh shit, I said that out loud. "Oh god. Shit. Sorry. I didn't meant to say that out loud. Fuck. Sorry. Shit. What I mean is. Shit. Sorry." Shit. How embarrassing. I covered my mouth with my hand and cringed. I heard at least four different laughs from four different locations within the house. Oh Christ. They'd all heard that. Of course they had, ahem, fucking vampires. Oh crap. Don't think about fucking and vampires in the same sentence. Oh fuck. Oh crap. Stop it.

Edward was doubled over with laughter by the time I could get my head straight enough to look to where he stood. His chest was heaving and his eyes were sparkling and he just couldn't contain himself. He actually flopped backwards onto the bed and lie there laughing his gorgeous head off at me for a few minutes. I stood stupidly holding my mouth with my hand trying to come to terms with what I'd just blurted out, in a house full of super hearing fuckers who'd hang shit on me for all eternity for dribbling so much crap out of my mouth.

I'll never live this down.

Emmett will be merciless. Jasper will be embarrassed, Rose will sneer down her nose at me and Alice will want details. Urgh. Fuck!

Only one thing for it. Can't beat the fuckers, so join them.

I ran to the bed and took a leap just before the foot end and came to rest on Edward's chest. He shot straight up and caught me around my waist, he was laughing so hard he could hardly focus on me as I joined in. I ducked my head under his chin and he stroked my back as we laughed and laughed.

"Oh dear. Mr Cullen, I do hope you aren't suggesting that we spend our evenings doing wicked, wicked things to each other are you?" I giggled as his guffaws abated slightly. I felt him stiffen under me and I knew I'd hit my mark. Welcome back Mr Horny.

"I most certainly am implying that. I've spent a hundred years learning shit, reading shit and generally being bored out of my skull while everyone around me shags themselves stupid." He took my bottom lip between his lips, suckled it for a second, let it go and finished with, "It's my turn to be the stupid shagging one now."

"Holy fuck" I whispered against his mouth. "You're so sexy when you say things like that." I knew his eyes would be turning black now, I could hear his breathing accelerating under his shirt and I could feel my tattoo begin to tingle. Hello tongue…welcome back.

EPOV

I took my time this time. It was slow and sensual and everything it should've been this afternoon in the shower. There was no nervousness, no embarr-assment, we just gave to each other what the other needed. It was quiet and loving and gentle. I took hours to explore her body, to find out what made her quake with pleasure. I found places she didn't even know she had that made her squirm underneath me. She found a few I didn't know existed for me too and I gave myself over fully to the pleasure she gave me.

I watched in wonder as her tattoo went from a deep butter gold to inky black under my touch. I found that I could measure her desire by the height of the raised letters. The more raised her flesh became the more she wanted from me. The closer her release came the more furrowed the hollows between the letters of my name became. Which only turned me on more.

I still couldn't quite wrap my head around forever with Bella. I'd be able to do this to her every night for eternity. I still think it would never be long enough.

We'd have to install a bigger water heater at this pace, I thought, as I showered for the third time tonight. Bella was in my bed, curled up under the blankets though she would never be cold ever again. She had her favorite pajamas on and she had her eyes closed though of course she didn't sleep.

For the next few weeks she'd need to rest like this, quietly, as she regained her full strength and the residual blood in her system was eaten fully by my venom. I preferred to think of it as having been my venom that changed her, not Carlisle's, and I was a little sad that I'd not done it myself. I didn't think I would ever feel that way, but now that she was here, with me fully, I was a little sad. Knowing I'd contributed the venom though made me happier than I ever thought it would.

Bella and I would have to discuss those sorts of things in the coming months. We'd have to be sure to work through any emotional issues that arose so as to help her transition to this lifestyle as best as we could. It wasn't always easy and I knew we both would have a few heated discussions, and as many regrets and recriminations, as the months went by and she came to terms with her new life.

I dried myself and threw the towel into the hamper. I brushed my teeth, ran a hand through my bastard hair that refused to do anything it was asked and then made to shave. I knew Bella loved me shaggy, but it was beyond a joke now. I looked like a bushman. When I was done I splashed on some aftershave and wrapped a clean towel around my waist.

She was still snuggled down in my bed, our bed, I should start to think of it as our bed from now on. Her breathing was even and shallow, just as if she were asleep. I studied her beautiful face for a few seconds then pulled on some clean jeans and a jersey. I'd talk to Esme tomorrow about sorting out this room so it fit us both in comfortably. Bella would need closet space and a desk of her own at least.

I wouldn't leave her alone but I thought she could use the rest, so I opened her laptop and amused myself with my bank statement.

She'd used her credit card today, to buy clothes by the looks of things, and I smiled widely. Good girl Bella.

I went onto the Capitol State Forest website and smiled when I saw that 'our' cabin was indeed free this weekend. I put my credit card details into the little boxes and reserved it for us for the two nights. I wanted as much alone time with her as possible before I'd have to go back to school on Monday. Without her. Oh god.