All things Twilight belong to Stephenie Meyer, I'm just playing with her toys.

This story is close to my heart as I met my fiance on eHarmony. If anything is off on the way it goes, please forgive me. I'm sure many things have changed in the years since I was on. Also, Edward being in Bella's first ten matches was a mirror to my match with my fiance.

So... ever have it where you are writing and the characters take over? Yeah, that's what happened in this chapter.

Happy reading!


Step eight: First Date?

It was five in the afternoon and I was staring at the ceiling of my bedroom unable to sleep. I needed to sleep, desperately, as I was due back in the ER at midnight. Why was I awake? Bella. My Bella. Odd that I would think of her like that already, we had only been talking on the phone for two days. She was all I could think of, especially now as she was on her way home to prepare for her date.

She had freaked out for a minute on the phone the night before having totally forgotten she had accepted a date for Friday. He was forgettable, I was not. That little fact made me smile despite the frown due to some other man taking my Bella out.

My Bella. I wonder when I started referring to her as that. I wonder if she would like that I do, or if she would find it creepy. I know I wouldn't mind if she referred to me as 'her Edward'.

I toss and turn, the neon light displaying that it is now six. I've barely slept and I'm exhausted. Turning onto my side I recount our conversations from the previous night and lull myself to sleep.

My body is jolted as the sound of my phone ringing pulls me from a deep sleep. The clock now reads nine as I grab for my glasses and the phone. I smile at the display; Bella.

"Hello?" I answered, my voice rough from sleep.

"Did I wake you?" she asked, her voice full of concern.

"Yes, thank you, I need to start getting up. I'm surprised to hear from you, especially this early, what happened to your date?"

"Ugh, total disaster! He was completely false advertising himself. I thought online dating would be better than blind dates, but let me tell you, it's not." I heard her sigh through the line. My chest felt lighter at her words and I tried not to laugh, but it was just too amusing.

"And that is why I wanted you to know that I am a bumbling geek," I admitted.

Her laughter was the sweetest thing, even better when it was a small giggle.

"Ah, my favorite. It's a good fit for a stumbling nerd." She giggled before going silent. I could only imagine she was blushing from head to toe at her verbal filter moment. I needed to pull her out before she took it back. I didn't want her to take it back.

"I couldn't agree more," I replied. I could hear a small gasp on the other end. "Honesty, remember?"

"Honesty. Then can I honestly say that date may have been the topper for worst date on record?"

"What happened?" I finally asked. I couldn't take it anymore; I had to know what this guy had done wrong and make sure I had none of his qualities.

"Ok, I am not fashion conscious. I'm not big into fashion and I don't really care what most people wear. However, being stuck in the seventies… well, is kind of disturbing."

"The seventies?"

"The seventies, I kid not. Complete with fake mustache."

I can't help it, I burst out laughing. "Stop laughing! It was horrible!"

Her words only fuel my fit and I am rolling on my bed, clenching my stomach. I lay back on my back and placed an arm behind my head. "Sorry, sorry." I tried to stifle my laughter, really I did.

"Uh-huh. So, as I was saying, he was dressed like he was in a seventies porno."

And there I go again.

"Stop it!" She laughed and then she was laughing with me.

"Ok, so seventies porno guy, what happened next?"

"I am so happy I met him. So, I get to the restaurant and despite my gut I don't run… so help me if you laugh again…"

Oh shit, there I go again. It's just too cute. She's like a little kitten trying to act like a lion. Then again, maybe she's just playing with me. I can imagine her here telling me this. She's trying not to smile as she threatens me. She would be so cute I don't know if I could keep my hands off of her in order to let her get her story out.

"We sit down to dinner," she continues, ignoring my chuckles. "He starts in 'Bella, dear, I like to think of the date in phases. Phase one is my no skill phase in which I talk'. At that point he pushes his glasses up and starts talking about wine like he is a connoisseur. Then he continues with his phase one speech about how smooth he is and how he knows I want to kiss him. I choke on my wine that I am chugging at that point."

I love how she lowered the pitch of her voice to denote his. I'm dying and pretty sure if she were here right now I would have her in my arms as I kissed the top of her head.

"Then he goes into phase two which is turning on the charm. He smiles and I think he is trying to be sexy, but it is distracting with the huge piece of spinach caught in his teeth."

"I'm surprised you stuck around long enough to hear phase two and see said spinach."

"Sheer will power. Plus I was starving!"

"Ah."

"Anyway, he continues with his explanation; 'That's when I get to touch you'."

I think I just growled. There is a small intake of air on the other line. Yep, just growled. "I love how he assumed he was going to get to touch you."

"Tell me about it. He started petting my hand. I think he was trying to caress and it was just creepy. He was staring at my breasts like he was imagining they were actually beneath his hand."

I am not a violent person, but I really wanted to rip this guys hand off for even touching her hands. He was insinuating he would be touching more and that they would be… intimate. I didn't even realize I was pinching the bridge of my nose as I tried to calm myself.

"I nearly burst into laughter when his mustache fell off into his wine glass while he was attempting that sexy expression."

She giggled again and the sound brought me back to myself. I started laughing again as I envisioned the seventies dressed douche and his fake mustache. I was surprised at the feelings her story was bringing out in me. I was jealous and possessive when I really didn't have a right to be. Though I thought her to be 'my Bella', she wasn't. We hadn't met and I can say that with as attached to her as I had become, I was reluctant to do so.

Why? Because I was so attached to her. I was afraid to meet the wonderful woman on the other side of the phone. Afraid that, even with as accepting as she had been, that in front of her she would find me lacking.

"He then goes 'Did I just kill the mood and thus my chances at ever having your precious pillowy lips grace mine with that move?'"

She made a gagging noise and I was laughing from this guy's cheesiness. "Oh, I think he lost his chances from the moment you were formally introduced."

"I should have followed my gut and gone running and screaming. God! Ugh, that was the topper."

"How did you leave?"

"I text my friend Ali nine one one. She called and I just had to answer it and immediately had to leave as she was going into labor," she explained in a very fake, very concerned tone.

"Let me guess, Ali isn't even pregnant?"

"Nope… well, as far as she knows. I mean, she could be a few days or so, but I highly doubt it."

"Ok, so I need to remember to keep my pimp costume in the closet and keep my hands to myself until you give the ok. Check," I said, a chuckle escaped as I imagined this guy once again.

"Oh, Edward, I think I can safely say you have nothing to worry about."

"I like to hear that. So, how was the food, since the company was a bust?"

She sighed. "Well, the salad was good, but I didn't make it to the main course. I'm now scouring my kitchen for something."

"It's a good thing that you left."

"Why's that?"

"Who knows what his next phase was. I can imagine him humping your leg over the main course."

Ah, there was the sweet sound of her laughter again.

We talked for a little while longer. Shots at her date continued and before I knew it was nearing one in the morning. I heard a yawn through the line and smiled.

"You're tired. I should let you go."

"I'm fine, really," she protested.

"You need your beauty rest, Cinderella."

"Ha! I'm far from being a fairy tale or a damsel in distress needing to be rescued by prince charming."

"You needed rescued tonight," I pointed out.

"Ugh, don't remind me! Though I will admit, the thought of being rescued by you is appealing."

I smiled at her admission. I loved the honesty we had going. "I would save you any time, anywhere, my princess."

"I am hardly a princess."

"My queen."

Her laughter filled my ears. "Alright, my king, to bed I must be going before I fall asleep on the phone with you."

"Good night, sweet Bella. I hope to talk to you tomorrow, but I'm not sure if I'll make it. If not it may be Sunday. I mean, if that's alright. You may not want to talk to me every day and I'm just assuming and I don't want to be assuming because that may be smothering. But I really enjoy talking to you."

"Breathe, Edward!" she exclaimed. I sucked in a deep breath and sighed. "I would love to talk to you any time you want to call."

I smiled and said my goodbye's with a promise to call her sometime over the weekend. A short nap was needed before I jumped into the shower and headed off to the hospital.

Nearly three weeks had passed since Bella's disastrous date with seventies porno guy. In that time we tried to talk as much as possible, but my schedule moved to me working many nights. Every day that we could, we were talking. Talking about our childhoods, talking about our like and dislikes, talking about our careers, talking about our friends. Hours at a time we were talking and everyday my desire to be close to her grew.

I even told her about the children's hospital and my stay there. It wasn't as if it was something I hid, but for some reason I did when it came to dating. Sometimes people aren't the brightest and they think that just because you had something means they might be able to get it. Yeah, right, because cancer is so spreadable from person to person. That or they think you are going to fall down dead for no reason. People are strange sometimes.

Our relationship had evolved, as all do, and once we were more comfortable with one another it all started coming out. I quickly learned that Bella's mind was in the gutter about seventy percent of the time, maybe more. She could take a seemingly innocent statement and make it dirty.

How did I learn all of this? Picture war.

What's that? Well, I have my best friend Emmett to thank for that one as he threw the first one. Having confiscated my phone under the guise of telling me how 'last year' my piece of technology was and how I needed to step it up he had managed to take a photo of my while I was changing my scrubs.

And then he sent it to Bella.

This wouldn't have been quite so terrifying if the response from her hadn't been along the lines of; nice knowing you, hope your search goes well, you are way out of my league.

I don't know how he did it but it seriously looked like some magazine shot. My head was looking down after it had broken through the collar and my arms were still twisted in the fabric above my head. My stomach was exposed and tight from the stretch showing off the definition of my abs and chest. Having untied my pants they were barely hanging on my hips.

After being impressed by the image of myself (I never really had much definition until recently), I immediately freaked out at her words. It took some time, but I talked her down and then convinced her that turnabout was fair play.

If clumsiness was contagious I swear she was rubbing off on me. When her picture came through I was so distracted I stubbed my toe, bounced back into a chair that sent me crashing to the ground.

Yeah, I'm cool.

I had seen pictures of her on her profile but nothing was like the Bella on my phone. She was an unassuming beauty with unknown sexiness. She thought she was average, I thought she was exquisite and made sure to tell her. Our honesty truce must be upheld.

So, I sent her my stunned face, she replied with wide eyed shock, I winked; she blew a kiss (my favorite and background on my phone). The pictures continued, I think we even included the Zoolander 'Magnum' look before the night was over. It was the best time I had had in years and we weren't even in the same room.

Yeah, that's what unassuming geeks and nerds do for fun, picture war. Who won? She did. Oh yeah. She got bold and needed to one up me so I got a picture of her in the mirror pulling her tiny tank top away from her body, exposing the lace boy shorts beneath. And this was how we fell down the pervert hole.

In the time that we couldn't talk? We had moved from nothing on to texting.

I can't take much more – Edward

Lol. Just a few more hours and I'm all yours ;) – B

Promises, Promises - Edward

Can you really not go 3 days without talking to me? – B

No. No. And No. I'm addicted. I HAVE to talk to you – Edward

You're cute… I feel the same – B

You are making this harder – Edward

Do you really want me to go there? I can and will. I do have a very dirty mind. ;) – B

Shit. No. I can't think about you and your dirty mind right now. Later? Yes. Now? Not good. – Edward

Soon then – B

You. Are. Killing. Me. – Edward

:) – B

Tease - Edward

Three hours later I was walking into my apartment and shedding my clothes as I dialed my Bella's number.

"Hello?" she answered.

"You are such a meanie," I said as I stripped my shirt off and threw it into the hamper. Her giggle filled my ears.

"Sorry, guess I am a little… needy at the moment."

"Be…Bella, I … I can't think about… shit… that makes me think… bad things I want to do to you," I stuttered. God, she was getting me so worked up just thinking about her being a… dirty girl.

There was silence for a moment before her voice was heard. "Really?"

I groaned at her low opinion of herself. "Really. Bella, you are beautiful and sexy and I have a hard time… well, I have a hard time thinking let alone not thinking dirty thoughts about you. Honestly."

Ah, 'honestly'. That had become our new tag line every time we knew the other would not accept what we said. When we said 'honestly' you had to accept what they said.

I looked at my unruly bronze hair in the mirror and chuckled at how she had thought my hair was brown. To her credit it does look quite brown in pictures and especially when wet.

"Well, we both already know I want to jump your bones… I mean… um… I think that… went too far… yeah."

"Verbal filter," I observed while inside I was doing a happy dance.

"So, what hospital do you work at?" she questioned once she had recovered and I smiled. She couldn't see it, but I knew she knew it was there.

"Why?" I questioned.

"If you don't tell me I am just going to show up at every hospital in the city with a big bouquet of red roses until I find you."

"Then I will just go to every publisher in the city. How many publishers are there?"

"I don't know. How many hospitals are there?" She countered.

I chuckled. No one was doing anything, it was all talk. "Hm, that would be quite a sight, you walking around with a big bouquet searching for me," I paused. "Actually, that's kind of hot."

"Hot?"

"Yes, hot. A beautiful woman searching me out? What man wouldn't find that hot?"

"You're crazy."

"For you."

"Oh, and cheesy."

"Cheesy for you?"

She laughed and I heard a faint 'thud'. I think she was rolling on the floor. "You are such a geek."

"Nerd."

There was a pause and I could tell she was smiling. "Stutterer."

"Klutz." I shot back.

"Genius."

"Hey, that's a compliment not an insult; get with the program, Swan!"

She pulled out the big guns. "Ginger."

"I am not ginger!"

"Sure you're not."

"I'm not!"

"Your hair has red; you have freckles, and are very pale."

"First off, my hair is a reddish bronze, not ginger red. Secondly, everyone has freckles!" I protested. "Thirdly, I am either working or sleeping most of the day, I never see the sun!"

"Are you sure you're not a vampire?"

I laughed. "Ginger to vampire? You're really pulling it out of your ass now."

"Well, you are damn near perfect; I'm running out of material to work with here."

"Far from perfect, my dear."

"Says you."

"Bad girls who don't listen get spanked."

Oh shit. My hand clasped over my mouth, but the words were out.

"Please, sir, may I have another?" she asked in an altogether too sexy voice that made my cock strain in my pants.

"Shit! Bad Bella!"

"Edward, that's only going to make it worse."

"Fuck! I know," I cried. My hands rubbed my face as I tried to steer the conversation away from her getting me more turned on than I already was. She already stared in my every fantasy and my dreams every time I slept.

I had managed to steer her brain away as much as possible from flirting as much as possible. Over an hour later I heard her stifle a yawn and reminded me that I really needed to get to sleep. It had been a long ass eighteen hours so I was questioning how I hadn't fallen asleep earlier in our conversation. Oh yeah, three days without talking to her and being so turned on it took two hours to calm him down.

After hanging up I set my alarm and crawled into bed. I immediately fell asleep and into dreams of my Bella and the day we would finally work up to courage to meet. Until then I would have picture war and phone calls and text messages to bring us closer together.


So, what did you think? Please let me know!