What's this? An update? Say it ain't so? Oh yeah. Sorry ladies. I briefly had a life. Haha. Really, I had an amazing vacation with my hubby in the big city… I hope you enjoy.

*SM owns Twilight.

*Lillie, once again, you are the bestest beta on the block. Love you!

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Dark Cravings Chapter 9

"Are you about ready, Bella? Carlisle's expecting us back at the house soon so he can take a look at your leg." Edward called from the other side of the bathroom door.

"Just about. Just let me pull my hair up and I'm good to go." I threw my hair into a messy ponytail and hobbled into the hall. Edward picked me up and carried me down the stairs and into the car.

"I hope that you can have that cast removed before Prom. It might get a little suspicious if I have to suspend you two inches off the ground the entire time we're dancing," Edward teased.

"Oh no. No way. I didn't want to go to the Prom in the first place, there is absolutely no way I'm going with this contraption on my leg." I crossed my arms across my chest for effect. Edward just chuckled at me.

"Come on, Bella, what teenage girl in her right mind doesn't want to go to the Prom? It's one of the quintessential human experiences!"

"What kind of teenage girl in her right mind dates 108 year old vampires? I have never been, nor do I ever want to be, typical. I mean it – I am not going to Prom in a leg brace, and that's final!" I felt a little like a petulant child, especially because I gave serious consideration to stamping my foot, except knowing me I would probably just exacerbate my injury. Edward rolled his eyes at me and sighed. Where was Eddie when you needed him?

When we got back to the house, Edward carried me up the stairs to Carlisle's study and set me on the couch. Carlisle daintily removed the brace and began examining my leg, prodding and grasping the bone in various places. The more he examined it, the deeper the furrow in his brow became, as though he were truly perplexed by something. Finally, he swung my legs around and took me by the hands to help me stand up.

"Bella, I want you to try and put some pressure on that leg, take a few steps with it. I'm going to keep a hold of your hands in case it hurts or you start to fall, alright?" Carlisle started taking slow steps backward and I took slow steps toward him. I was surprised to find that my leg felt fine. I was walking normally and there was absolutely no discomfort at all. I was as good as new!

"Bella, your recovery is really remarkable. It doesn't look like you're even going to need this leg brace any longer. My happiness was cut short when the little pixie burst through the door.

"Yay! Your leg is healed! Now we can all go to Prom together!"

"Ugg. Alice, I'm not so sure about that. I have had broken bones before. I usually need therapy and all that. I don't think I could handle an evening dancing."

"Bella-Bella-Bella! You are always underestimating me! If I didn't love you so much, I might have to eat you," she said as I instantly heard a low rumble erupt from Edward.

"Oh hush up you! Lighten up, already! As I was saying, Bella. I have had minor visions regarding your miraculous recovery, but they changed a lot, so I kept them to myself. I also know that you do not need the therapy because your healing time was less than average. So, we are not only going to the Prom, we are going to be the two hottest bitches in the joint!"

At this time she was actually jumping up and down giggling like KFed at an all you can eat buffet.

"Carlisle, what does this mean? Not that I am not ecstatic at Bella getting out of the brace, but is this normal?" Edward looked to Carlisle and tilted his head slightly. I could tell he was trying to pick his mind while he waited for a response.

"Hey, no silent talking about the human when she's in the same room. It's rude." Carlisle looked at me and chuckled.

"You're right, Bella. My apologies. I was simply asking Edward if he could think of anything that might have assisted in your recovery?" Edward's head was hung in shame and he looked at me through his eyelashes. I tilted my head slightly and he shook his head no.

"I thought we put a moratorium on 'silent talking', Bella," Carlisle chastised, looking back and forth between Edward and I. Edward sighed in defeat.

"Carlisle, maybe you should sit down for this," I stated, forgetting for a moment that vampires are no less comfortable standing then they are sitting. Or maybe I just wanted the physical barrier of the desk between him and Edward and I before we told him.

"There has been one change in my…activities…as of late that MAY have affected my recovery," I hedged. Carlisle patiently waited for me to continue. Not sure how to tell him, I chose instead to show him my fingertips, with the fresh silver scarline in the outline of Edward's teeth.

"What…you…Edward? Have you been…drinking from Bella?" His calm, doctor facade slipped in a little and his voice raised slightly from the shock.

"Only a little, Carlisle. He hasn't hurt me, don't worry. He actually has amazing control," I looked at Edward with pride. "But we found that after the ballet studio, Edward was going through, I don't know, withdrawal I guess, from my blood. So anytime I fell down the stairs or scraped my knee or what have you, Edward would lick my wound. My cut would heal, Edward would feel better, no harm done."

"Alright, but what about the bite mark on your fingers?"

"Well, I haven't gotten hurt much lately, and Edward…needed some. It was just a little nibble!" Carlisle raised his eyebrows at me.

"Edward, can you describe for me what effects Bella's blood has on you? It seems as though your need for her blood is not related to thirst, is that correct?"

"Yes, that's correct. It's not thirst. When I have a taste of her blood, I feel…warm, relaxed, less stressed. My inhibitions are lowered somewhat. It reminds me of how my father would act after a nice brandy when I was human." I blushed at that. Hey, it's better than being compared to a bottle of Bud.

"And how do you feel when you've gone without her blood for a period of time?"

"Anxious…shaky…irritable."

"More so than usual?" Alice quipped. Edward growled at her, and Carlisle chuckled.

"Well, I want to keep an eye on this, obviously. I want you to keep a journal of how much and how often you're drinking, as well as how long the effects last and how you feel in between doses. Bella, I want to keep an eye on you as well. It is possible that repeated exposure to miniscule amounts of venom is having a lasting effect on you."

"You mean we could be slowly changing her?!" Edward asked in a panic.

"I wouldn't go that far just yet. I just want to keep an eye on her. It's possible that she'll just be a slightly more durable human, which considering it's Bella we're talking about, is not necessarily a bad thing."

"You are not going to scream at me or try to decapitate me? I have been craving Bella like some sort of crack fiend. Taking hits, if you will. I was very concerned about how you would react to this. I am ashamed and slightly embarrassed by my actions, Carlisle." Edward's eyes were looking at the floor and he was seeming very human by picking at his finger nails.

It was actually adorable, but I would never tell him that.

It was easy to see how Carlisle gained his role in this family, "Edward, I trust you and admire your honesty. I do wish you would have come to me sooner to discuss this, but I can see how you may have had some hesitation. You love Bella. We all know that you love her more than anything in this whole universe, yourself included. You would never hurt her to benefit yourself. If you were in serious danger of hurting her, you would never allow yourself to take the risk. We will just watch things and see how it goes. For now, you guys seem fine."

Edward looked perplexed momentarily, deep in thought. What I wouldn't give sometimes to have his mind reading abilities. I would love to know what he thought.

"Thank you Carlisle. You are an amazing father," Edward said while reaching out to embrace Carlisle in a guy hug.

"Bella, you come to me if you have any questions or concerns at all. At some point I would like to do a CBC on you. Just to do a full physical. I am in no rush at the moment. Just whenever you have time."

I nodded and thanked him before he left the room to go spend some time with Esme. Knowing me, I knew that my schedule was going to be really full concerning making time for the CBC. He should have figured me out by now. I may love a hand full of vampires, but I cannot stand blood. Especially my own! Oh my, I think I am getting nauseous just thinking about it.

Alice's squeaky voice snapped me out of it. "Well guys, I am sorry to run out on you but I have loads of stuff to prepare for. Don't worry about a thing, Bella. As far as the Prom goes, all you have to do is show up! I am going to take care of everything. I have several designers in mind but I need to research their new lines." I swear that last bit she said more to herself than to me as she was already halfway down the hall heading towards her room.

I turned to look at Edward, who had remained uncharacteristically quiet in the past few moments. "Sooo, whatcha wanna do now?" Edward raised his eyebrow suggestively and flashed me that killer crooked smile.

I nodded my head at him and the next thing I knew we were back in his room, landing on his bed with a loud thud. Edward pulled my sweatshirt over my head and laid me back down, lavishing kisses all over my neck and chest. I really enjoyed the fact that it was Edward being so forward with me. Maybe he realized that if he could do it as Eddie, he could do it as my Edward, too. Edward bit through the small stretch of fabric between the two cups of my bra and the ruined garment fell loosely to the sides. Edward was definitely gentler than Eddie, more hesitant as he took my breast into his palm and kneaded it, but I was alright with that. It was definite progress!

Edward leaned down and kissed me, long and deep until I was breathless. Slowly, he drew hearts over my stomach as his finger traced its way down my abdomen and under the yoga pants I had worn. I gasped in surprise when Edward slid his hand under my panties and cupped my sex. It felt even better than Eddie! Edward propped himself up on his elbow and stared into my eyes as he slid a single finger inside of me. The love I saw from him, the sheer joy he seemed to take in pleasuring me sent me soaring. Edward smiled softly as he worked my tender bundle of nerves with his thumb while he lazily explored my core with his fingers. This wasn't frantic fooling around. Edward was making love to me with his fingers. When the spring inside me grew so tight I could no longer hold it in, my back arched and my eyes clamped shut as I moaned his name under my breath. Edward leaned down and I felt his cool breath tease my ear.

"Come for me, my love." That was all it took for the spring to let loose. My hips thrust forcefully into his hand and he stayed absolutely still, feeling my muscles quiver and clamp around his fingers for the longest time before I floated back down to reality. When I opened my eyes, Edward was still looking down at me with the same love-filled expression.

"Thank you, Bella, for sharing so much of yourself with me, in every way. You are an amazing woman to share with me your life, your love, even your blood. I've never known anyone more wonderful or selfless than you, and I am so thankful I get to call you mine." Edward kissed the tip of my nose and then kissed my lips chastely as he removed his hand and grabbed me by the hip to pull my back flush against his chest. "Sleep now, my Bella. You need your strength. Tomorrow Alice is going to kidnap you to go dress shopping."

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I will let you in on a little secret…..It was sort of difficult to get back into the groove after my vacation. Guess what would help me? Oh yeah---Reviews!!!! SHOCK AND AWE! Seriously though, let me know what you are thinking so far. Any ideas for our awesome duo? I would love to hear them. See ya next chappie!