A/N: Edited 5/1/13

I'm so glad I didn't let Alice give me that manicure, because by now it would have been completely trashed. I'd been mindlessly chewing on my nails for the first hour of the four hour flight to Chicago. Edward has been quietly stopping me, taking my hand and holding it, until it ends up back in my mouth without me even realizing.

He knows that I'm nervous. And he understands. He's not trying to talk me out of it, but rather offering me the comfort that he knows I need. And I couldn't love him more for it.

He has assured me a thousand times that his parents will love me. I really don't know why I'm so nervous to meet them. I'm thankful that Emmett is picking us up from the airport though. At least I've already met him, and I definitely feel comfortable around him after the weekend that he and Rose spent in Seattle.

We had so much fun that weekend. Edward and I took them to Pike Place Market on Saturday, where we strolled around, ate lunch, bought crafts and souvenirs, and goofed off until we were too tired to do anything else. I got to know both of them really well, and immediately felt like Emmett was the big brother I never had.

Edward and Emmett had such a close relationship that it made me jealous that I never had any siblings. I knew Edward was very close with his parents as well. Maybe that was why I was so nervous to meet them. It's not like I have a normal relationship with either of my parents. My mom is more like a best friend or even a younger sister that I had to take care of, while Charlie is quiet and unemotional except when absolutely necessary.

Rosalie had been a complete shock to me. When I first laid eyes on her perfect body and gorgeous blonde hair, I think my eyes about popped out of my head. But she was a sweetheart from the start and we were relaxing and laughing together like old friends in no time. Edward was right about her being perfect for Emmett, with her no-nonsense attitude and motherly affection. I'm still trying to figure out what is holding her back from committing to him. Em made it perfectly clear to everyone that he wants to marry her, and the ball is in her court.

They are already talking about coming back for another visit, having enjoyed spending time with Alice and Jasper as well.

I removed my fingernail from my mouth yet again and snuggled into Edward's side. Edward took the middle seat of the row, cramming his long legs into the small foot space without complaint, leaving me the aisle so I wouldn't get claustrophobic. Always my perfect gentleman.

Looking down at my journal on my lap, I thought about writing in it again but couldn't seem to muster up the strength. There were too many thoughts going through my head to be able to pinpoint any one of them. Edward has never asked about what I write, but I'm sure he must be curious. We don't hide things from one another, but that doesn't mean that I don't have thoughts that I have yet to share with him. Although, if he ever asked, I probably would let him read anything he wanted to.

He's already read some of the novel I've been working on. As much as I'd always kept that private, he was the one that inspired me to move forward with it and I wanted to share it with him. After he read it, he told me how proud he was of me and that he was sure someday I would achieve my dream. We made love for a long time that night.

Edward asked me if I was cold and offered to get a blanket, but I told him that I was perfectly comfortable where I was in his arms.

"Do you want to see some of the sights over the weekend, or just hang out?" he asked.

"Let's just play it by ear and see how we're feeling. I'm sure you'll want to spend a lot of time with your family while we're in town."

"True," he answered. "But I also want to show you around."

The rest of the flight passed quickly and before I knew it, we were headed to baggage claim to retrieve our suitcases. Edward grabbed both of them off of the carousel and then sent a text to Emmett. We only waited outside in the cold for a few minutes before Emmett pulled up in his Jeep.

He rapidly jumped out of the car and enveloped me in one of his now famous bear hugs, exclaiming, "Baby B!" as he swung me around. For a guy as big and tough as he looks, he's such a loveable teddy bear inside. The dimples when he smiles only reinforce the mischievous little boy look.

Edward had already put our bags into the back by the time Emmett put me down. "What am I, chopped liver?" he asked.

"Sorry, man. But, you're nowhere near as pretty as this one," Emmett said, thumbing over his shoulder at me before giving his brother a proper hug.

Edward insisted that I sit up front on the half hour drive to their parents' house so I could take in the sights. The boys kept up a conversation during the drive, but I was once again lost in my thoughts. I really wanted Edward's parents to like me, since their son had quickly become such an important part of my life. He continually told me that I had nothing to worry about, but that didn't mean that I wouldn't worry. I knew he loved me and I would have his support no matter what, so I let that be my mantra as we approached his childhood home.

Before I knew it, we were pulling into a tree-lined driveway and a beautiful white house was sitting in front of me. I tried to remember not to gape, but the house was so much bigger and more elegant than what I had been expecting. I knew Edward's family had money. He had made comments about fancy restaurants and expensive hobbies in the past. But I don't think I realized the extent of it until I saw the beauty of their house with my own eyes.

The structure must have sat on several acres of land, because the driveway was long and secluded. The trees thinned out into a meadow, with the house near the back of the open space. Emmett pulled up in front of the garage, which looked to be bigger than Charlie's entire house in Forks. Edward was opening my door before Emmett had even turned off the Jeep.

"What do you think?" he asked with excitement in his eyes after he pulled me from the vehicle.

"You grew up here?" I asked in astonishment.

"For the most part," he answered. "I think they finished building this when I was about nine. It was my parents' dream home, and they worked hard when we were young to make it a reality."

"It's beautiful. I can't wait to see inside."

"Well, come on then!" he said, pulling my hand and walking toward the house like a little boy running down the stairs to open his Christmas presents. I felt bad that Emmett was getting our bags out of the trunk, but he didn't seem to mind so I followed Edward to the front door.

The door opened before we even made it to the top of the porch stairs, and a beautiful, impeccably dressed woman with shoulder length caramel hair and bright green eyes rushed out to meet us. I didn't even have time to blink before Edward and I were both enveloped in a huge hug from what could only be his mother. I couldn't understand how she could even get her tiny frame around both of us, but at least I knew where Emmett got it from.

"I'm so glad you're both here," she gushed while she continued to hug us.

"Mom," Edward all but whined. "At least let us in the door!"

"Oh, I'm so sorry, sweetie! Where are my manners? Get in here! Emmett, bring their bags in," she added over her shoulder as she led us through the door. I laughed as I heard Emmett grumble his way up the stairs, no doubt just putting on a show.

We made it as far as the foyer before Edward made introductions, still holding my hand. "Mom, I'd like you to meet my girlfriend, Bella Swan. Bella, this is my mother, Esme."

"It's so nice to meet you, Mrs. Cullen."

"Oh, please, we'll have none of that Mrs. Cullen stuff. Call me Esme. I'm so happy to meet you Bella," she said, giving me another hug which I gratefully returned. She had such a warm and inviting personality. I couldn't help but love her instantly.

"And, I'm Carlisle," I heard a male voice state next to me. I pulled back from Esme's embrace to find a handsome older man with Emmett's dimples and Edward's build. "Welcome to our home, Bella. I'm so glad you could join us."

"Thank you …" I started, only to be interrupted by Edward's father insisting I call him Carlisle. "You have a beautiful home."

Edward and his father shook hands and hugged while Emmett dragged our bags up a wide stairway. "I'll put these in your room, E," he called over his shoulder.

"Thanks, Em."

I hadn't even thought about what our sleeping arrangements would be in Edward's parents' house. No one commented on my bag being placed in Edward's room, so I figured they didn't have a problem with us staying together. I certainly wasn't going to rock the boat if everyone else was ok with the arrangement.

Esme ordered Edward to give me a tour of the house while she prepared some snacks for us. I offered to help, but she insisted that I go with Edward. He showed me around the main floor, which had an open floor plan and a light, airy feeling. Most of the rooms had large windows, making me feel like the inside of the house was part of the beautiful landscape outside.

When we made our way into the library, a few things caught my attention. The first was a shiny, black baby grand piano. It was immaculate, with not even a single fingerprint visible on the surface.

"Will you play for me later?" I asked Edward eagerly.

He pulled me close and wrapped his strong arms around me, kissing the side of my head before responding. "I'll play for you whenever you want."

I smiled and lightly pecked his lips before moving over to the nearest wall and taking in the vast array of books that lined it. Two entire walls of the room were covered in books. This library was my dream come true, and probably had a better selection than the Forks Library, where I had spent much of my time in high school.

"I think this is my favorite room so far," I told Edward dreamily.

"I had a feeling you would like it. Feel free to take down whatever you want. If there's anything you want to bring home with us, I know my parents won't mind." My heart skipped a beat at his casual mention of "home with us." It was still fairly amazing to me how quickly we had settled into each others' lives, and how I felt as much at home in his apartment as he was in mine.

We finally made it to the second floor of the house and Edward continued to lead me through room after room. There were actually two guest rooms, but I was more than happy to be able to share Edward's room. I couldn't even remember the last night we had spent apart.

Edward opened the door to his room with a nervous expression on his face. "Um … this is my room," he said, looking down at his feet and gesturing for me to enter first. I had no idea why he seemed nervous. It wasn't like the walls were lined with pictures of bikini-clad models or anything. There were a few hockey trophies and science awards, and some pictures of his family and friends on the walls.

The large bed took up much of the room, with a black leather couch up against the wall. The back wall of the room was mostly window, matching the style of the rest of the house. There were quite a few empty shelves, which looked like they must have held his large CD collection when he lived here.

Emmett had placed our suitcases at the end of the bed, so I sat down on the edge and just took everything in. Edward finally moved away from the door and came to sit next to me.

"Why do you look more nervous than me right now?" I asked him jokingly.

He chuckled before gathering me in his arms. With his chin resting on my head, I felt his words through the vibration of his chest. "I guess I'm nervous because you're the first girl I've ever had in here."

"Really?" I asked, smiling widely up at him.

"Yes, really." He laughed again and pushed my hair over my shoulder. "There was never a reason for any of my exes to stay over here, so other than a brief visit for dinner or a holiday, I've never even brought anyone up here. I certainly never had a girl sleep in my room with me. I'm glad you can be my first," he added lowly.

"Wow, I'm glad I could be your first, too." I wrapped my arms tightly around his waist. "You sure your parents don't mind?"

"They definitely don't mind," he told me. "I've spoken to my mom about you enough that she knows how serious we are, and my parents are respectful of the fact that I'm a grown man and have been making my own decisions for a long time."

I sighed in relief. "As long as you're sure …" I trailed off.

"I'm sure," he offered, kissing the top of my head again and holding me tight.

We relaxed that way for a few minutes before Edward suggested we go back downstairs. Esme had made coffee and put out a plate of fresh cookies, so we enjoyed a late afternoon snack. Emmett told us that Rose wanted to come by later to hang out for a little while, so Edward mentioned the game room in the basement which I hadn't seen yet.

I chatted with Esme for a while about the Thanksgiving meal that she would be preparing the next day. She assured me that she didn't need any help, but relented after I told her how much I enjoyed cooking so I promised that I would be up early to assist.

All in all, we had a nice evening and I was much more relaxed around Edward's parents by the end of dinner. Carlisle and I had a long discussion about literature, and as Edward had predicted, he offered me anything I was interested in from the library. I had a feeling I would be spending a lot of time in that room throughout our stay.

Rose arrived shortly after we finished clearing dessert from the table, and Esme shooed us out of the kitchen to go hang out. The boys decided to play some video games, while Rose and I made ourselves at home at the pool table. It didn't take long for me to prove how uncoordinated I was with a long stick and heavy balls, but thankfully I felt at home enough with everyone that I didn't mind making a fool of myself. Emmett must have been watching me out of the corner of his eye while still focused on the TV screen, because every so often he would laugh or toss out a comment on my lack of skills. He was lucky I had a good sense of humor.

Edward finally took pity on me and left the video game to give me some pointers. "Let me show you," he said in my ear as he molded his frame to my back. Shivers ran through me and I wondered if he was trying to make me concentrate less with the warmth of his body pressed against me.

"You need to make sure you have the right angle on the ball," he whispered as he leaned us both over the table, wrapping his hands around mine. "Line up the shot, and keep your left hand still while your right elbow does all of the work." He moved our right arms together to take the shot, and the six ball went directly into the side pocket.

I was turning into a puddle of goo under his ministrations, the fact that we barely had any time alone all day adding to my desire.

Before he let me up from the table, he pressed his hips into my back so I could feel his hardness against me. "And, your ass looks fabulous in these jeans," he growled in my ear before swiping his tongue along the lobe and then backing away.

When I finally turned around, I knew my face had to be red but I didn't care. Edward was sitting on the couch finishing the last of his beer with a lustful expression in his eyes as they roamed over me.

"You know," I said casually. "I promised your mom I'd help with cooking tomorrow morning. I should probably get to sleep soon so I can be up early."

Edward winked at me, turning my panties into a pool, before agreeing with me. We quickly said goodnight to Em and Rose before rushing up the two flights of stairs to his room.

I felt him pressing up against me before my mind even registered the sound of the door closing and locking behind us.

"I've been waiting all night to have you alone," he murmured as his hands snaked around my waist and inched under my shirt. The feel of his fingertips dancing on my stomach caused me to tremble and suck in a shaky breath.

I turned in his arms and quickly found his lips with my own. Pulling back from our heated kiss, I told him what was on my mind. "I think it's time we christened this bed, baby," I whispered huskily.

"You must have been reading my mind," he said in between kisses and licks to my neck and collarbone.

His hands frantically pulled at the buttons on my shirt, while mine returned the favor. In a flash of flying clothes, I was naked on his bed with Edward hovering over me. I loved that it didn't matter if we were being playful or romantic. Every experience with Edward set my body on fire. It seemed that tonight he was in an animalistic mood, as his tongue and teeth attacked my breasts and his fingers dug into my hips, pulling my body closer to his.

My fingers knotted in his hair, pulling and pushing, anchoring him to my flaming flesh. His nips and tugs sent my desire into overdrive. My hips lifted, seeking friction from his body anywhere I could find it, but his strong hands pushed my body back into the bed.

"Patience, baby. You know I'll take good care of you."

As always, his words caused the flame to grow higher. "Edward …" I moaned, "I need you."

He kissed his way back up my neck before whispering, "What do you need, baby?" His hand snaked down to my core, and he groaned in my ear when his fingers made contact with the wetness dripping from me.

Two fingers were thrust inside of me, causing me to moan, before I had a chance to answer him. "I need you inside of me," I choked out, even though I was enjoying his long fingers.

There was no hesitation in Edward's movements. One second, his fingers were finding my g-spot, and the next, his cock was buried deep inside me. "Is that what you want, baby?" he asked, as his hips pushed roughly against mine.

"Yes!" I managed, overcome by the feeling of completion I always had when joined with Edward.

He set a frantic pace from the start, and my body met him thrust for thrust, the sound of our skin slapping together echoing throughout the room. Edward sat up and lifted both of my legs up to his shoulders, my calves resting near his ears, before leaning back over my body. The angle and depth of his strokes became an almost unbearable pleasure. I tried to keep my moans quiet, but I couldn't even tell what sounds were escaping me anymore.

"Fuck, baby … so good, so good," he muttered while watching where we were joined. "Are you gonna cum for me?"

He knew exactly what his words did to me, and he always knew just how to use them. The look on his face, the breathless expressions, and the strength of his strokes combined in a blinding fury starting low in my belly and spreading through me like a raging inferno. I was unaware of anything other than my own orgasm until Edward released my legs and collapsed on top of me, still pulsing inside.

"I love you, baby," he managed after a few minutes of erratic breathing.

"Love you, too." I kissed the side of his head and ran my fingers through his always unruly hair in the soothing pattern I knew he loved.

I was sure he was falling asleep as his breathing evened out, so his next words caught me off guard. "Move in with me."

Although my breathing stopped, my initial reaction was that he was talking in his sleep even though I had never heard him do that before. When he leaned up on his elbows and looked deep into my eyes, I knew he was aware of what he had said. The depth of emotion swirling through his mossy eyes confirmed that he meant it, as well.

I started formulating a response in my head, concerned that he would regret this in a less passionate moment, still scared by the story of his ex-girlfriend. But Edward didn't give me time to process my thoughts before he was attempting to convince me.

"Before you start second guessing this, I want you to know that I've been thinking about it for a while." His eyes implored me to believe him. And how could I not? He had never been dishonest with me, and never held back his feelings. "It's just … you mean everything to me. I'm a better person with you than without. We're better together.

"I know I told you that I was afraid of the commitment before, that I wasn't sure I wanted to go where it was leading, but that's the difference here. There's nothing I want more than to have you with me always. Every vision I have of the future, you're in it.

"I know we spend all of our time together already, but I really want us to truly be together—in one apartment, falling asleep together every night, cooking together, making a mess together, everything. If you're not ready, I won't push you, but I want you to know that the –"

I had finally had enough of his little speech, so I put two fingers over his lips to stop the words and get his attention.

A smile spread across my face before I whispered the word that would change our lives.

"Yes."

Edward searched my eyes for the truth behind my response, and finding no doubt in my expression, he crashed his mouth to mine. "You just made me happier than I ever thought possible," he mumbled with his lips still attached to me. "The only thing that could top this will be the day that you agree to be my wife. And, believe me, Bella, I will make you my wife one day."

**OLN**

The rest of our Thanksgiving trip was a whirlwind. I really enjoyed spending time cooking with Esme. She was so much more motherly than my own mother, and it was nice to get to know her better and be so quickly accepted into Edward's family.

Thanksgiving dinner was a loud affair, complete with crazy relatives and tons of laughter. For a while I felt like too much of an outsider, but Edward made sure to include me in everything, whether it was telling me the backstory behind inside jokes or just squeezing my hand under the table to keep us connected.

All of Edward's extended family was nice and welcoming. His parents and grandparents were true visions of what marriage was supposed to be. I was somewhat jealous of his upbringing, considering mine had been so different, but at the end of the day I was thankful that I got to participate and see the love that surrounded them.

We spent Friday hanging out with Emmett and Rose, first ice skating at an outside rink and then having a late lunch and drinks at one of their favorite restaurants. Ice skating came much more naturally this time, and I enjoyed having Edward teach me to skate backwards. Of course, I still made it a point to hold his hand as often as possible, not that he seemed to mind.

Saturday was spent around the house with his parents, since he knew it would be a while until he got to see them again. He told them that I was going to be moving in with him, and it shocked me that they actually seemed pleased about that. I wasn't quite sure my own father would have the same reaction, but in my heart I knew that this was right.

At one point, Edward and Carlisle disappeared for a while as Esme and I cooked dinner. I didn't mind the cooking or spending more time with Esme, but I was curious as to why they seemed to sneak off for a private discussion. Edward's mom continued to make me feel right at home though.

"I can tell that my son loves you very much," she said nonchalantly as she chopped some peppers for the stir fry.

I'm sure my blush gave me away, but I told her as honestly as I could, "I love him as well. He makes me feel like I'm the only thing in the world that matters." I added my sliced mushrooms to the wok.

"As it should be," she stated matter-of-factly. She turned to the sink to wash her knife before regarding me again. "I've never seen him so happy, so I'm thankful to you for making him that way. That's all any mother wants for their child." She moved back to the stove to stir the ingredients. "I'm so glad you came here with him so we could get to know you. As much as I didn't want him to move away from Chicago, I feel better now that I can see for myself how happy he is."

"Well, we'll just have to make a point to come back here as often as possible then," I responded. "I didn't grow up with a big family or traditional holidays, so this weekend has definitely been a treat for me. I hope we get to do it again often."

"You're welcome here anytime, dear," she said, hugging me around my shoulders.

"Thanks, Esme."

"What did I miss?" Edward's soothing voice sounded seconds before his arms enveloped me from behind.

"Just girl talk, sweetheart," Esme answered.

"I thought you were spending time with your dad," I commented.

He kissed the top of my head before reaching for a pepper slice and popping it in his mouth. "We just had something quick to discuss. We're done now."

I couldn't help but notice Edward's beaming grin, as if he had some big secret that he was trying to hold back.

"Anything I can help with?" he asked.

"Why don't you set the table. We're just about finished here so dinner will be ready in about ten minutes," Esme responded. "Oh, and ask your father to get some wine from the cellar."

"Will do," he said, giving Esme a kiss on the cheek before strolling out of the kitchen. I loved watching how affectionate he was with his mother. I knew that family meant everything to him, and my heart was bursting with the knowledge that he would be a great father some day.

We had a quiet and relaxed dinner with just the four of us, and before long Edward and I headed off to bed so we'd be able to get up early to catch our flight the next morning.

There was no nail biting on the flight home as I snuggled into Edward's side.

"My whole family loves you," he said, running his hand up and down my sleeve-covered arm.

I hummed at his touch. "Your family is great. I promised your mom we'd come back often," I told him. "I'm so glad I came with you."

"So am I, baby." He was quiet for a few moments before jumping into the subject we hadn't spoken much about. "When's the lease on your apartment up?"

I giggled a bit at his eagerness. "A little excited, are you?" I teased.

"Well, when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible."

"Ok, Harry," I quipped at his movie reference. "My lease has actually been month to month for a while, so I just need to give the leasing company thirty days' notice."

We talked about it a little more and decided that I would give my notice as soon as possible, and then we would have the month of December to get me moved into Edward's apartment. Before this year was over, Edward and I would officially be living together.

I would mostly be moving clothes, with only a few pieces of furniture since Edward already had most of what we needed. I'd keep my dresser and desk, but probably sell or donate everything else. Edward said he would call Jasper this week to see when we could borrow his truck, but in the mean time he would help me bring things over little by little whenever we had the chance. I may have poked fun at him for being eager, but I had to admit that I was just as excited about this change as he was.

We spent the rest of the flight making out like teenagers, thankful that we were in a row with only two seats, not coming up for air until we had to fasten our seatbelts and return our tray tables to their upright position.

I certainly had a lot to be thankful for this year.

A/N: Please let me know what you think of the chapter!

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