A/N: Thank you so much for your reviews of the last two chapters. I'm so happy everything was sorted. Regarding your eager requests for an outtake regarding what happened in the hospital after Bella left, I'm going to wait for a bit until you get the chap when Bella and Vanessa meet again. I think you'll get the dynamic.

So, SMeyer owns. I don't. Let's get to it, shall we?

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9. "Now I've got to raise the bar."

##

"God, Bella, we aren't in the position to join the mile-high club, but I'm about ready to throw propriety out the window," he whispered into my neck as I basically attacked him about midway through the flight.

We'd compiled a list of ingredients for our dinner the next day when we'd have a dinner party at his place, and after that was finished, we'd boarded the flight. I couldn't help it that I wanted to kiss the man as soon as we were in the air, and I hadn't really let up for quite a while.

"I'm sorry. I'll behave." I pulled away, tucking the blanket around me and the pillow under my head as I kicked back my seat.

"God, when I get you home…"

That was the last thing I heard before I dozed off with his hand holding mine. The next thing I heard was quite pleasing. "Baby, wake up."

An hour later, we were in a car on the way to his house, and he seemed to forget we were still sort of in public as his lips skimmed my neck. He'd actually opened a button on my blouse, and his tongue was languidly skimming across the top of my bra, leaving me breathless.

"I've got a question, and take no offense, please. Have you been with anyone else?" he whispered in my ear as his teeth nipped behind it, only to be soothed by his warm tongue.

"Why?" I asked as I exhaled, wary of the driver in the front seat.

"Because if you have, that's one direction. If you haven't, that's another."

He'd been with other women, so the fact I'd been with one guy…Jeremy…by the ripe old age of twenty-six shouldn't be a surprise. Or, so I hoped.

"Before I answer," I sighed as I kissed him on his lovely mouth, our tongues dancing together again before he pulled away for me to finish my comment, "what does it matter? I didn't ask about your history."

"If you've been with someone, I won't hesitate to make you mine, just as I've dreamed of doing for months. If you've never been with someone, then we need to have a discussion," he whispered against my collarbone, spreading kisses that left me panting.

"Why? Why does it matter?" I answered trying to hide the wheezing tone in my voice. I'd be lucky if I could climb out of the car.

"It matters only because if you've never been with anyone, we wait until the wedding night. If you've been with someone else, I'm not going to let anything stop me from what I want."

It made no sense. "So, if I'm a soiled dove, pardon the reference, you have no hesitation fucking me, but if I'm a virgin, you're going to hold out for marriage? That's a bit hypocritical, don't you think?" I pulled away to look him in the eye because I was completely confused.

"Yes, it is, but please answer me. We can talk about it at home."

"I've been with one guy. His name was Jeremy, and he was sweet and kind, but we were each other's firsts, and there weren't fireworks. It was during law school, and we broke up not too damn long after. So, there. I'm not a virgin." I was pissed as hell about his double-standard, but I'd answered his question, so I sat still and waited for him to say anything. Say any-fucking-thing…

"Look, if you'd have never been with anyone, there'd be a lot of pressure on me, and I'd want to do right by you because if you waited, then there was a reason. I'm not judging trust me, but this Jeremy character? Now I've got to raise the bar. He was your first, and I've got to do better than him. That's the reason I asked, sweetheart."

I laughed because he was gorgeous, sexy, and outrageous. He didn't have any competition for my heart. He was the one I wanted, and that was all there was to it.

"We don't have to wait until this potential wedding night. I'm not a virgin, and God knows I want you more than I want my next breath. If you keep holding out on me, I might just expire."

"We're here, Mr. Masen," the driver called from the front seat. I'd forgotten about him, and now another person knew my virtue wasn't intact, not that I was too embarrassed about it.

"Thank you, D. Um, I'll call you tomorrow night regarding my schedule next week." Edward stepped out of the car, pulling me with him as our bags were carried to the front stoop of his building.

After we were at his place over Irish Eyes, I stood in the hall, wondering what the fuck was going to happen next. He carried our things back to his room after removing my coat and hanging it on the hall tree by the front door.

"Tell me what you want." His piercing eyes were looking into mine as if he was looking into my soul, I was certain.

"I want you to show me what you've been holding back from me for all of these weeks. I need you to show me how you feel about me, Edward."

He led me down the hallway to his bedroom. When we stopped next to the bed, he kissed me very slowly, making my knees weak. He removed my clothes gently, and I'd honestly never felt so loved when he entered me after he'd rolled on the condom. "Please, keep in mind, I haven't been with anyone for a long time, and I've been dreaming of being with you for months. Don't hold this first time as a barometer for things to come." He'd whispered the words against my sternum after he teased my nipples with his talented tongue, holding me close the whole time.

"God, you've already pole-vaulted over the very low bar, Edward," I gasped. He began to move slowly, and I lost my mind at the same speed. His hands held me, touched me, and clutched me, as he moved achingly slow at first. I braced my feet on the bed because there was no way I couldn't move with him. He set a steady rhythm, punctuating it with kisses and soft gasps as he loved me into bliss.

If he was worried about our first time being too short, he had no reason. He moved and he stopped, kissing me lovingly on my forehead, neck and lips, and then he'd slowly move again, revving me up to a passion I'd never known. I was always just on the brink, and then he'd stop to kiss me. It was incredible. It was love. For the first time in my life, someone was making love to me, and I felt it in every fiber of my being. Edward Masen was in love with me, as I was with him, and he was showing me with everything inside him, just as I'd asked. It was the most beautiful moment of my life.

##

I'd just put the turkey in the oven and reached to pour myself another cup of coffee when I felt two warm arms around my waist and two soft, wet lips on my neck. He'd awakened me in a way I'd never been awakened after a midnight shower that became delightfully raunchy, showing me another side of the good chef I'd never seen. After shower sex, we'd collapsed into the bed and fallen to sleep, wrapped around each other in a way I'd never experienced.

After his tongue kissed me in a place I'd never been kissed which awakened me with a jolt, I'd declared it better than espresso, causing him to laugh. "Okay, if that was espresso, what would you qualify as cappuccino?" My tongue showed him exactly what I'd qualify as cappuccino, because he, um, added the cream to my coffee…so to speak. He insisted he needed a few minutes to catch his breath after, and I definitely needed to brush my teeth, but we both had bright smiles on our faces over blueberry bagels.

"So, everyone should be here around three this afternoon. I believe we've got time to make up for lost sleep, love."

"What's wrong, old man? Stamina not what it used to be?" I loved teasing him. He had a lovely laugh, and I did whatever I could to coax it from him as often as possible.

"Stamina? You're going to question my stamina, Miss Swan? Come with me, little girl." With that, I was over his shoulder and he was down the stairs and down the hallway like a shot, flipping me onto the unmade bed. He quickly pulled off the t-shirt I'd put on to go cook and laid to rest any questions regarding his stamina. Happy Late Thanksgiving…oh, and I had a lot to give thanks for that Sunday morning. His boisterous proclamations of satisfaction were very…satisfying.

##

Dr. Emmett McCarty was a complete spectrum of personalities. He was a kind man, for certain. He'd given me the uncensored information I needed with regard to my father, for which I'd be eternally grateful. He seemed to be a great friend to my boyfriend, and one of my best friends seemed to be completely over the sun and moon about him. He was also a man.

"I'm here in my sweats. I expect the food to be good," he announced loudly as he and Rosalie walked into Edward's loft on Sunday afternoon. I cracked up because he was indeed, in his sweats. Rosalie was dressed as a fashion model, just as she always was, and I hugged her in thanks for her quick flight to Forks to support me in the hell I'd survived after losing my father.

Edward stepped out of the kitchen with a beer in his hand. "Jackass, Bella cooked, and I can guarantee it'll be better than anything I've ever cooked for you. If I could clone her and put her in charge of my restaurant menus, I'd never have to work another day of my life. Hello, Rosalie." He hugged her quickly and directed them into the living room where he'd made appetizers for the football games.

We determined we'd do a bit of everything. He made nachos (frying his own chips with plenty of cheeses) just as Emmett liked, and we'd made a Thanksgiving feast in traditional fashion. Cooking with him was a huge turn on, and the stolen gropes and kisses only made it more special for me.

Alice, Jasper, Angela, and Ben showed up fifteen minutes later. Shortly after they'd settled in with drinks, Eric and Riley arrived, and things became quite lively. Edward and I were working in the kitchen listening to the chatter and I was very happy, despite the lingering heartache of losing my dad.

As I was checking the potatoes, he wrapped his arms around me from behind and kissed my neck. "Baby, will you come home with me for Christmas? I want you to meet my parents, and Vanessa will be there. I think if you two spend time together without her in pain, you'll get along well. Please come. I want my parents to meet the woman who's changed my life. Think about it, will you?"

I needed to meet his parents with an open mind, but Vanessa? I doubted I could survive the holiday with her because she hated me. God, it was going to be awful, but I loved him and if it was going to have a chance…the relationship between us…I had to figure out some way to forge a relationship with his daughter, though I sure as hell didn't know what it would be.

"I'll go. Tell me when," I whispered as his lips worked their magic on my neck. I'd never be able to say no to anything when his lips were teasing my neck, and I knew it in my soul. I was pretty sure he did as well.

"I'll handle it. I know when Carlisle closes the office because he, Esme, and Victoria will be going as well. Kate and Garrett were going to go on a cruise, but with her pregnancy, she was considering cancelling. Would it bother you if I invited them as well? They get along well with my parents, and Kate really wants to get to know you better. My parents have a huge place in Bellport, and I know it sounds like a lot of people, but Esme and I both have small cottages on the property so we can stay there instead of the main house. Which reminds me…"

He yelled for Eric to come into the kitchen while I ran the whole thing through my mind, losing the appetite I'd been building all day. His parents, his ex-wife and her family, and my boss and his family? Shit! I needed to see if I passed the bar before I tied my horse to that huge wagon because spending the holidays with Carlisle after I got fired for not passing the bar would only add to what I was sure would be a very tension-filled vacation.

Eric and Alice came strolling into the kitchen chattering away together. "Yes, brother dear? Wait, I'm sensing something," Eric commented as he looked at the two of us and smiled.

"I picked up on that when we got here, Eric. You and I are very much alike with the exception of a penis," Alice responded, sending Eric into a fit of giggles.

"We both like them, so I don't see that as a negative, Alice." That made me laugh and Edward groan behind me.

"YOU HAD SEX!" Eric shrieked. That astute observation caused him and Alice to jump up and down, slapping their hands together like two little girls on the playground.

"That's not why I asked you to come in here. What are you going to do about Christmas?" Edward asked ignoring their obnoxious behavior.

"Oh, I've been thinking about that. I think this year I'm going to dress up like Rosemary Clooney at the end of 'White Christmas'. You know, when she's wearing the velvet Mrs. Santa dress trimmed in white fur. That should send them over the edge." I looked at Alice, and she appeared to be as confused as me, so I knew it wasn't that I was stupid.

"Not the talent show. Are you taking Riley with you?" Talent show? Am I dating one of the Von Trapp's?

"Oh. I guess if he wants to go, I will. Mom and Dad don't know I've moved yet, so why not keep up the tradition of shocking them at Christmas." Eric had a wicked smile on his face as he turned to me. "Mom and Dad have always known I was gay, but they tend to try to keep it under wraps around their friends, so every year at the holiday party talent show, I dress up like my favorite diva at the time and sing while Eddie accompanies me on the piano. It's always fun to see the faces on all of those snobs, especially a couple of years ago when I dressed as J-Lo in that Grammy dress and sang 'Jenny from the Block'. Mom laughed, but Dad was a bit pissed."

I couldn't hold my laughter in any longer. I began cackling so hard, Edward had to hold me up. Visions of Eric Masen dressed as Jennifer Lopez in the low-cut, high-slit green frock she posed in while standing next to Diddy was too much to keep me silent.

"Well, you have to give me a head's up if you want me to play. So, Riley?" Edward asked again, reminding me I'd just found out he also played piano. Was there nothing he couldn't do?

"Will do. So, Bella, do you have a dress for the 'Twelve Days' ball at the Waldorf? I'd love to go shopping with you if you don't. I need to shop for a tuxedo for Riley anyway, and I thought we could go next weekend," Eric offered.

"You're going to the 'Twelve Days' ball? Why am I just learning about this? If you want to look at CariO's for a dress, you know I have to get you an appointment. She does a lot of dresses for that one," Alice commented as her arms crossed over her chest.

"You work at CariO's? OMG, I love her designs. Oh, yes, see if you can get Bella on the schedule. I'm thinking emerald green with her coloring. What do you think?" He turned to Alice, and she grabbed my arm, pulling me into the middle of the room. Edward rolled his eyes and drained the potatoes in a colander, not helping me out at all.

The two of them circled me like a pride of lions circling a wounded wildebeest, but at the end of their conference regarding my body type and how my hair should look without one word from me, they seemed to have formed an opinion. Hell, Edward hadn't even asked me yet, and I didn't know if he even wanted me to go. They were making assumptions for me, and I was just about to pitch a fit.

"First of all, ladies, I know nothing about any kind of ball other than the Magic 8 ball I'm going to use to decide which of you I'm going to kill first for the comments regarding my broad hips and flat chest. And I really appreciate the fact you're pointing out my physical flaws in front of my boyfriend. It should make for an awkward conversation after you two are thrown out.

"Second, Edward hasn't mentioned anything at all about attending any ball, hoe-down, or lynching, so thank you for making him feel as if he has to ask me now because you've made the assumption and put him on the spot. I do believe, Eric Masen, you've found your non-sexual soul mate in Alice Brandon, and you're both mean girls at heart." I pulled off my apron and stormed out of the room before either of them said another word.

I went downstairs to Edward's bedroom and sat on the bed, feeling more embarrassed than I ever had in my life. It was even worse than the time I walked out of the ladies' room with toilet paper stuck to my shoe, only to have it pointed out to me by the new boys' gym coach every girl at my high school had a crush on.

When the knock came on the bedroom door during my breakdown, I ordered, "Go away," as I pulled a few tissues from the box by the bed.

"Honey, I live here." I laughed a bit and opened the door, not realizing I'd locked it when I stormed in. He stepped in the room and closed it behind him, pulling me into his arms and hugging me tightly.

"Don't let them bother you. I agree they're very much alike, but I did mention wanting you to attend a few events with me. I haven't checked my calendar to see when the ball is, but I truly want you to go with me."

"You don't have to do that, Edward. I'm not really a ball kind of girl anyway, what with my flat chest and big ass." I sounded like a whiny baby, but I didn't care. They'd hurt my feelings, and neither seemed to give it a second thought. I was kind of used to Alice's comments, though I didn't like them very much, but Eric had only been sweet to me, so his cattiness sort of surprised me.

Edward picked me up and placed me on the comforter, drying my eyes and moving my hair off my face. "My sweet girl, don't you dare let those two insensitive brats make you feel any less gorgeous than you are. I happen to love your breasts and your ass, as I believe I made clear last night and this morning. I'll throw them all out, if you'd like, and we can eat until we puke without them." I laughed at his comments.

I opened my eyes and looked into his, seeing love which could erase any bad thing anyone ever said about me. "You don't care if I'm flat chested? Kate has big boobs, as does Tanya." I worked with her and actually liked her. We weren't going to be besties anytime soon, but she was nice to me when I had to talk to Carlisle regarding an assignment.

"Honey, I'm a man. I love all boobs, regardless of shape or size, but I love yours the most. And, really, you're going to let my gay little brother make a judgment of your ass? I think it's fucking brilliant, and I won't allow anyone to disparage it. Your ass is my favorite ass in the world." I laughed again.

"I think your ass is pretty spectacular, too. I'm sorry I threw a tantrum. I'm not usually like that, but I was caught off guard, and I didn't want you to feel as though you had to invite me to one of your fancy parties." He kissed my nose and pulled me up to stand in front of him, wrapping his arms around my waist and resting his forehead against mine.

"I want you to go with me, Bella. I'm a guest at the 'Twelve Days' ball, but I'm being auctioned at a charity gala right before we leave to go to Bellport. I want you to buy me, not anyone else." That was news to me.

"Auctioned off to do what, exactly?"

"Celebrity bachelor bullshit. Esme roped me into doing it again months before I ever met you, and I was only reminded about it before your dad…um, recently. I did it last year and raised ten grand for a children's music program in Harlem. I was lucky because a nice eighty-year old lady bought me."

"Did she have you clean her six-square in a gold Speedo?" I added a wink to tease him.

"It was a silver thong, actually." I pulled back to look at him and was a bit worried until he laughed.

"Nothing like that. I catered a 'Twelfth Night' party for her. Unfortunately, Mrs. Cornwall passed away earlier this year, so I can't depend on her to save me from a fate worse than death…the New York socialite. If you're there, you can buy me and save me from the lecherous trust-fund daughters who haunt these types of events."

"I'm afraid the most I could offer to pay for you would be about $137.49, which is the balance of my poor savings account." I kissed the middle of his chest and pulled away to go wash my face and comb my hair.

"Don't worry about the money; just say you'll come with me, please? Do it for the kids," he pouted. He was standing at the doorway to the bathroom with his lip stuck out and his head tilted pathetically. Yep, he had me.

"Fine. So, I need to go finish dinner. Come on, Chef." I took his hand to lead him out, but before we left the room, I turned back to him and pulled him down, kissing him passionately because I could.

When I broke the kiss, I felt something very hard and large against my stomach. "Wow. What was that for, not that I'm going to complain." He placed his hands on my ass and squeezed a bit.

"For being so sweet, but more so because I can." I walked down the hallway and upstairs to the kitchen to put the finishing touches on dinner.

When I arrived in the kitchen, I saw Rosalie standing over the turkey she'd pulled out of the oven. "Hey, ignore those asses. You know you're hot, and so does the hot guy who just reamed their asses before he came looking for you. Anyway, I brought this because I know you. It's time, Bella." She thrust an envelope into my hand and walked out with a kiss to my cheek.

I flipped it over and saw it was my letter from the New York State Bar Association. As much as I wanted to wait until after everyone was gone, I needed to stop being a scaredy cat and just open the damn thing. It was time to deal with reality.

I slipped my index finger under the flap and tore it until I reached the end. I pulled out the letter and held my breath, worried about the results. I skimmed the letter and shouted, "I PASSED!"

Everyone came into the kitchen to see what the hell I was shouting about. Emmett, of course, would be the first to speak. "Passed what? Gas? I find most people don't want to know when I do things like that. Where's the food?"

Everyone cracked up at his comment, and when Edward walked into the kitchen, picking me up to spin me around with a smacking kiss on my neck, I heard the applause. I'd passed. I was a member of the New York State Bar and licensed to practice law. It was a very good day for me!

##

Later that night after a heated discussion with Edward regarding my need to go home to my place because I only had one suit with me and it needed to go to the dry cleaners, I called my mom to give her the good news.

"Bella, honey, you made it home okay?" she answered.

"Yeah, last night. I cooked Thanksgiving dinner for friends today at Edward's loft, and we just got home, me and the girls. How's everything going with Aunt Irene?"

"So far, a bit stilted. She's defensive, but we'll get through it. So, how were your flights?"

"Edward actually met me in LA, and we flew home together. It was very nice. I've got some news for you," I began, trying to hold back the squeal bubbling up in my chest.

"Okay, give it to me."

"I passed! I passed the Bar!" I couldn't control the excitement any longer, and her shriek in support made me very happy.

After a few sniffles from my mother later, she informed me of something I wasn't prepared to hear. "Bella, honey, check the front pocket of your suitcase." I reached over to it and unzipped the front compartment, pulling out a card with my mother's writing on it.

"Mom, you didn't have to…"

"Open it, honey." I did as she said, finding a Hallmark which gushed with parental pride. I wasn't prepared to see my father's weak signature at the bottom next to hers. There was a check for a thousand dollars inside as well, signed by my dad but written out by my mother.

"Mom, what's this about?"

"It's so you can get yourself some work clothes. We knew you'd pass the Bar, your dad and I, and we wanted to give you something to show you how proud we are. You know, don't you, your father was so proud of you. His daughter graduated from Dartmouth Law. He bragged to everyone he knew about his daughter being at an Ivy League school.

"Look, honey, your daddy had one order for me before he began taking the heavy pain medicine. He'd wanted to help your student loans, but when you applied for law school, you got a better loan rate without us co-signing for you. We lived a very simple life, and we made enough money to take care of ourselves and help you out with expenses, but while he was working, we didn't have the extra income to help you with your tuition.

"After Daddy found out about the cancer, he and I talked about the finances. The house is paid for, and I've got my job at the daycare, which will definitely cover my expenses. Daddy had his pension from the Department which will more than take care of me for many years to come. Bella, he also had a life insurance policy for a hundred-thousand dollars. We want you to have that money and pay down your student loans. We know you don't have loans from undergrad because you were on scholarship, but Dartmouth isn't cheap. It won't pay them off completely, but maybe it'll make a hell of a dent? As soon as the proceeds are sent to me, I'm sending you a cashier's check, and I won't take no for an answer, Isabella."

I was stunned. We didn't live the high life at all, but I didn't mind because I really didn't want for anything growing up. When I got my scholarship for U-Dub for undergrad, I was happy, and while I worked during school, Mom and Dad would send me money to help when they could. I never contemplated any scenario where my father would die, so a life insurance policy was the furthest thing from my mind.

"Mom, I don't need it. I make enough money to pay my loans, pay my share of the rent, and eat. You hang onto that money and do something for yourself. You deserve it. When things calm down, take a trip, maybe? You and Aunt Irene could go on an Alaskan cruise like you've always wanted. I appreciate your kindness, and it sounds exactly like Dad, but I'm fine, I swear." I wasn't exactly fine because I was bawling like a baby, which was impossible to hide from my mother.

"Uh-huh. Well, I made a promise to the only man I've ever loved. I promised him I'd make certain his one and only daughter would live a healthy, happy life, starting out with a clean slate, or nearly, and I intend to keep my word. No use complaining or crying about it. What's done is done. I need to go because Aunt Renie just pulled out a bottle of whiskey which doesn't exactly bode well for the rest of my night. I'll talk to you later in the week. I love you, and congratulations. Bye."

Without another word from me, she hung up. I lay back on my bed and thought about everything. Student loans paid off? Fantastic salary which wouldn't have to be gutted to pay off my loans? It was too good to be true.

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E/N: Lots happened again. I laughed at Emmett in his sweats waiting for dinner. He's a doctor, but he's still the Emmett we love.

So? Lemme have it. They did the deed, after all.

Till tomorrow…xoxo

(Sorry I was late. A lot going on at the Samekraemer house. Mwah.)