A/n: i apologize a million times over. i am so sorry for not updating sooner. i really am. please forgive me.

this chapter is pretty pointless, and mostly a filler. but whatever, its something, right?

again, i am sooo soo so sorry. life gets in the way too much. and so do stupid 15 big rigs that blow up in tunnels at eleven on a friday night. (google that shit. it seriously happened. took me three and a half hours to get home when it usually takes me thirty minutes. ugh.)

The feeling of waking up next to someone was so foreign to me that I almost started freaking out when I awoke. But I didn't, because I remembered who I was sleeping next to. I made a soft groaning noise and his arms tightened around my waist, pulling me even closer. I smiled and reveled in the feeling.

"Is it morning already?" I whispered, trying to flip myself over to face him.

Edward chuckled and loosened his grip for a moment. I opened my eyes when I was finally facing him.

My smile widened. It was so great to see his face. It was even more wonderful that he was here, in this bed, with me. I was just about ready to die from the sheer amazing-ness of the situation.

"Yes, it's morning," he said, his voice like thick honey. It was almost as though he was just waking up too.

"Damn," I replied half heartedly. I was glad to be awake, for the obvious reason, but I also wanted to still be asleep because this was the first night in almost eight months that I didn't have nightmares.

I closed my eyes, trying to fall back asleep, but I couldn't do it. I was too hyperaware of Edward's gaze on my face.

"Stop staring at me," I stated, my eyes still shut.

"No."

I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks and I tried to hide my face in my hands, but Edward grabbed them and pinned them to my side.

"What was that for?" I asked.

"Nothing," he shrugged. "I just like seeing you get all embarrassed."

"Oh, gee thanks."

I tried to pull away then, but he wouldn't have that. His grip on me tightened.

"Edward," I groaned, trying to push myself away from him. "I have to pee."

He rolled his eyes, annoyed, and grumbled something about stupid human traits. I had to find that funny. He was the one who was insisting on leaving me human, after all. Where did he have the right to complain about the things that came with it? I kissed his cheek quickly and skipped off to the bathroom.

X.X.X.X

The airport was just as crowded this time as it was the last. Except now, it was the middle of the afternoon and everyone was a little happier than I remembered. They were either:

a. highly caffeinated

b. on a sugar high (which was probably true for most of the kids)

or (my favorite)

c. still drunk from the night before.

Either way, I wasn't complaining. Happy people made a happy Bella (albeit, Edward probably had more to do with it than anything, but like I said, I wasn't complaining).

Edward and Emmett led me through security and straight to the gate. Apparently we weren't wasting any time. Of course, I wasn't informed that we were kind of late and the plane was about to take off without three of their first class passengers. But, as always, I wasn't privy to such information. They didn't want to worry the human, after all.

Ugh. Stupid vampires. I would have hurried up if they had told me to.

So, I allowed myself to be dragged along through the crowded airport, apologizing to anyone I bumped into even though they probably couldn't understand me anyways. This was what I got for not knowing Portuguese. I was surprised that Edward hadn't just given up and started carrying me, but then again, that would give us too much attention (and probably look like I was being kidnapped – not that it already didn't).

We made it to the gate, Edward did a little dazzling (which made me kind of angry, but I'll get over it) and soon, we were sitting in our respective seats and the stewardesses were ignoring me (as usual) and giving my two vampire escorts too much attention (again, as usual).

I could finally relax. After being sent to the wrong gate once when I was ten and almost being flown to New Jersey instead of Seattle, the whole going to the airport and getting to the gate thing stressed me out a little. I settled into my seat and prepared for the long flight home.

X.X.X.X

"Nah uh," I said again, still shaking my head. "I'm not doing that."

Emmett slumped his shoulders and leaned closer to me, which meant he had to lean further over Edward, who was probably really uncomfortable with the situation as it was. "Please, Bella!" he begged.

I was smirking now, but only because of the look on his face. It was priceless. "Nothing you say will ever make me do such a thing, so just drop it."

"You're no fun," Emmett sighed and pushed himself away.

"No," I said, "you're just crazy."

I couldn't believe Edward didn't step in at all during the conversation. He probably just wanted to hear what I had to say on the subject.

I folded my arms across my chest and stared out the window. I wondered how long it would take us to get to L.A for our layover. Why we would go to Los Angeles for a layover in the middle of the day was beyond me, but maybe it wouldn't be so sunny.

Edward suddenly tugged on my arm. I turned to look at him. "What?" I asked.

"Is there something wrong?"

"No, nothing. I just want to get home."

Edward nodded, knowing that wasn't the whole truth, but accepting it anyway. I'd never admit to him that I was afraid that once I was back in Forks, he would leave again. I was afraid that maybe he'd gotten his fix of me and was ready to move on again. I still felt like I was too quick to believe everything he'd said, and maybe I was, but I couldn't change anything now.

"You know I love you, right?" Edward whispered, his eyes staring into mine.

I smirked playfully. "No, I'm pretty sure I thought you hated me."

"Oh," he raised an eyebrow, "really?"

"Yeah, really. Maybe you should prove your love to me, just so I'm sure."

Edward sighed. "Not on the plane, Bella."

"Oh come on, where's your sense of adventure? And I never said you had to do anything inappropriate. I just said you should prove it."

He rolled his eyes. "You're insatiable, Bella."

"I take offense to that. I'm very satiable. I just like kissing you."

I was pretty sure that eight months ago those words would have never left the confines of my mind. But now that they were, I didn't know why I didn't say them sooner. I was bolder now. Why, I had no idea, but it was so much fun.

I heard Emmett stifle a laugh and it made my smirk more prominent. Edward took a deep breath and shook his head.

"You're impossible," he said.

"But you love me," I pointed out, poking him in the chest.

He responded by leaning over and pressing his lips to mine. I smiled. I knew I'd get my way. He just couldn't resist me.