What Happens in Vegas

Disclaimer: I own a Hogwarts pillow, but not Twilight or any of its characters. Surprised? You shouldn't be.

A/N: Here's one last chapter for 2009! Thank you for reading and reviewing. You have no idea how much your words mean to me. Please send me more of them so this story can improve. Thank you so much guys! I have more than 50 reviews between the two sites! Let's see if we can get to 70!

Chapter 11: Brunch

BPOV

I opened the door after the best make-out session I've ever had to see one of my best friends standing disheveled on my door step. She was slumped over and holding her shirt together. There were red marks around her neck and her eye was swelling. A small cut on her eyebrow was dribbling blood down her cheek. Rose's normally perfect and stylish hair was half in a twist and half pulled down. She had obviously been crying.

"Oh, my God, Rose. What happened?" I cried as I tried to pull her into the apartment.

She looked at me and then over my shoulders. Her eyes widened and the tears started anew. "Oh, Bella," she stuttered out. "I'm so sorry. I just didn't know where else to go." She tried to turn and leave, but I held on tight.

Edward moved around me and shut the door tightly, locking both locks. "What happened, Rose?" he asked quietly but firmly. Her sobs increased and I led her over to my chair and sat her down. I sat on the arm of the chair and Edward sat on the coffee table in front of her, with his hands resting on his knees.

"We, I, I went out to dinner with Royce tonight," she started anxiously, looking back and forth between us. Edward shot me a questioning look.

"Royce is the guy she has been dating for the last 8 months or so," I explained hastily. He nodded in response then turned his attention back to Rosalie. He motioned for her to continue.

"We ate at that little Italian place down the street, like we usually do, and he had already been drinking before we got there. We had a bottle of wine and then we went for a walk. He stopped to kiss me," she broke off and squeezed her eyes shut. Edward looked over at me with concern etched on his handsome face. My expression must have mirrored his because he reached his hand out and grasped mine. He gave me a reassuring squeeze and a half smile. Rose sucked in a staggered breath and opened her eyes to us again.

"I'm sorry, guys. I've interrupted your evening. You don't need this," she apologized.

"Nonsense," Edward stated firmly. "Now, why don't you let me check out your eye and neck while you finish telling us what happened? Bella, do you have a first aid kit?"

"Um, not a kit per se, but you should find everything you need in my bathroom cabinet," I told him. He immediately stood and headed back there. I called to him as he walked down the hall, "Could you also grab Rose a shirt from my dresser? Middle drawer?"

"Sure," he yelled back.

"What would you like to drink, babe?" I asked Rose tenderly. She was still shaking and looked very upset.

"Just, just some water, please," she managed to get out. I patted her leg and went into the kitchen to fetch her a glass of ice water. I had always disliked Royce and I had made it clear when he and Rose started dating that I was concerned that he wasn't a good guy. Rosalie had dismissed me, saying that Royce treated her like a princess and was always very respectful. For her to have come here, Royce must have done something horrendous and by the look of her face, he had. With the ice clinking in the glass, I made my way back into the living room as Edward rushed back in with his arms full. He sat back down on the edge of the coffee table and began organizing the various supplies he had brought out with him. He handed Rose a t-shirt and began preparing some gauze with peroxide. Rose just fidgeted with the shirt and gratefully accepted the water. She swallowed several gulps and took a few deep breaths before opening her eyes and smiling at me. It did not reach her eyes.

"Rose, what happened when he kissed you?" I asked gently as I sat back down on the arm of the couch.

She looked uncomfortable and sighed, "Well, he got a little rough and pushed me against the wall. I didn't really mind that part, but then he started groping me on the street!" Her indignation showed through her discomfiture. Edward lifted the damp gauze to her eyebrow and carefully patted the cut. She winced but continued her story, "When he grabbed my right breast, he felt, well, he felt the barbell and got pissed."

"Wait. What barbell?" I asked in confusion.

Rosalie looked a little sheepish but explained, "Last Saturday night, I went with Emmett to the parlor for his tattoo and he convinced me to get my nipple pierced. It was stupid, I know, but I kind of like it." All I could do was stare at her in shock. Edward maintained his composure far better than I did as he continued his ministrations.

"Okay, so what did Royce do when he felt the barbell?" he questioned.

She began to look uncomfortable again and twisted the shirt in her fingers again. "Um, well, he, uh, ripped my shirt open to see it for himself. Then, he started yelling at me." Her anger showed through the nervousness again and she spat, "He said that my body belonged to him and that no one else had the right to look at it or touch it. When I told him that it was my body to do with as I pleased, he hit me."

"When did he grab your neck?" Edward asked authoritatively.

She looked at Edward in surprise, but acknowledged the truth. "When I tried to get away from him. He was pinning me against the wall with my wrists, but when I tried to twist away, he grabbed my neck to hold me still and smacked me with his other hand. He was drunk and cursing and angry. And don't say 'I told you so,' Bella. I don't want to hear it."

Edward tilted her head from side to side as he examined her neck and lightly prodded it with his fingers. He seemed satisfied that there was no permanent damage and looked over the reddened hand print on her cheek. "Has he ever done this before?" The anger in his voice was evident and it seemed like he was only looking for confirmation.

"Not like this," Rosalie said in a small voice. "He has never been this… aggressive before."

"But he has hit you before," Edward said tightly. Rosalie merely nodded and refused to look at me.

Edward stood, pulled the phone from his pocket and strolled to the kitchen. I could see him talking and pacing animatedly. Rose was still refusing to meet my eyes.

"Rose, your shirt is all torn up. Let's get it off and get you changed, okay?" I said gently.

"Bella, I'm sorry that I ruined your evening. I just didn't know where else to go," she said with a sob.

"No worries, Rosalie Hale. I am just glad that you are okay and safe. Come on, slip that off," I guided. She winced a bit as I eased it off her shoulders. Only then did I see the scratches dotting her back from where Royce had pinned her against the wall. I grabbed a fresh piece of gauze from the table and poured a liberal amount of peroxide on it. She shivered from the coolness of it on her back as I tended to the minute cuts, but relaxed nonetheless. Edward was still on the phone and pacing in the kitchen as we slipped the t-shirt over her head. I rubbed her shoulders and she looked at me with fresh tears. Neither of us said much. She just cried and I just held her.

Edward stepped back into the room and watched us for a moment. "Rose, where did you leave your car?" he asked gently.

"Um, I left it in the lot near Piccolo Mondo. We were walking back to this little hole in the wall bar that he likes. Why?" she inquired.

"We're going to go get your car and bring it back here. Bell, Alice and Jasper are on their way. He's going with me," he explained patiently. She fished her keys out of her purse and handed them over.

I nodded and stood. "Thank you, Edward. I really appreciate your help tonight." I caressed his cheek. "Come back to me, okay?" I punctuated my request with a soft kiss and he smiled.

"Always," he returned tenderly. The moment, though, was broken by a loud rap at the door. Edward strode to the door and let Alice, Jasper and Emmett in. Rose turned in her chair in time to see Emmett hurrying towards her.

"Babe, are you all right?" he asked. She assured him that she was but he didn't look convinced. His touch was tender and sweet as he laid a hand on her cheek, but his expression became hard as he stood and moved over to join Edward and Jasper. They all looked angry and determined.

"Be careful," Alice whispered to their backs and all too soon, they were gone.

EPOV

I couldn't listen to Rosalie downplay the injury this Royce had inflicted on her, especially knowing how easily abuse can escalate. From what she was saying, it sounded like it already was and I knew it wouldn't take much to cause her irreparable harm. For as tough as Rosalie came across, she was allowing herself to be controlled by a man that didn't deserve her.

Emmett and Jasper were both more than eager to assist me and getting her car was as good of an excuse as any to get us down there.

"Jasper, you've met this bloke, right?" Emmett asked.

"Yeah, and he's a real prick. I can't believe that Rosalie, of all women, has bothered with him so long," Jasper answered dryly. "Alice and Bella have tried to convince her break it off for months, but she just kept defending him and telling them that he was a good man."

Emmett snorted and shook his head. We pulled into the now almost empty restaurant lot and I pushed the remote on the keys Rosalie had given me. The lights on a sleek, silver BMW 128i convertible flashed in response. We had found her car, but Royce was nowhere in sight. Jasper pulled his car up to next to hers and parked.

"She said he liked to drink at a bar near here, right?" Jasper asked.

"Yes, they were walking to it when he slammed her into the wall. I don't know if he will still be there, though," I said.

"Oh, if I know Royce, he will be," Jasper said with disdain. "This wouldn't be the first time Rose has seen him drunk." He led us down the street towards the only storefront with lights still on. When Emmett swung the door open, we were greeted with a cloud of smoke and loud music blaring from the corner jukebox. Many of the tables were full and the bartender was keeping a rowdy group at the bar well plied with drinks. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jasper flex his fist and I followed his gaze to the overly muscled blonde man holding court in the middle of the bar crowd. We walked closer until we could adequately hear his exhortations.

"You should have seen her boys, bared to me like that on the street! She had this bar thing with little pink balls on either end through her nipple. My nipple! I almost took her right there. If she hadn't squirmed so damn much, I would have," he crowed proudly.

"And you didn't bring her to share? Man, that's a pity," one of his friends bellowed.

"She fucking ran away from me. No matter, I'll show her tomorrow who is boss. She won't be doing that again anytime soon," he bragged smugly.

I was angry. Jasper was so angry that his knuckles were white in his clenched fists. Emmett was beyond restraint. Before I could reach out and stop him, he had grabbed Royce by the collar and was dragging him back out the door we had just walked through. Royce's arms were flailing and his feet scrabbled against the old wooden floor. If I wasn't so pissed, it would have been comical. None of his friends came to his aid.

"What the fuck is this?" he shouted. "That fucking hurts. What's your problem?"

Emmett held him up with his arms locked behind his back and whispered loudly in his ear, "We don't take kindly to assholes that beat up women for fun."

"Fuck you," he spat. "I'll do whatever I want to that little bitch. She's mine to do with as I please."

"Not anymore," I growled as I swung my fist back and connected with his face. "I don't like having to clean up your handiwork." Blood dribbled from his swollen lip.

"What? Are you the asshole that ruined her body? I should beat the shit out of you for placing your hands where they don't belong!" he taunted.

"No, that was me that took her," Emmett said nastily. "And she has every right to do it again if she wants. But you, you have no right to lay your hands on a lady. Ever!" He punctuated his last word by bringing his knee up and slamming it into Royce's kidneys. Royce let out a loud groan and then laughed.

"What? You think a little punch here or there is going to matter? Rosie'll come right back to me tomorrow and I'll teach her a lesson then. And my friends will be out here any minute to back me up." His bravado was in full force.

Jasper's fist flashed right past my face and connected hard with Royce's nose. Blood spurted from his face and his head lolled back. "I don't think you are going to be teaching any lessons to Rose. And those friends of yours seem pretty content to stay in their seats. Maybe, if you're lucky, they'll pick you up off the sidewalk when we're done." Another of Jasper's fists connected with his solar plexus and the air in his lungs left in a rush. A fresh spurt of blood poured from his nose. Emmett twisted his arms tighter behind Royce's back and Royce moaned in pain. I kicked out and slammed into his left knee. It buckled beneath him and he hit the pavement. Emmett decided he couldn't resist a parting shot and stepped hard on Royce's back.

"Leave her alone, asshole," Emmett warned. "Or next time, your friends won't have anything to peel off the pavement."

We walked back to the cars and I handed Emmett the keys to Rose's car, as I climbed into Jasper's. Neither of us said a word on the way back to Bella's apartment.

When we pulled up in front of her building, he turned to me and said, "Thanks for calling us, man. She doesn't need that piece of shit in her life, but I think she's been too afraid to get rid of him."

"No problem. Glad I could help," I said wryly. As soon as Jasper knocked on the door, Alice swung it open. We had been gone less than hour, but she was obviously worried. My sister latched onto Jasper and Emmett and I had to push past them to get inside. Emmett walked straight to Rose, who was still sitting on the living room chair, and offered to take her home. Bella was nowhere in sight. My heart sank. I didn't want to leave without saying good-bye, but I didn't want to stand around her apartment either.

"Bye Bells!" Alice yelled in the direction of Bella's bedroom. "We're leaving."

Moments later, Bella ran down the hall in yoga pants and a tank top. She ran straight for Alice and hugged her tightly. "Thank you," she whispered, "for helping me with her."

"Thanks for being here. Love you," Alice whispered back and squeezed her back.

"Thank you guys too, for going to get her car," she said more to Jasper and Emmett. I wasn't sure at this point if she even realized that I was still here. "And you, Rose, call me tomorrow."

"I will," Rose agreed softly. "Thanks, Bella. I am really sorry that I ruined your night, but thanks for being here all the same." She reached out and pulled Bella to her. Bella laughed and hugged her back. When Rose finally let go, Bella waved to everyone as they left and she shut the door behind them. I couldn't stand it anymore, so I walked up behind her and pulled her back to my chest.

"Mmmm," Bella moaned contentedly, then jumped forward. "Edward, are you okay?"

I released her and looked down in confusion. Reddish blood spotted the back of her white tank top and covered the front of my shirt in a dark stain. "Oh, yeah, I'm fine. It's not mine," I mumbled.

She raised her eyebrow at me and asked, "Is it Royce's?"

"Yes," I answered clearly. "It is. Apparently, he thought that his actions were brag-worthy, so we… corrected that assumption. Would you mind if I rinsed this out before I head home?"

"How about I just throw it in the washing machine with mine?" she offered.

"That's fine with me, but won't that take awhile?" I asked, knowing the answer. It was just as well, as I wasn't ready for our evening to be over. I knew that it would be a few days before I saw her again since I was starting a new rotation at the hospital.

"Laundry usually does, but that's okay. I wasn't planning on you leaving anyway," she said with a sexy smirk. Then, doubt crept up her features, "Unless, of course, you want to."

"Not a chance," I grinned as I stripped off my shirt. Her eyes darkened to almost black as they moved over my chest. "So, where should I put this?" I asked nonchalantly. It seemed to snap her out of her reverie.

"Oh, um, this way." She led me back into the kitchen and into a little covered alcove I hadn't noticed earlier. Inside, her stacked washer and dryer set sat waiting for our clothes. She poured some detergent in the machine and dropped my shirt in. When her hands moved to the hem of her tank top, I batted them away.

"Let me," I murmured. God, I wanted to see her body again so badly. I jerked her shirt over her head a little more roughly than I intended and she giggled. I let her drop her shirt in and close the lid before I pulled her back to me and attached my lips to her neck. She tasted so good, sweet and a little bit salty. I peppered her neck and shoulder with kisses until she ran her hands up my sides and into my hair. I couldn't stop the moan from escaping at the feeling of her small fingers pulling my hair. She twisted in my arms and pulled my face towards hers. Once again, I was lost in the feeling of her soft lips moving with mine. I opened my mouth slightly and ran my tongue along her bottom lip. Her responding moan went straight to my groin and most of my conscious thoughts disappeared. Her mouth opened to me and I plunged my tongue inside, finding hers. I was pretty sure at one point that I was moving backwards, but my senses were consumed by the woman in my arms. I could have been falling and not noticed. I was pretty sure I was falling, but only metaphorically. My brain was screaming for oxygen so I pulled back. Bella's eyes were closed and her face was tilted toward the ceiling. Her beautiful breasts were heaving in the lacy, dark green bra she was wearing; all I could think was that it looked stunning against her pale skin and I wondered if her underwear matched. As if they had a mind of their own, my hands moved over her bony hips and splayed over her ass. Her eyes shot open and met mine fiercely. The look of animalistic desire in them encouraged me and I lifted her up to me. She wrapped her legs around my thighs and pushed herself against my cock. It was already hard and straining against my jeans, but at the contact, any blood flow to my brain redirected and I grew even harder. Her lips sought out mine and we connected again. That electricity I noticed earlier redoubled and flowed back and forth, pushing and pulling us together. Bella was whimpering in my arms.

"Are you okay?" I pulled back enough to ask, panting heavily.

"Oh, yeah, fine," she managed to breathe out. "Let's, um, go…" She trailed off as she kissed me again. I moved my hands so that one still held her ass and hips to me and the other cradled her back. It was some time after midnight and I did not feel like laying her back out on the couch so I headed straight to her bedroom. Unfortunately, I didn't know the layout of the apartment very well and kept running into things. After I almost ran into the wall in the hallway, Bella started laughing uncontrollably and wiggled out of my embrace.

"Come on, this should be easier," she laughed lightly, as she grabbed my hand and pulled me with her. When we made it to her bedroom, she stepped inside and looked at me nervously. At one look at her face, my nerves hit me full force. With the exception of last weekend, which I didn't even fucking remember and I was still pissed off at myself about that, it had been several months since I had been intimate with a woman. Even then, it was more about relief and release than the act itself. I didn't want that with Bella. I wanted something more meaningful and special, but I wasn't sure what that even meant in terms of sex. I wasn't sure I was ready.

I leaned down and pulled her tight to my body and pressed my face into her hair. It smelled like citrus and something else I couldn't identify. I shifted my lips to ear and kissed it softly, earning me a shiver in return. "Hey, no pressure and no expectations, okay?" I whispered.

Bella relaxed against me and took a deep breath. "That sounds good," she whispered back. I held her for a moment more and then she straightened up. I stepped back and watched as she wriggled out of her yoga pants and crawled on top of the purple comforter. Her underwear was off-white with green vines and flowers running across them to match the deep green of her bra. She was absolutely stunning and all I could do was stand there staring with my mouth hanging open. Bella started fidgeting and moving to cover herself up and I couldn't have that.

"Please don't hide yourself from me, beautiful," I murmured as I climbed into the bed. "You are just… stunning. That green looks so good against your skin."

She giggled a little uncomfortably. "That is what Rose and Alice said. Now I'm glad they made me go shopping ."

"Wait, you got this last weekend?" I said incredulously. She nodded and furrowed her brow. "I spent hours listening to Emmett and Jasper bicker about who was the better gambler and I could have been watching you try on stuff like this? Fuck, where are my priorities?"

She laughed fully and kissed me tenderly. "It was Jasper's bachelor party, you know."

"It was mine too, apparently," I reminded her. She caught the side of her bottom lip in her teeth and looked at me with wide eyes.

"I never really thought of that," she admitted quietly.

I brushed her hair back from her forehead and leaned my head against my arm, looking down at her. "Does that bother you?"

"No!" she said quickly and reached her hand out to my face. I closed my eyes against the feel of her soft palm against my stubble-roughed cheek. Then, she giggled. I snapped my eyes open and met hers, dancing with amusement. "It's just that I had to spend mine shopping with Alice and Rose!" I joined in her laughter and kissed her lovingly. She slid the hand resting on my cheek up into my hair and pulled me closer. I couldn't resist running my hand over her ribcage and up her back. She arched her back and pressed her barely covered breasts into my naked chest and we both moaned at the contact. My hand flicked at the closure on her bra and it came undone. The skin of her face and neck was soft and supple underneath my lips and I continued my path down her collarbone while my hand gently pulled the strap of her bra down her arm. I turned her on her back and kissed a trail down to her now uncovered breast. It was perfection. Her nipple was slightly darker than her lips and it was perked up tightly, just begging to be sucked. I couldn't help but comply. Our moans mingled in the dark and I felt her small fingers pulling on the button of my jeans.

"Please," she whimpered.

I shifted up the bed, nearer to her head. "Please what, angel?"

"I want to feel you, Edward. Please take these jeans off and let me," she begged.

"Whatever you want, my dear," I said as I kissed her gently. I leaned back, slipped my jeans off and tossed them over the side of the bed. When I turned back over, Bella was laying back on the bed, sans the bra, looking radiant and utterly sexy.

She quirked her eyebrow at me and nodded to my black boxer briefs. "Nice."

I looked down and realized that they were no longer really containing me. I scraped my hand over my face in embarrassment and then looked down at her mostly naked body. "It's all your fault, you know. You did this to me."

"I did, did I?"

"Mm-hmm," I responded as I lowered myself over her and captured her lips again. Kissing Bella was quickly becoming my favorite past time. She eagerly responded to me and my hips unthinkingly ground into her pelvic bone. The resulting groan from Bella, although undoubtedly sexy and primal, stopped me mid-thrust. "Bella," I managed to groan out.

She pushed back on my shoulders and stared into my eyes. "What is it, Edward?"

I collapsed next to her with a sigh and covered my eyes with my arm. "It's just that, well," I began, and then laughed at my pitiful efforts. "I seem to be unable to form coherent sentences when I'm with you."

"I know what you mean," she responded with a gentle laugh. She pulled my arm off my face and laid across my chest. "What's bothering you?"

The expression on her face was so tender that I couldn't help but smooth my hands over her face and pull her face to mine gently. I placed a chaste kiss on her lips and rested my forehead on hers. "I don't really know what to say. I want you more than you can possibly imagine, but I don't want to screw this up."

"Me neither. Do you think this," she motioned to our mostly naked bodies, "is too much?"

I raked my eyes over her perfect body and a small groan escaped. "Oh, I don't want it to be."

"Mmm. Me neither, but it's late and you haven't slept much since your shift, have you?" she asked considerately.

"No, but I really can't find it in me to care about that right now," I murmured as I kissed her neck. "Where were we?" I wrapped my arms back around her and rubbed her tight muscles. She leaned her head to the side to allow me better access to her neck. Her hand moved lightly down my chest and sherubbed her palm over my penis, with only the thin cotton of my underwear between us. I pushed into her hand and she pushed the waistband down. I thought I would come in her hand the moment she touched me. I felt the same tingles, only intensified. I moved my hand over hers to still her movements, only for a minute and took a deep breath.

Bella smiled at me and kissed me deeply. "Better?" I nodded and she began sliding her hand up and down my cock, slowly but firmly. She gathered a little of my liquid on her palm and spread it over my head. She rubbed her small hand over my shaft, squeezing me tightly but pleasurably. With each stroke, the electricity pulsed and I could feel myself slipping closer and closer to the edge.

"Bella, you…" I tried to say. I tried to stop her because I knew that I wasn't going to last much longer.

"Just let go, baby. Just let go for me," she whispered in my ear. Then she kissed my ear and I lost all rational thought and ability. I also lost my load all over her hand and my stomach.

"Bella, I'm, I'm sorry," I stuttered out. I was kind of mortified.

Bella just laughed and smiled at me. "Don't be sorry. I'm just glad I could make you feel good. Let me grab a towel and clean you up." She hopped out of bed and disappeared into the bathroom, only to reappear a few seconds later holding a hand towel. She quickly mopped up my stomach and kissed me lightly.

I couldn't stand it anymore. I flipped her on her back and captured one of her pert nipples in my mouth. I used my other hand to caress the other one then switched sides. Bella writhed beneath me and moaned from deep in her chest. I felt the vibration and smiled against her skin. "Does this feel good, angel?"

The sounds that left her mouth were passionate and primal so I took that as a yes. I pulled my head back and scooted back up the bed. My mouth found hers and we warred for control. I cupped her sex in my palm and she bucked her hips, so I slipped my fingers underneath the damp cotton. Bella groaned in pleasure and I thought I would come again just from the sheer satisfaction of burying my fingers in her soft, wet folds. I stroked her up and down, playing with small bundle of nerves just above her entrance. She writhed and begged, pleaded and pushed with her hips. I buried two of my long fingers inside of her and we both groaned at the sensation. She was so tight and her walls clenched around me. How I ever fit inside of her last week, I didn't know. I wiggled my fingers around and found the ridged patch of tissue. Bella was panting and stretching underneath me so I stepped up my efforts. I pumped my fingers in and out of her while pressing and rubbing on her clit with thumb. I used my other hand to massage her breasts and pinch her nipples.

"Oh, Edward," she moaned. "Kiss me, please. I'm so close. Please, I'm so…"

I pressed my lips to hers and poured all the passion that I felt for this slip of a woman into it. "Come for me, baby. Now it's time for you to let go," I murmured against her lips. I thrust one more time and felt her walls clench my fingers and pull them in. She cried out in pleasure and pressed her head back into her pillow. I continued my ministrations until she was spent and stopped pulsing around my hand. Bella reached her hand over and stilled mine, and then raised her hand to my cheek and kissed me softly. I smiled at her and pulled her closer.

"Thank you."

"No, thank you," I replied seriously. "Thank you for being here, thank you for letting me stay, thank you for tonight and thank you for being my… well, thank you for being you." This slight woman was now my world and she didn't even know it. Her mere presence changed how I thought and what I expected after only a week.

"You're welcome," she responded sleepily.

"You need rest," I observed. "Get some sleep now."

"Hold me? Please?"

"You never have to ask." She turned on her left side and I pulled her back to my chest. It didn't matter that we weren't dressed. I loved the feeling of her bare skin on mine. I pressed my face into her hair and fell into a deep sleep.

Sometime later, I woke up to quiet mutterings near my head. I rose up slightly, thinking that Bella had woken up and was talking to me or that I had fallen asleep while she was talking. She muttered something about butter and paper towels. My Bella talked in her sleep. Satisfied that I wasn't missing anything and really so tired I could barely keep my eyes open, I laid my head back on my pillow and was quickly back asleep.

The next time my eyes drifted open, Bella was no longer in bed and my arms felt empty. Sun was shining through the curtains, so I pulled myself up and padded down the hallway. I could smell bacon frying and when I turned the corner, I could see Bella in a t-shirt, and only a t-shirt, in front of the stove. Intending to surprise her, I quietly padded up to her and wrapped my arms around her waist.

"Edward!" she shrieked.

"Good morning, darling," I cooed in her ear. "I missed you this morning. I woke up and you were gone." She relaxed into me and tilted her head back so I could kiss her.

"Mmm. I thought I would make you some breakfast before you had to go to work," she said happily. "How do you like your eggs?"

"You are spoiling me," I murmured against her neck as I placed kisses along her pulsing vein. "Over easy, please. What can I do to help?"

"Guh, um, toast," she fumbled. "You, um, have to stop that or I'm going to burn the bacon."

I just laughed. I hadn't felt this carefree in years. "Toast, huh? I'm sure I can handle that. Where's the bread?"

She pointed to a large drawer with her tongs and went back to flipping bacon. I grabbed the bread and put four slices in the toaster. While it was heating, I opened the refrigerator and pulled out the little yellow tub of butter. Bella reached over her head and pulled a couple of plates from the cabinet. The t-shirt she was wearing rode up and her tight ass peeked out from underneath. I had to close my eyes because seeing that made me want to pick her up and bend her over the table. 'That wouldn't be very productive or conducive to taking things slow,' I had to remind myself.

The toast distracted me by popping up at that moment and I hastened back over to butter it, adjusting myself as I went. Only then did I realize that I was standing in Bella's kitchen, wearing only my underwear. I didn't even walk around my own apartment like this.

"Edward, is something wrong?" Bella asked, her voice laced with concern and sadness.

"No, it's just that I'm, well, I'm in your kitchen in my underwear and that's a little weird for me," I explained with a half-smile.

"Oh, well, go put on your pants, if you're uncomfortable," she responded with a shrug. "I like you like this though."

I smiled at her and she grinned back. She turned to me with two plates full of eggs and bacon and I added the toast. We ate quickly but in companionable silence. When I finished sopping up the yolk with my bread and swallowed the last bite, Bella spoke quietly.

"What time do you have to go in today?" Her tone was laced with sadness and she didn't meet my eyes.

I reached across the table and used two fingers to lift her chin. "What's the matter, angel?"

"Nothing," she said. Her attempt at a smile did not meet her eyes.

"Tell me, baby," I pleaded.

"It's nothing, really. When will you find out what your schedule is going to be?" she asked. I grabbed her hand because, suddenly, I understood and I felt her pain too. There was another new schedule to adjust to and now, it wasn't just me that had to handle the changes.

"I should find out today and I'll let you know as soon as I do. From what I've heard, NICU is a little more demanding than most posts, but it shouldn't be too much worse than the ER," I reassured her.

"Okay," she said softly.

I moved around the table and gathered her in my arms. "It might take me a couple of days to get with it, but I'll be around however you want me to be okay?"

She kissed my chest and nodded. "We better get you dressed. It's after 11 already." I acquiesced with a kiss to the top of her head and we both walked slowly back to her bedroom. Bella had already folded my shirt and laid it on the dresser before I even got out of bed. I pulled it over my head and stepped into my jeans. Bella had pulled her yoga pants back on and just sat on the bed watching me. Once I was dressed, I stepped between her legs and pulled her to me. Her kiss was fierce and passionate. When she released me, we were both panting again. I laughed lightly and pulled her to her feet. She walked me back to the front door and kissed me chastely again.

"I'll call you tonight as soon I know something, all right?" I assured her.

"That sounds great. Have a good night," she said sweetly. With that, I left my girl standing in the door of her apartment. And I hated every minute of it.

What do you think? Let me know. What do you like to eat for breakfast?