Hi Everyone... Thanks so much for the people who have found my story. I appreciate the comments, reviews and recs. I, also, welcome any suggestions.

Again, let me thank am13er for introducing me to Fan Fiction. She, also, prereads this story. Thank you to my daughter who prereads, too.

And I want to thank Linda Cullenboyz, Amazing Beta. She has great eyes and understanding of my story.

And as always, Stephenie Meyer owns the characters. I just borrow them for a bit.

XOXOX

Finding Home
Chapter Eleven: Being New

From previous chapter:

There's no line of demarcation. I don't know where I end and he begins. We just melt. Like the marshmallow of a s'mores, like the cheese on a pizza. Yeah, yeah, we are food. We become goo. Love goo. Three days and it's a done deal. We break away, out of breath, out of energy and out of our minds with a hint of Shalimar.

Shalimar! I abruptly sit up and stare at Gran's urn, hastily wiping my mouth with the palm and back of my hand. I take a little look around with wide eyes. Are you here, Gran?
My robe is off my shoulders and the tie is very loose. Edward stares at me, takes a jagged breath and turns his head. He rolls over onto his back and places his arm over his eyes and groans. "You're killing me."

I turn back to Edward, tying my robe up and running my fingers through my hair. "Killing you good or killing you bad?" I squint at him.

He peeks out from his arm. "Oh, it was really bad," he sighs, "in a good way." He gives me a huge grin, jumps up and starts to tickle me.

"Edward, please, awwww. I can't breathe!" I hysterically laugh, snorting and giggling out of control. "I'm going to die! Please, stop. Oh. My. God!"

He attacks my ribs with his fingers under my breast bone, tossing me onto my back and straddling my hips. I squirm and kick, to no avail, but when I pull his hair towards me, Edward stops suddenly and nuzzles my neck.

He breathes in deeply. "Man, Bella, you smell so good."

He licks my neck under my ear,moving down my jaw and I freeze up. I can't move. The sensation of fire burns my skin from the inside out. Oh. My. God. My hooha vibrates. I wonder if his... No, I don't want to go there. Could he vibrate, too? Or do guys do something else?

Breathlessly, I try to speak. "Edward," I whisper, "get up." I gasp. "Please, get up, you are cutting off my air supply."

He gets up quickly, kneels in front of me and cradles my head in his hands. "Did I hurt you?"

I shake my head and sit up. "No, no, I'm okay." I giggle. "I think we got carried away, again." I run my hands through my hair, again, trying to tame my rat's nest.

I want to tell him all that I am feeling, but I hesitate. Is it the right time? Am I pushing things? He might think I am a horny bitch like Lauren Mallory. Oh, I would die a thousands deaths!

Edward dips his head and looks into my eyes. "Where did you go?

I avoid his gaze, looking instead at his hand on my arm. "Just thinking."

"About what?" He gently takes my chin and encourages me to look at him. "Bella?"

"I don't want you to think I'm like Lauren Mallory," I whisper.

He stares at me intensely. "What brought that on? You are nothing like her."

And I babble on, "Well, we're in my bed and we are all over one another. I'm like addicted to your mouth." I point to my lower half and then to his lower half, "It got so hot in here. I felt ignited. And... and my girlie parts are kind of excited. Are you excited?" I hide my face in my hands and groan. "No, don't answer that."

I have foot-in-mouth disease, and Edward begins to chuckle. No, he hysterically laughs and rolls on my bed, holding his stomach with both arms.

"I'm glad you find this all so comical," I complain, as I cross my arms over my chest. Edward manages to stop laughing and breathes in.

We sit up across from one another, and Edward takes hold of my shoulders, piercing me with his eyes. "Bella, believe me, I'm really excited. I'm a guy. You're one hot girl. Mix the two and we both want friction."

I blurt out, "You do?"

"Until you and I figure us out," he clears his throat, "I am going to have one serious case of blue balls."

And what I do next surprises even me. In a blink of an eye, I innocently put my hand over Edward's bulge. "Am I hurting you?"

I look down in absolute horror and quickly remove my hand. Edward is sheet white.

"Edward, I'm so sorry. I swear I didn't mean to touch you."

I look down, then, into his eyes. "Well, I want to touch you. But I thought I was causing you pain." Geez, I don't know where to look.

Edward saves me from embarrassment with a gently hug. "Shut up, Bella.". "It's okay." He pats my hair.

I grovel into his neck. "It's too bad I don't know any virgin jokes. Like hey, two virgins walk into a bar or have you heard about the virgin who got away..." We both laugh.

From the back deck of Gran's house, Edward and I walk hand in hand through the kitchen door. Mags sits at the table with her leg up on a chair, reading a newspaper, her glasses are at the tip of her nose. A cup of steaming hot coffee sits in a saucer to the side.

She eyes our clasped hands with a smiles and mutters, "About damn time."

I curl into Edward's arm with my head down and a hand on his chest, blushing brilliant red. Hmmm, and he thinks I smell good. Edward coughs, nestles his chin on my head and smirks at Mags.

"C'mon, Mags, we've only known one another four days." He sighs.

"You're not fooling me!" She laughs and continues on. "Love at first sight."

We stare at her.

"Oh, don't be surprised, you two. For God's sake, it happens on both sides of the family. I told you last night, we Platts are notorious for it. And do you think the Cullens are any different, Edward? Your father fell, no, plunged head first, when he saw your mother. The sun rose and set with her. And Bella, your mother and father broke the sound barrier." She huffs.

"Yeah, but my mom and dad didn't last." I huff back.

"Your mother had other ideas, but Charlie? Well, his torch is still lit, I'm afraid." She folds the paper and places it on the table, crossing her arms. "That man tried with all of his might, but Forks wasn't enough for Renee`. She wanted bigger fish to fry."

"Well, the world is at her feet with Phil," I blurt out. "They were in Beijing, the last I heard from my grandmother's attorney."

"You haven't heard anything from her?" Mags frowns.

I shake my head. "No. When Dad came out to New York, he spoke to her over the phone about me coming here and that was it. No more responsibilities. Not that she really took care of me," I mumble. "And I'm not calling her."

Edward gives me a gently squeeze, "I need to head over to Emmett's. I'll be back later."

I smile up at him, "Okay."

He kisses me on the forehead, heading out the back door, as Mags watches him fondly.

"Bella, you are right were you belong," she states, smiles at me and reaches over to pat my hand. "Lizzy would have liked it."

I sit across from her. "It's funny you say that, Mags." I look her straight in the eyes. "She wrote me a letter, hoping I would come to live with Dad. She even sweetened the pot by leaving me everything."

"Renee` got zip?" she questions, eyebrows raised. I nod.

Mags lets out a hoof of glee, "That's my Lizzy!" She giggles and yelps until she finally calms down with a sigh.

"So, what do you have planned for today?" she asks, as she wipes a tear from her eye.

"Well, I want to wash all the sheets and pillow cases. Maybe air out all the blankets. Cook a few dinners, so you can have them in the freezer. I know it will be easier for you and Esme."

"Honeyyy, that's a lot do. We don't expect you to take care of us."

"But I know where everything is. We can do it together, this time. Then, you guys can be on your own. Okay?" I plead.

"Okaaaaay," she repeats.

"And I really want to cut Edward's hair, too."

"Good idea. Soon, it will be your length," Mags kids.

Alice walks into the kitchen in a hot pink robe of satin with matching high-heel slippers. "Do you know how to cut hair, Bella?" Pulling some Orange juice out of the refrigerator, she takes a glass from the cabinet and, at my nod, she takes another to serve us both.

"I actually do. Renee` had this hair stylist named Enrique who spent a lot of time hanging around the condo. He was a whiz with the shears. Always after me to cut my hair." Alice hands me a glass of juice and sits down. "Thanks." I take a sip. "He taught me the cutting ropes."

"So does Edward know you are cutting his hair?" Mags asks me.

I answer, "Hmm, yes."

"Where is Edward?" Alice asks, looking around.

"Next door." I get up with a grin. "Now, how about some breakfast?"

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After a light breakfast of oatmeal and fruit, Alice and I ransack every linen closet in the house, strip the beds and bring all the bedding, towels and comforters to the laundry room. For hours, the washer and dryer are nonstop. We finish all the dusting and vacuum every floor, in between laundry cycles. It's nice to spend time doing the menial chores together, talking and getting to know one another better.

Housework done, Alice spends the next hour showing me all of her drawings. She is an amazing artist. One sketch pad is all sides of Jasper. There are head shots at different angles, some including a cowboy hat. He smiles, frowns and stands on his head. One particular drawing in particular really captures the depth of Jasper's feelings; as though he looks out of the page and right through you.

Then, I see a nude. Woah, too much of Jasper, I do NOT want to see! Alice turns beet red and I turn the page very quickly to find another nude. Okay, done with this pad.

"I have an entire sketch pad of Edward from when he was a kid to now." She points at me. "And no nudes! You want to see it?"

I nod my head and Alice hands me a larger sketch pad. I open it to see a portrait of a messy mop of auburn hair, freckles and a large smile.

Alice giggles out, "He was ten."

"Oh my God, Alice, you could draw at ten? This is amazing." I shout.

"Thanks. Yeah, I just seem to take to drawing," she shrugs.

"He was always beautiful," I whisper and continue to flip through the book. "Well, Edward doesn't have to worry about me drawing him. I can't do a stick figure!" I admit.

"Yes, but you can sing and play the guitar with him," she coos.

The dryer buzzes, making us both jump and fall into giggle. Leading Alice into the laundry room, I pull out a sheet and we fold it up together.

Alice's giggles die down and she clears her throat. "Whenever something would scare me, I would run to my dad. He would bear hug me and whisper in my ear, so no one else would hear, "Nothing gets passed Daddies". He always made me feel safe." She half smiles.

I laugh, "Charlie would pull out a gun and say no one could get passed his pistol!" We both laugh.

"You know, Edward's very protective." She stares at me. "Even though he's only a few minutes older than me."

"I've noticed that. It's good you are close." I sigh. "I would have loved to have a brother or a sister."

Alice grins. "Yeah, well, now you do, sis!"

"I smile back at her. "Cool."

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We decide to do some baking with Esme and Mags watching on. The kitchen countertops have chocolate chip cookies, banana bread, apple pie and brownies, everywhere.

Mags sits at the kitchen table still with her leg up, as she eats a large piece of banana bread. "This tastes just like Lizzy's," she says. "God, that woman could bake. And she tried so hard to teach me, but I was not good at the sweets. Love to eat them, but can't bake to save my life."

Esme giggles, as she sits next to Mags. "You never had the patience, Mom." She picks her fork at her slice of apple pie. "Oh Bella, this is delicious. I think you could be a chef."

"Thanks, Esme," I say. "I'm not sure what I want to do. I've thought about something in music or writing."

Alice pops a cookie into her mouth and asks, "What kind of writing?"

"The great American novel or a journalist? I'll just get to college and go from there."

"You sound like Edward. He loves to write. He has dozens of journals," Alice boasts. "Where do you want to go to school?"

"Well, while I was in New York, I sent early applications to Columbia and NYC, Dartmouth and Harvard. My mother was big on the Ivy League schools. Now, I'm not so sure. Maybe UDub, so I can come home and see Dad. I would like to follow in some kind of music program along with the writing."

Alice smiles. "That's Edward, too. His music is another passion. You should get him to play the piano for you, Bella."

"I'd like that."

Alice helps me take the cookies off the racks and into a large cookie jar. We wrap up the banana bread and brownies in tin foil. I place the pie into the refrigerator in a pie keeper.

Esme adds, "He wrote me the most beautiful piece. It was for Carlisle's memorial." She starts to tear up. "If you'll excuse me". Esme goes upstairs. Alice follows her.

Mags shakes her head. "She'll never forget Carlisle."

"How could she, Mags? He seemed like the most wonderful man," I say.

"Oh, he was. Honorable, kind and very loving." She looks at me carefully. "Edward is very much like him."

I smile. "I guess so."

Alice yells from upstairs, "Bella, could you come up here?"

I look at Mags. "I'll be right back."

I head for the stairway and stand at Esme's door. Alice walks over to me.

"Mom wants to speak with you." She walks to her room, across the way.

I head into Esme's room. She is standing near a window, looking out the back yard. "I'm sorry I ran off."

"That's okay. I understand."

She turns to look at me. "Yes, I believe you do, Bella."

Esme is staying in old Gran's room. I can feel her so strongly. The scent of Shalimar. The low buzz of her energy. "You know, this was my Gran's room."

Esme grabs my hand. "Are you all right with me being in here?"

I reassure her, "Yes. I want you here. I can feel Gran. And I know she wants all of you here, too."

Esme gestures for me to sit on the bed. I do and she sits next to me. We sit in silence for a little while. She still holds my hand. She sighs. "I will always have Carlisle in my heart. He was the only man I ever loved, Bella."

"Mags said he was honorable and that Edward was very much like him."

"True on both parts." She asks with a small smile. "So, do you love him?"

I take a deep breath and sigh. "He's been gone for only a few hours and I feel like I can't breathe. You know?" I bite my lip. "Um, I never felt this way. My heart races or it stops and I hold my breath. I think of him all the time; what he's doing and if he's all right." I laugh. "If he's had enough to eat. I just want him to be safe. Ah, all of you, Esme. I love all of you... so much." Tears run down my face. "It's as though all of you have been in my life forever, even though it has only been a few days. I like being here. I like doing things for all of you. And for my dad, too. And Edward..." I wipe my cheeks and smile. "He's everything."

I hear a whisper of a throat clearing. Edward stands at the doorway.

Esme cups my face in her hands, "I'm going to go see Alice." She gets up and walks out of her room, rubbing Edward's back.

Edward kneels in front of me, interlacing his fingers with mine. He leans his elbows on my thighs and brings my hands to his mouth, kissing them so lightly.

"How much did you hear?" I ask him.

"Everything," he answers in a whisper.

"Oh." I look around, nervously.

"Bella?"

I look at him. "Yes?"

"I was doing some work with Emmett. He has new students and we were doing the schedule. I thought about you the whole time. Emmett sort of kicked me out, because I wrote your name down a few times on the schedule." He smiles and mouths, "Lovebug."

I tease him, tousle his wayward hair and sing, "And baby, you want to mate with me."

He smiles and whispers into my ear, "Well, baby, not in my mom's bedroom." He gently kisses my neck. Goose bumps. "And since you have this uncanny desire to feed me, I could eat."

I give him the biggest smile, "Edward, that makes me happy."

Since it's early afternoon, I make Edward a roast beef sandwich with chips and a sweet ice tea. We go out onto the back deck, as Charlie approaches from his yard.

I look up, as I munch on a chip. "Hey, Dad." I wave him over.

"Hi kids." He leans on one of the deck chairs. "I'm glad I found you."

"What's up? Did you have lunch? Can I make you a sandwich?" I ask him.

"Thanks, Honey, but I ate a few hours ago. Aw, look, I have to go to Seattle for a meeting. It's an overnighter. So, will you be all right alone?"

I quickly say, "Sure."

"If it's all right with you, Chief, I think she should stay with us. Then, you don't have to worry about Bella being alone." Edward looks Charlie in the eye.

"I would feel better, Edward." Charlie agrees.

"Hey, I'm glad you both have decided for me. I am a big girl. I can take care of myself," I argue.

Both Dad and Edwards say, "No" at the same time.

"Oh great," I huff. "Two for the price of one. Yippee."

Dad leaves and I give Edward the stink eye.

He shrugs, "What?"

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Edward and I settle into his bathroom. He sits on one of the dining room chairs in front of the sink, because he needs to watch me cut his hair. He says he trusts me, but I can see that anxious glare in his eyes.

"would it be ok if I braid your hair before I cut it at the nape of your neck?" I ask.
"Why do all of that?" he asks.

"Well, you have such beautiful hair. We could send the braid to Locks of Love." I answer, while I take out the cutting tools under the sink and place them on the countertop.

He frowns, "What's that?"

"It's a non-profit organization that provides hair pieces for sick kids. People donate their hair and they get wigs made up. It's supposed to help with their self-esteem and well being. It's a really good cause. We can go on line and I can show you their site."

"Okay, after you bald me," he jokes.

"I'm not going to bald you, I swear. Alice gave me a picture of you with your normal hair length. It's a simple cut." I cross my heart.

Edward wraps his arms around my waist. "Okay, cut away."

"Do you want a towel around your neck or do you want to remove your T-shirt?" I question.

Edward lifts his arms and pulls his shirt off. I. stare. at. everything.

"Bella? You're drooling." He chuckles.

I come out of my Edward daze, shaking my head and mumble, "You are so beautiful." Okay, he's thin, but muscular thin, if you know what I mean? Happy Trails to me, la la la.

He places his palms onto my hips. "Bella, are you going to stare or cut my hair?"

"Oh, sorry." I lean down and kiss him softly on the lips. I grab a brush, gently take all the tangles out of his long hair and secure a hair- tie at the nape of his neck. Once I finish the braid and tie off the end, I look at Edward through the mirror and nod. He does a slight blink and I cut the braid off. I take another hair-tie and secure the other end and hand the braid over to Edward. He inspects the rope of hair and tosses it onto the counter.

It takes me about forty-five minutes to layer his hair into shape. But if I say so myself, I did a great job. I run my fingers from top to bottom, checking on how even it is. Edward's head leans into my fingers and he says it feels so good. He shakes his head, runs his hands through each layer of hair and it falls into a wayward, sexy mess.

From upstairs, Alice yells, "Are you done, yet? I want to see."

"Yeah, Alice. Just finished. Come on down." I shout.

She comes barreling down the stairs into the bathroom. "Wow, Edward. You look great. Like your old self. Bella, you did a great job. Mom's going to love it, too. We can see your eyes. And they're still green!"

Edward stands and looks closer into the mirror. He shakes his head and looks around. I take a towel and smooth it over his back and chest to rid him of the fallen hair. We sneak glances at one another, kind of shyly. He throws his T-shirt back on and helps me clean the hair off of the floor, while Alice brings the dining room chair back upstairs.

Mags and Esme are in the living room, on one of the sofas. As Edward reaches the top of the stairs, they both swoon their praises. He smooths a hand down the back of his head and looks down, all red in the face. awwww. He takes the plastic bag of hair into the kitchen.

Esme chokes up, "Bella, you gave me back my son."

"Oh, you've always had him, Esme. He's just hairless, now!" I kid.

I head into the kitchen, as Edward drags the huge bag of garbage from underneath the sink.

"I think there is a larger bin in the garage, Edward." I head to the side door, open it and flip on the light. Edward carries the bag into the garage, after me. We both stop in out tracks and stare. I look at him and he looks at me. "Oh, wow!"

What stopped Bella and Edward in their tracks? What was Bella wowing about?

recs:
Under the Same Moon by JenGreeb03
Everybody Lies by .
The Roommate by MandyLeigh87
Ready for Love by Lady Excaliber
My Viking by Sheviking
Barely Breathing by jarkin33

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