So...I should never write authors notes while upset.

I think this is a much better chapter 13. For those of you who missed my little pity party yesterday...you're lucky.

EPOV

"I love you."

I couldn't stop saying the words. Now that we had both professed our feelings, it was like if we didn't say them every few minutes, we feared the other might forget. It would have been comical if not for the tears in her eyes every time I said it.

I pulled her out of the tub, wrapping her up in my arms to ward off the chill of the room. My clothes were soaked, the rough denim of my jeans chafing my cock, but I didn't care. I had the girl I loved in my arms.

My feet somehow carried us into the bedroom. I wasn't aware of anything except Bella. Her lips were pressed against my throat, delicate kisses fluttering up and down my skin. I could feel her whispering words against my flesh, her love a tattoo imbedding itself inside of me. I loathed letting go of her, but I needed to get my clothes off. She lay, soft and trusting on the bed while I quickly shed my jeans, yanking my shirt over my head and tossing it away. When I came back to her, she opened her arms for me.

BPOV

Something monumental was happening as I welcomed Edward into my embrace. While the world continued to spin, in our little piece of Washington, time stood still. There were no sick fathers or creepy co-workers to get between us. It was just us.

Edward settled his weight on top of me, his strength a sweet suffocation. His muscles were hard under my fingers as I trailed my hands down his spine. I couldn't imagine being that powerful. He could crush me if he wanted. But as his huge palm swept down my side, it was with a gentleness that was at odds with his size. My body seemed to rise up to meet him. I was a greedy cat desperate for more.

"You are so beautiful," he whispered against my cheek. His fingers pulled through my hair and I yearned for my long curls. I caught sight of my uneven and dirty nails as they dug into his shoulders and wished I was the delicate and perfect girl he deserved.

"Hey," he growled, no doubt feeling the tension that overrode the desire in my body. "You are beautiful. You are perfect. Don't you think otherwise. You're my dream girl in the flesh."

As his words washed over me, I wondered if he could read minds.

"I'm sorry. This is all so surreal. I never thought I'd fall this fast or this hard. You're all I think about. You're all I see," I admitted, feeling like I was handing him my heart and soul all wrapped up in a pretty bow.

"Don't you think it's the same for me? When you're not with me, it's all I can do not to run and find you. It scares me just how easily you could break me." His words left me reeling.

"I would never do that. To hurt you would hurt me," I sighed, taking his precious face between my palms. My lips ghosted across his, a promise and vow. His sigh was one of both relief and ecstasy. I could feel the tremor snake through him as I slipped my tongue into his mouth. He tasted like a home I didn't know I had until I met him.

"I love you," he moaned, wrapping his hands beneath my shoulders and pulling me closer to him. It was so natural for him to settle between my spread thighs, his body supported by mine. I never thought it could be like that, so instinctive. And as my body slowly yielded to his invasion, I called his name.

EPOV

Life changing.

Earth shattering.

Perfection.

Words failed to describe how it felt as I slid inside Bella's tight body. My heart had been beating before I joined with her, but I hadn't been living. She'd ruined for me life. There would never be another for me, now that I'd had a glimpse of heaven.

Bella arched up, her body a finely-tuned instrument I couldn't wait to play. Her hands held tightly to me as I slowly pulled back, looking down and watching as my cock emerged wet and glossy. I moaned…loudly.

"Is it good? It's so good," I rambled, not wanting to look away from where we were joined, but needing to stare into those expressive brown eyes that had captivated me from the moment I saw them. Bella's eyes were closed, a look of such startling peace on her face. "Bella?"

"I didn't know it could be like this," she whispered, her voice catching. Tears fell down her temple as she finally looked up at me. "I had no idea."

I was so relieved that she felt the same way I did. Something was happening between us, an experience unlink anything I'd even known. Realizing she felt the same sense of awe I did was exactly what I needed to hear.

"Just wait," I vowed as I reached down and grabbed her thigh. Cradling her cheek with one hand, I kept our eyes connected as I slowly rocked against her. Her breath caught, a moan bubbling free as I showed her what we'd been missing.

"You won't let go?" she cried, her body trembling beneath mine. I understood what she was feeling. I was worried I might get swept away in the perfection of our love, but I knew she would hold me just as I would her.

"I'll never let go," I grunted, watching as she shattered around me. Her lips formed a perfect O, her breath a warm rush against my cheek. And at she slowly relaxed in my arms, she opened her eyes and smiled at me.

And that was when I came.

BPOV

"I love you."

I giggled as Edward sleepy words tickled my neck.

"I tell you I love you, and you laugh?" he mumbled, pulling me closer into his body. We had fallen asleep moments after we finished making love. It was the pure sleep of two people who knew exactly where they belonged.

"You're breath is tickling me," I said, trying to be serious but unable to stop my laughter.

"Oh, I'll tickle you," he growled, his hands drifting across my belly and up over my ribs. I jerked and writhed under his assault, loving his playful side.

"I'm gonna pee!" I squealed and he laughed harder.

"You always use that as an excuse," he laughed, releasing me. I could feel his eyes on my nakedness as I walked across the room, but I couldn't find it in me to care. He said I was perfect, so I tried not to let the stretch marks on my hips or the bruises on my arms bother me. I stopped short right outside the bathroom door and looked down.

"What's the matter?" he yawned, stretching his arms up over his head.

"Your…stuff is running out of me," I said and he sat up quickly, staring at me.

"Oh."

"Yeah, oh," I replied.

"We ah, forgot to use anything," he said, his tone cautious.

"I guess we did."

"Would that ah, bother you? If you…you know…ended up, pregnant?" he asked. I could tell there was something hiding beneath his words and I remembered his drunken ramblings about me having his babies. I ignored my bursting bladder and returned to his side, sitting next to him on the bed.

"Edward Cullen, I want to have your babies. I want to cook your dinners and fall asleep on the couch with you. I want to be covered in baby puke and take a million pictures of our little kids. But I think right now would be a terrible time for me to get knocked up. Charlie is, well…Charlie, and I'd still like to one day go to college. I don't want to wait years, but I'd like to wait until I can actually sport a baby bump at work and not have the guys freak out."

EPOV

She wanted to have my babies.

I was listening to her, I swear I was, but all I could remember was her saying she wanted to have my babies. My cock rose to the challenge, hardening beneath the covers, but I forced myself to ignore it as I struggled to remember the rest of her words.

She wanted to wait.

As much as it killed me, I realized she was right. We needed to get Charlie on the way to sobriety and enroll Bella in classes. She needed to accept my help and allow me to pay for things, starting with Charlie's insurance. Then once everything was settled, I could ask her to marry me and we could ride away in my white pickup truck.

I was her knight in shining armor, and I was more than up to the task.

So...I'm thinking we might have about 5 more chapters or so. Might be less.

I can't thank you guys enough for all your kind and supportive words. I have a very thin skin, even worse now that my RL is so...challenging. I really don't think single moms get enough respect.

Anyway...you should see a new chapter tomorrow.