A/N - Chapter 21 marks three weeks since I started posting this fanfic! Thank you all so, so, so much for reading and reviewing! Here it is! Enjoy!
Chapter 21 - Morning Routine
As I woke up the next morning, I noticed it was still fairly dark. I could, however, see a sliver of light coming from under Edward's bathroom door. I heard the water start running in his shower, so I knew that I should be getting up soon. I stretched out. Edward's bed was so comfortable.
I thought, maybe I should get dressed, so Edward could take me home. I got up and walked over to his bathroom door.
I knocked. "Edward?"
"Yeah?" I heard him answer.
"Can I come in? I left my clothes in there." I didn't want to go downstairs dressed in Edward's boxers and I was worried that someone may see me like this.
"Um. Yeah, sure." I giggled a little bit. He sounded so hesitant. I opened the door. The room was warm and steamy, and smelled spicy like Edward's shampoo.
"Hi." I said as I walked in and closed the door behind me.
"Hi, baby. I didn't mean to wake you up. It's just after six." He said through the shower curtain.
"That's okay. You didn't wake me. I just wanted to get dressed." I said as I slipped his boxers off and pulled my skirt on. "Hey, Edward?"
"Yeah?" I thought it was cute that he was being so shy.
"Can I keep your shirt for now? I don't want to put my wrinkled blouse back on."
"Sure, babe. You can take whatever you want." He said.
"Thanks." I grabbed my brush from my purse on the counter and combed through my messy hair, pulling it back into a messy bun. I washed my face again, just so I'd look a little more refreshed before I had a shower at home.
"Edward? Do you have an extra toothbrush?"
"Yeah. Just open the mirror above the sink."
"Okay. Oh, there it is. Thanks." I grabbed the yellow toothbrush and took it out of the package. I brushed my teeth quickly and set the toothbrush in the blue cup he had his in.
"Um, Bella?" Edward stammered. I giggled again. "Can you pass me a towel, please?"
"Oh, yeah. Sorry." I grabbed his towel he'd set out on the counter, and passed it to him. He had a wet hand sticking out from the end of the shower curtain.
"It's okay. Thanks, babe." He took the towel and shut the water off.
"I'll get out, so you can get dressed, okay?" I said.
"Okay. You were done in here right? I don't want to rush you."
"No, I'm done. I'll wait for you on your bed. Thanks, Edward." I grabbed my purse, opened the door and went back out into his room. I loved that I had caught Edward off guard. But, I really was comfortable enough with him to get ready while he was in the shower.
I sat on the edge of Edward's bed and folded my blouse. I shoved it in my purse, so I wouldn't forget it. I checked my phone and saw that it was just past six-thirty. I wanted to be home in an hour, so I could make my dad breakfast again. I didn't want to start skipping out on our routine. Mornings with dad, afternoons with Edward. I needed that balance.
The bathroom door opened and Edward stepped out, dressed in faded, light blue jeans, a grey t-shirt and towel dried hair. He looked gorgeous.
He chuckled. I may have been staring. "I can't believe you're mine." I said quietly, more to myself than Edward. He heard me though.
"I am." He said, as he came to sit beside me on the bed. "I'm yours, for as long as you want me to be."
"I like that. How does forever sound to you?" I laughed.
"It sounds perfect, angel." He kissed my cheek.
"Good. Um, Edward? Was it okay that I came in and got ready while you were in the shower?" I giggled again. "You sounded a little nervous."
"Oh, yeah. It was okay." I looked up at him and he was blushing a bit. I reached up and cupped his warm cheeks in my hands. I traced my thumbs along his flushed cheeks. He looked down and laughed. "I just didn't think you would be okay with that. You caught me off guard, that's all."
I brought my hands down and took his in mine. "I love you, Edward." I shook my head. "I don't know. It's weird, you know. We've only been together for about two and half weeks, but we've spent almost all that time with each other. It's not just a date here and there, like most couples. And I love that. It just seems that we're so much further into our relationship than we are. I'm totally comfortable around you. I love you, and I trust you." I leaned up and kissed his lips.
He laughed. "I love you, too. And I agree with you. It's like we've just fallen into a comfortable routine together. I've never been happier." He kissed my lips again. "You want to go downstairs and see Em, Jazz and Alice before they leave for school?"
"Sure." We joined hands and walked downstairs to the kitchen.
The whole Cullen clan was sitting either at the island, or at the small table in the kitchen. The room smelled of fresh waffles and maple syrup. It was amazing.
"Hey, kids." Carlisle smiled at us. "I'm surprised to see you both up."
I blushed. Spending the night here was still a little strange for me. We sat at the table with Carlisle. Emmett, Alice and Jasper were at the island and Esme was at the counter, cooking more food.
"Hi, Bella" Alice said, excitedly.
"Hi, sweetie." I answered. "Good morning everybody."
"Nice shirt, Bella." Emmett teased. "Are you moving in with us?"
"Emmett." Edward said, a touch of warning in his voice, but with a bit of smile.
"I fell asleep, Emmett." I said in defence. "Preparing for your date night took a lot out of me." I laughed.
"Touche." Emmett said. "Thanks for that, by the way. It was great."
"I'm glad. Did Rose and Maria have a good time?"
"Yeah. Um, Maria said she'd like to come watch my baseball practice tonight." Jasper said. I was so glad he was feeling more comfortable around me; talking more freely.
"Oh, that's so cool, Jasper. I'm glad you two are getting along so well." I said, happily.
"Well, who can resist a Cullen?" Emmett laughed. "Just ask mom and Bella."
Esme walked back over to the table with another plate of waffles. I guess feeding three teenaged boys required a lot of food. She laughed. "He's got us there, doesn't he, Bella."
I looked over at Edward and smiled up at him. He winked at me and smiled. "Yes." I sighed. "He's got us there." I laughed with Edward. He squeezed my hand under the table.
"Dig in, Bella. Esme always makes too much food." Carlisle said, noticing I wasn't eating anything.
"Oh, that's okay. I was going to go home and make breakfast for my dad, but thanks anyway." I answered.
"Oh, Bella You are such a sweet girl. Eat. I'll send some home with you for your dad." Esme said, getting up and packing four large waffles in a Tupperware container.
"Thanks, Esme. I'm sure he'll love that." I said, as I took a waffle for myself.
I looked in the middle of the table and saw whipped cream, strawberries, blueberries and syrup. It was like I was at an IHOP, only better.
I poured a little syrup on my waffle and dug in. I didn't realize how hungry I was.
"This is great, mom. Thanks." Edward said with a smile on his face. "I sure missed this at school." He took another waffle and topped it with strawberries.
"So, Jasper? Can anyone come to practice?" I asked. I really wanted to see him in his element, where he felt the most comfortable.
"Yeah. There are bleachers there, so anyone can come and watch." He answered.
"Did you want to go, babe?" Edward asked, looking excited.
"Yes. I think that would be great." I answered. "You wouldn't mind, would you Jasper?" I didn't want to make him uncomfortable.
"No. That's cool." He said, looking a little shy again.
"Great." I said.
I finished my waffle. "You ready?" Edward asked.
"Yeah. Thanks, Esme. This was amazing." I said, getting up and taking mine and Edward's plate to the sink.
"You are very welcome, sweetie. You don't need to clean up, Bella." Esme replied.
"Oh, okay." I walked over to the island and leaned over to kiss Alice on the cheek. "Good luck with your presentation today." I said. She giggled.
"Thanks, Bella."
I walked down the line, giving each Emmett and Jasper a kiss on the cheek, too. "Bye, guys. Have a good day at school. Say 'hi' to Rose and Maria for me, okay." I said,
"No problem." Emmett answered.
"Bye, Bella." Jasper said, with flushed cheeks.
Esme came over and gave me a hug. "Thanks again for last night, Bella. Would you like to come over for dinner tonight?"
"Sure. That would be great." I answered enthusiastically. I couldn't have asked for a better relationship with Edward's mom.
"Bye, mom." Edward said, kissing his mom on the top of her head. "See you guys after school."
As we walked past Carlisle, he stood up and patted Edward of the shoulder and then came over to me and gave me hug. "Thanks, Bella. We'll see you tonight."
The love in this family was amazing to me. I had never seen anything like it. I'm sure I had received more hugs from Edward's mom in the last five days, than I had from my own mom in the last year before I had left Phoenix.
"Bye." I said one last time as Edward and I walked to the front door. Edward held the waffles for my dad as I zipped on my boots. I grabbed my purse, and walked out the front door, that Edward had opened for me.
"I love your family, Edward." I said, as we walked to his car.
"They love you, too." He said with a smile as he opened my car door. I got in and he passed me the waffles. He kissed my cheek before closing the door and going around to the driver's side.
During the ride home, Edward and I decided that he would come over for lunch and hang out at my place for the afternoon, before heading over to the high school to watch the baseball practice.
We pulled up to my house at about ten minutes to eight. "See you in four hours, Edward." I said, kissing his lips.
"I'll be here. I love you, baby." He said against my lips, not wanting to end it.
"I love you, too." I hopped out of the car, gave a quick wave and walked up to the door. Charlie was waiting on the doorstep. He waved as Edward pulled away.
I held up the Tupperware container. "I brought breakfast, courtesy of Esme." I said, hoping my dad wasn't too worried about my unexpected sleepover with Edward. The look on his face, however, suggested we may have something to talk about over this delicious breakfast.