AN: Thanks to ColourmeCullen for pre-reading and FanpireMama and JadedandBoring for beta-ing. I have been listening to a lot of 80's music so please excuse the song-spiration for this chapter.

Take Me Home Tonight

I can feel you breathe
I can feel your heart beat faster.

Take me home tonight
I don't want to let you go till you see the light
Take me home tonight

-Eddie Money

Bella POV

I woke up for the first time feeling rested. It had been so long since I'd slept so well. Apparently, a good night's rest required Edward Cullen in my bed. Opening my eyes, I secretly hoped he had stayed, but a quick survey of my tiny room told me otherwise. Although my heart was glowing with hope, I was cautiously optimistic and confused. What do I tell my parents? Do I say anything? They're going to hear the joy that has returned to my voice.

I turned my head and noticed a note written in his elegant script waiting for me.

Dearest Bella,

Last night, holding you in my arms made me feel so elated. I have dreamed of holding you again and never thought it was possible. Today is going to be a bright and sunny day. Enjoy it with your friends, but if you would like, we should meet up at twilight and go for a walk around the city. I will pick you up a little after 7. I will call you to finalize plans.

All my love,

Edward

Edward gave me all his love. He never stopped. I went through our conversation last night. He would turn me. He'd do anything that I wanted. He had said he would never deny me anything again. What did I want? Did I want to be a vampire? I would never be able to see my parents again if I was changed. School. I would have to put school on hold until I could control my thirst. Before I could get lost in my thoughts, there was a knock at my door.

I shuffled out of bed and answered it, pleased to find Shoshanna.

"Morning, sunshine! I… uhh…" Shoshanna looked around me to see if I still had a guest in my room. "Well, I was wondering if you wanted to go exploring, maybe do some shopping around the city a bit."

I thought for a few minutes. I really hated to shop, but I knew I needed to make friends. Lauren was right – the Cullens couldn't be my life.

"Sure. I need a hu…I mean, I need to get dressed." Shit! I almost just told Shoshanna that I needed a human moment.

"Meet me in the common area in like thirty? Oh, and Bella, don't think I'm letting you off the hook about your night last night." Shoshanna turned back toward her room as I closed the door.

A day out in the hot mid-June sunshine was just what I needed to take my mind off of Edward. Well, it was once I fed Shoshanna the details about Edward. I told her he was an old friend and we had run into one another. I really needed to figure out what I was going to tell people.

Edward POV

I hated leaving her, but the forecast was going to be sunny and I wasn't sure how I would sneak back to the comfort of the townhouse without sparkling. I lightly kissed Bella's forehead, still amazed that I didn't feel any bloodlust being around her, and slipped out of her dorm completely undetected.

The townhouse was quiet, but I could hear Rosalie and Emmett's thoughts. They had just finished a couple of rounds in their bed after their night out dancing. Climbing the stairs up to my room, I attempted to block out their thoughts. Bella. I thought of Bella – holding her in my arms. She had called out my name; no, it was more like a moan – a glorious moan.

As I sat on my bed, the memories of last night filled me with an extreme sense of joy. Jasper may actually be able to stand being within a few feet of me now.

"How'd it go, bro?" Emmett asked, barging into my room without knocking.

"It was rough at first. She's not ready to trust me completely, but she wants to try." I didn't want to divulge all of the tricks Bella had attempted to play on me. "She asked me to change her."

"Whoa!"

"She was testing me, but I can't say no to her anymore on anything. I hurt her so much – whatever I can give her, is hers."

"So, you're going to do it?" Emmett asked. "Wait, did you just say you won't be able to say no to her on anything? Little bro, you could get to first base!" Emmett gave me a high five.

Rosalie, wearing a silk kimono, popped her head into the room. "Edward's going to finally get to first base?"

"He says he can't say no to Bella anymore on anything. He even agreed to change her," Emmett explained.

"You'd change her? Do you really think that's best? Take away her future, her family, and children? Edward, do you really want to do that to her?"

"Rose, I wouldn't do it immediately, but if that is something she wants… I can't, I won't say no. I've hurt her too much."

Rose didn't respond, but her thoughts weren't too kind and neither was her glare. "I'm going to shower. Alice asked us to keep you entertained today," Rose replied pivoting on one heel before heading to her bathroom.

"Sorry, dude, meet us downstairs – we've got a ton of movies to watch today to keep you from going bat-shit crazy." Emmett said, patting me on the shoulder before following Rose to the shower.

I shuddered at their thoughts and looked forward to a day of mindless entertainment.

Bella POV

We spent the day walking around the crowded narrow streets of Soho. The area was full of stores and Shoshanna insisted on going through each of them. My feet were aching and I finally persuaded her to sit down and eat some lunch. We found a quiet café on a side street.

"Eww, look at that," Shoshanna said pointing to a couple at a table across the restaurant.

"What?" They looked fine to me.

"Cougar alert. She is like twice his age. He could do so much better. Why would such a young guy be with someone who could be his mother?"

"Maybe it is his mother," I retorted as the couple began to kiss on the lips, "or not."

As we ate, I thought about the cougar and her boyfriend. If I stayed human, is that what people would say about Edward and me? What happens if I get older? Would people think I am his grandmother? It's been a day though. I can't just decide after a day of him being back in my life that I want to be turned. He could leave me again. No, he'd never leave me again. I believed him last night; I have to learn to trust him again.

My internal debate distracted me for the rest of the afternoon and thankfully, Shoshanna was too focused on finding trendy clothes to notice. Her announcement that she wanted a nap as we headed back to our dorm was more than welcomed.

Once inside the privacy of my tiny single room, my phone rang right on cue.

"Hello."

"Afternoon, love. How was shopping?"

"Hi, Edward. It was good."

"You know, Alice is upset that you went shopping without her. She's going to want to take you out one rainy day."

I cringed. Of course Alice would be jealous of me shopping with Shoshanna. "It's not like I bought anything. I got your note."

"And… how does a walk sound?"

"My feet are pretty sore; I'm not sure how far I can go."

"How about we have a moonlit picnic in Central Park? It's not our meadow, but it's the closest they've got on this island. You rest. I'll pick you up in a few hours. Parking…"

"What? Edward Cullen who can do everything can't find parking in lower Manhattan?"

"I can – it could take a while – do you mind waiting for me to pull up?"

"You could take the subway and not even worry about driving."

"Have you been down there and smelled it? Such filth."

I couldn't help but laugh. "I guess it would be with your heightened senses. Fine, I'll see you in a few hours. You make me loathe the sun, Edward Cullen."

"Only in densely populated areas!" He laughed. I had never heard Edward be so carefree. I liked it.

I showered to get the dirt and grime off, and still had plenty of time to rest. Slowly, the time ticked by until it was only five minutes until the time Edward had told me he would be there. I headed down to lobby and waited for Edward. Did he still have the Volvo?

A sleek black sports car pulled up in front of my dorm. It seemed a bit out of place. Nope. He didn't keep the Volvo. I walked out in front of the building. Edward quickly got out of the car and whipped around to open the door for me.

"Thanks. What happened to the Volvo?" I asked, sliding into the leather seats.

"New memories," Edward replied, settling into the driver's seat. "And this baby has a lot more speed." He switched gears and started driving at his signature speed, only this time it wasn't the back roads of the Olympic National Forest, but the crowded streets of Manhattan.

The car screeched to a stop at a light and he turned back to me. "Besides, I have a need, a need for speed."

"Did you just quote Top Gun?"

"Uhh… Emmett made me watch a bunch of movies today. They were all pretty mindless and that helped, since he didn't have to be deep in thought."

Edward pulled the car into the same garage Esme had parked in, and quickly walked around the car to open my door, barely giving me time to unbuckle my seatbelt.

"We're at your house?"

"It's close to the park." Edward popped open the tiny trunk and took out a picnic basket and a blanket. "We aren't going inside – straight to the park to enjoy this beautiful night."

"So besides Top Gun, what else did you watch?"

"Mostly mind numbing movies, most of which I've seen before. I did find Mean Girls to be quite funny."

"You liked Mean Girls?"

"Well, not as much as Rose did, but after the amount of time I've spent in high schools, it was pretty spot on."

"Huh?" I wanted to pinch myself. This was so surreal. It was like the past nine months hadn't occurred. We were back to the way we had been the summer before our senior year, but he was so much more carefree. He was still my Edward, everything wonderful I had remembered, but better.

Edward POV

How did we get onto this conversation? This is not the way I had envisioned this date going. We were talking about the ways I passed the time. Today I couldn't concentrate on reading, or staring into space. Luckily, Alice had sent Rose and Emmett to the city to distract me as best as they could. Their cure was watching movies all day. It didn't help; I spent the day glancing outside, cursing the sun for shining in the sky.

Bella walked next to me. I longed to reach out and grab her hand, but would it be too soon? I shouldn't push her, but I longed for her touch.

"When do your classes start?" I tried to change the subject.

"Class, I'm just taking one; it starts tomorrow. I'm nervous. Everyone I have met is so certain about their lives. They all have these plans and have decided on a major. They look at me like I am crazy for being undecided," Bella explained.

"You are not crazy for not knowing what you want. I've been to med school several times, studied multiple languages, math, chemistry, biology… In all my years of studying at universities, I know Bella, you are not alone. I have heard the thoughts of thousands of college students, they are all confused and a lot of them are undecided."

She didn't respond. Bella seemed deep in thought as I lead her to the grass meadow. We were not alone like we would have been in Forks, but we were far enough away from the other people to feel as alone as anyone can in New York City. I laid out the blanket and set the basket down.

"Bella, do you want to sit down?" She seemed to be lost in her thoughts and I was jealous I couldn't be lost in them as well.

"Oh, yeah, sorry. " She sat down and I joined her. "I'm sorry I am so distracted. You… You're so different and I… I'm so…"

"It's not just your major that you're undecided about, is it?" I reached out and finally took her hand.

"I like this. It's so easy to fall back into the way we used to be, Edward, but that scares me. I can't forget the past nine months. I can't forget, but then with you right here, I do. Yesterday, you said you'd change me. You said you wouldn't deny me anything. It scares me how quickly I would cast off this life and trade it in for eternity with you, even though part of me is scared to trust you."

"Want some sparkling cider?" I asked, trying to lighten the conversation. I did want to talk about us, if that's what she wanted, but I was relieved when she nodded. I pulled out a bottle and a champagne flute from the picnic basket and popped the cork on the bottle, filling the glass. "Here you go."

"I like things that sparkle, thanks." She took a small sip and held the champagne flute in her hands. Oh, she meant me. I smiled back at her. She traced the rim of her flute with her fingers and was pulling grass out with the other hand. She was fidgety. Was she nervous?

I wasn't sure what to say to her without completely overwhelming her even more so than she already was. So we sat there in silence, taking one another in, again. I hated that she still wanted to be like me, but was still afraid to trust me.

"Bella, so what else are you undecided about?" I asked. Though she hadn't answered me, I assumed it was me. "I don't want to rush you or deprive you of anything you want, ever. If it's me you want in your life, be it as a friend or more, I promise we will make decisions together. I will never assume I know what is best for you again."

"Edward, since I met you and even when you left, you took up permanent residence in my heart. I do want you in my life," she responded quickly. "The thing is, I talked to Lauren and I think balance would be good. I really want you in my life, Edward, but I don't want you to be my whole life. I'm in a new city and a new school. I can't rely solely on you and your family for everything. I have to find a balance, at least for now."

Bella, you are my life now. She still was. It stung that she didn't want me to be her life, and I thought I understood what she meant by that. She had really brushed off her non-Cullen friends. I was grateful she hadn't shied away from that so much, as they really helped her when I had left her.

"You're not undecided about me?" I asked, checking to make sure.

"Edward, just as I have to learn to trust you, you have to trust me. I knew the moment I saw you at your house that if you wanted me, I wanted you. Even if I am scared now, and apprehensive, it's always been you." Her hand reached up and brushed my cheek. I pulled her closer.

We were face to face. She smelled so amazing – her signature scent that drew me in, but the heat had made her perspire and everything was amplified. "Bella, may I kiss you?" I whispered.

"Yes," she replied, her eyes fluttering closed.

I inched closer, my lips lightly grazing hers. Her scent drove me wild. Bella was slowly parting her lips, but instead of sticking my tongue inside I pulled away.

"Are you okay? Is it my blood?"

"No, it doesn't even bother me anymore. Sure, you smell amazing, but the thirst is gone." Bella smiled and then her stomach grumbled.

"Time to feed the human," I chuckled, pulling out food from the basket.

"Edward, did you really mean it last night when you said 'yes' to everything? Sex and turning me?" Bella asked as I handed her a plate of food.

"Yes, and while I would like to work up to being more physical with you, it is something I would like, very much. As for turning you, it's up to you. When you are ready, or start to feel ready, we can talk about it with Carlisle. I want you to know it's your choice, if you are ready next week or forty years from now, it's up to you."

"I saw a woman today with a younger guy, I thought it was her son, but apparently his tongue down her throat indicated something else. I don't want to be judged by society, Edward. I don't want people looking at you and wondering why you are with an old hag like me."

"They don't matter, Bella. You'll always be beautiful regardless of your age."

"Let's see how things go," she said, leaning into me bringing her lips to mine. As she parted her lips slightly, I brushed my tongue against her lips, before slowing pulling away again.

Bella POV

Edward's tongue felt like ice cream on my lips. The cold was a welcoming feeling. We had never done this before and I wanted more. I wanted him. Being so lost in my own Edward-world, I had failed to notice that it was getting dark out.

"Bella, you have class tomorrow, I shouldn't keep you out too late."

I didn't want tonight to end. Spending time with Edward was addicting. "I do have class tomorrow," I reiterated. Could I ask him to spend the night again? He felt so good and kept me more comfortable than any electric fan possibly could. Besides, last night I had slept better than I had in months. "Edward, would you mind staying with me again. To keep me cool, of course," I asked, hoping that he would say yes and that perhaps this newfound physical intimacy could continue.

"Of course," he replied, licking his lips. "I wish I could read your thoughts sometimes." He brushed a stray hair back away from my face.

He packed up the picnic basket and blanket at a fast human speed and we walked back to his house. As we approached, Edward turned to me. "Do you want to come inside? Emmett and Rosalie are still there and may bombard you."

I had missed Emmett, but Rosalie had never quite warmed up to me. "Uh, sure, I can say hi, but I really should be getting back to prepare for tomorrow."

Edward opened the door and led me to the vast kitchen. It only took seconds before Emmett came booming down the stairs, followed by Rosalie.

"Bella!" Emmett called out as he pulled me into a giant bear hug.

"Can't breathe," I muffled.

"Easy, Emmett, she's breakable," Edward chastised.

"Yeah Emmett, you break it, you bought it," Rosalie smirked. "Hey Bella, it's nice to see you again." She nodded in my direction. While it wasn't as warm of a welcome as Emmett, it was probably the most civil words Rosalie had said to me.

"I've got to get Bella back to her dorm. I'll be back before dawn, again," Edward said, pulling me out the door.

"It was good to see the both of you," I called back.

We took a taxi back downtown; being dark out it wasn't an issue, though Edward seemed to hate having to relinquish driving control to some stranger.

Once in my dorm room, we followed a similar routine as we had last night. I climbed under the covers, and then nuzzled into Edward's cool chest.

"So, is this going to be a regular occurrence, or should I look for a window air conditioner for you?" Edward asked.

"I like having you here. This could be our thing, since the sun steals most of our daylight hours together, you could be my sleeping buddy." I regretted those words as soon as they left my mouth. "What I mean is, since I want to balance my time and not isolate myself – if you aren't hunting – I'd like you here, but also I want to see you other times too."

"Anyway you want, I'm yours."

"Really?" I said propping myself up on my elbow, bringing my lips closer to his.

"Really." His lips found mine and I inched my body closer to his so that the sides of my breasts were resting on his chest. I could feel my nipples harden from being near the coolness of Edward's body. As our kissing intensified, I parted my lips welcoming his tongue to enter me, and I raked my fingers through his thick, unruly hair.

I wonder what Edward would do if I straddled him? I wasn't ready to find out, at least not yet. Instead I pulled away in desperate need for air.

"Wow," I said, stunned at how after all the boys I had kissed, none of their kisses came close to Edward's.

"I almost saw fireworks," Edward joked, the corners of his mouth turning up in a smile. "Thinking of fireworks, would you spend the Fourth of July up in Connecticut with my family? The property is private so we can be outside even in the daytime. Since fireworks are legal in the state, Emmett and Jasper are planning some ungodly display of pyrotechnics."

"Not to steal your line, but how can I say no to you?" I responded, curling into Edward's chest and closing my eyes.

My anxiety about my first day of college classes had dissipated as I was enveloped in the safety of Edward's arms. There were a lot of questions yet to be answered, but the one question I knew tonight answered was that Edward was unequivocally going to be a part of my life now and perhaps forever.

AN: I'm auctioning myself off in Fandom Gives back in a few days. I will really write anything you want me to write, but please someone bid on me. Huge thanks to everyone for putting this story on alerts. Oh, and there is an outtake that takes place between this chapter and the next that I wrote for Fics for Nashville. It will be posted in late July.

You can always follow me on twitter stupidreader. I have to approve you, because strange people follow me if I don't lock it down.