AN: Chapter title comes from Evanescence. I used some lyrics from "Such Great Heights" within the chapter.

Chapter 25

I Never Thought There'd Be You

BPOV

Edward pulled me by the hand through the doors of Brookstone Tower. Thanks to his enthusiasm and my sky-high heels, I almost tripped twice as we made our way through the lobby and toward the elevator. I couldn't help but giggle as I watched Edward's fingers fumble on the elevator button. Was it excitement or nervousness that made his hands tremble? Thankfully, the elevator doors finally opened and he pulled me inside.

He had me pressed against the elevator wall before the doors shut.

Excitement. Definitely excitement.

I groaned as his mouth crashed hungrily onto mine. His hands twisted in my hair, and the combined sensations of his tongue in my mouth and his body pressed against mine made me whimper.

"God, I love that sound…" Edward's breath tickled the skin of my neck.

I caressed his cheek softly, and he turned his head to kiss my hand before leading me out of the elevator and toward the penthouse. Without a word, he slipped the key into the lock and ushered me through the door.

The house was dark except for the small desk lamp that illuminated the table in the foyer. Perched on the marble tabletop was a note.

Edward and Bella,

Riley and I were invited to visit Carlisle and Esme, and they just insisted that we spend the weekend. As you can imagine, he is very excited. This means that the penthouse will be quiet and empty for the next two days. As much as I'm sure this disheartens you, I am certain that you two will find some productive way to spend your time.

We love you,

Carmen and Riley

Edward glanced at me with sheepish smile. I couldn't keep from giggling.

"Damn intuitive woman," Edward murmured. "Remind me to give her a raise."

"I'll do that," I grinned happily.

"So…" Edward's eyes danced in the faint light, but even in the darkness, I could tell that they were blazing. His hands wove into my hair as he pulled me close. "Two whole days alone in this big house. What do you suggest we do to fill the time?"

"Hmm…" I pretended to ponder as my hands stroked up and down his back. "Work on our taxes?"

"Deadline has passed," Edward murmured as his head dipped to my neck. I trembled as his cool breath drifted along my skin.

"Spring cleaning?" I teased as his hand ghosted down my rib.

"I think you're teasing me," Edward whispered against my ear.

"Please…." I begged.

"I'll give you anything." He murmured softly as his eyes found mine again. He pressed his forehead against mine. "I'll give you everything."

"I just want you," I whispered roughly. "Just you."

And with a growl that vibrated through my body and straight to my core, Edward lifted me and carried me through the living room. Our eyes remained fixed on each other as he masterfully moved through the house, and he carried me through the open door of my room and gently lowered me to the edge of the bed. I sat upright as I watched him kneel before me. His eyes never left mine as his soft hands caressed my calf and slowly slipped the stiletto off my left foot. I shuddered as his hand ghosted along the back of my leg before switching legs and removing the other shoe. He was gentle and reverent as each hand slid up my leg….softly brushing my knees before leaning down to place a tender kiss on each thigh.

"Up," he whispered softly as he offered me his hand. I took it, and he pulled me to my feet. His hand gave a gentle tug to my sash, and my dress pooled around my bare feet. His eyes swept over me, and I was thankful that my intuition had instructed me to choose the pretty matching underwear set that I'd purchased just a few days before. It was well worth the ravenous look in his eyes.

In the past, I'd always felt self-conscious of someone seeing me this way. I'd never really felt pretty; I was much too aware of the scars that a lifetime of clumsiness had contributed to my body. But as I stood before him….and I watched his eyes as they gazed hungrily….I didn't feel awkward at all.

For the very first time, I felt worshipped and adored.

"Your turn," I murmured as I pulled his tie.

He smiled softly as my fingers worked the buttons of his jacket and shirt. I pushed them away from his body and couldn't resist kissing his chest – something I'd dreamed of doing for months. He trembled beneath my lips, and I smiled…loving the effect we had on each other's bodies.

"You're so beautiful," he whispered longingly. "I don't tell you enough."

"You tell me all the time," I promised him.

With a smile, he reached around and unhooked my bra. It joined the rest of the clothes on the floor. Our bare chests pressed together was just too much, and with a whimper, I brought his mouth to mine.

"Edward…I need you," I whispered breathlessly as he lowered me to the bed.

"I know, sweetheart. I need you, too."

Our sighs and moans of pleasure filled the air.

God himself did make us into corresponding shapes like puzzle pieces from the clay.

I was made for him. He was made for me.

Edward groaned as his body covered mine.

I awoke later….it could have been minutes or hours later…but it didn't matter because my back was pressed against his chest, and I was wrapped in the protective embrace of his arms.

"Such a beautiful sleepyhead," Edward whispered as he kissed the hollow under my ear.

"I'm sorry," I mumbled tiredly, and he laughed.

"Don't apologize, baby. We sort of tired each other out, didn't we?"

We did.

Twice.

I sighed happily as I snuggled against him. "Just a little bit, yeah."

His hand was making lazy patterns along my arm. "Well worth the exhaustion."

"And worth the wait?" I asked anxiously.

I felt him smile against my shoulder before kissing it. "Very much so. However, I don't think I'll be able to wait too long before I'm begging again."

"No begging will be necessary," I promised him, and I sighed contently. We stayed like that for a while…wrapped in each other's embrace….talking about everything and nothing. After a while, I turned my body toward his, and he kissed me softly.

"Tell me what you want, Bella," he whispered seriously.

"I told you what I wanted," I blushed shyly, and he chuckled.

"You did…and showed me…." Edward smirked sexily. "But I mean….beyond this moment. For us. For our future. Tell me what you want. Tell me what you need."

I stared into his brilliant green eyes and caressed his cheek. "My wants and needs are pretty simple, actually. But I'm not sure if…."

He raised his eyebrows expectantly, urging me to continue.

"….if I have a right to ask for the things I want."

"Bella," he sighed as he kissed my forehead. "You seem to be under a misapprehension. Don't you understand that there isn't anything I wouldn't give you?"

I buried my head against his shoulder, and he sighed.

"Perhaps I should start out with what I want and need."

"I'd love to hear those things."

"Okay," he breathed as his hand stroked my cheek. "I know this all seems fast, but I think we're going to just have to accept that and move on. We love each other. I want to be with you for the rest of my life. You've taught me how to be a better father….a better man….hopefully, a better husband."

My heart leapt at his nonchalant use of the word, as if it was just understood that we would be married someday.

"I mean," he grinned sheepishly, "I don't want to get my hopes up or anything, but you said you love me, and that you'd say yes when I asked again, so I hope I'm not making assumptions…"

"You aren't," I murmured, and he smiled down at me.

"I want to be good for you," Edward whispered softly as he twirled a lock of my hair around his finger, "And good for my son."

"You're a wonderful father," I reassured him, and he smiled softly.

"That's good. Because I want more…"

"More?"

"Babies," he whispered thoughtfully. "The thoughts of seeing you….pregnant with my child…." He shook his head and sighed softly. "You have no idea the feeling that image stirs in me…"

I had some idea, because the thoughts of carrying Edward's baby sent a shot of feral love through my veins.

"Your turn," he coaxed me with a smile.

"My turn?" I asked, confused. I was still thinking about having Edward's babies…

"I told you that I want more babies. Tell me something you want."

I took a deep breath.

"A house," I whispered softly. "I want a house that's just ours. Well…ours…meaning yours, mine, Riley's, and Carmen's…"

I really didn't want to have to explain the true meaning of ours – as in, no memories of Jessica.

"….with a big porch and a big yard, and lots of bedrooms for all of those babies that you want."

His eyes grew soft as his fingertip outlined my bottom lip – the same lip I was nervously biting.

"I think a new house is a great idea," he murmured gently.

"You do?"

"I do. A house that's just ours."

"Yes," I breathed happily. His smile was so beautiful. "Your turn again. Tell me something else that you want."

"Hmm…" Edward grew thoughtful. "I'm suddenly very interested in real estate. I want to look at houses."

"Tonight?"

He shrugged teasingly. "What else could we possibly do to fill the time?"

With a sexy grin, I climbed on top of him. He pretended to be shocked, but I could tell by the way he was gripping my hips that he wasn't at all against delaying our real estate ventures until the daylight hours.

"Your turn," he whispered.

"I want this," I murmured softly.

His eyes closed with pleasure as he leaned his head back against the pillow.

"Hi Bella." Riley's voice was light and happy. I could tell that he was smiling, and I was filled with a deep sense of happiness in knowing that my entire family was content.

"Hey buddy," I smiled. Edward turned his head toward me and smiled as we drove through the neighborhood. "Are you having a good time with your grandparents?"

"Grandpa took me to a hockey game," Riley's voice was now a high-pitched squeal. "And Grandma made cookies…"

"Hockey?" I mouthed to Edward. I didn't realize that Seattle even had a hockey team.

"Thunderbirds," Edward murmured.

Oh…I had heard of them.

We talked for a few more minutes before I placed the cell phone on speaker so that Edward could talk, too.

"Are you going to look at the new house?" Riley asked excitedly. Carmen had called this morning, and Edward had filled her in on all of the details surrounding the house hunting. She said it was perfect timing because Riley had just been saying over breakfast that he loved Grandma's house because it had a big backyard.

As Edward and Riley continued talking, I glanced out the window and realized that I had learned some very valuable lessons this weekend.

One very important lesson was that Edward really liked me on top.

Secondly, I learned that I'd have to be careful in the future when I'd tell Edward what I wanted because – in less than twelve hours – he'd found three houses that were on the market – all with big porches and big yards and lots of bedrooms for babies.

"We're just going to check them out," Edward assured him. "We won't pick the new house until you come home."

"Remember…." Riley cautioned him.

"Make sure it's big enough for the piano," Edward and I replied in unison.

"Right," Riley giggled.

We hung up just as Edward maneuvered the car down a winding driveway. The house – if you could call it that – was visible from high atop a giant hill off in the distance.

"Is that a castle?" I asked hesitantly.

Edward laughed. "Not quite. But it has six bedrooms. Six baths. A tennis court…"

I creased my forehead. "Do you play tennis?"

"No," he replied. "Do you?"

I laughed. "Definitely not. I tried to play volleyball in high school. I caused many concussions." I peered at the house as it came closer into view. It had a big yard, all right. It was more like a plantation.

"Edward…." I murmured.

What if this was type of house he wanted?

"You don't like it," he answered quietly as he stopped the car at the gate.

"Do you like it?"

He nervously ran his fingers through his hair. "Not particularly. I just wanted to give you the house you've always wanted."

"And I've given you the impression that the house I've always wanted included gates and tennis courts?"

He grimaced.

"Too much?"

"Way too much for me," I laughed nervously. "I mean, is this the kind of house you've always wanted?"

I realized that this was the danger of falling in love too quickly. You forgot to have important discussions such as these.

"I've never really thought about it," he admitted. "Jess just decided where we would live. I never really considered what I wanted."

"Well, I want you to consider it," I replied. "This isn't just about making me happy. You have to be happy, too."

He gazed at the mansion before us, and I grabbed his hand in mine. I soothingly traced the skin along his wrist.

"What kind of house do you want, Edward?"

He sighed. "Honestly?"

"Of course."

"I just want a house that's comfortable and welcoming. A house where it's obvious that children live there. I want a home – not a museum."

I remembered the penthouse and the way it looked when I first arrived. A museum was the perfect description for it.

"Then that's what we'll have," I promised him with a smile. "We'll have a home."

He turned away from the castle and gazed into my eyes. His own eyes were bright with boyish excitement.

"Well…there was this house that I found online, but it looked really simple and I wasn't sure if…."

"Simple sounds wonderful," I assured him as I squeezed his hand. "Let's go see it."

His smile was peaceful as we made our way through Seattle and toward the outskirts of town. When he turned the car down Riverside Road, and I noticed the majestic spruces lining the driveway, I immediately felt at home.

"Oh, Edward…" I whispered as he pulled into the driveway and turned off the ignition. "You actually found a house with a porch."

He smiled. "A wrap-around porch. It's three stories, but that includes the basement. The listing said that it was used as a game room by the last owners."

I gazed with wonder at the beautiful house. It looked as if it should be nestled somewhere in the country instead of here - on the outer edges of a metropolis as big as Seattle. We climbed out of the car and Edward took my hand as we walked along the sidewalk. Once we were on the porch, we carefully climbed the steps and peered through the windows. It was too dark to see anything, but that didn't stop us from trying.

"I could make us an appointment," Edward offered as he pulled me toward a bench on the porch. I gazed out at the yard, and I found myself mentally placing strategic objects… such as swing sets….and flowerbeds.

"Your turn," he whispered with a sigh as he wrapped his arm around me. "What do you want, baby?"

"I want you to make us an appointment, as soon as possible."

"I'll do that as soon as we get home," he smiled as he pressed a kiss to my temple. I sighed as I leaned back against his shoulder. There was very little traffic, and the tranquility soothed me.

"It's so peaceful here," I murmured.

"It is."

We sat on the porch until the sky began to darken, and we reluctantly left our bench and headed back to the car. Once inside, Edward turned to me.

"My turn," he murmured gently.

I giggled as I stroked his face tenderly. "It is. What do you want, baby?"

"I want to take you home. I want you to officially meet my parents….not as Riley's nanny…but as the woman I love."

My eyes filled with tears. "I would love that…..my turn?"

Edward grinned.

"Of course, sweetheart."

I pulled his face toward mine and kissed him gently. When we pulled away, his eyes were shining with happiness.

"I want to take you home, too," I said.