Disclaimer:All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended. Twilight belongs to the great Stephenie Meyer.

Authors Notes: I know… almost two weeks since I last updated. I've had the most mental fortnight, but check my long assed authors note at the end. Here is chapter 25 for you… hope it was worth the unusually long wait.

Shout outs this chapter to Shell371 as always who never fails to give me a shove in the right direction, and my other favourite girls: LydiaEstelle, Glitteratiglue and Evieeden. Thanks for making ET4 so amazing.

Chapter 25

BPOV

I stir the curry three times in each direction and inhale the enticing aroma of the Thai green sauce and cover up the pan before stepping away from the counter and leaning on it. I glance at the clock and it's almost six. Edward should be home soon.

I take a long sip of one of Edward's chilled beers and close my eyes. What a terrible day. The last thing I had wanted was to have a lecture from the man-child himself, one of my oldest friends, Jacob Black.

Earlier today, Jake told me that he'd spoken to Charlie, and that he'd been filled in on stuff… even though Charlie is yet to meet Edward, he seems like him already. Jake on the other hand, and his own father, Billy, appear not to. At least my dad seems to accept that I won't be with Jake. Like ever.

Edward won't be happy when I tell him the things that Jake was saying… but I don't blame him as I don't either. But I need to think of it as not as big deal. It doesn't matter because I really don't give a shit about what anyone thinks. Edward makes me happy.

There is the matter of actually introducing him to my father – I bet he has his gun cleaning kit at the ready so he can be polishing it on our arrival. I can remember Charlie always telling me as a child that when I brought a boy home that he'd give him a piece of his mind… but this was also the same conversation in which he told me that I wasn't allowed to date until I was thirty five. We are obviously doomed.

It's hot in the kitchen and I wipe my brow on the sleeve of my shirt and check on the curry once again, sneaking in a little taste.

"Mmmm" I can't help but moan as the aromatic spices set my taste buds alive.

"Mmm indeed," arms wrap around my waist. "I really could get used to seeing you, apron clad cooking me my dinner every night. Looks good on you, woman." Edward's nose tickles my neck.

"Oh really?" I ask as I lean back into his embrace. "You going to go all caveman on me now?"

"Depends, would you like me too?" he asks as he kisses my cheek. "I just like coming home to you… the dinner is just an added bonus. The last woman to have my dinner ready for me was Esme, and that's when I was still at High School."

"Looks like we have lots of time to make up for then don't you think?" I offer him a taste of curry and he blows on it before licking the spoon clean. His eyes close and he nods appreciatively. I can't help but blush just a little. "You got ten minutes, just need to wait for the rice to finish steaming and we're good to go." I tell him, turning around to face him. I'm about to tell him that he can go shower, or do whatever, but my eyes are drawn to his attire.

Holy mother of fuck. Edward is wearing scrubs…. Wow.

I must be gawping at him big time as he flashes me a very sly grin. He raises his eyebrows and his eyes dart to my lower lip, which is now caught between my teeth. I mentally have to scald myself and try and calm my breathing.

"You want me to go get showered and changed?"

I shake my head. "No… no, not unless you want to." I tell him, my eyes raking over his chest. I can see his bronze curls peaking out of the v-neck. He's only fucking naked under there. Swoon.

He catches me staring at him again. "Some kid decided that it would be a good idea to throw up on me. My jacket, shirt and tie, all covered in bright orange up-chuck." He explains. "The scrubs are clean. Promise, and I even showered at the hospital." He gestures to his damp hair – which I'd not noticed.

"No… no, you look fine. Better then fine fact." My breath hitches as he steps closer and takes my wooden spoon from my hand and places it on the counter. He backs me up until I'm pressed up against one of the kitchen cupboards. He wraps his arms around me and cups me under my butt, lifting me so that I'm sitting atop the counter. Edward moves in and rests his forehead onto mine.

"I missed you today."

"Me too. Other than the vom, how was your first day?" I ask, running my fingers through his shower damp hair.

"It was pretty good," he muses. "I think I'm really going to like it." Edward smiles happily and presses his lips to mine for a brief moment. "It was nice seeing my father around during the day and the team are really nice."

The rice is steaming away nicely and I lean over in his grasp to lift the lid. Nice: white and fluffy. Perfect. I kiss him quickly before resting my hands on his chest and pushing him away slightly so that I can stand up. He only backs off a little so that our bodies are literally flush as I slide off the countertop. Edward groans. I can't help but giggle. "You are insatiable."

Edward chuckles. "So are you."

I can't argue with that – although right now, my stomach may beg to differ. It growls so loudly that it's almost embarrassing. I shrug. "I'm hungry." I simply say as my man raises his eyebrows at me in mock surprise. I turn back to the stove and turn off the heat and grab a fork before fluffing up the rice. Edward moves away and I sigh at his lack of contact. He's back in a flash however, armed with plates and cutlery. We dish up the curry and rice quickly and I grab the rest of the wine from the fridge and pour Edward a large glass as we sit down at the table. Edward digs in immediately, making appreciative noises to know that he is enjoying his dinner.

He cleans his plate quickly. Hmm, well at least his manners are better than Charlies… Edward can eat and make eye contact at the same time. Perhaps it's the same with all men and food? I know when eating with Jacob, when he and Billy had come to see us for Dinner; he'd act like my dad, balking it down like a horse and then sometimes eyeing the plate up as if he wanted to lick it. Actually, I know for a fact that Charlie has been guilty of that in the past.

Should I be flattered?

"That was really good, but I honestly could get too used to this, Bella," Edward tells me, serious. "You'll let me help out too though, right?"

"Sure," I reply. Even though I really don't mind having the dinner ready after work each day. "Whatever you want, Edward. But I just thought it was easier, you know… I'm home by three most afternoons. And I like it."

He smiles in response and gets to his feet, clearing the plates away into the dishwasher. "At least let me wash up."

I snigger at him as I drain my wine glass and place it on the counter for him. "Deal. You can wash up every night that I cook dinner. I mean it, I don't mind. I love to cook and I'm used to it. We shake on it and retreat to the living room and curl up together on the couch.

The silence is comfortable as Edward flips through the TV. He puts it on MTV Rock and mutes It for a moment. "Bella?"

"Uh huh?"

"You sounded a little upset in your message this afternoon. You want to talk about it?"

I sigh deeply. "It's nothing really. Jake just said some things that I didn't really agree with. I think he's a bit jealous… and he was worried about the whole situation with James. He was just trying to be a friend…" Yeah… an overprotective friend who my dad so happens to love like his own son.

Edward rests his chin on my shoulder. I feel his breath tickling my ear. "Hmm, well, do you think that it's about time I meet the famous Jacob… and your father?"

I look at him, a little shocked. "Really?"

He nods. "Yes, I'd love to meet Charlie."

I cant help but grin at him. "You really want to?"

"Yes, Bella. I'd love to meet your family. I want to show your father that my intentions with you are good, and I think it would be a good idea to put your friends mind at ease too." He shoots a sly, sidewards glace at me.

"You mean you want to mark your territory?"

"Maybe just a little… I cant bear to think that he boy is fawning over you all day when you're working. He needs to know that you belong to me now."

I blush wildly. I will never tire of him talking to me like this. "As long as you don't piss up anything. Edward salutes like a boy-scout and kisses me softly.

"Okay, no spontaneous urination, but I do plan on making it known that you are mine… all mine."

He whispers the final part, and I shiver as his warm breath runs over me, dazzling me as always.

"You do that. Please." And then perhaps Jake will get the message and leave me the hell alone. "I took a little offence to what he said today, and I sort of may just have caused a bit of a scene in the teachers lounge."

"You told him off?"

I nod, staring down at my hands and picking at my thumbnail. "Yeah… I guess you could say that. I got some looks, that's for sure. I'm pretty certain that if I'd not avoided the rest ff the faculty for the remainder of the day, that they would have been running into the opposite direction to me, had I approached them." I smile weekly up at him and he pulls my hair gently out of the tight ponytail, letting it fall over my shoulders.

"Well, good for you. If it's any way like how you stuck up for yourself at the weekend, then you will have a lot of admirers."

Urgh. He is too sickly sweet. "That's what I'm afraid of… I don't like the attention."

Edward leans in and presses his nose to my temple. "Well, maybe you should just quit your job and stay at home, and spend all day cooking my dinner?"

"You'd love that wouldn't you?"

"Like you wouldn't believe, babe. You fit so perfectly behind my kitchen counter." He jokes with me. I jab him playfully in the ribs but he just grips me to him tighter, and pulls me into his lap. "Please, don't worry about what everyone thinks of you, because you are perfect. You're beautiful and strong. And if they don't like it… well, they are just jealous, and they have me to deal with. I know you love your job, and I bet you are great at it. But if at any time… you want to stop… maybe take a break… whatever…" he trails off and looks over my shoulder, but his fingers continue to caress the small of my back.

What is he getting at? "I don't understand…"

He meets my eyes again, and this time it's him who pulls his lip between his teeth. He looks nervous. "I mean that… if you needed, for any reason, to take a few months… or a year or more off work, then… well, you need not ever worry about finances… I well…."

Woah….. I grab his shirt and bunch it up in my fists, pulling him closer. "Okay… I… wow… Edward." I smile at him, tears starting to brim in my eyes. He still looks uncomfortable, but I can't work out if its because he knows I feel weird talking about money and financial support in general… or that he feels strange talking about the future in such great detail.

"I just wanted you to know that you never have to worry. I know it's still really early on, but I know what I want, Bella, and that involves both you and me, together… forever."

"And you want us to have little Edward's running around?"

His smile brightens. "And little Bellas too." He corrects. Wow… he really does feel the same way.

"How many?"

"As many as you want. I can't wait to see you pregnant with our child… with a brother or sister for Sophie." His hand ghosts against my stomach and he looks back up at me.

"Pretty deep conversation to have when we've only been together a few short weeks don't you think?" I ask him, my hand resting on top of his.

"I agree, but I had that image in my head the very first time that I saw you waiting on the sidewalk outside the coffee shop. You looked like a deer caught in headlights, similar to how you used to walk the halls in school, only there was something different, and I couldn't put my finger on it at the time, because all I could do was see our future. I knew you had to be mine."

I try not to let the tears spill down my face. Jeez Swan, you're such a pussy… anything remotely romantic and he's got you blubbering like a freaking girl… "Did you figure it out yet?"

He shakes his head. "Nope. But I've come to learn how much you have grown, matured… got even more beautiful… and I've realized that I've just fallen more and more in love with you."

"I've not changed all that much. At least I don't think I have." I admit to him. "I feel more confidant that I did ten years ago, but most of that has come out in me the past few weeks… although I now can make a room full of seventeen year olds cower before me… so I guess that's different. It used to be me shying away from the seventeen year olds."

"I remember," he whispers, pulling me closer, rubbing his nose against mine, giving me a cute Eskimo kiss. "You didn't answer my question."

"Which one?"

"How many?"

Oh! Stupid Bella.

I smile and look at the ceiling for a moment, chewing my lip, mocking deep thought. "Oh… I don't know… six, maybe seven?"

He looks terrified, so I continue. "You know… I was an only child myself, I would have loved to have grown up with siblings. I bet it was great fun." He still looks horrified. "I'm kidding baby… I guess two… three. I don't know. These things are destined to be anyway. I've learnt that from my past remember?"

He pulls me closer again. "You had me worried there for a moment… Shit. Seven. You know if that's what you wanted, I'd give you a dozen, right?"

"I'd carry and push out twenty if you wanted me too."

"You would?"

"Yup, even if they weighed ten pounds each." I joke. I love his happy, smiling expression. "Are we really talking about this?" I ask, suddenly feeling a little shy.

Edward pushes my hair from my face. "I guess so… but I cant give you babies until I've made an honest woman out of you… and I cant do that until I make sure I'm on good terms with your father. I'm fully aware of the fact that he carries a gun."

Double wow… he's talking about marriage now? "He does. I was actually planning on warning you about that… but you're smart and already have Charlie figured. I won't let him hurt you, I promise. I sort of like you."

"Well, of that I'm glad, because I like you too. Now we just got to get your father to like me."

"He'll love you. I'll call him tomorrow and maybe we can go and see him one evening… or perhaps he could come here and we can make dinner together for him? He's like that… I think he wants me to have someone who is capable of taking care of me."

"Call him, the sooner the better."

His lips crash onto mine and he pulls me even closer, his hands kneading the flesh of my butt. I allow his tongue to assault my mouth for several minutes until we are both gasping for breath.

"Thank you for moving in with me, Bella. This is perfect. I love you."

So… the delay. I promise never to keep you waiting two weeks on this particular story again. I had the most epic weekend at Eternal Twilight convention here in the UK… it seriously was the most incredible weekend of my entire life and I met some amazing new friends. Already planning the next adventure which is ET5 in February.

Then had the mental-ness of settling back in at home with the kids and now my oldest has chicken pox… it's all fun. Not. I had a major bock on this chapter – but I think that was because of the long break I had, I just couldn't get it to flow right. I think we are good now though.

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QUESTION TIME: I've been considering doing a couple of OUTTAKES for MFBR! But I want to know what you guys want. I'm so thankful for all the reviews and PM's you send me, to everyone who posts on the Facebook group. I'm sorry I can't respond each and every one of you, but I do try my best. Let me know if there is any particular chapter in the story I can write from another perspective.

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