A/N: Obviously, I am not Stephenie Meyer, thus I write fan fiction instead of making millions inventing these characters. Oh well.

So here comes Carlisle's next lesson, otherwise known as date night, since there's not too much for him to learn this time. A little fluffy with some fun family history thrown in. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 22: The Big Game

CPOV

I had spent the night, for the first time since Wednesday, with my love beside me. It had been pure torture to lie in my bed without her while Renee was visiting, but it was necessary to keep up appearances. Last night, I took her to my bed, and, before she fell asleep, I kissed her for well over an hour, reveling in the feel of her lips, which I had been deprived of for far too long.

While Bella slept beside me, I spent the time thinking of the course my life, as it were, has taken. I had feared being with Bella for far too long, and for all the wrong reasons. Even now, being with her, I can see that my fear was unfounded - I have not replaced Esme. Esme has not left my heart, nor the heart of anyone else in this house. What Bella and I have is something altogether new, and wonderful. I am truly happy now, and that's what Esme wanted for me.

I remembered how it felt when Bella and I walked into the house Wednesday afternoon, as she confronted her mother. Watching her, so willing to disagree with her mother and stand her ground, defending us... I fell in love with her all over again. I was so proud of her, and so thrilled that our love meant as much to her as it did me.

I watched Bella as she slept, so beautiful and peaceful, and marveled once again that this creature loved me, wanted me. She brings me so much joy. I knew I would do anything for her.

As I felt Bella begin to stir in the morning, I let out a contented sigh. It had been years since I had this kind of happiness, and I was so grateful to have found it. I looked down at her face just as her eyes opened.

"Good morning, beautiful."

She smiled up at me and gave me a light kiss. "Good morning to you to, handsome. Give me a human moment, alright?"

She slipped out of bed and went into the restroom. I was surprised at just how much I missed her while I waited for her to return. It was almost as if she was an addiction-the more time I had with her, the more I needed.

I grinned at her when she emerged from the restroom, and held my arms open to her. "Come on, dear, you've been gone too long already."

She laughed, but still ran to me, jumping up into the bed. I embraced her and pulled her into my chest. She tilted her chin up to me and touched her lips to mine. As I returned her kiss, I felt the warmth of her tongue licking along my bottom lip. I pulled my mouth away from hers. She had never tried to enter my mouth before, and I was admittedly a bit hesitant about the idea. But I trusted her, as she did me.

"Bella, you must take care to stay away from my teeth sweetheart. Alright?"

Rather than answer, she reached her hand to the back of my head and pulled my face back to hers. Again, her tongue brushed my lip, and this time I opened my mouth for her, welcoming her in, pushing aside my nerves. It seemed that time stopped as our tongues danced together in a perfect waltz before I felt the desperate need to explore her mouth as well. I used my tongue to push her own back, and chased it into her mouth. I shuddered at the exquisite pleasure of her taste, knowing I could never get enough. Finally, we separated, knowing that Bella needed to breathe, her forehead resting against mine.

"Wow," she sighed.

"I completely agree," I said breathlessly.

"Can we do that again?" She asked playfully.

"Sweetheart, you need to have some breakfast," I replied, though I really did not want to leave the bed.

"In a minute," she said, pulling my mouth back to hers.

It took nearly an hour to get Bella to leave the bed, but I didn't complain. We walked down to the kitchen, still in our pajamas, and Bella took a seat at the counter while I cut some fresh fruit and scrambled two eggs for her. I sat next to her, reading the newspaper as she ate. It's almost like we're a normal couple.

"So, dear, it's Saturday. What do we have planned?" I asked as I washed her plate.

"Something that I'm hoping you'll love. We're going to drive to Boston tonight, because I have tickets for the Celtics game!"

"Are you serious, Bella?" I asked, truly excited.

"Yes. Do you like it?"

"Oh, Bella, I love it! We'll have a wonderful time! But I thought you didn't like sports?"

"Well, I've been living with Emmett for quite awhile now, and after about the hundredth game he made me sit through, I finally realized that it was pretty exciting. He's a pretty good big brother, that one."

"Yes, I suppose I'll have to thank him for that. Later though, because right now all I can think about are you lips." With that, I pulled her to me and fell back into bliss.

Later that night, we were drove to Boston, both of us wearing the jeans and Celtics jerseys that Alice had so thoughtfully left for us. Bella had gotten wonderful seats for us, only a few rows back at mid-court. As we entered the Boston Garden, I happened to catch our reflection in a pane of glass. I was almost surprised to see how natural we looked together, like any normal young couple. When I was with her, I really felt like a young man again, and it was thoroughly enjoyable. After the initial confrontation with Renee, I had felt a bit self-conscious about our relationship, but now I could see that it had been silly. All the time I had spent worrying over the age gap that now only truly exists in vampire years.

Once we had reached our seats, I turned to Bella, kissing her quickly, and asked, "So, is there any lecture prior to this activity?"

"No, not really. All you have to do is enjoy yourself and forget that there are people around you. Think you can handle that?"

"That sounds easy enough with one exception. How could I possibly forget that you are here?"

"Oh, you don't. Just everyone else." I picked up on a bit of huskiness in her tone when she said it, and it sent a wave of desire through me, and I chuckled.

"Maybe it would be better to tell me to keep my mind on the game, because if I am thinking of you and forgetting that others are around, well... Let's just say that we may not be here to enjoy the game. Either that or the rest of our section will get more of a show than they expected."

Bella blushed a deep shade of red as I nuzzled her neck and I laughed.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart, but you are simply irresistible."

She laughed with me as she nudged me away. "After the game, Carlisle. I promise."

The game was wonderful. I have enjoyed watching games on television with Emmett and Jasper in the past, despite the constant grumbling regarding the humans' athletic prowess, but to experience it in person with the roar of the crowd surrounding us, it was much more exciting - it was exhilarating. The Celtics were playing the Miami Heat in this game, and since we lived closer to Boston, we chose to cheer for the Celtics, who won in a 105-98 finish. Bella and I cheered and sang with the crowd throughout the game. Her bright smile could have lit up the whole Garden had the electricity failed, and I could see the thrill in her expressive eyes. It was so endearing to see her excited like this.

Driving back to Hanover, I held Bella's hand in mine as we chatted about the game. She was enthusiastically describing her favorite play of the game, in which one of the Celtics players had stolen the ball from the Heat, run back down the court, throwing the ball in what seemed to be an attempt to score, but was actually a pass to his teammate, who had jumped up, caught it, and dropped it into the basket. I told her that this play was known as an "alley-oop."

"Carlisle? I was thinking... I've seen vampire baseball. Do you ever play basketball?"

I laughed, the memories invading my mind. "Once, dear. It was quite a disaster actually."

"Tell me about it," she smiled. She always loved to hear stories from the times before she knew us.

"Well, it was about twenty years ago, when we were living in northern Maine. Emmett had suggested that we play, and we decided on using the parking lot of the high school they were attending. We started with just some individual practice, to get used to the equipment, but it took us several basketballs before everyone was able to dribble without flattening the ball. We had, in an attempt to make the game more interesting, set the court for ourselves with baskets at either end, two hundred meters apart, mounted on lamp poles at twice the regulation height. To a human, I'm sure it would have looked rather ridiculous. Emmett, Rosalie and Edward were one team, while Alice, Jasper and I made up the other. Esme, as always, was our referee.

Of course, Alice and Edward have a knack for cheating with their abilities - I still wonder how Alice didn't See what would happen in advance to prevent it. Their abilities compounded the difficulties the game would have already presented. As we started the game, Jasper took the ball first, running down the court. We had worked out a play similar to the one we saw Miami make tonight, wherein Alice would pass me the ball, and I would fake making a three-point shot, but instead throw the ball near the basket to Jasper, who would dunk the ball. In theory, it was a good idea.

Unfortunately, Edward knew from our thoughts what we were planning and decided to foil us. In the end, Emmett got a bit caught up in his excitement and tackled me just after I passed the ball, and Jasper jumped to make the shot just as Edward leapt to block him, and they pulled the entire basket, which we had attached to a lamp pole, to the ground.

Thus the game ended, and we had to find a way to explain a Carlisle and Emmett-shaped crater as well as several large basketball-sized potholes, and a fallen lamp post in the parking lot of the high school. Needless to say, we never played basketball again."

By this time, Bella had tears running from her eyes through her laughter.

"You know, I've always wondered why Emmett sat out when we played basketball in gym. You should definitely stick to baseball in the woods," she said between giggles. "Esme was really not kidding when she said you are all a bunch of cheaters!"

"I suppose that's probably true. But, in defense of my family, it is rather difficult not to with such abilities."

"I'm sure," she said, grinning. "I wonder if I'll have any special powers when I'm a vampire?" She mused.

I leaned over and kissed her lightly on her cheek. "Sweetheart, you will be special with or without extra abilities, I can promise you that."

We arrived at our house, and I escorted her to the door. While I was unlocking it, I leaned down and traced the rim of her ear with my tongue, causing her to shudder, and then whispered, "Bella, I believe you made me a promise at the game?"

She squealed, and I picked her up bridal-style and ran her into my bedroom, my lips attacking hers the entire way.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed that.

Next up: A little family time.