Chapter Twenty-six

~ Edward ~

After a long, busy day at the hospital, and studying for my boards in between patients, I was wiped out. It was just after seven pm when I drove home. I was supposed to have the day off, as Bella and I were leaving for Forks in the morning, but an emergency came up with a co-worker's child, so I offered to come in and cover her shift. But it worked out because I was able to add another day onto my short break. Now I was ER free for the next five days.

I groaned when my cell phone rang, thinking it was probably Garrett, but when I saw it was my mother, I froze. I took a deep breath and answered.

"Hey, Mom."

"Edward, dear, are you still at work?"

"No, I just left; I'm driving home," I replied. "How are you, Mom?"

I didn't know if Ali told our mother about our disagreement, but now that it's settled, I wasn't about to.

"Alice came over for breakfast this morning," Mom said. "She told your father and I that you two had a argument when she was in Seattle."

Guess I have my answer.

I let out a breath.

"Yeah, we did, but we fixed it," I admitted.

"You know I always hated when you two quarreled; you were always so close."

"I know, Mom, but even the closest of siblings fight sometimes," I said. "But honestly, it's fine now."

"She told me it was over your girlfriend."

Ugh, seriously, Ali?

"Yes, it was, but again, Mom..."

"Edward," she interrupted, my name stopping my words. "When you told me you had met someone and you were falling in love, you didn't tell me she was so... young."

"Because it didn't matter," I said. "I thought Ali was over this? She apologized to Bella and I forgave her for being a spoiled brat... I can't even believe..."

"Edward, stop!" my mother shouted in the phone. I closed my mouth and shut the fuck up. Even at my age, my mother still knew how to get my attention. "Edward, calm down. Alice told me she was wrong in the things she said when she first met Bella and that she's a sweet girl who stole her brother's heart. Your sister had nothing but kind words to say about Bella."

Well then. Fuck me.

"She did?" I asked.

"Yes, she told me I will love her because you love her," Mom replied with a soft voice. "And she told me how much Bella loves you."

"She does, Mom; we love each other very much," I said. "She's the best thing that has ever happened to me. And I didn't tell you about about her age because that doesn't matter to me. Bella is so much more than the age she is. She's a talented dancer, a fantastic cook, and she loves me, Mom."

"Well, then that's all a mother can ask for," she choked out. "As your mother, and the first woman who has ever loved you, all I wanted was for you to find someone to love you... almost as much as I do. And if Bella is that woman for you, then that's all I need."

"Thanks, Mom, I appreciate that."

"I love you, Edward. No matter what, I will always love you. Now promise me you'll let me meet this amazing woman soon?"

"I promise," I agreed. "I am taking Bella to Forks in the morning to see her father, and once I am finished with my exams, I promise I'll bring Bella to Chicago."

"I'm counting on it, dear," she said. I could hear the smile in her voice. "Okay, Edward, I'll let you get home. I'm sure Bella is waiting for you?"

"Yeah, she is," I said with a smile of my own. "I'll talk to you soon, Mom. Tell Dad I said hello and I love him."

"I will," she replied. "I love you, Edward."

"Love you too, Mom."

I hung up the phone and slouched in my seat with a sigh of relief. I pulled into the parking garage and then headed to the condo.

Once inside, all I heard was silence.

"Bella?"

"In here," I heard her say from what I could assume was the bedroom. I dropped my backpack in the foyer and headed down the hall.

When I got there, I didn't see her in the room, but I saw a faint light coming from the bathroom.

"Bella, you in here?"

"Yeah, come on in," she replied.

I pushed open the door and gasped when I saw Bella in the bathtub surrounded by bubbles.

Wet.

Naked.

God fucking damn.

"Hi," I panted, gasping in air.

"Hey," she said. "I was stressing over tomorrow, so I thought I'd take a... hot bubble bath."

"I can see that," I gulped. My dick was wide awake now.

"Long day?"

"The longest," I said.

"Well, maybe you should get naked and join me?" she suggested.

I grinned at her and then swiftly lifted my shirt over my head. I kept my eyes on her as I took off my socks and sneakers and then untied the drawstring on my scrub bottoms. I slowly pushed them off my hips, along with my boxer briefs, and kicked them off my feet.

Bella licked her lips and then scooted forward in the tub, making room for me. I stepped in and hissed as the hot water hit my skin. I sunk down in the tub behind Bella and pulled her back to my chest. My dick was hard against her lower back. I heard her sigh and relax in my arms.

"This is just what I needed," I said, wrapping my arms around her.

"Me too."

"Are you okay?"

"I am now," she said, resting her hands on my thighs.

We soaked in silence as we softly let our hands roam over each other. My hands started to massage her shoulders and then, as if they were magnets, they started to rub her breasts. I state that I am just cleaning them, making Bella giggle.

"I fell in love with you in this tub," she admitted, covering my hands with her own as I molded her soft flesh. "It was that moment when you took care of me here. I knew I was in love with you."

"That was the first time I saw you without your makeup on," I replied. "I saw the real you for the first time that night. You were so beautiful, Bella."

"I was all bruised."

"You were beautiful, you are beautiful." I leaned down and kissed her neck. "I am so in love with you that is hurts sometimes. I want you all the time. I need you in my life. You're like a drug to me, Bella."

"Edward," she gasped. I felt her grab my hand and move it under the water to between her legs. I groaned when I felt how wet she was. I swirled my finger around her clit and she gasped when I pushed it inside her. "Fuck, Edward. I think... ah god... take me to the bedroom."

I gently pushed her forward so I could stand to my feet. I then pulled the plug to drain the tub, grabbed her in my arms and carried her dripping wet body to the bed. I didn't even bother to dry us off as I dropped her on the mattress and quickly crawled up her body, settling myself on top of her.

"Edward, I can't... wait... please."

"I have no intention of making you wait, baby," I said, in as much need as her. "I need to be inside you right now."

I retrieved a condom from the beside table and quickly rolled it down my aching, hard-as-fuck length. Bella parted her thighs for me, and as soon as I slid inside her, I lowered my whole body down on her, taking her in my arms. Her arms wrapped around my shoulders and held me in place as I moved in and out of her. My love for her poured out of me with each thrust. Each time with Bella was more powerful, more loving, than the last, and it made my heart swell with feelings that I never knew existed until she came into my life.

"Edward," she gasped while gripping my hips. "I love you so much."

"I love you, too..." I groaned when I felt her walls clenching around me. "Fuck, Bella, I can feel you. Let me make you cum."

"Uhh... god, y-yes," she stuttered.

I reached down between our bodies and found her clit, wet and swollen. I rubbed it with a circular motion that made her cry out, and then I felt her body cum around me. I held her close as her heart raced and she gasped for air. I stilled my motions while holding her until her body calmed. Bella looked in my eyes and ran her fingers through my hair and then she leaned up to kiss me. I began to move inside her again as I deepened our kiss, tasting every inch of her mouth and tongue. I could feel my own release from deep inside as I moved faster and harder. Bella held onto my biceps as I came hard.

"Jesus Christ," I groaned as I rolled off of her. "You are going to kill me, woman."

"Oh, but what a way to go," she laughed, snuggling up next to me and draping her arm over my stomach.

"So, when I first got here, you said you were feeling stressed about tomorrow?" I inquired. "Still nervous, I take it?"

"Yeah," she replied, moving closer to me. "My stomach has been in knots all day."

"It's going to work out, babe," I assured her.

"But what if it doesn't?" She moved so she could look in my eyes. "What if my worst nightmare comes true and my dad wants nothing to do with me?"

I looked in her eyes and held her close. "I don't think that's going to happen..."

"Edward, we don't..."

"But..." I said, cutting her words off, "If... your father feels that way, then, Bella, he never deserved you in the first place. Anyone who can't see what a special and talented woman you are can just go fuck themselves. And if your father doesn't see that, then I'd be the first to tell him so."

"You are too good to me," she said, lowering her head back down on my chest. "I only need you, Edward. Anyone else is just an added bonus."

I smiled and then pulled her closer, kissing the top of her head. I will admit, I was nervous about tomorrow. I was nervous for Bella. I hoped to God that her father will see what I see in her. Time would tell.

~*yCa*~

"Bella, are you ready?" I asked, coming into the bedroom. "We should be leaving soon."

"I don't know," she said. "I can't seem to figure out what to pack."

I looked over at her bag and there were clothes thrown everywhere, but nothing in the bag. She was stressing out.

"Okay," I said, walking over to her. "We're only going to for two nights, so here..." I reached over and grabbed two pairs of jeans, a few tops, and then I walked over to the dresser and pulled out two of her bras, some extra panties, and socks. I handed them to her before going to the bathroom and grabbing her toiletry bag and handing it to her. "That should be good."

"How do you do that?" she asked.

"Do what?"

"Know exactly what I need?"

"Because I love you," I said simply.

I zipped up her duffel and carried it out to the foyer to set it down next to my packed bag. Bella came out of the bedroom, holding her jacket and her purse.

"Are you ready?" I asked.

"Yeah, I think so."

I nodded to her and grabbed our bags. Bella walked out of the front door, ahead of me. I locked up and we walked to the garage. I put our bags in the trunk and opened the door for Bella. Once she was settled, I walked around and got in the car. I looked over at her and grabbed her hand, bringing it up to my lips for a kiss. I drove out of the garage, settling into my seat in preparation for the four-hour drive to Forks.

~*yCa*~

"Here you go," I said to Bella, handing her a Snapple iced tea through the passenger side window.

"Thanks," she replied.

I got back in the car at the gas station, after getting some munchies from the convenience store. We had been driving for over two hours and we were both were in need of drinks and sugar.

I pulled out a box of Junior Mints for Bella and handed them to her. She smiled and grabbed the box from me, tearing into it. I laughed when she brought the box up to her mouth and let a few of the chocolate mints fall in. I did the same with my bag of Reese's Pieces.

"You're kind of cute when you do that," she said, smiling at me.

"Thank you," I replied with a mouth full of candy. "You're pretty cute yourself. Can't say I've ever seen anyone tear into a box of Junior Mints like that."

"These are my favorites," she offered. "Ever since I could remember, I've always loved them. I remember my dad bringing me some home from work when I was little. I guess I never got over my love for them."

I watched as she poured more into her mouth. Right now, I was envious of the candy as it dropped in Bella's mouth. I can't say the thought of being in her mouth has not crossed my mind since the very beginning. Even the first night we were together, she wanted to, only that night wasn't about that. But fucking hell, I wanted to feel her lips around my cock more than anything. That would have to be something she would need to feel comfortable with. I swallowed my candy and cleared my throat.

"We have about another hour and half to go before we reach your dad's," I said, pulling out of the gas station and back on the freeway.

The rest of the drive consisted of small talk. Bella told me a little bit of what she remembered about Forks, mostly that it was a very small town with one main street, which housed the diner, grocery store, general store, and a tobacco shop. She remembered very little about her pre-school, only that her teacher had long red hair. She told me about her house, that it only had two bedrooms, but from what she saw when she was there two years ago, it looked like there had been some additions added on.

"Turn down here," Bella instructed as we reached a small road. "There."

I looked to where she was pointing and there was the white house she had spoken of.

"Where do you want me to park?" I asked.

"Across the street is fine," she replied.

I parked the car and looked over at the house. I saw there was a police cruiser in the driveway and a blue SUV. I looked over at Bella, who was just staring out of the window.

"Are you ready?" I asked, placing my hand on her thigh.

She looked over at me and nodded. I got out of the car and walked over to the passenger side to let her out. I instantly took her hand in mine and we both stood across the street, looking at the house. I wasn't going to move until Bella was ready. I heard her take a deep breath and let it out, and then she began to slowly walk.

I held Bella's hand tightly in mine as we made our way up the walkway. Once at the front door, I gave her a squeeze and a small smile.

She squeezed my hand back and let out another deep breath she had been holding in since we left the car. She took another breath and knocked on the door.

"Can I help you?"

A woman with long dark hair, and of native descent, opened the door and looked at us cautiously.

"Um... hi," Bella stuttered. "I'm looking for Charlie Swan."

"Can I tell him who's asking?" the woman questioned.

"I'm his daughter."

A/N: Ohhh no she didn't... yes I left it there! A Big Old Fat What-the-Fuck cliff hanger! LOL. It had to end there because obviously next chapter will be very big. Have no fear, its already written and in the process of being beta'd. We will finally meet Charlie and all questions will be answered.

Some have asked if Bella will ever give Edward what he thought about in the car while she ate her candy... *cough* soon! Trust me that I have no forgotten that since their first time together.

The reviews for this stroy have been AMAZING! I would shit bricks if this story reached 1K... want to make me happy, then make that happen LOL. :) I would also be very apprecaite if you could rec this story to your pals, now thats a happy place!

Thanks forever and always to Chandrakanta for her second pair fo eyes when it comes to this story! My FB group is Awish's Fanfiction if you want to come in.

Ok my amazing people, I'll see you all next Tuesday. And again, please review.

XOXO