I don't own anything, too bad.

Go check the banner Betti created for me on my FB account - Cherry Bella or here: http: /stade-art-house . de/banners/adiccted2u-banner . gif -the link has the animated banner.

Go check out the story I wrote for Betti. It's called Rumors - and review, please.

Huge thank you to my betas: mesmerizeme and Rachie81 for helping me with this chapter.

I guess people really lost interest in this story, but I love it too much and it's great some still read it. So...Thank you for those that are sticking around.

For those who reviewed, I read them all but didn't find the time to answer. I hope this upcoming week, I'll make time to answer. Next update will be on Saturday because Sunday...I'll leave on vacation for a few weeks. I hope to be able to update once or twice, but no promises.

Chapter 28: Birthday surprises

Bella's POV

"Take care of her, Edward. She's a keeper," I heard Elizabeth whispering.

"Yeah, of course." Edward was still confused.

"She's so precious. If I hear that you've hurt her, I don't care how old you are, I'll slap you."

"Mom, really! I wouldn't hurt Bella. What brought this on?"

"Just us talking," she answered mysteriously.

"Okay, I swear it, Mom." They were quiet for a few minutes. "Ermm are you sure about Bella staying with me-"

Don't look a gift horse in the mouth, I thought to myself.

"Just say thank you and go to your room."

He chuckled and I heard a kissing sound. "Thank you, Mom."

I burrowed my face deeper into the pillow, whishing I could stop sobbing. It was amazing to know someone cared for you when they didn't have any connection to you. With Edward, it was different, because we were together. His parents, especially his mother, and the Cullens didn't have a reason why they should to be so good to me, though, they were. I finally felt like I belonged somewhere.

"Jeez, what really happened in there?" Edward asked softly, sitting next to me on the bed.

I shook my head, taking a deep breath and releasing the pillow from my hands. I looked up at him and he started laughing.

"You killed my pillow! And you have…feathers in your mouth."

I looked at the shredded pillow then touched my lips and a giggle escaped me. "Oops."

"Yeah, sure. You owe me a pillow," Edward chuckled.

I spat the feathers from my mouth and another giggle escaped me. I hadn't realized I was killing his pillow as I listened to their conversation.

Edward insisted that he had to stay awake until midnight to wish me 'Happy Birthday' properly. By eleven thirty, he was yawning every three seconds.

"Just go to sleep. I'll be here in the morning since I'm allowed to stay," I said seriously.

"No, no," he protested, yawning. "I want to…" Another huge yawn. "…it's part of the surprise."

"If you yawn one more time, I fear you'll swallow me," I teased.

He cracked a smile, clapping his hand over his mouth as he yawned again. "What time is it? Don't lie," he whispered as if reading my mind.

"Fifteen more minutes," I announced him.

He swung his legs over the edge of the bed and padded to his desk, opening a locked drawer. "Keep your eyes closed."

I closed them dutifully, pressing my lips together. I heard a loud mewl and a louder curse from Edward.

"Don't open them!" he hissed. "I'm okay, just stumbled over Ginger. He should be sleeping at this hour not inspecting my room."

"You should be sleeping too," I said reproachfully.

"You'll like it." He sat next to me and I heard him yawning again. It was getting old.

"Is it midnight already? I want you to sleep," I said impatiently.

"Hold on," he muttered and banged around, dropping something to the ground with another curse. "Almost there. Two more minutes."

An eternity, I thought to myself.

"No, go away. Sleep, we're not playing at this hour." It took me a second to realize he was talking to the cat. "I said no, Ging-…ouch!" he moaned. "I guess you can open them," he murmured. "Ow!" he groaned.

The kitten had managed to scratch him again. "Mmm… Is you bleeding my birthday present?" I asked amused, eyeing his wrist.

He met my eyes and poked his tongue out. "Actually, I have this for you. Only, Ginger decided it was fun to sharpen his claws on my hand. Again." He offered me a neatly wrapped present, then took a tissue and dabbed his wrist.

"Did you wrap this?" I asked surprised, remembering the ball of wrapper from Prom that held my bracelet.

Edward's face caught fire and he averted his eyes. "Rose helped."

"You seem to get along with her very well," I observed, picking up my present.

He shrugged, turning redder. I focused on unwrapping the rectangular box. When the wrapper was pushed aside, I felt my breath hitch. It was impossible. My eyes met his green ones, and found them looking anxiously at me.

"How…?" I was speechless.

"I time traveled," he said mockingly.

"No seriously. It must have cost…Edward…how…why?" I stared at the book in my lap, feeling tears gathering in my eyes again.

"I pulled in some strings… And do you even have to ask why?"

"Edward, seriously!"

"Can't you just say thank you?" he groaned, taking my hand in his and rubbing his thumb over my palm. "Oh, happy birthday, Bella."

I put the ancient book softly next to me and wrapped my arms around his neck. "I love you so much. You shouldn't have done this."

"You want to know the truth? Carlisle overheard me talking to Rose about your birthday… You know his vast book collection… He had no idea where this one was, but Rose helped me and we searched book by book until we found it. That's what I was doing Wednesday when you went hunting with Jasper."

I pulled back and looked at him amazed. "You really went through that for me?"

"Why not? Bella, I love you more than anything. You mean the world for me." He grinned and kissed me soundly. "You should thank Carlisle, too. And you know what? I respected the unspoken rule about not spending money." Edward beamed at me.

I kissed him back, daringly opening my mouth just a little. Of course, he moaned loudly, crushing me to his chest. His yawn broke our kiss, making me giggle. He smirked and pecked my nose. "June can't come soon enough."

"Patience. You'll want this time, believe me."

"Lie down with me. Since you destroyed my pillow, I have to use you as my own personal pillow."

I put the original signed copy of Wuthering Heights on his nightstand, still in shock at his little stunt then lay down, taking him with me. He snuggled under the blanket and nuzzled my breast with his nose. I wound my fingers in his soft bronze hair, tightening my other arm around him. I wondered if he truly grasped how much I loved him. I was rewarded with a quite loud snore, which made me smile. I kissed his forehead then pressed my cheek to the top of his head and closed my eyes.

It was uncomfortable at best to stay there, but I knew that after everything we'd gone through, I would never hurt him willingly. And for some reason, he had enough confidence in me to sleep so close to me, when he was the most vulnerable.

I heard Ginger moving around the room then jumping on the bed and coming to lounge between my hip and the wall. He stretched, his claws escaping the soft pads and scarping against my pants then he relaxed and closed his eyes, going to sleep too. He must be taking after Edward, no sense of self-preservation. But who could hurt such a small, cute and inoffensive creature? Just like no one could hurt someone as wonderful as Edward.

Edward moved on top of me during the night, nearly killing the cat with his knee. Thankfully, I saved the small soul on time. He wasn't quite happy to be woken up at three in the morning. He moved next to my head and started purring before going back to sleep.

Edward kept mumbling my name along with 'not waiting' and some things about forever I didn't understand. We still had to talk about that. I had to prepare him for what was to come.

After an alarm went off in his parents' room, I knew it was six. I still couldn't believe his mother was waking up so early on a weekend day just to make him muffins. For a second, I felt a wave of panic knowing I'd have to eat whatever she threw at me. I couldn't refuse since it was my birthday.

What better way to spend it than puke out the food? I thought with an eye roll.

Footsteps came closer to Edward's door and I quickly tugged the blanket over us better, and closed my eyes. Would she wake him up since he was literally on top of me? Please no. He needs sleep, I prayed quietly.

The door opened and I heard a soft gasp then a quiet chuckle. Surely, we were a sight for the sore eyes. Elizabeth came closer and I felt Edward sliding to my right side, in his original position. He grumbled, hugging me tighter. I fought a smile as his mother giggled softly.

It was interesting to feign sleep and be aware of so many things. Something small climbed on my shoulder then went to my chest where Edward's head had been. Ginger. He purred and let out a loud mewl.

"Shh, let the kids sleep."

He mewled again. It was a weird sensation to have him walking over me. I wondered if it would have tickled, were I human. Edward groaned and flung his arm in the air, resulting in a hiss from the cat. What have you done now, Edward? I wondered quietly. No wonder the poor cat scratched him every given chance.

Elizabeth snorted and probably picked him up because I heard him purring again. "I'm sure he didn't mean it. Let's go eat, huh?" He mewed quietly in response.

The second, the door closed behind them, I turned my head to my left, away from Edward and started giggling. I tried to be quiet, but the sounds didn't seem to stay inside.

"Bella!" he moaned, rolling on his other side.

"Sorry," I whispered, pressing my palm to my mouth.

He groaned loudly, but fell back asleep quickly. After about half an hour, I gave up staying there and decided to join Elizabeth in the kitchen.

"Good morning, Bella. And happy birthday!" she sang and came to me, kissing my cheeks.

"Morning, thanks," I mumbled, trying to resemble a human in the morning. I'd seen Edward too many times to do something wrong.

Two hours later, his heartbeat increased as he woke up.

We were talking over a cup of tea. It was nice to have a mother figure in my life. I had chosen, ingeniously, to stand by the sink, so I could empty bits of my mug contents there.

Five minutes had passed since I heard Edward stir when he appeared in kitchen's doorway. I had the mug to my lips pretending to sip – I actually took a healthy gulp that left through my nose when I saw him.

We should have cleaned the feathers before he went to bed.

Edward met my eyes then he frowned at his mother, who was fighting a giggle fit. "Hey. What's so funny?" he whispered in a hoarse voice.

Elizabeth and I were trying to keep the laughter inside, but it was difficult. Edward's head resembled a chicken coop.

"Y-you…the feathers!" I managed to get out.

His eyes widened and he raised a tentative hand to his hair then patted it and cringed. "Crap." His eyes narrowed at me. "It's only your fault! You destroyed my pillow!"

I raised my hands in defense, splashing tea over my face.

"Can I ask what that pillow did wrong?" Elizabeth asked amused.

"Ask Bella," Edward grumbled, running a hand through his hand only to get it stuck in there. "I'm going to shower."

"Try not to clog th…" I didn't finish the threat before Edward was next to me, my mug of tea in his hand, turned upside down over my head. I looked at him shocked, my mouth hanging open.

There was mischief in his eyes as he smirked. "Now you need a shower too."

My eyes jumped to his mother, knowing she wouldn't agree to that. To my surprise, she was shaking her head amused at her boy's antics.

"I trust you to just wash. And I'm sure Edward will need help with those…feathers," she said softly.

"Thanks, Mom." Edward took my hand and dragged me after him. "You've been a bad girl, Missy," he muttered to me on the stairs.

I moved a tea-drenched bang of hair off my face and elbowed him in the ribs, as gently as I could.

"Oh dear!" We ran into Ed who was descending. He was laughing so hard at the sight in front of him that there were tears in his eyes.

"Laugh away, old man," Edward grumbled.

His parents were too open about this. Our relationship hadn't been a huge problem, but I knew that a week ago, they wouldn't have approved of me sleeping in Edward's bed or showering with him. What had changed? Was it Edward's lie about me not getting pregnant? Or was there something else? I thought back on my conversation with Elizabeth and how she called me a member of the family.

"Have you mastered a way to wash with clothes on?" Edward asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Stealing my words?" I teased and grabbed the hem of my shirt, raised it over my head.

It took me over half an hour to clean Edward's hair of the feathers, and I worked vampire speed.

"It's so not fair! Why don't you have them too?" he protested as I tugged at his hair a little too harshly, trying to pluck a stuck feather.

"I had my head away from the ruined pillow," I announced him. "Sorry," I whispered as I tugged again. He winced, but didn't say anything.

He was sitting on the edge of the tub and I was between his legs, plucking small, white feathers when he started laughing.

"What's so funny?" I wondered, turning his head to the side so I could get better access.

"I'm just thinking of what a difference a few words can make. If I hadn't told my parents something, we wouldn't be here."

"Something?" I huffed. "Are you ever going to let me on that secret?"

"When the right time comes," he answered seriously and pressed his cheek to my breast. "Are you nearly finished?"

"Yep. This is the last one," I told him, plucking the last feather. "Now, let's wash your hair. Stand up."

"Are you sure that is a good idea? You're too small."

"You're right. Sit down in the tub," I said, crouching behind him as he listened to me.

He allowed me to wash his body and in return, I let him wash me, although I rarely needed to wash.

Once clean, I was wearing one of his t-shirts and a pair of sweatpants that I had to roll the elastic band a few times to make them fit. I knotted the t-shirt to my side so I wouldn't look like a homeless person.

"Done? I'm hungry," he whispered after he finished brushing his teeth.

"Go and eat, I have to dry my hair."

"Do you have to?" he whined.

I pushed him away from the sink and turned the blow dryer on, glaring at him through the mirror.

"God forbid you getting a cold," he muttered.

"I can hear you!" I said loudly so he could hear over the wail of the blow dryer. His green eyes widened and after a sheepish smile, he left the room. "Coward!" I shouted.

"I wished you wouldn't hear everything," he muttered from the hallway.

I laughed, focusing on my hair. Sometimes, I wished I didn't have such good hearing, too.

When I joined them for breakfast, Elizabeth started fussing around me. I kept insisting that I didn't need anything. It was enough that I was eating a blasted muffin. When I finally managed to finish it, I wanted nothing more than to have it out of me.

"Oh, do take another! I'm sure Edward wouldn't mind, would you?" Ed asked, eyeing his son.

"I think you stole enough. Besides, Bella doesn't like the muffins."

"I can whip something-" Elizabeth jumped up.

"No, please," I groaned. "Please, it's okay. I don't really eat…in the morning," I added hastily.

"Oh, of course. Edward, you make sure to bring her back for dinner. I'll make something nice."

I looked scared at Edward, hoping he'd come up with a good excuse. That's when my phone buzzed on the table, making me jump. I grabbed it and answered quietly.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Bella! I hope you haven't forgotten about our girls' night," Alice chirped.

"Thank you," I whispered fast, just for her. "Oh, Alice, I nearly forgot about the girls' night. You really don't have to…" I said on a normal tone.

"Yes, you have to! You're just complicating your existence!"

"Okay, thank you," I said.

"We're waiting, by the way."

"We'll be there shortly," I told her, shooting Edward a smile. He had relaxed since he realized Alice had saved me from more food.

"Oh, Edward is spending the night here. Bye!" She hung up before I could say 'bye.'

"Umm." I looked at Elizabeth and smiled apologetically. "I'm so sorry, I completely forgot about Alice's girls' night. Do you mind terribly?"

"It's all right, Bella. Have fun!"

"No drinking," Ed added with a smirk.

"No, of course." Only blood. Does that count? "And… do you mind if Edward spends the night with the guys?"

"No, God knows he needs to have some fun from time to time." Edward blushed next to me, glaring at his mother.

Once Edward had his things packed in his schoolbag, we took his car to the Cullen's house.

"Do you have any idea what should I expect?" I wondered, glancing at him.

"Honestly, I have no idea. Alice kept it to herself."

"Great," I mumbled. "Why don't you…stop here? I have to get something from home. You can go ahead," I whispered.

"I'm really sorry Mom made you eat that." He understood why I wanted him to stop the car. Sometimes, I wondered if he could read my mind.

I kissed his cheek and left the car. I saw him driving to their driveway while I made my way deeper into the woods. After I took care of the atrocious human food, I went to my cottage and dressed in the cotton dress I had bought with Alice.

When I arrived at the white house, Alice welcomed me with a huge smile and hug. "Happy birthday, Bella!"

"Thank you, Alice," I answered, hugging her back. I couldn't believe how fast we had become friends.

"Come." She took my hand, and dragged me after her. It reminded me of the first time I'd been here. This time, when I entered the living room, Rose came to me and hugged me, whispering 'Happy birthday' in my ear, then everyone came to hug me. Even Emmett called me Bella, which was a special moment in time thing.

I took a seat on the couch, next to Edward who immediately wrapped me in his warm embrace. I breathed in his scent, putting my head on his shoulder. There was a small fight between Alice and Emmett of who got to give me a present first that was won, easily, by Alice.

"This is all I was allowed to do. I had another idea, but I could see myself mixing up the glasses."

"What glasses?" I asked, confused, taking the wrapped box from her hands.

Rose snorted. "She had the magnificent idea of killing small animals and putting blood in glasses. One of them would have had cherry juice for Edward. She had about a thousand visions and in every one, you ended up drinking the juice and Edward the blood."

I laughed as Edward made a face. "Thanks for not doing that," he said relieved.

I opened the box in my hands and closed it quickly so no one would see the contents. Alice smirked and tapped her forehead. I felt like I'd burst from embarrassment. The lingerie in there was so sexy, so indecent. I'd never wear something like that.

Emmett was next and he put the small box in my lap. "From Rosie and me."

"Thank you, guys," I whispered, opening it. There was a set of earrings, necklace and bracelet with small ruby stones. What other stone, of course! I grinned, showing them that I truly appreciated it.

Jasper gave me a book about vampire wars since I had pestered him with questions about his past. I giggled and he smiled, winking.

I had no idea what to expect from Esme and Carlisle. "Come with me. You have to see it," Esme said softly, coming to me.

I followed her upstairs to the third floor. No one lived there from what I knew. Everyone was behind us, on various states of giddiness. Poor Jasper.

Esme opened a door to the left and stepped aside. "Your room."

I looked inside dumbstruck until her words sank in. "My room?" I echoed.

"Yes, sweetie. You're one of us, now." Carlisle wrapped his arm around my shoulders.

"How can I thank you enough?" I whispered, deeply moved by their gesture.

"Bella, can you tone it down a little? I think I'm going to cry," Jasper said from behind me.

I giggled and turned to him. "You would if you were me. So many things happened yesterday and today… I really don't understand why you all love me so much, but I'm grateful to have met you."

"I told you everyone loves you," Edward whispered, coming to me and slipping his arms around my waist. "There isn't a person that couldn't love you."

"I can think of a few," I muttered, earning a general laugh.

Hoping everyone enjoyed this. Review and see you in a few days. :)