Chapter 29 - Lost with You

EDWARD

Max was doing great, and I had a legitimate reason to visit Bella on occasion. I hadn't been able to get her out of my head since she had done that striptease. I had been dying to jack off, but I just couldn't do it with Max in the room. I started to try to do it under the blanket so he wouldn't see, but he attacked my hand and dick through the blanket. Yeah, I howled like a girl at a Gucci sale when that happened.

I started getting cranky, and when I snapped at Alice, she actually stopped and took a good look at me. She shook her head and rolled her eyes at me. "You've been 'hanging out' with Bella for months now. You put off your plans with Jasper to see her, and you still aren't getting anywhere. Edward, it's time you man up!"

"I have, that's why I visit her."

She glared at me. "You meeting with her monthly so she can give Max his heartworm and tick prevention medicine does not count as manning up."

"Hey, it prevents fleas, too."

"Edward, please, do us all a favor and ask the girl out already!"

She was right. I had been chickening out and using Max to visit her. She had tried to give me his medicine, but I had insisted that he took it better from his mommy. Yeah, I let that slip, but she just smiled, not making a big deal of it. Max still loved her as much as I did. Yeah, I had finally come to that realization. I just wished she would love me, too. I used to be a cool badass loner, but I had slowly turned into a pining pathetic loser.

"Get your act together, Edward. I know what you and Jasper have planned. You either get off your ass and ask her out or cut ties. You're going to be leaving her in a few months, anyway."

Alice was right, but I didn't have to like it.

She stormed off, ignoring me like usual. She had been so busy with her classes that I hardly got to see her, and I was starting to miss her. Jasper had been working with me on our college applications. He had been thinking of ways to break it to his parents that he didn't want to go into the military. I figured what we planned on doing would be protecting the country as well, just on a different level. Hopefully, it would go over well.

After another two months of sulking, Christmas was upon us, and I knew I wanted to get Bella a present of some sort. I wasn't sure what, but I would find the perfect gift soon. I bundled up Max and headed for the Swan's backyard. Bella had really gotten busy with her makeshift clinic. She had a shed now she and the chief had built out of scrap lumber that housed her patients and kept them warm and dry, now that we were going into the winter months.

When I got there, she was packing up a few of her cat friends. "Hey, Bella, where are you going?"

"Well, I found homes for Blacky, Ms. Mae and Penny."

"Really? That's great, someone is taking all three?"

"Well, they do get along alright, and the place is big."

"Really?" I couldn't imagine anywhere in Forks being bigger than my house.

"Yeah, mind giving me a hand?" she asked, and I carried two of the carriers to the green station wagon she drove now. She brought one carrier and a big bag full of what looked like cat supplies.

"So, where are we headed?" I asked inviting myself along.

She just smirked. "The Forks Nursing Home, they've agreed to take these guys once they were fixed. Dr. Gartner did it for free, since she was teaching me. She also donated all their stuff."

"That's great."

"Yup, I'm the one who cut off Blacky's balls."

I cringed a little and looked back at the black cat. "And you're still talking to her?" I questioned him making her giggle.

"No, actually, he's not. He's a bit upset about the whole thing, but I figured he already passed down his legacy to Max, so he doesn't need any more heirs to the throne," she joked.

"He's Max's dad?"

"Yeah, well, I think he is. He's the only cat around who looks anything like Max within a mile radius and, well, Katy used to hang out with him, so it would make sense. Of course, in the end, where it really counts, you're his real dad." I blushed at that. It was like she could tell I was getting jealous of a cat. Crazy, I know.

We pulled up to the nursing home, and a creepy-looking guy came walking out. He smiled like a freak when he saw Bella, but then he glared at me.

"Cat lady!" he teased her. "I'm glad you're here, the natives are getting restless. Who's this guy?" he asked thumbing at me.

"This is my helper for the day, Edward. So, where do you want the cat box? We need to set that up before we release them and actually put them down in it first thing, so they'll always know how to get back to it."

"Okay, I wish that worked with old dudes, but we can't all be cats," Creep said.

We both looked at him confused, because he made no sense. I helped Bella set up the cat boxes; each of them had their own, and then we each took a cat and released it. I noticed Blacky was following Bella, as we walked to the community center. He looked around, taking in his new place and actually listened when a lady called for him to jump up on her lap. The two girl kitties, Ms. Mae and Penny, came in a few moments later. Bella introduced the cats, telling a little about Blacky. He was named that because of his color, and Penny was as well, but I was surprised to find that Ms. Mae, a white exotic-looking cat, was called Ms. Mae, because she seemed to have a mild case of OCD. Bella put down a bowl of cat food for Mae, and the residents watched as Ms. Mae sorted the food by shapes and sizes before she ate it. She also explained that she was meticulous about cleaning her fur and would do it for hours and absolutely loved being brushed. She put a couple of cat brushes down in the community center for the residents to use. "She just needs a little extra love and attention, but I'm sure with all of you helping out, she'll feel right at home." She turned to me and waved for me to follow, and creepy guy followed as well.

"So, Cat Woman," he said with a wink, "Thanks for bringing the cats by and getting them settled."

"Thanks for taking them. I think this will end up being a good home for them."

"Yeah, well, feel free to come and visit anytime," he said and slipped her a paper.

She just smiled politely, taking it and hopped in her car. I slid in the passenger side and looked over at her nervously. I wanted to ask her what the paper was. I was pretty sure it was his number. Was she going to call him? Was I missing my chance? Oh, my god, I had to do something fast! "Go out with me!" I practically yelled at her.

She looked at me confused. "Like on a date?"

Well, I was hoping more like being my steady girlfriend, but a date was a good start. "Yeah, yeah, a date. So, Bella, will you go out with me?"

Max climbed out of my pocket and snuggled up in her lap. "Sure, why not, we have to stay civil for the sake of the baby now don't we?" she smirked as she scratched his chin.

I would take what I could get. "Yeah, great."

"So, when do you want to go out? Isn't winter break coming up soon?"

"Yeah, why don't we make a day of it?"

"Ooh, like a family outing with you, me and Max?"

"Yeah, I think he'd be heartbroken if I left him behind. I hope you don't mind."

"Having my baby along? Never."

BELLA

Edward asked me out on a real date. Not one to watch his sister or get back at Tyler, but one with just me and him. Well, and Max, but I missed Max, so that was fine with me. I talked him into letting me drive over to his house for the date; that way my parents wouldn't feel the need to try and interrogate him and introduce more germs into the house. No, really, I just wanted to keep Edward to myself.

When I got to his house, it was a little after ten o'clock in the morning, and it had just stopped snowing. Esme sent me to the back patio, which just made me smile. Of course, my grin got even wider when I saw what was going on. Edward had Max wearing a kitty coat and Max was trying to pull off some little boots.

"Fine, but I'm telling you, the snow is cold. I'll keep them in my pocket if you want them back," he said making a big show of putting them in his pocket. Max watched him and then proudly pranced around in the snow for a few minutes, before he came hopping back, shaking his paws in disgust. "See, I told you so," Edward said pulling out his hanky and drying off Max's little paws, before he pulled out the boots again. He slipped them on his little paws, and Max took a couple of steps and seemed pleased after that and went back to prancing around and playing in the snow. That was one special kitten not to mind being dressed up like a toddler. Most cats would have taken Edward's hand off for doing that, or just fallen over pathetically and refused to get up.

"He looks so cute all dressed up," I said letting Edward know I was here.

"Yeah, well, it's cold outside, and I don't want him getting sick."

"You're such a good daddy, Edward," I said sitting down next to him.

He just shrugged. "So, the first part of our date is to play in the snow."

"Oh, so you paid the weather man to make it snow?"

"No, Jack Frost, but you know I'd do anything for you," he blushed suddenly.

I jumped up grabbing a handful of snow and tossed it at him. "Well, let's not let it go to waste then."

We spent the morning playing in the snow, and when we came in, Esme had hot cocoa and soup for us. Once we were dried out, Edward took me to his room. I had been in it before, but I acted impressed, as if I was seeing it for the first time. "So, what do you think? I mean it's nothing special or anything, but I mean, are you cool with watching a movie here?"

"Yeah, sounds like fun," I said kicking my feet up on his coffee table after I plopped on the couch. There was a squeaky noise, and I laughed as I pulled out a few cat toys from under the cushion. Max quickly started gathering his toys, and Edward laughed.

"You're not fooling anyone, Max. I know where all your hiding spots are," he teased.

Max hid the toys under Edward's bed and came out proudly, acting like he had just secured a million dollars in a safe.

The rest of our date was perfect, and Edward even did the yawn and stretch thing to put his arm around me. Of course, I totally snuggled into his side and nuzzled his neck. He wrapped his other arm around me, and I decided to make a move. I kissed his neck, and he turned his face and offered up his lips, kissing me softly. It was amazing. I ended up moaning into his mouth and pulling him closer, as I wound my fingers into his hair. We started leaning to tip over on the couch, but a set of claws sank into both of us and made us jump apart. We had forgotten that Max was between us, and he didn't like getting squished.

Max jumped up on Edward's bed, giving him the stink eye, and I just laughed. Edward lifted his shirt, exposing his claw marks, and I touched them lightly. "Are you okay?" he asked. "Do you want me to check yours?"

I leaned back on the couch and lifted my shirt, exposing my belly. He ran his hands over the scratches, causing them to sting a little. "Do you have something to clean them up?" I asked.

"Let me check. I think there's a first-aid kit in the bathroom across the hall." He disappeared and came back moments later. "I have some wipes that can disinfect it."

"Good," I said pulling my shirt up a little higher, and he sat down on the edge of the couch. His hands were shaking a little, as he dabbed lightly. I let out a hiss, and he leaned down and kissed the scratches. Damn, he was hot. I ran my fingers in his hair, encouraging him to keep kissing. He eventually made it back up to my lips, when there was a knock at the door.

Edward let out a sigh, dropping his head to my chest. "Yes?" he asked then sat up.

"Edward, can I have a word with you?" Carlisle said, and then his eyes widened when he saw me lying on the couch. "Oh, I didn't realize you had company."

I glanced at the clock and knew it was time for me to get going. "It's fine, Dr. Cullen, I need to get going anyway."

"I'll walk you out," Edward said jumping up and helping me off the couch.

We made it to the booger mobile, when he pinned me against the car and leaned in slowly. I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face, as I met him halfway and kissed him goodbye.

I had my first kiss, and not just any first kiss, but a full make-out session. At least that was what I thought it was. Our kisses seemed to escalate again. I was guessing because we had good chemistry. When he finally pulled away, he smiled. "I want to see you again."

"You will," I said and slipped into my car.

He stepped back, and I waved goodbye. This was the best date ever!