A/N - Happy Friday! Thank you all so much for reading! I love reliving my college days through Edward and Bella! Wait...did that make me sound old? Enjoy!

Chapter 34 - Taking Care

"What are you reading?" Edward asked. He had been looking through his chemistry lab for the next day.

We were sitting in the laundry room, waiting for five washers full of clothes, sheets and towels. I wanted the apartment spic and span for when the Cullens came for the weekend. I knew Esme wouldn't care if the place was messy or not, but I did. This my very first place and I was proud of it.

"Lewis Carroll," I said. "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. It's for my Children's Lit class. We're doing a unit on 19th century writers."

"Mm. You are so smart and sexy," he whispered, leaning over to kiss my lips.

I giggled. "Alice in Wonderland isn't sexy."

"You are sexy. It doesn't matter what you're saying. But when you talk about school stuff, like books and centuries." He chuckled. "It's damn hot."

I smiled, reaching over to pat his thigh. "You are so insatiable," I whispered.

Another tenant, a guy our age walked in the laundry room with a hamper. He smiled at us, before opening an empty washer and throwing in his clothes, all colours in one load. I bit back a laugh.

"I used to be that guy," Edward whispered in my ear. "If it weren't for you, I'd still be that guy."

"I told your mom I would take care of you, didn't I?" I asked, smiling at him.

"You did. And I have to say, you are doing an amazing job." Edward kissed me, and I smiled, proudly. I knew I was.

But, he was doing an equally good job taking care of me. And making me happy. And satisfying me. When we had gotten home from school, Edward had pulled my shirt over my head, tugged the cup of my bra down and started teasing 'Tanya' with his tongue, lips and teeth. He even gave 'Vicki' a turn. Yes, Edward was taking very, very good care of me.

When our clothes were washed, Edward helped me move it all into the driers, and I showed him that towels went on high heat and clothes were set on permanent press, and my panties went on delicate.

Edward volunteered to load my panties into the drier. I giggled at the smile on his face. He was way too easily pleased.

"I'm hungry," Edward said, looking over at me.

"Well, I'll make you dinner, but we have about forty five minutes to wait for the driers," I said. "And, I'm not leaving my panties unattended."

Edward laughed. "I'll watch them."

I giggled. "You're trying to get rid of me?"

"Never." He leaned in to kiss me.

I got up and stretched. "Okay, gorgeous. I'll go make dinner," I said, running my fingers through his hair.

He set his hands on my hips and pulled me close to kiss my stomach. "Thank you for dinner."

"I haven't made it, yet."

Edward spanked me. "It's going to be amazing. Text me when you get upstairs, so I know you got there safely."

"Okay. Love you," I said, leaning in for a kiss. "Don't leave any of my panties in the drier."

Edward laughed. "As if I would."

I ran upstairs and sent Edward a text after I had locked the door to our apartment. I went into the kitchen and looked through the cupboards. We had some pasta, so I started the water on the stove and then decided to make homemade meat sauce.

I was browning the beef, when my phone rang. I ran over to grab it off the counter and I smiled when I saw Dallas' name. She had promised to fill me in on her date to the park with her daughter and Kel, yesterday.

"Hey, Dallas," I said, putting the call on speaker phone.

"Hey, Bella. I didn't know when you'd be home from school."

"Oh, we're done at three thirty, but we were down in the laundry room. Edward's family is coming up to visit tomorrow for the weekend, so I'm trying to make sure the place is gorgeous."

Dallas laughed. "You are so sweet. If Edward's family loves you as much as he does, you have nothing to worry about, honey."

"I know. But, enough about me," I said, dumping the pasta into the boiling water. "I want to hear all about how things went with Kel."

She swooned. Like actually swooned into the phone. "I know it's too soon, like way too soon, to even start talking about love, but he makes me giddy and gives me butterflies."

"Aw," I said, smiling. "I'm so happy for you."

"Thanks. It's just nice to feel wanted." I could related to that feeling so much. Having always felt alone, it was the best feeling on Earth to be loved so much, wanted and appreciated. And Edward made me feel that way every single day.

"So, how was Kel with little Bryce at the park?"

"Adorable," she said. And I could hear the smile in her voice. "He pushed her on the swing and held her up so she climb the monkey bars." She sighed. "Having a daughter and trying to date is the hardest thing I have ever done. Guys don't want to date girls with kids.

"It's like men know they're not the top priority. My daughter always comes first, and always will. But, Kel. I don't know. He seems different. Better than that. He's trying to get to know me, as well as my daughter. He sees that we're a package deal. And it's amazing."

"I'm so glad," I said. I poured the tomato sauce in the pan and added some seasoning.

"Oh, but, Bella. You haven't heard the best part."

I giggled, loving the girl talk. Oh, my. I was turning into my mom. And Esme. And Heidi. "What happened?"

"Well, after we left the park, Kel walked me to the door, carrying a sleeping Bryce in his arms. I invited him inside while I laid her down for a nap. When I came out of the bedroom, he was sitting on the couch, watching cartoons."

"That's so cute. Edward does it, too."

"Boys," she said, and we laughed. "Anyway. We got a chance to talk. Getting to know each other better. It was nice to have an adult conversation with a man. We must have talked for over an hour. I made sandwiches and we had apple juice." She giggled. "It's a mom thing. I don't even have anything else in the house.

"But, the best part, was when he said I had a little mayo on my lip. He actually leaned in and tasted the corner of my mouth." She squealed in excitement and I laughed at how honest her excitement was.

"Wow. That was bold," I said, and she laughed, again.

"It was. His lips are so soft. So, of course, I couldn't stop there. I kissed him back, and we ended up making out a little on the couch. I know I said that I wanted to take things slow with him, and I do. But, it was so nice being treated as a woman, and not just a mom, for a change."

"That makes so much sense," I agreed. "You do what's right for you. No one is going to judge you for it, Dallas. You deserve to be happy."

"Aw. Thank you so much, Bella."

"Honey, I'm home," Edward called out from the front door. "And I have your panties."

Dallas and I both started giggling. She had heard him over the speaker phone. "Well, on that note, I'll let you go play with your man. See you, soon."

"Bye. And congrats."

I ended the call, just as Edward walked into the kitchen. "Oh, shoot. Were you on the phone?" he asked, his cheeks a little flushed.

"I was," I said, walking up to him to kiss his chin. "But, I'm not, anymore."

Edward smirked and wrapped his arms around my body, pulling me close. He kissed my lips. "Please tell me that wasn't your dad. Or, my mom."

I giggled. "It was Dallas. She hung up so I could play with you."

"Mm. She made a good suggestion."

I laughed. "I'll make you deal. After dinner, and after you help me fold all the laundry, we can play."

He kissed my lips. "Deal."