Thanks for the reviews! In case you're wondering, and I know a few of you are, there is NOT going to be a honeymoon baby. Bella would be due right around the same time she was due with Claire and I just am not interested in Britney Spearsing it...

The last chapter! Boo! I'm not really happy with it, but I think it's because it was ending...Lemons ahead, of course ;)

Chapter 36

Bella

"God, this is beautiful." I looked out into the valley that sat below us while Edward and I sat on the town wall, drinking a cup of coffee.

It was Christmas Eve, and we were now in Castellina in Chianti, enjoying the morning together before driving over to Florence and touring the city.

"You like it?"

I rolled my eyes. "Obviously, Edward."

He chuckled. "Stupid question, sorry." His face abruptly got serious. "You know, I read your book."

"All of it?" I asked in surprise. I hadn't had time to read a single page in any of the books I'd brought with me, much less read one in its entirety.

"Yeah. I read it on our wedding night."

My eyes widened. "You didn't sleep?"

He smiled broadly at me. "That should be a compliment to you, Bella. I couldn't put it down."

I bit my lip nervously. "Really?"

"Really." He reached over and pushed a strand of hair away from my face. "Did you do a lot of research?"

I had set the story during World War II. It seemed so romantic to me and felt like the perfect backdrop to the characters, Ruthie and Johnny.

I grinned. "Well, when you were out everyday working at the hospital, I went to the library. After I learned all I could from there, I sought out people who actually experienced it. I spoke to ten different people in Seattle who lived through it."

"Really?" He looked out into the valley and thought for a minute. "I felt like I was there, Bella. You did an incredible job describing it."

I felt myself blush. "Thank you."

He looked over at me nervously. "Did you use any personal experience to write the time Ruthie thought Johnny was dead?"

I felt my throat constrict involuntarily. "Yeah."

"And when she found out she was pregnant?" I could only nod. He let out his breath loudly. "I thought so."

I struggled to find my voice for a moment. I didn't want him to feel guilty about things in the past. It didn't bother me like it used to, but I knew Edward still felt unreasonably guilty about it, so I never brought it up. It was just as hard on Edward as it had been on me, and I truly believed that he would never leave me or Claire like that again.

"I wanted it to be a realistic as possible. I tried to describe every feeling and thought I had during those four months you were away. There were times when I couldn't find the words to describe the..." I thought for a second, "the magnitude of what I was going through, but I suppose I did an okay job. My editor said she cried when she read those chapters. Believe it or not, it was pretty theraputic."

Edward hopped off the wall and stood in front of me with his arms wrapped around my waist. "It was phenomenal. You will never cease to amaze me. You are so much more than you give yourself credit for."

"Well, I don't know about that..."

His aggrivated eyes met mine and I quickly shut up. "Yes, you are." He looked back out into the valley. "Now, would you like to go see Florence?"

"Yes."

******************************

We got to Florence an hour later and Edward took me to the Basilica of Santa Croce where we walked around for a while before looking through the market. I absolutely loved Christmas in Italy. As soon as we got out of the car, I heard the faint sound of carols being sung in Italian and could smell the vendors roasting chestnuts. After we looked at the Nativity scene set up in the plaza, we walked over to the Palazzo Vecchio, where the clock tower stood.

"Are you hungry?" Edward asked, taking my hand and leading me through the Piazza della Signoria.

"A little." I stared at Michelangelo's David. "Is this..?" I couldn't imagine seeing the famed statue in real life.

"Unfortunately, no. It's a copy. They have the real one in the Gallery of the Academy of Fine Arts here though if you'd like to see it."

"If we have time, could we?" I looked at him hopefully.

"Of course, love."

We walked through the plaza, looking over the fountain of Neptune and the numerous other sculptures housed by the palace's portico. After we were finished, Edward led me to a small café that was situated on the opposite side of the plaza.

We finished lunch and walked over to the Uffizi Gallery, taking a quick tour of it before walking over the Ponte Vecchio. We walked over the bridge and looked down at the Arno River.

"That looks disgusting," I said, turning my face up in distaste.

It was so dark, it was almost black and it had this bright green Astroturf-like stuff rolled out on the banks.

Edward laughed quietly. "It is. I don't recommend swimming in it. Unless you'd like some rare, foreign disease."

"I'll remember that." I looked around. "What else is there to do around here?"

"A lot, actually. But I was thinking I'd just take you over to Santa Maria del Fiore and then over to the Academy before dinner. I have reservations at seven. If it's not too late, I figured we could come back and see the Christmas lights with Ali, Jazz, and Claire."

"Alice and Jasper are meeting us there?" He nodded and brushed his thumb down my jaw line. "All right. Well, I guess we'd better get going then, huh, Mr. Tour Guide?" I watched the amusement flash in his eyes.

He motioned for me to go with a flourish of his hands. "After you, Miss."

I shook my finger playfully at him. "Uh-uh. It's Mrs. to you."

He raised his eyebrows and grinned. "I see. Well, your husband is a very lucky man."

"Thank you. I think so, too." I gave him a quick smile and winked.

We walked over to the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore and I stood there for a moment, gaping. It was massive. It took up the entire plaza. Edward took pictures while I just looked around in amazement. He glanced back, laughing at my reaction and pulled me along, pointing out the dome, bell tower, and baptistery. He then led me over to the entrance and explained some of the history behind the church before taking me inside. I grabbed my camera, turning off the flash, and snapped pictures of the cathedral. I turned around and took a picture of Edward examining the fresco that decorated the interior of the dome, getting a frown from him in response. I childishly stuck out my tongue which caused him to laugh silently and shake his head at me.

We walked up the stairs to the top of the dome and looked down. It was breathtaking.

"How Brunelleschi figured out how to build something this remarkable in the fourteen hundreds is beyond me."

I looked over at Edward and smiled. "You know everything. You're like a friggin' walking encyclopedia, you know that?"

He smiled crookedly at me. "I'm a sucker for knowledge, what can I say?"

We left the cathedral and went over the Academy's Gallery, stopping by one of the vendors and getting a bag of chestnuts on the way. By the time we were finished at the Academy, it was time to go back over to the car and head over to the restaurant.

We drove by an ice skating rink. "Want to try that again later?"

I looked out the window and cringed. "Uh, no, thanks." He chuckled softly.

Edward parked the car just at the top of the hill and we walked the rest of the way over to the Piazzale Michelangelo, where I was treated to the most beautiful view of Florence, still just visible at twilight. We looked out over the city peacefully until Edward finally spoke up.

"The restaurant is just over there," he said, pointing over to a huge cream colored stucco building, "and I've arranged for us to sit by the terrace so we can see the view while we eat."

I looked more closely at the building and could see Alice and Jasper standing there with Claire's stroller.

"Oh, look! There's Alice and Jasper!"

We walked over to them and I quickly said my hellos before grabbing Claire out of her stroller. I took her over to Edward, who was now talking on the phone. We quietly played with Claire while he finished up his conversation.

He put his phone back in his pocket and put his hand on the small of my back, leaning in close to me. "Esme says for you to try their mushroom ravioli. She says it's to die for." He rolled his eyes as he repeated his mother's words.

"I think I just might."

Before any of us realized what was happening, the sky opened up and poured rain on us. We rushed in the restaurant, laughing loudly as we shook the rain off our bodies. Just as quickly as it began, the rain stopped, leaving the streets outside glistening in the soft glow of the street lamps.

We ate and laughed all during dinner, although I noticed I had to swat Edward's hand away as he snuck it up my thigh more than usual. I looked over at him, careful to make sure Alice and Jasper weren't watching, and mouthed the words 'Are you drinking the water?' Ever since that night in Venice, it had been a running joke with us.

He flashed a wide grin and nodded almost imperceptibly as he picked up his glass of water. I bit my lip and shifted uncomfortably in my seat as I watched his Adam's apple bob with his swallows. The things that man could do to me without even trying.

We finished dinner and all drove back down the hill, towards the Piazza della Repubblica. We got into the plaza and I smiled at the huge Christmas tree that stood off to the side.

"Look! There's a carousel!" I looked back at Edward, who was pushing Claire in her stroller. "I know she's too little to enjoy it, but let's go take her on it!" I don't know why this excited me so much.

He gave me a beaming smile. "All right."

We gave the man our tickets and all hopped on the carousel. Alice and Jasper sat on horses in front of the stationary carriage that Edward and I sat on with Claire.

I snuggled into Edward and felt his arm squeeze me tightly. I looked up and noticed Alice had her camera out, taking pictures of us.

After walking around the plaza some more, we walked the few blocks back over to the Arno. I gasped at the sight in front of me. The lights from the street twinkled and danced across the water. It looked nothing like the dirty river I'd seen in the daylight.

We got back to the hotel and Edward went over to the front desk. I started to walk to the stairs, but stopped when I noticed he wasn't with me anymore.

"Go on up, love. I'll be right there."

I silently turned and made the way reluctantly to our suite. As soon as I walked in the door, I went into the bedroom and collapsed on the bed. Walking around all day was exhausting.

I didn't realize Edward had come up to the room until I felt the bed shift with his weight as he sat down on it.

"Come on, Bella. Let's get you in the bath. It will help relax your muscles."

"Only if you come with me," I mumbled into the comforter.

"You don't have to ask me twice. Getting a chance to see you naked is something I could never pass up."

I laughed and let him carry me into the bathroom. I was too tired to protest. He gently put me down and it was then I took notice of what he had done.

The bath was already ran, sending the scent of lavender in the air. There were pale pink rose petals floating in the water and the only light in the room was the dozens of candles that lined the tub.

"No wonder you weren't going to argue with me," I said with a giggle.

"I wasn't expecting to get lucky. I just wanted to make sure you were pampered a little since we did so much walking today." He pulled his shirt off. "Now, do you want the bath or not? Because if you do, you need to get undressed."

I stood there and watched his extraordinary body as he got in the water. Once he was submerged, I tied my hair up in a knot, stripped out of the rest of my clothes, and joined him, sighing as the calming, hot water met my tired legs and feet.

"This was really thoughtful," I said, breaking the silence.

"Thanks." He grabbed the sponge, getting it wet with water, and ran it across my back. I moaned softly. "Feel good?" I felt his lips press against my neck, sending chills down my spine.

"Yes."

He continued to run the sponge across the exposed areas of my body, occasionally kissing me or skimming his fingers across my skin. I could feel my body heat up with his touch and I found myself wishing he would move those clever fingers elsewhere.

After a while, he rung out the sponge and put it back on the ledge of the tub. "I'm getting a little hot." He held up his hand. "And I'm all wrinkled up. Want to get out?"

"Sure." I went to get out but he held me in place.

"Don't get dressed. Just go to the bed."

I felt the anticipation rush through my body. I didn't trust my voice, so I merely nodded.

I sat there with the towel wrapped around me while Edward took care of everything in the bathroom. He came out, completely naked, and I bit my lip anxiously. He grabbed a bottle of my lotion off the dresser and walked over to the bed.

"Lay on your stomach and give me your feet." I did as instructed. "And for God's sake, take off that towel."

I laughed a little and unwrapped the towel from my body. "Is this better?" I asked, looking over my shoulder at him.

He raked his eyes over my body, causing me to blush. "Much."

He opened the bottle and put a huge blob of lotion in his palm, rubbed his hands together, and then started massaging my foot. I groaned loudly, to my embarrassment. He cocked his eyebrow at me and I shrugged before I laid my head down. My feet no longer ached, but they were still sore to the touch.

He worked on my feet, then moved his hands slowly up my legs, gently working all the knots out as he did. He got to my ass and I felt him linger there for a while before sliding his hands over the small of my back.

I felt his body shift so that he was kneeling over me as he continued to work up my back. He got to my shoulders and moved his knee so that it was in between my legs. I could feel his erection lightly graze my ass as he leaned over me and focused on my neck. I could feel my entire body flush, getting hotter and hotter, each time he brushed up against me. It was pure torture.

When he was finally done, he moved back down my back, cupping my ass gently in his hands, before he slid one hand in between my thighs. He ran his fingers lightly up and down my slit while he brushed his lips across the back of my neck, moving down my shoulder. His hand ran back down my thigh, where he pushed it out and moved himself in between my legs.

I felt the tip of him just at my entrance as his hands continued to glide across my body. His tongue ran across my neck and I felt his hot breath on my ear, causing me to shiver involuntarily.

"I would continue the foreplay, but I believe we've had enough for the evening."

I moaned, which he thankfully interpreted to be a yes, and felt him glide himself into me. He moved in and out as I laid there, feeling his hands and mouth trail across my back. After a while, he moved my leg back so that they were together again. He cupped my ass and I wanted to raise up and push back against him as he continued to thrust into me, hitting my g-spot with perfect accuracy.

He felt me tense up and moved back to my ear. "Relax, love. Just let me take you."

I gripped the sheets as I felt my body tightening up. "God, Edward. This feels so good."

"I know," he whispered.

"Ugh," I groaned, unable to form a response. I was so close.

I felt him shift slightly as he pushed back into me and I pulled on the sheets, ripping them off the bed, as I came hard. I could hear myself let out some sort of a strangled moan, muffled by the bed, but didn't have time to dwell on it since Edward's hands had grabbed my hips and pulled me up so that I was on my hands and knees.

He drove himself deep into me and I heard the slap our bodies made as Edward pulled me onto him, harder and harder each time. It wasn't long before I was on the edge again, just waiting for release.

Edward seemed to sense it and I felt his hand moved down my body and around my waist, so that his fingers gently grazed my clit, finally pushing me over the edge. I felt my walls ripple around him as he thrust into me, one last time, chanting my name as he came with me.

******************************

Edward

I woke up and quietly slipped out of Bella's firm grip and then headed to the bathroom to brush my teeth and take a quick shower. I had a lot of things I needed to get done this morning, hopefully before Bella woke up. We had one last afternoon in Tuscany before we were scheduled to leave for Fiji.

I slipped out of the room, silently closing the bedroom door, and went downstairs to the front desk. I had spoken to the owners the night before about bringing a Christmas tree into the room so that Bella and I could celebrate Christmas with our daughter.

I found Ali and Jazz sitting in the lobby with Claire. After Alice finished feeding her, she put Claire in her carrier and followed Jasper and I upstairs with the tree.

We got the tree set up and Alice decorated it while Jasper and I started a fire in the fireplace. Alice came over and hung stockings that she had bought the day before on the mantle before shooing me out the door so that she could finish putting gifts under the tree for Claire without me 'hovering'.

I went downstairs and into the kitchen and helped out with breakfast. We made cappuccinos, eggs, and sausage, and put brioche, croissants, and juice on the trays before carrying them all upstairs. Alice and Jasper dug in almost as soon as I walked away. I couldn't help but laugh at the vultures.

I got Bella's gift out of my suitcase and put it under the tree. I then took Claire out of her carrier, taking her with me, as I nervously walked into the bedroom. Bella was still asleep, face down in the pillow with her hair covering her up.

I moved the hair out of her face and softly stroked her cheek before placing a light kiss on her temple.

"Love?"

She stirred. "Edward?"

"Merry Christmas," I said quietly.

"Mmm. Merry Christmas to you, too."

I smiled. "I've got breakfast if you're hungry."

She opened her eyes and looked at me, yawning. "What time is it?"

"It's a little after eight."

Her eyes darted over to Claire and her face broke out into a wide smile. She sat up and stretched and I had to bite back a moan as I took in her naked body. She pulled the sheet back up and motioned for me to hand her Claire. I sat there watching her coo and talk to our daughter for a while before she finally gave her back to me and went to get dressed. It suddenly dawned on me how much of an amazing mother Bella was.

After she was dressed, I put my hand on the small of her back, and led her out of the bedroom. As soon as she walked out the door, she abruptly stopped and I could have sworn I heard a slight gasp come out of her mouth.

"We have a tree!" She looked over at the fireplace. "And stockings!"

"We may be on our honeymoon, but I wasn't going to let Christmas pass us by without doing something to celebrate it."

"Merry Christmas, Bells!" Alice sang out from the table.

"Merry Christmas, guys." I could see the happiness in her eyes.

Her teary eyes ran across the room, stopping again at the tree. Her expression swiftly changed to annoyance, and I knew she saw the gifts.

"I thought we agreed not to get anything for each other this year since we just exchanged wedding gifts ten days ago." Her eyes were fierce and her hands were on her hips.

Like I cared. I may allow her hatred of gifts and surprises keep me from doing things for her on a daily basis, but it wasn't going to stop me from celebrating the holidays with her.

"Well, I thought of something you needed so I got it for you." I walked over to the table. "It's not a big deal. Besides, most of them are for Claire." I said nonchalantly, hoping she would drop it.

She went to sit in one of the empty chairs, talking cheerfully with Alice and Jasper but never said anything else to me. Shit. I was seriously beginning to regret my actions this morning. I didn't want to ruin our last day in Italy over a stupid fucking present.

"Are you mad?" I asked, clearing up the table.

Alice and Jasper were sitting on the floor watching Claire try to figure out how to hold a toy.

"No." She didn't move.

"Then what's wrong?"

"I feel like an ass." I looked at her questioningly and I noticed her eyes were watery. I had to bite back a groan. I felt like such a dick. "I honestly thought you wouldn't get me anything so I didn't buy you anything."

"I don't want anything. I already got you--ten days ago."

She gave me a slight smile while she blushed. "Edward..."

I pulled her out of the chair and hugged her to me. "I honestly didn't plan on buying you something. It's not romantic or special in any way. It's practical." I leaned back held up my hand. "Scout's honor. Just don't be upset. I hate to see you cry." I stared into her beautiful brown eyes. "Please?"

"Okay," she relented.

I sighed in relief and placed a quick kiss on her lips. We walked over and all started pulling our presents out from under the tree, laughing and talking about our trip and our families and friends back home. I let Bella open up all of Claire's gifts before finally handing her the present I bought her.

She opened it up and smiled at the new laptop I'd given her. Hers was on the verge of crashing.

"I had all of your work transferred over to this computer. Everything's already set up for you. All you have to do is finish where you left off." She had a ton of book ideas and little excerpts written for future stories already.

"Thank you. It's great."

I scrutinized her face to see if she was still upset. Thankfully, I saw nothing marring her beautiful smile.

******************************

Denarau Island was gorgeous. Well, the little bit I saw of it, anyway. We'd been there for two days and I'd barely let Bella out of our bed. I wasn't lying when I said I planned to keep her in the bedroom for the four days we were here.

I watched Bella walk across the room, bending over to pick up her robe.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

She turned around and frowned. "I'm getting dressed." She dropped her eyes at the robe in her hand. "Well, sort of."

"I don't think so. Nakedness is required at all times in this room. Those are the rules." I smirked at her.

"Are these purported rules posted somewhere, Edward?"

"Yes, they are." She raised her eyebrows at me. "They're right here." I pointed underneath the covers. "But you have to come over here to see them. There's some fine print involved."

She laughed loudly, one of my favorite sounds in the world, as she came over and straddled me. She leaned down and kissed me, sliding her tongue in my mouth, and I couldn't help but groan as all the blood in my body worked its way to my dick.

"Hmm. Ready again so soon?" Now it was her turn to smirk.

She wiggled her hips against me and I threw her off to the side, rolling on top of her and rubbing my dick along her slit.

I felt her immediate response. "I am. And so are you."

******************************

We finally made our way out to the private beach that surrounded our villa the next day at Bella's insistence. I was perfectly content to stay in the room and have sex with her until it was time to go back home, but apparently my wife had other plans.

We set ourselves up under the umbrella and slapped sunscreen all over each other. We laid there, relaxing, listening to my iPod for a couple hours before I felt Bella shift in the chaise beside me. I looked over to see her sitting up.

"I'm hot."

"Want to take a swim?"

She nodded. "Yes."

We waded out into the crystal clear water until Bella could no longer touch. I pulled her into my arms and felt her legs wrap around my waist. I looked around and smiled back down at her.

"You know, there's no one out here but us."

She closed her eyes. "I know. It's so peaceful."

Not exactly what I was thinking. "Yeah, it is. Want to make it a little less peaceful?"

I worked my hand down the seam of her black bikini bottoms and slowly lifted them up, barely stroking the skin underneath.

She opened one eye and looked at me. "Haven't you had enough yet?" I looked at her, puzzled. "How many times have we had sex in the last couple of days?" She was smiling at me, so I knew she was joking.

I shrugged my shoulders. " I lost count." I heard her laugh and I grinned. "Now, are you going to keep talking through this?"

I moved my hand further into her bottoms and plunged my finger inside her, running my thumb across her clit at the same time. I watched her bite her lip, moaning softly as I pulled my finger in and out slowly.

"You can be as loud as you want, love." Her eyes met mine and I added another finger, curling them inwards and hearing her quick intake of breath.

I continued to move my fingers in and out her, speeding up slowly as her moans continuously got louder and louder. I circled her clit with my thumb and felt her hips buck upwards as she came loudly.

As soon as her muscles stopped spasming around my fingers, I quickly pulled my now aching dick from my trunks and pushed her bottoms further to the side, thrusting roughly into her.

"Fuck," I groaned, pulling back and slamming back in to her.

I trailed kisses all over her neck and collarbone, occasionally coming back to her perfect mouth, as I continued my motions down below, my hands directing her hips up and down my dick while her heels dug into my ass. I listened to the water slosh between our bodies, trying not to come as Bella's legs tightened up around me.

"Edward!" she cried. Her brows were knit and her lips was pulled between her teeth again.

"Come with me?" I grunted, parting her lips with mine one last time before I completely lost it.

I yelled out her name breathlessly as I released inside her. She let out a low moan as she came with me, twitching slightly as her body convulsed around me.

My breathing was heavy but I managed to kiss her softly, running my nose against hers. "I love you, Isabella."

"I love you, Edward."

******************************

"Got everything, love?"

Our flight back to Seattle left in three hours.

"Yeah, I think so." She looked around the villa one last time and then followed me out the door.

We got to the airport and checked our baggage. I grabbed Bella a bottle of water and an apple and gave it to her as she stepped out of the bathroom. She devoured it before we made it to the gate.

"Were you hungry?"

She nodded--her mouth was still full of the apple. She held up her finger for me to wait. "Sorry," she said sheepishly. "I didn't grab anything before we left the villa."

"That was my fault. I shouldn't have rushed you."

She waved me off. "It's fine." Something caught her eye and she pointed over towards the corner of the terminal. "Uh, Edward?"

I looked over to see a photographer watching us. I rolled my eyes. I wonder how long they'd been following us. "Ignore him. He can't come on the flight with us. And if he is, I plan on sleeping. Wouldn't be cover-worthy."

She rested her head on my shoulder and closed her eyes. "Think it's going to get worse after my book tour?"

I exhaled loudly. "I don't know. So far, it hasn't been bad. I've caught a few photographers following me in the last month, but they're not hounding us." I wrapped my arm around her. "Even if it does, what did I tell you?"

"You'll move us to Tibet."

"Exactly. I would never let anything happen to you or Claire."

We got on the plane and got situated for the twenty-plus hours of travel time ahead of us. Luckily, the photographer didn't board the plane.

Before I knew it, both of us had fallen asleep.

We stepped in the door of our home back in Seattle late the next night. I flicked on the lights and took the suitcases to the bedroom, hearing Bella's light footsteps behind me. We undressed and brushed our teeth before collapsing on the bed in exhaustion. Two weeks of non-stop traveling and sex had finally taken its toll on us.

We had tomorrow to ourselves and then it was back to the real world. Charlie was bringing Claire home in the morning and in all honesty, I couldn't wait to just sit back and relax with my two favorite girls.

I pulled Bella into my arms and breathed in her wonderful scent. If someone had told me when I moved to Seattle that, in less than two years, I would be married to a woman that surpassed anything I could have ever dreamed up on my own, that I would have a beautiful four-month-old little girl, be head of the Trauma Department at the hospital where I worked, one of the founders of the most rapidly growing charity organization to date, and on People's Fifty Most Beautiful People list, I would have had them committed in a nanosecond.

My life with Bella was just beginning. There were a million things that were stacked up against us, threatening to pull us apart: the hospital, my work with the foundation, Bella's writing and book tour, our lives as parents, being thrown into the celebrity world. But none of it mattered right now. I wasn't delusional, I knew things wouldn't always be easy for us, but there was never any doubt in my mind that no matter what the world threw at us, Bella and I would always be together. She and I were nothing without each other, and I would spend the rest of my life trying to prove myself worthy of the beautiful angel sleeping in my arms.

So I'm getting ready to start the epilogue after I post my update for Summer Nights. I know exactly what I want to say and I don't want to lose it!! Anyways, after I post the epilogue, I'll probably give myself a little break (like a week?) before I start on the sequel. Which reminds me, I need a name for that sucker! Any suggestions???

I'm also seriously considering posting a reworked version of this on Twilighted...