A/N: It seems some of you don't like the alternate POVs. No worries, we're back to Bella, now.

Bella's POV

I really loved spending the day with my new family. Well, most of them. But I loved even more coming home to my Edward.

I had a really weird ache in my chest the entire time we were away from the house, and Edward was never out of my thoughts. Was this normal? I had never been in love before, and I wondered if everyone felt like a piece of them was missing when they were away from the one they loved. It wasn't horrible, and it wasn't unbearable, and it went away the second I was back in Edward's arms. Maybe I'd ask him about it; see if he had the same issue. Or maybe not. I didn't want to come across as a needy, clingy girlfriend, and I most definitely didn't want to embarrass myself.

I did find it incredibly adorable that the second we pulled up into the garage, Edward had my door open, and had pulled me into his embrace. His kiss felt rather urgent as well. When he finally let me up for air, I gasped, "Did you miss me a little bit, babe?"

He held his thumb and index finger mere millimeters apart, directly in front of my eyes, then he wrapped that hand around the back of my neck, under my hair, kissing me breathless again.

If this was the kind of greeting I'd get upon my return, maybe I'd leave more often.

Nah.

My sisters had already departed with their mates, so I assumed we were alone. I wrapped my legs around his waist and gripped two handfuls of his hair.

"Ahem."

Esme. That poor woman must think I'm a tart. I yanked my lips from Edward's immediately and dropped my feet to the floor.

"Edward, dear, please peel yourself off of my daughter for a moment and take her bags to your room. You should ask her for a fashion show later," Esme smirked.

I looked at Esme in shock, "Mom!"

She just laughed as I blushed. I bought one blouse, one pair of jeans, and a ton of underthings and sexy sleep ware. She wanted me to model that?

Edward's eyes widened at whatever Esme was thinking. He gave me that delicious, crooked grin, and then his mouth dropped open. He took my bags and zipped away, clearly uncomfortable, and I turned to Esme, "You, mother dear, are an enabler. You showed him something naughty, didn't you?"

Her eyes were actually twinkling, "Oh, he needs to be moved out of his comfort zone, wouldn't you agree? He's been there for nearly a century. I merely showed him my memory of us shopping... at that lingerie shop." She smiled wickedly.

I flushed even redder, "He is... rather old-fashioned."

"Don't give up on him, sweetheart. He's worth the effort," she smiled and put her arm around me, leading us toward the house. "I know he's going to insist on no sex before you're married, but there's no rule that says you can't have a little bit of fun any way."

"I know." I also knew that I was smiling like a goof, but I was just so damned happy.

I was hoping that the question wouldn't be long in coming, or that he'd want a lengthy engagement. I didn't want to spontaneously combust.

But then again, he may never ask me. Damned Rosalie!

~O~

For dinner, we made my Gram's stroganoff recipe, with fresh steamed broccoli as a side. Esme was so into it that she demanded we make the egg noodles from scratch. A woman after my own heart. Plus, she was so adorable with flour in her hair.

After I ate, I volunteered to drive the dinners down to the Hersheizers, and collect the plates from the night before so Esme could get a shower. Carlisle had just arrived home from his shift at the hospital, and he hinted that he'd like to 'help' her get cleaned up. They were so cute! I hoped Edward and I could be so affectionate after being together for eighty-five years.

I shooed them off, and used Edward's Volvo for the trip. He was deep into a video game with his brothers, so I didn't want to bother him, just a quick kiss on the cheek and a murmured "Be right back, babe." I know he missed 'brother time' when he was touring.

I was beginning to enjoy sitting with the Hersheizers while they ate. Mrs. Hersheizer was so much like my Gram, and Mr. Hersheizer was an adorable little flirt. I was sure he had a thing for Esme, and why not? She was lovely, both inside and out.

Mrs Hersheizer sent me home with a newly potted freesia. She said they would bloom purple, and that they reminded her of me. I was deeply touched.

Tonight I was a bit eager to get back. A whole day without Edward, and I was almost shaky with the need to be in his arms. That hollow ache was back, along with a tugging sensation that was not at all pleasant. I said my good nights to my elderly friends and hopped back in the Volvo.

Living out here in the middle of nowhere was so much different than my life in New York, but not in a bad way. I was considering the purchase of a vehicle for the first time, which was a necessity. Nothing was within walking distance, and no cabs could be easily hailed outside your front door. Of course Edward was more than happy to have me drive his car, but I was independent enough to want my own. Luckily, Gram had made sure I learned to drive, and I had played chauffeur in the rental cars, when we took trips.

Something else to discuss with Edward, along with the changing thing. Surely he'd talked with his father by now. I felt a tiny kernel of unease that he had put me off. Was he going to turn me, or was Rosalie right?

Back at the spa, she had actually initiated a conversation with me. To say I was surprised was an understatement. Until I heard what she wanted to talk about.

"So, Bella, how are you liking Washington?" she said casually.

"I grew up here, so it's a bit like coming home, except I'm living way out on the peninsula. But Seattle is like home."

"How nice. So has Edward discussed changing you?"

Okay, I guess Rosalie doesn't beat around the bush. I didn't feel it necessary to spill my guts about the tiny sliver of discussion we'd had about it, "Not really."

"Oh, that's a shame. I would have assumed he'd be champing at the bit to get you changed." Was she smirking?

"Why would you assume that?"

"Well, he thinks you're his mate. When I found my Emmett, I couldn't wait for him to be changed. I ran over 100 miles with him, to get him home so father could change him. I wanted to start our life together as soon as possible."

"I see. Perhaps Edward wants to wait a bit first," I said, uncertainly.

"Hmm, perhaps. I just find it odd that he's leaving you human. True mates would want to be together for eternity. But maybe you're right," she finished with a sly smile.

I know I shouldn't have let her plant that seed of doubt, but there it was. Why was Edward stalling?

He was waiting for me in the garage when I pulled in. It was just getting dark, so of course he would be anxious, because he's Edward. He snatched the door open before I could even turn the car off. I pushed the clean plates and the potted plant into his hands before he could snatch me out of the car again. Not that I minded being kissed senseless, I just wanted to check for Esme first. She was like a Ninja mom.

Seeing him, feeling whole again made me change my mind again; I needed to know about the tugging, hollow ache.

"I missed you, love," he smiled at me.

I smiled back, "I missed you, too. Which reminds me, I have something I want to ask you about." We walked up the stairs into the house, holding hands.

"Let's go out to the river. The fireflies are just coming out, and the moon is getting bigger. It should be lovely out there tonight."

We dropped off the plates in the kitchen and continued out to our niche, leaving the plant on the back deck. Once he had me settled against his side, with his arms around me, he took some time to reacquaint himself with my lips.

I did not complain.

Once my lips were puffy from his kisses, and my mouth tingled from the taste of his venom, he pulled back to let me catch my breath. "You wanted to ask me something, love?" he grinned.

"You're the devil. Get me all worked up, and then you want to talk," I scowled.

"I couldn't help myself, darling girlfriend. I need your kisses to survive, and you were gone all day. I nearly perished," he said dramatically.

I rolled my eyes, "Boyfriend, you are so full of bull-" he cut me off with another kiss.

"I'm full of love for you, Bella. Never forget that," he said, seriously.

"I love you, Edward. Completely. I don't think I can live without you any more." I confessed.

"You never have to, my love." He ghosted a kiss over my lips, "You are my reason to exist."

"Flatterer," I breathed, kissing him back. "Oh! I almost forgot. I'd like to go into Seattle soon and buy a car. I've never owned one, and it will be a bit of a thrill for me."

"Love, you don't have to go anywhere. You can pick out whatever you'd like, and I'll have it delivered here," he smiled at me indulgently.

I jutted out my chin, "Oh no. No way. I'm buying my own car, and I want to go to the lot, test drive, and pick out all the options. I've never done that before, and I'm a bit excited at the prospect."

"As you wish, love," he placed a hand to his chest, as if I wounded him.

I only rolled my eyes a little bit, "Which reminds me of something else I wanted to ask you; how do you... feel, when I'm... not around?" I ducked my head.

He touched my chin to bring my eyes back to his, "What do you mean, Bella? Do I miss you? Without a doubt."

"No, not that. I mean... well... today, in Seattle... all day... I...um..."

"What is it, love? You're starting to worry me."

"Oh, no, nothing bad. It's just... my chest ached all day, and I couldn't stop thinking about you. I actually tried not to think of you, as an experiment, and I was completely unable to. Is that normal?"

He looked at me, stunned, "An ache? Was there a tugging feeling as well?"

"Yes! Exactly!" Did he feel it too?

"Bella, what you are feeling is- I can't believe this. Love, that is the mate bond we share. I didn't know you would feel it, as a human. And we've not consummated... this is astounding!"

"So, this isn't a normal 'in love' thing?"

He laughed, clearly delighted, "No, sweet girl, it's a vampire thing. Although I've never heard of a human experiencing it. Dad is going to be fascinated."

"But what does it mean?" I pressed, frustrated.

"It means we are meant to be together, my Bella. It means you are, without a doubt, my mate."

If I was his mate, why hadn't he changed me yet? I bit my tongue, not ready to ask the question, afraid of the answer. I had agreed to let him talk to his father. I'd just have to be patient, and hope that he had a plan of sorts in place.

Rosalie couldn't be right. I was his mate, he said so. She was wrong.

She had to be.

E/N: Ah, Rosalie. Troublemaker much?

So I have a competition going with a friend, a race to 1,000 reviews. I'm going to lose dismally, unless you help me out! Please, won't you help?

And NO, Jess, it's NOT cheating! I need all the help I can get!