Tell me that you'll love me forever
Or go without another word
With our hands holding tight together
Out into the new world
And you're standing on the edge of something
Tell me I was right to care
Well you know that I'm in love with you
Stepping out into the thin air

"Thin Air"
~Aqualung~

I rounded the corner and groaned. Alice was currently digging through the fridge in her bathrobe and pink kitten slippers. Jasper was at the stove flipping pancakes, his hair pulled back in an elastic band at the back of his neck, in pajama pants and an old Smiths tshirt. Thankfully Edward was on his way and would be arriving in a few hours for our trip to see his parents. I would do just about anything to get rid of these two love birds at this point.

"Morning roomies." I grumbled as I poured a large cup of coffee.

"Morning!" Alice's voice trilled across the room while Michael Buble crooned over the small speakers about it being Christmas time.

I grabbed three plates, napkins and forks along with my coffee and set the table before sitting down myself and breathing in deeply.

"You excited to go home with Edward?" Alice sat next to me grinning.

My shoulders bobbled up and down. "I'm excited to be with him."

Just not so excited to do the parental meet and greet. It's not that parents or adults intimidated me, but this was Edward's parents; the two people who loved him more than anyone and anything in the world; who would protect him to the bitter end. I just didn't want them to think I was a money grubbing fame whore who was looking for an 'in' somewhere. I shook my head and stared into my coffee mug. Not only that, but I certainly was harsh about him when we first met. I'm sure his parents know all about the mouthy nature of their son's... girlfriend? For some reason that word just didn't feel right to describe our relationship.

We were Bird and Dur. Edward and Bella.

I was pulled from my thoughts when Jasper stood over me at the table.

"His parents are awesome, Bella." Jasper scooped three pancakes onto my plate. "They really are down to earth, nice people. Esme is going to love you."

"Oh right. I'm certain his mother is going to love the girl who called him names and thought he was a total dork." Alice reached over and poured a healthy heaping of maple syrup on top of my pancakes.

"Shut up, Bella!" Her eyes met mine from across the table. "She's going to love you because you treat him like a normal guy. You call him out on his shit, you don't make a big deal over what he does, you genuinely like him for who he is."

"She's right." Jasper nodded and shoveled another mouthful of food. "Esme and Carlisle are going to love you just the way you are. Stop freaking out and eat."

"Yes, Sir!" I saluted him and ate my breakfast.

...

Dur - Be there soon, Bird.

Bird - Just got out of the shower, I'm packed and ready to go.

Dur - Wish I was there already.

Bird - Me too. ;P

Dur - I'll give you something to lick.

Bird - I bet you will.

The blow dryer blasted to life and my fingers snagged in the wet tangles of my hair as I tried desperately to work faster.

"Mother of pearl!" I yanked a brush through the damp mess and grabbed for my tooth brush, scrubbing my teeth at the same time. Toothpaste foamed in the corners of my mouth making me look like a rabid animal.

Fifteen minutes later I had dried off and packed the rest of my toiletries and was on my way back to my room to get dressed.

Flinging open the bedroom door I absently tossed my bag at my rumpled bed as I made my way to the closet.

"I expected perhaps a greeting a tad sweeter than that, but I guess it will have to do."

Clutching my chest I turned at the sound of his low accented voice and inhaled deeply. He was here. It felt like ages since I'd last seen him and here he was, looking one hundred percent edible, holding the bag that I had tossed at my bed.

"Hey." My heart stuttered in his presence. "Hope I didn't hurt you with my bag."

Edward stood, leaving my toiletries behind. Warm, firm lips met mine; his mouth possessed mine so swiftly I was left to catch up. Blunt teeth bit into my lower lip, his tongue soothing the sting as I slowly spiraled into oblivion. My fingers found themselves nestled deep in the soft strands of his hair tugging him impossibly closer.

"Not hurt." His voice whispered low against my mouth.

His body was hard and unyielding, burning against my skin. I ached to feel his bare skin against mine. Edward's fingers ran down the side of my neck curling and holding me to him.

"I've missed this." His lips moved over my jaw, voice deep and rough. "A lot."

His dark eyes met mine again briefly before his grip at the back of my neck and hip loosened.

"I should probably stop before we miss our flight."

I heaved in a tight breath, extracting myself from his gloriously hard body; my nerves were already a mess.

"A missed flight isn't the end of the world, Edward."

"Don't tell me you're nervous to meet my parents, Bird."

He obviously was able to read me better than I thought.

"Not so much nervous about meeting them, so much as worried they are going to think I'm some sort of fame floozy out to make a buck."

Edward's laughter filled the room, his eyes sparkled with humor.

"Have no fear, Bird; they think nothing of the sort. I promise." His hands cupped my face and he smiled softly. "Do you really think so little of me that you would assume I'd bring home a fame floozy to my mother?"

I opened my mouth to respond, but his thumb pressed over my lips silencing me.

"Trust me, Bella, because I trust you. And I know that my parents are going to love you. My mother can hardly wait to meet you as is." His thumb ran over my lower lip. "You have nothing to worry about and if you feel uncomfortable, we can go rent a hotel room and you can be my floozy." Edward winked and I punched him in the arm.

"You wish."

xEx

"I really hate takeoff and landing."

"It's okay, Bella." My hand was hating takeoff at the moment, but I let her squeeze and watched her profile carefully. Seeing her so vulnerable, with her walls down, blew me away. My Bird was always so certain, so strong and bullheaded, I rather enjoyed the fact that I was someone who would be allowed to see her so soft.

"When does this shit level off?" Bella had closed her eyes, though she faced forward in the large leather, first class seat. "It always feels like it takes for-fucking-ever." The bridge of her nose wrinkled slightly, her lips turned down.

"Give it another five minutes, it'll level out." My thumb ran over the soft skin of her knuckles. "I had no idea you didn't enjoy flying, Bella."

She turned her face toward me and rolled her eyes.

"Just because I did it for you, doesn't mean I like it."

"Ahhhhhh, I see. So you were just so enamored by me, you couldn't stay away, even if it meant having to fly."

This earned me a small smile and a snort.

"All you celebrities are the same; think you're hot shit."

"Awwww, but you love me." I smiled down at her upturned face; my lips touched her forehead quickly.

"You should be proud, you know." Her smile growing, "You use your boyish charm for evil."

"Boyish charm? I'll have you know I am all man, sweetheart." I allowed my fingers to trace the soft skin of her jaw down the side of her neck, leaning closer I whispered low, so as not to strike the interest of fellow passengers, "If you need a reminder, there is a small room with a lock on it a few rows up."

Bella's lips parted, her pulse jumped near her throat. She stared up at me, her dark eyes shimmering; I watched her teeth burrow into the soft flesh of her bottom lip. I attempted to suppress the groan that built in my chest; it came out as a quiet grumble.

"You, my darling Bird, are just as evil."

xBx

Meeting Edward's parents was a lot less stressful than I thought it would be. Jasper was right, apparently they already loved me.

"Bella! You are just ravishing!" Edward's mom swept me up into her arms straight off the front porch. "Edward, don't you dare mess this up. She's a keeper, I can tell." Esme winked at me and I blushed. She and Edward had matching hair color; it was quite interesting that the odd shade passed on to him so identically.

Her eyes though were more hazel than the true green of his; they were warm and inviting holding just a touch of mischief in their depths.

"Come now, let the kids inside, they must be freezing." From behind Esme came a soothing voice, not as deep as Edward's, but with the same English lilt. Carlisle's hair was blonde and cut short, his eyes were a bright blue and surrounded by smile lines. To say he was handsome would be an understatement. Edward definitely got his looks from his dad; And the fact that I checked him out sort of made me feel just a little bit dirty, but there was no denying it, the man was hot.

...

Edward rolled over in bed later that night, the soft light from the window fell across his face and shoulder.

"So, my parents adore you."

I shrugged silently. "What's not to adore?"

Edward's low chuckle curled my toes under the sheets.

"I fear they may try to steal you from me, Bird." He walked his fingers over my ribs causing me to squirm and laugh.

"No one is stealing me from you, Dur."

"Damn straight they're not." His voice growled as he tucked me beneath his warm body; his thigh pushed between my legs and he stared down at me before slowly capturing my lips with his.

...

"Bella dear, would you like me to top off your mug?" Esme smiled at me from across the open kitchen.

"That would be awesome. Thanks."

Esme and I were having some girl time while Edward and his dad looked over a few contracts for some upcoming work Edward had over the next year. Apparently he was going to be spending a lot of time overseas working if he decided to take the three movies that had been offered to him. I tried not to make a big deal about him being so far away, but inside my guts were going haywire. How the fuck was that going to work for us? I couldn't just up and leave for weeks on end and neither could he. I decided that taking a deep breath and not worrying was probably the best thing I could do at this point. It's not like we had pledged our lives to each other, hell, we'd only known each other a few months and his lifestyle definitely wasn't conducive to long-term relationships.

"Do you need an aspirin, dear?"

Esme's voice was that of the concerned mother. I'd been rubbing at my temples in a bid to get my brain to slow.

"Oh, no." I shook my head. "Just thinking."

She beamed and sat across from me at the large wooden dining table. "About Edward, I assume?"

"Yeh, I guess, kind of."

"You are worried about him being gone." She stated it as fact, not a question.

Raising an eyebrow in her direction I shrugged.

"I don't think it's my business to be too worried about it. We certainly haven't made any huge life commitment to each other."

My horrible non-filtered conversations were almost embarrassing.

"I'm not trying to sound like an unconcerned bitch. I promise. I just don't know why I worry, or if I even need to, if you know what I mean?"

Esme just nodded, her head tilted in concern.

"Look, Bella, I can't completely understand where you're coming from, I've never been there, but I can empathize with your feelings. It's hard to know where you fit in sometimes in Edward's world. Not so much with him per-say, but with the life that revolves around him. He's got so many people telling him what to do, what to say, when to eat, what to eat and who to be photographed with, it makes life seem not so real. And he'll be the first to admit that it's insane. That he feels overwhelmed at times. But he does love his career choice. Would he be willing to slow down on the workload right now? I don't know. And I am not saying that to sound harsh, you should know that Carlisle and I rather enjoy you and think you are exactly the perfect woman for our son. Edward cares very deeply for you, Bella, we can both see it and you have made him so happy. He practically beams when he speaks of you."

I could feel the heat of a blush staining my cheeks. It blew my mind that Edward had talked about me to his parents so much. I'd hardly spoken to my mom about him; every time his name came up she got all star-crossed-lovers-mushy.

"So! How do you feel about cookies, Bella?" My entire brain blinked at her topic change.

"Uhhhmm, I like them?"

Esme's laugh filled the kitchen and her eyes dazzled.

"Edward said that you own a little coffee and bakery back home. Would you do me the biggest favor and help me bake up some sugar cookies? They are Edward's favorite, especially around Christmas time. And if you're up to it, maybe you'd be willing to help decorate a few?"

"I'd love to, Esme." I filed away the sugar cookie info for the future and followed Esme back to the kitchen where she proceeded to dig out here mixer and ingredients.

….

We were both laughing hysterically about the cookies we'd made when the guys joined us.

"Well this is something I could get used to." Carlisle was leaning against the door frame at the kitchen, Edward walked around him toward the cookies on the counter. "Two beautiful women enjoying themselves couldn't ask for much more."

Edward burst out laughing when he saw our cookies.

"The empty bottle and a half of wine must have a little bit to do with this." He held up the one I'd made to show his dad causing Esme and I to laugh even harder.

"Very interesting choice in shape, ladies. Santa will definitely be surprised."

We had each made a penis shaped cookie, complete with icing and sprinkles. They were quite magnificent if I do say so myself.

Edward's arm snaked around my waist. "Mind if I steal Bella away for a few hours, I was going to take her out for the evening."

"No. You two go and enjoy yourselves."

Both Carlisle and Esme were smiling when we left the kitchen.

xEx

Penis shaped cookies. My mother and my girlfriend were making penis shaped cookies together at Christmas time. I couldn't help but laugh to myself as I pulled a sweater on over my head.

After spending a few hours with my dad talking over a few opportunities that had been passed my way to film overseas, I'd decided it was time to take a break and enjoy some holiday fun with Bella. I'd left her with my mom in hopes that she'd become more comfortable. Leave it to Bird to bring out the hidden kinky side of my mother. I was certain my father would appreciate it as soon as were out of the house.

"This okay?" Bella walked into the room from the bath and stood with her hands on denim clad hips.

"Perfection." Her long hair was pulled back in an elastic tie; the long waves tumbled over one shoulder, the black sweater she wore clung to every one of her sweet curves.

"Okay, so now will you tell me what we're doing?" Her smile nearly tripped me up.

"No way. But you need to grab a scarf and gloves."

Bella's eyebrows rose and then dipped as she rolled her eyes at me.

"I promise you a brilliant time tonight, Bird."

A/N

Sorry for the delay friends. We've just made a move to a new country and have been hotel living for a month with very shotty internet. Unfortunately, it's not going to get any better for a little while. I will be completely without internet for at least a week or so starting this week. I promise you I will work as hard as I can on Bird and Dur's story while I am w/o internet and come back full force ASAP.
Sending you all love and giant amounts of gratitude for staying with me.
QoH