A/N - Thanks for all of your reviews, alerts and favorites! You are all the ultimate motivators! Here's the next fluffy, sweet chapter. Enjoy!

Chapter 36 - Safety from the Storm

We had passed a Super 8 Motel on the way to the gas station, so we figured we would just head back there for the night. I slipped our convenience store bag and my purse over my arm, took a slushee in each hand and waited for Edward to get his guitar from the trunk. He opened my door and I got out under the safety of the umbrella. We walked into the lobby and up to the desk.

"Hey, can we get a room for tonight, please?" Edward asked the clerk behind the desk. She had short, chin length, black hair and beautiful dark eyes. Her name tag said Leah. She was professional to us, but not overtly friendly.

"Yes, but I'm going to have to see some ID. Do you have a driver's license?" She asked curtly.

"Yeah." Edward answered, taking out his wallet, and giving her his licence and his debit card to pay for the room.

"Okay, Mr. Cullen. Would you like single, deluxe or a suite?" She asked looking over at me, likely noticing we didn't have luggage. I could only image what she was thinking of us.

"Just give us the cheapest room you have." I said, feeling bad that Edward was paying for this. "We just need to wait out the storm."

She sighed. "Okay, so I can put you in a queen single, then. That's a standard room with one queen sized bed, and a TV. It will be $68.88."

"That's sounds good. Thanks." Edward said, reaching over to me and tracing his finger along my cheek.

Leah finished typing our information into the computer. She slid Edward's cards and two room key cards across the counter at us. "Room 311. Enjoy your stay." She said in a monotone, uninterested voice.

Edward took all the cards off the desk and stuffed them in his back pocket. He took his slushee from me and picked up his guitar. We walked together to the elevator and pressed the up-arrow. I leaned my head against his arm and closed my eyes. "Tired?" Edward said softly.

"Yeah." I said. The doors opened and we walked in together. We got to the third floor and walked down the hallway together, which was carpeted in tacky, yellow and blue checkers. We got to 311 and Edward set down his guitar to take the key card from the back pocket of his jeans. He swiped the card and opened the door. "After you, babe." He said. I walked through the door and took in the room that would be our safe haven for the night.

The bathroom was to the left as soon as we walked in. The main room had a blue carpet and beige walls, with the typical scenic painting above the bed. Just as we expected, there was one queen sized bed with a pink and yellow floral bedspread. There was TV on the wall opposite the bed with a desk and chair to the left, and a small dresser to the right. There was a nightstand with a lamp on either side of the bed.

I walked over and set my purse and our bag from the convenience store on the desk, then I set my slushee on one of the nightstands.

"Home, sweet home." Edward said, coming up behind me to wrap his arms around me. He leaned down to kiss my neck. "You want to get out of our wet clothes, and break into that peanut butter?"

I laughed. "Yes. That sounds good, actually." I said, turning around in his arms and kissing his chest. I reluctantly stepped away from him, and went to get my new sleep shirt from the bag on the desk. I took my purse and went into the bathroom.

I stripped out of my jacket, boots, and wet jeans, and hung them over the shower rod to dry. Thankfully, my blouse was dry, so I took it off and folded it to wear home the next day. I pulled off the tag of my new Washington t-shirt and slipped it on. It was long on me and fell just above my knees. I washed my face with the hotel soap and took my hair out of the ponytail. I put in a loose braid to keep it back from my face. I took my blouse and went back in to the bedroom.

Edward was sitting on the side of the bed, facing away from me, looking towards the opened window. He had taken his jacket off, having hung it on the back of the desk chair. His shirt was on, but it was unbuttoned, hanging loosely from his shoulders. His jeans were in wet pile on the floor. I giggled at that. In my eyes, Edward was perfect. But every once in a while, I would notice a little quirk or bad habit. Those were my favourite qualities of his. They made him human and they made me love him more.

My giggling caught his attention. He turned on the bed to look at me. His eyes flicked down to look at my outfit, and smile spread across his face. I hadn't even noticed he had his phone to his ear. "Yeah, mom. We're okay. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. I love you, too. Okay. Bye."

He flipped his phone closed and stood up, walking around the bed to me. "My mom says 'hi.'" He said, as he walked up to me, taking my hands in his. He lifted my left arm and spun me around. "You look beautiful, sugar." He whispered. I blushed at the compliment. I felt silly in this shirt, but he made me feel comfortable in it.

"Thanks, Edward." I leaned up to kiss his chin. "So is your mom worried?" I asked.

"Yeah, but she's glad we didn't try to drive home in the storm." He said. "Oh, and Paul called, too. He made it home safely. Took him almost two hours, though."

I smiled. "I'm glad he made it home okay. I was worried about him."

"I was, too. But, he's fine. And, we're fine." He pulled me towards the bed, but I pulled back. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong. I have to go hang up your jeans with mine, so they're dry tomorrow morning." I laughed at the concerned look on his face. "Get that peanut butter ready." I said, going over to pick up his jeans and taking them to the bathroom.

"Thank you, angel." I heard Edward call, while I flung his jeans over the shower rod. I walked back into the bedroom to see him laying on the bed in his black boxers, legs crossed at the ankle. He had taken his shirt off, too. He was breathtaking. He was holding an opened jar of peanut butter with two plastic spoons sticking out of the top. He patted the bed beside him.

I flicked off the overhead lights, walked over to the bed and crawled in beside him. He reached over and turned on his bedside lamp. "Are you cold, babe?" He asked.

"Yeah. I feel like I have a bit of a chill from the rain." I said. He passed me the peanut butter and we got up, pulling back the comforter. We crawled back in and pulled the blankets up. I snuggled in close to Edward's side.

"Ah, Bella. You're feet are cold." He laughed, trying to wiggle away from me. I laughed with him, trying to keep my feet pressed against his bare legs.

"I told you I was cold." I said.

"You did, baby." He said, leaning over for a quick kiss. "Let's warm you up." He wrapped his arm around me and pulled me close to his side. I curled up against him. I scooped out a spoonful of peanut butter and lifted it up to his mouth. He opened his mouth and ate it all off with one bite. I had to laugh.

I scooped out a huge spoonful for myself and set the jar on the nightstand. I grabbed the remote and turned on the TV. I flipped through the channels and found "I Know What You Did Last Summer." It was part way through, but, I loved this movie. I grabbed the peanut butter and passed it back to Edward. I snuggled in close, resting my head on his chest, and wrapping my arm around his waist.

We spent the next hour cuddled together in a lumpy motel bed, with stiff sheets and damp hair from the rain, eating peanut butter with plastic spoons and watching a grainy TV. I had never been more content. We belonged in each other's arms.

When the movie was over, and I was almost asleep, Edward took the peanut butter and set it on his nightstand. He slipped out of my arms and pulled the covers around me. I heard him rustling in the bag from the convenience store. "Edward?" I asked groggily.

"Go to sleep, babe. I'll be right back." He shut out the lamp and walked to the bathroom. I closed my eyes and started to drift off. I woke up to a loud bang. "Shoot." Edward said, quietly.

"Baby? What was that?" I asked, opening my eyes, only to find complete darkness.

"Sorry, Bella. I just hit my knee on the dresser." I rolled over and flipped on the lamp.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

"It hurts, but I'll be okay. I didn't want to wake you." He said, sounding concerned.

"I'm fine, Edward. Just come back to bed. I'm cold." I laughed.

"Yes, ma'am." He teased, shutting off the lamp and crawling back in beside me. He wrapped me tightly in his arms, pulling me to his chest. "Better?"

"A lot." I said, kissing his chest. "You smell like peppermint."

"Toothpaste." He said, kissing my hair.

"Oh, shoot. I have to go brush my teeth." I moaned, half asleep.

"But, you smell like peanut butter." Edward whispered into my ear, chuckling softly. "Just go to sleep. I love you."

"I love you, too, Edward." I mumbled, falling asleep in his strong arms for the second time this week.