Author Note: Thanks for the continuing great response to this story! We've reached 5,000 reviews, which really is incredible, so thanks to all of you! My first fic averaged 6 reviews per chapter.

Someone wanted an explanation of apartment vs. condo for non-Americans. An apartment is something you rent, either month-to-month or with an annual lease (usually). A condo is something that you buy, taking out a mortgage with a bank for the full purchase amount. Also, with a condo you're responsible for maintenance and you wouldn't be for an apartment.

Thanks again to moosals and NKubie for pre-reading. Stephenie Meyer owns all characters.


Chapter 44 — Condo

"I just needed a simple apartment!" I state firmly.

Edward pulls me with him, farther away from the doorman. "Don't worry about it, baby."

"But a condo in this building must've cost a fortune!" I worry, looking around the lobby.

"I'll sell it and get my money back after you graduate. It's an investment," he shrugs.

"It's too much, Edward," I insist, shaking my head. "I don't need to live in some fancy place with a doorman. I just shared a bathroom with seven girls."

"The doorman is non-negotiable," he says forcefully.

"Look, Bella," he begins, running his hand through his hair, "I'm not naïve enough to think that we'll be able to keep you a secret forever. Once word gets out that I've got a pregnant girlfriend — or a girlfriend and a baby — I need to keep you safe. Having a 24-hour doorman will ensure that no fans or members of the media will be able to get to you and bother you at home."

I stare at Edward as my mind tries to grasp what he's saying. I've obviously seen how intrusive the paparazzi can be. And there are always stories of crazed, stalker fans.

"Still, couldn't you have found something cheaper?" I ask quietly.

"Not within walking distance of your campus, and not with two bedrooms. Our daughter needs her own room.

"This is a great neighborhood, Bella," he continues. "The El is four blocks away. You're close to plenty of restaurants and stores — you already know this. And there's a park only two blocks away for when she gets a little bit older."

Everything he's saying sounds great and makes so much sense. I'll need to stay close to home when the baby is small.

"Just… don't ever tell me how much you paid for it."

"Deal," Edward chuckles. "Are you ready to go up? Mom and Carlisle should be waiting for us."

Taking my hand, Edward pulls my suitcase in his other hand and leads me toward the elevators. When we get off on the second floor, I look in awe at my surroundings, with high ceilings, exposed pipes and wooden beams.

Edward stops in front of a door, pulling out his keys. "Ready?" he asks with a smile, looking back at me.

I follow him into the entryway, my eyes darting from the high ceilings — the exposed beams extend inside, too — to the gorgeous hardwood floors, stained in a golden oak shade. We take a few steps forward and I stare at the room laid out in front of me.

To my left is a small galley-style kitchen, with stainless steel appliances and wooden cabinets in a light stain laid out along the left side, and a sink in the middle of a wide granite counter on the other side. Three brightly colored pendant lights hang over the counter.

The large living room stretches out in front of us, ending with a wall of windows. Edward's parents are sitting on the sectional, beaming at us.

He walks me forward so I can take a closer look at the room. The walls are painted a neutral shade, just as Esme had said. A ceiling fan hangs from the beams in the center of the room. I see some exposed brick on the outside wall, surrounding the windows.

"There's a private patio out that door," Edward says, pointing to a door among the windows.

"The patio is really beautiful," Esme says. "Too bad you'll have to wait until daylight tomorrow to see it though."

"We'll have to get a patio table eventually," Edward says. "Maybe a grill."

The sectional that Esme and I chose anchors the room beautifully. I try not to roll my eyes at the large, flat-screen TV that Edward must've picked out, along the opposite wall. A desk is set up on the wall between the kitchen counter and the sectional. Edward sets my laptop bag on the desk, then comes back to me.

"How does it all look, Bella?" Esme asks, standing and walking over to us.

"It's… it's amazing. I could never have imagined living somewhere this beautiful." I wipe a stray tear away.

"Ready to go see the bedroom?" Edward asks.

At my nod, he opens a door next to the television, and I follow him into the room.

The bed against the wall in front of me takes up most of the room. Esme has made it all up for me, and the bedding I chose does look perfect with the green wall behind it. Like the living room, the outside wall to my left features exposed brick. Unlike the living room, this room has light beige carpeting.

We turn to the right, passing a walk-in closet on our right where Edward leaves my suitcase, next to where his parents have already set my other two bags.

In front of us is a door leading to the master bathroom, with a tiled floor in a gray marbled pattern. The glass enclosed shower is almost as large as the one in our hotel room near SeaTac.

"Better than sharing with seven other girls?" Edward asks with a smile.

"Definitely," I agree.

We walk back out to the living room, then back toward the front door. On the wall to the left is a door I hadn't even noticed when we first came in, which leads into a short hallway. The bathroom on the right is similar to the other one, except with a tub/shower combo like Edward has in his bedroom at home.

On the left side of the hallway, Edward shows me where the stacked washer and dryer are set behind bi-fold doors, together with the water heater and furnace.

Straight ahead, we open another door, my mouth falling open as I step into the nursery, with its walls painted pink, just as Edward had promised. It's not furnished yet, so I try to picture the crib we chose for the registry. A package with the bedding we'd picked out — but not bought — sits on the floor.

"I needed to get that to choose a matching paint color," Edward laughs.

"It's perfect," I whisper. "All of it is just…" I stop, shaking my head.

"Only the best for you and our baby," Edward says, wrapping his arms around me.

As we walk back out of the nursery, Esme leads me to the kitchen, opening the cabinets and drawers to show me where she's stored everything. "I stopped by a grocery store and got you at least some basics," she says, showing me where the pantry is located against the wall.

I run my hand along the gorgeous granite countertop. It's a pale beige-green color with small darker flecks in gray and dark brown — really striking.

"It couldn't be more perfect, Edward… though I still think you must've spent too much," I add, shaking my head.

"And I told you I'll get my money back when you graduate and I sell it."

"Do you need us for anything else, Edward?" Dr. Cullen asks.

"I think we've got it from here," he says, turning toward me. I nod in agreement; the Cullens have done more than enough.

"Thank you for everything — both of you," I tell them, hugging Esme.

"You're very welcome, dear," she smiles. "The next few months aren't going to be easy once the baby comes, but I hope that having your home situation settled, and so near your campus, will help."

"Take care, Bella," Carlisle says, hugging me briefly.

They move to leave, then Esme turns back to us. "Will I see you at home tonight, Edward?" she asks with a twinkle in her eye.

"Not if I have my way," he replies with a huge grin.

Once his parents have stepped out into the hallway, Edward closes the door, then turns to me. "Can I stay?" he asks quietly.

"Tonight?"

"For starters."

We stare into each other's eyes and I know what he's asking — I can read Edward well enough by now. This place is definitely big enough for the two of us, but… everything just seems to be moving so fast. I can admit that I'll probably need him here, need his help, after the baby comes. And I do want him here with me.

"If you're not ready, Bella…" he says quietly, staring at the floor. Sighing, he shakes his head.

"You can stay tonight, then… I'll think about it."

He nods silently. "I'm gonna go move my car into the garage. I guess you have a little bit of unpacking left to do."

"There's a garage?!"

"Yeah, with room for one car per condo, anyway," he shrugs. He puts his hand on the doorknob, then stops and turns back around. "Oh, let me put your suitcases up on the bed for you."

Once Edward has walked away, I notice yet another door off the entryway. I open it to find a good-sized walk-in storage closet, already stocked with some of the things we bought.

"I'll be back in a few," he says, kissing me quickly as he walks out the door.

Moving into my bedroom, I choose my first suitcase, opening it up. I stuff my underwear and pajamas into a drawer in the dresser, then come back for another few items of clothing.

I'm just hanging up my last sweater in the walk-in closet when I hear Edward return. He comes into the bedroom, setting his overnight bag on top of the dresser, and I gape at him.

"I had it on the floor in the backseat," he shrugs.

"You knew you'd convince me to let you stay," I accuse.

"I hoped," he says quietly. "I just… want to be around you while I can. And I don't want you to be alone as you get closer to your due date."

"It's still just over two months away. And you heard the doctor — first pregnancies often go longer."

"I know, I just… I need to make sure you're ok." I smile at his concern for me. I really do have the sweetest boyfriend in the entire world. "And you have to admit that it'll be so much easier to have someone else around once the baby comes."

"I know," I reply quietly. He makes a lot of good points, but moving in together is such a huge step. Are we ready for that?

Heading back out into the living room, I sit down on the couch beside Edward, who's picked up the remote control to turn on the huge television. He wraps his arm around my shoulders, pulling me into his side as he finds a hockey game to watch.

At the commercial, he turns to me, trailing a finger down my face in that way he has. "Are you happy?" he asks softly.

"I'm happy," I assure him. "This condo is really, really great. I mean, you saw at least a little bit of the home where I grew up. It's fine, but this place is amazing."

"Only the best for my family."

My eyes widen. "Your f-family?"

"You and our daughter. I've told you before that the two of you mean everything to me."

At the next commercial, Edward kisses me before standing up. He walks into the kitchen, opening the fridge. I hear his chuckle before he calls out to me, asking if I want a bottle of water.

He comes back with two bottles, shaking his head as he sits beside me.

"What was so funny?" I ask, brow furrowed.

"Mom didn't buy any beer."

"I don't know how you could even think about beer after that hangover you had yesterday morning."

He sticks his tongue out at me, then pulls me back into his side.

When the game is over, Edward turns off the TV, kissing me softly. "Wanna go to bed?" he asks, waggling his eyebrows.

I stare at him, panicking for a moment. I'd said no sex in his parents' house; well, we're not in his parents' house anymore. What if he wants to have sex? Am I ready for that?

He smiles, kissing me again. "Only what you're comfortable with," he assures me.

Edward helps me up and I move into the bedroom while he turns off all the lights. I carry my toiletries bag into the bathroom, trying to put everything away in its proper place. I grab a washcloth for my face, then go through my nightly routine.

When I come out, Edward has stripped down to his underwear; I'm thankful he at least left those on. While he heads to the bathroom, I change quickly into pajamas, then move the extra pillows to the floor by the window, turn down the covers and get into bed.

When he comes back, he turns off the light, then crawls into bed next to me. "I like this," he whispers, pulling me close and rubbing his hand up and down my back.

"Like what?"

"The smaller bed. I have you close to me." I melt a little bit at his words.

"Your mom didn't think a king-sized bed would fit in the room."

"Mmm… I don't care what the reason was." He kisses me softly, and when I open for him, he happily deepens the kiss.

I gasp as Edward grabs my leg, hitching it over his hip. I can feel his excitement as his hands get more and more bold. He finally drags his lips away from my mouth, kissing a trail along my jaw and neck as he rolls me partially onto my back.

"Why did you put pajamas on?" he pouts.

"Because I don't sleep naked."

"Mmm…" He lifts the hem of my pajama top and I let him pull it over my head. Almost immediately his mouth is on my breast, licking and sucking. I moan as he switches sides. God, his mouth is talented.

He stops suddenly, looking up at me. "Do you think you could come just from this?"

My eyes widen. "Is that even possible?"

I can barely make out his shrug in the moonlight. "I've heard it is." His lips attach themselves to my nipple again, pulling and tugging. They're so sensitive from the pregnancy.

"Edward," I moan. "More… please…"

His hands move to the waistband of my pajama pants and I lift my hips so he can tug them and my panties down. He drops soft kisses on my stomach as he makes his way down.

I cry out when one long finger brushes between my legs. "Do you want my tongue on you, Bella?"

"How is that gonna work?" I mean, how is he going to get around my stomach?

He chuckles. "I could lie on my back and let you crawl over me."

Crawl over him? So my… so I'm over his face? Oh God…


A/N: Oh, sweet innocent Bella. How many think she needs to get over her squeamishness and let Edward have his fun?

So Edward was able to persuade Bella that buying her a condo was the best move. Now he still needs to convince her that it's not too soon to move in together.

Bella's condo is a real place, link here for info and pictures: redfin dot com /IL/Chicago/1040-W-Adams-St-60607/unit-248/home/26795371

Next update on Friday.