A/N: I will be updating slowly due to my classes. If you want to wait until it's complete before starting again, that's fine. :)

SM owns all things Twilight. Everything else is mine.

Chapter 2

It smells so good in here that I just need to have a taste. I quietly take a clean spoon from the drawer and scoop up a little gravy, blowing on it so I don't burn myself. I'm just about to close my mouth around the spoon when I'm startled by none other than the master chef herself, almost dropping the utensil into the pot.

"Edward Anthony! If that touches your tongue, you will get your food last and no desert."

I turn towards her and she's glaring at me. I smile sheepishly, trying to find the best words to explain myself. "I'm sorry, mom, but I was just going to do one taste test. You never know if it's truly ready until then."

Mom snorts, "Uh huh, sure you were. Now rinse that off, put it in the dishwasher, and get out of my kitchen. Your girlfriend is all alone."

I do as she tells me, knowing that she'll keep her word and because I do actually want to stay next to Bella all night. When I get out, I find her in front of the fireplace admiring the family photos placed on top of the mantle. I walk up behind her, snaking my arms under hers and across her middle. I kiss her temple when she starts to talk.

"I like this one best." She points to one of me and Emmett at our uncles' house – my house – as kids. "What happened to make you both so muddy, and happy about it?"

"It had rained quite a bit earlier that morning so, naturally, we wanted to go out. We spent a couple hours out on the trails, but found a decent size mud puddle at some point. We got into a bit of a mudslinging match; he started it. When we got back, mom was so mad that we ruined our clothes beyond washing, but she was madder at dad and my uncle since they thought it was funny." I chuckle at the memory. She lets out a giggle, too.

"What about this one?" She asks, pointing to a newer one of all the siblings, including Jasper and Rose. I'm in the center with one arm over the shoulders of Rosalie and Alice while Emmet and Jasper are on the outsides. "Why no girlfriend?"

I snort, thinking about when this was taken. Jenny was the one before Irina and the relationship that ended a few months before this photo. While Irina was essentially an addict, a slut and probably a cheater, Jenny really was a cheater. It's hard to dispute that when I walked in on her giving one guy a blowjob.

"This was taken before Rose was pregnant and before my last ex. It's only been recently where I've had one worthy of being included in one of these." I smile at that thought because it's true. She shakes her head slightly and I can see she's fighting a smile.

"Careful there. If you get any better with words, I might not ever leave you alone." She turns, putting her front to mine, and wraps her arms around my neck. "You're very good to my self-esteem."

A/N: Just a little glimpse into Edward's childhood.