Chapter 15

My X-rays come back showing two cracked ribs and Carlisle makes sure to give me a pointed, yet fatherly, look as he tells me to take it easy. He prescribes some ibuprofen in a higher dosage than I can receive over-the-counter and instructs me to ice my side. Apart from this, my ribs will heal on their own in time.

Not long after getting my X-rays back, Edward's cleared to be released from the hospital with similar instructions to mine. He's to take it easy, which means no working until the stitches come out. On top of this, he's given a weight limit on what he can lift and is told to be careful to not rip his stitches.

Dad, Mom, and Esme are the only ones still waiting in the lobby once Edward and I leave his hospital room. Mom is quick to come over to me, enveloping me in another hug. As her arms wrap around my neck, I let mine wrap around her middle as I rest my chin on her shoulder. Letting out a relaxed sigh, I let her hug me as long as she needs.

"Come home with us," she offers as she pulls away. "Take some time to just stay at home."

"I appreciate the offer but that's not necessary, Mom," I smile. "I'm okay staying at Jasper's." She gives me a wary smile but nods, accepting my answer. I squeeze her hand, my smile tugging my lips a bit wider at the Cullen mannerism, before stepping back and looking over at Edward.

"We'll at least give you both a ride," Dad insists.

"I think I want to walk," I say as I look over at him. "It's only a few blocks. And it gives Edward and me some time to talk." Dad looks over at Edward, his gaze hardened a bit.

"I'll look after her, Charlie," he smiles tightly as if reading Dad's mind. After a moment, Dad nods and looks to Mom.

"Let's get home. It's been a long night." No one disagrees as Edward and I follow my parents out of the hospital. They send me off with one last hug before getting into Dad's cruiser. I look over at Edward and smile as he reaches for my hand. I take it, linking my fingers through his.

It's almost weird how easily we've fallen back into being us. I mean, it's not like we've had much time together yet, but it's not awkward or anything like I feel like it should be. It's comforting being near him. That familiar calm that takes over when he's around is present and it's a good opposition to how I've felt the last few days. Edward's hand squeezes mine gently and I smile.

"How're you feeling?" Edward asks after a few moments of us walking in silence. I breathe in deep as I try to think of how to verbalize my feelings. It's weird because I should be freaked out or terrified or something other than the calm I'm feeling. I just watched my estranged husband shoot my ex-boyfriend only for him to be shot and killed. I should be petrified, right? The feeling I should have is fear, isn't it? All I'm feeling right now is calm and contentment, though, and it's just weird.

"You're going to think I'm crazy," I sigh, stalling.

"I mean, I've always thought you were a bit crazy," he jokes and I roll my eyes and playfully shove his good shoulder.

"All I feel right now is just…calm," I shrug. "I know I should be freaked out or scared or whatever, but I just can't bring myself to feel it. I'm content."

"You did kind of freak out earlier," he points out. "There was a lot of freaking out before the hospital."

"Yeah, what the hell were you doing there anyway? That cop said you weren't supposed to be there." That's one thing I haven't been able to piece together. Why were he and my dad at the scene if they weren't supposed to be there? They were clearly ordered not to be there by the looks of how angry that state officer looked.

Edward's silent for a moment before he sighs and gives an explanation.

"Bella, I thought you were dead. I had to see them bring James in myself. I needed to see the man who murdered you brought in or I wouldn't believe it actually happened. Your dad felt the same way."

"What has it been like the last few days?" I wonder.

"Hell. Absolute hell," he answers shortly with another squeeze to my hand. This time I squeeze his back, hoping it's at least somewhat as comforting as his is. "I was just getting you back and then you were gone," he frowns. "When I was driving to the cliffs that night, I kept trying to convince myself that you didn't sound off on the phone and that you were really just looking at the stars. When I got there and," he stops and shakes his head. "It felt like my world was imploding."

I stop us with a gentle tug of his arm before wrapping my arms around his torso, gripping his shirt on either side of his body. His arms lock around my shoulders in return and his nose presses against the top of my head.

"It's pretty backwards that you're comforting me after what you've been through," he mumbles after a moment with a dark chuckle.

"You can't compare what I've been through to what you've been through. We've both had a hell of a few days," I sigh into his chest before pulling away. His hand finds mine as we walk again and it's like we're back to the point where one of us was practically always touching the other. It's comforting how quickly we're falling back into our old ways, as if once I stopped putting up a barrier between us, we can't stop ourselves from instantly becoming what we were before.

"So, are we okay?" he asks after we walk silently for a bit.

"Are we?" I ask, looking down at our hands and then back up at him. "I seem to remember making a move and you shutting me down," I add on jokingly.

"Only because you took me completely off guard," he laughs. "I was confused."

"I know," I smile. "But I think we're okay."

"Good," he grins. I look away from him as we walk up my gravel driveway. It feels like ages since I've been here but at the same time, it feels like just yesterday. The closer we get to the front door, the further anxiety snakes its way from my belly to my heart. As we walk up each step, it slithers into my throat. I stop in front of the door, staring at the knob, and my grip on Edward's hand strengthens.

"You're safe," he whispers, sensing my hesitation, but waits patiently as I muster up the courage to open the door. Drawing in a deep breath, I reach a shaky hand towards the knob. Gripping the cool metal, I turn it and push the heavy door open. I take in the dark stillness inside the house as my feet refuse to move.

Edward takes a step into the house and turns to me, gently pulling on my hand. My eyes lock onto his as I let him guide me into the house. He flips the light switch, illuminating the front hallway, before closing and locking the front door.

The hall light spills into the living room dimly. As I look into the room, I see everything back in its usual order. No tipped over coffee table. The recliner is lifted up into its usual position. It's as if nothing happened here a few short, yet very long, days ago.

"How about we get you to bed," Edward's voice suggests from behind me, pulling my attention from the living room. I nod and walk up the steps, noticing they creak less than the ones at the cabin.

"I'm going to shower quickly," I say as we walk into my room. Edward stops in my doorway, leaning against the frame as he watches me walk through the bedroom. When I get to the bathroom, I turn to look at him. "I'll be out in a few." He nods with a small smile before I close the bathroom door.

I turn the water on to let it heat up before taking in my surroundings. I know this is my bathroom but I can't help myself from going to the window to make sure there's no caulk sealing it shut. My finger explores the crack where the window meets the sill and a content sigh flows out of me. Once I'm satisfied, I close the blinds and step away from the window to get out of my clothes.

My pants and underwear are easy to take off but my shirt is a nightmare. I bite my lip to stop a painful cry from escaping my lips as I lift my arm and slowly pull it out of the long sleeve. Once I've managed that, getting it off the rest of my body is easy enough.

I look up into the mirror at my bruised body. The deep purple splotches on my side are the worst of them. The others are older and starting to heal a little and turn yellow around the edges. My legs and arms are spotted with them. Then there's my neck. From the force of James' grip yesterday, I have reddish-purple fingerprint size bruises. Compared to the result of our wedding anniversary, these bruises seem very minor.

Steam starts to accumulate on the mirror and I look away from my reflection before getting into the shower. I let the hot spray pelt the front of my body before turning to let it run down my back. Tilting my head back, the water soaks into my thick hair as I comb my fingers through the strands. I can feel my body relax under the hot water as a sigh leaves my lungs.

I take my time washing my body, trying to as much of James as I can. I draw in deep breaths to keep myself calm as my skin practically crawls with the lingering feeling of his fingers grabbing me and his body pressed against mine. It seems like no matter how much I scrub, the feeling and scent of him lingers. I can feel the anxiety bubbling up in my chest as I continue to think about the feeling and smell.

I quickly wash my hair before turning the water off as I try to shake the anxiety away and step out of the shower. After wrapping a towel around myself, I open the door and am surprised to not see Edward out here waiting for me. I grab some pajamas from my drawer and quickly slip them on before tossing my towel in my laundry basket.

"Edward?" I call hesitantly as I leave the bedroom. I make my way down the stairs as I try not to let my anxiety rise even further. He didn't say he was staying so I can't expect him to still be here but he would tell me if he was leaving, right?

As I make it to the bottom of the stairs, Edward walks out of the kitchen with a glass of water in his hand.

"I didn't expect you to be that quick," he says with a soft smile. "I figured your ribs may be sore so I got some water for your pain meds," he explains. I nod as I make my way over and wrap my arms around his middle.

"I thought you left," I mumble as blush covers my cheeks. He wraps his arms around me, his good arm holding me firmly to him.

"Not until you want me to," he whispers before kissing the side of my head.

"Please stay," I sigh as I press my forehead against his good shoulder.

"Then I'm staying," he confirms as I pull away. He lets me out of his grip and takes my hand before leading me back upstairs. I let him guide me down the hallway into my room.

"How're your ribs?" he asks as he sets the water on the bedside table.

"Sore," I admit as I sit on the bed. Edward grabs my pain medication off my dresser and hands me a pill. I offer him a thankful smile as I take it from him and pop it into my mouth, chasing it down with water.

I watch as he carefully pulls his shirt off. He winces a bit as he pulls him left arm out of the sleeve before using his right to pull it the rest of the way off his body. The bandage that peaked out of the collar of his shirt is now fully exposed, traveling down over his left shoulder. He unbuttons his jeans and pushes them down his legs with his right hand before stepping out, leaving him in his boxer briefs. He walks around to the other side of the bed and sits down, leaning his back against my headboard, before pulling the blanket over his legs.

I breathe in deep as exhaustion washes over me. The adrenalin from last night is long gone and the safety of my bedroom and Edward's presence soothes my anxiety, leaving a heavy tiredness in its wake. Edward lifts up the blanket as I lower myself down onto the bed. He follows my lead, laying on his right side to face me. I lay facing him and move my body closer to his. He reaches behind him and turns off the lamp that lights my room before turning his focus back to me.

The early morning light provides a warmth to the room and outline's Edward's frame as he lay next to me. His arm reaches over and secures itself around me.

"It's still hard to believe you're actually here," he whispers into the darkness as his fingers trace my spine lazily. I snuggle deeper into him, drawing in a large sigh as I do.

"I know," I mumble against his shoulder. I lift my head as he stretches his arm out before laying my head on his bicep. My right arm rests against his arm that's wrapped around me while my left hand rests against his chest. I can't get close enough to him even though we're practically flush against each other.

The tiredness wears on me and I can feel my eyelids grow heavy as I listen to Edward's breathing. I want to succumb to sleep but a question keeps stirring through my mind.

"Is he dead?" I ask after a bit of silence, although I'm sure he is. The confirmation will help ease my mind, though.

"Hmm?" Edward hums deep in his throat as I wake him from his near sleep.

"Never mind," I whisper as a bit of guilt washes over me for waking him.

"Babe, what is it?" he insists, his voice thick with sleep. I swallow thickly before breathing deeply again. His arm tenses under my head as he brings his hand up to play with a strand of my hair.

"Is he dead?" I repeat. The question hangs in the air as his fingers still, a strand of hair held between two of them. The silence stretches on for eternal seconds.

"Yes," he whispers back. The answer leaves a weight in my chest as a lump forms in my throat. All of my emotions pool in my eyes as a few thick tears escape. "Hey," he says as the tears trail down to his arm. His hand starts to rub soothing circles on my back.

"I'm free," I whisper through a sob. He pulls my head to his chest and his lips find the top of my head. I'm no longer married. I'm technically a widow. I don't have to worry about my divorce or running into him ever again. The relief of this only fuels my crying, escalating it to near hyperventilation.

Edward continues to hold me as I work through my crying as he whispers soft reassurances into my hair until I eventually calm enough to sleep.

XOXO

The next few weeks seem to go by in a blur as we try to bounce back to normal. Edward and Dad received a month's suspension for disobeying direct orders and trespassing on the scene of an investigation. I can't say that I've been hating the fact that Edward's been off work. It's been a comfort having him around as I try to ground myself and move past everything that happened.

During the second week of suspension, Dad announced he's retiring and will not be returning to the station. Mom's beside herself with excitement and talks about the trips she wants to plan every chance she gets. She's definitely holding Dad to his word on traveling the country after his retirement.

Edward and I have practically been glued to each other since that first night. He's either stayed over at my place or I've stayed over at his. We've practically just fallen back into how we were before our breakup.

"Baking again?" Edward asks humorously as he walks into the kitchen, pulling me from my concentration. I smile as I continue to mix together the chocolate pudding and whipped cream for a pie.

"Not baking, no," I grin as I look up at him. "I figured I'd give your oven a rest."

"How generous of you," he chuckles as he lifts himself onto the counter, only wincing slightly.

"Riley specifically asked for a chocolate pie," I elaborate as I pour the filling into my graham cracker crust. "I thought he'd like this one more than the one you and I made." He watches as I spread the filling evenly on the crust. Once I'm satisfied, I take the remaining whipped cream and spread it on top of the pudding mixture. Picking up the finished pie, I walk over and place it into the fridge.

When I close the fridge door, I spot Edward scraping the excess pie filling from the bowl will his finger. Smiling, I take the bowl from him as he eats the filling off his finger.

"Hey, I wasn't done with that," he laughs as he watches me scrape my finger along the edge of the bowl to gather some filling.

"Here," I laugh before handing the bowl back to him as I stick my finger into my mouth. He takes the bowl back and scrapes the remaining filling onto his finger before tossing the bowl into the sink. Before he can put his finger into his mouth, I gently grab his wrist and pull it towards me. His jaw drops slightly as I put his finger in my mouth and suck the filling off it. A groan escapes his lips as I slowly pull his finger out of my mouth. I lick my lips before smiling up at him.

"Fuck," he groans before sliding off the counter and grabbing my face to bring my lips to his. I let out a quick shriek of laughter before kissing him back. My hands roam his chest before gripping the sides of his shirt and pulling him closer to me. His lips press and pull against mine hungrily as his hands trail down my body. He bends slightly to help lift me onto the counter before pulling away to trail kisses across my jaw and down my neck.

"Your shoulder," I scold through a moan as my head drops back.

"I'm fine," he insists as he continues to trail kisses along my neck and down to my v-neckline. I let out another moan as I tighten my legs around his waist, pulling his groin to mine. Edward lets out a groan at the contact before mumbling, "Tonight," against my skin. We haven't slept together since getting back together and the tension is starting to build with us being around each other almost every moment of the day. It started with just a few heated make-out sessions and has progressed into fooling around but we have yet to actually sleep together. We've been waiting for Edward to get his stitches out and for my restrictions to be lifted before we go at it. The stitches were taken out this morning and I was given the clear two days ago and to say we're growing incredibly impatient is an understatement.

"Now," I pant as I roll my hips against him. "And tonight." He groans again and brings his lips back to mine.

"We're going to be late," he mumbles against my lips as he lifts my shirt. Shit, that's right; Alice is having everyone over tonight. The Friday gatherings have officially started up again and, while I'm eager to get back to normalcy, I'd really rather stay here tonight. Obligations, though.

"So, let's be late," I grin as I pull away to take my shirt off completely. He lets out a quick laugh before attaching his lips to mine again. With one arm around my lower back and his other hand gripping my thigh, he pulls me off the counter. I wrap my arms around his neck as he carries us through his house to his bedroom. As soon as my back hits the bed, his fingers fumble with the buttons on my shorts. As he pulls them down with my panties, I reach to pull his shirt as far up his back as I can. He tosses my pants aside before ripping his shirt over his head. I shift onto my knees and meet his lips with mine as I shove his pants and underwear down. Once he kicks them off, he shifts us so I'm back on my back and then we both let out a moan as he's finally, finally, inside me.

By the time we finally walk into Alice's backyard, we're the last ones there. It's not shocking that we're late, but Rosalie's knowing smirk to me tells me they know why. Playing it off, I smile and walk over to the girls as Edward lifts Riley into a hug.

"Hey," I say casually as I look around at everyone.

"Hey," Rose smiles back. "We didn't think you guys were coming. Well, we didn't think you were coming over," she teases soft enough for just me and Alice to hear.

"Ew, Rose!" Alice hisses.

"Rosalie!" I frown at her innuendo. Before she can say anything else, Edward walks over with Riley in one arm and two beers in his other hand. He holds out the hand with the beers for me to take one and I smile thankfully at him as I do. He grins and kisses me quickly before walking over to my brothers.

"It's like you two never broke up," Alice comments as she looks from him to me.

"It kind of feels that way too," I shrug as I glance over at him.

"What did the doctor say about your ribs the other day?" Rose asks curiously.

"She said they're looking better and the bruising has healed pretty well. She lifted my restrictions."

"No wonder you were late," she teases with a smirk.

"Rosalie!" I whine disapprovingly as she laughs. Alice just shakes her head as she sips her drink.

"Again, no details, please," she reminds.

"No details because we aren't talking about it," I say pointedly to Rose who holds her hands up in surrender with a grin on her face.

"Oh! Before I forget, I signed the three of us and our moms up for a private painting class," Alice shares excitedly.

"Why would you do that," I frown as I think back to the class I went to with Mom. The deranged looking sunflowers still haunt Jasper's living room.

"Because it'll be fun!" she insists. "We're all going next Saturday. It's in Port Angeles."

"And I can't say I'm busy?" I smile sheepishly.

"You are busy. Busy painting with us," she smirks back and I groan jokingly.

"There's wine involved," she bribes in a sing-song voice.

"I suppose I can make it," I smile before taking a swig of my beer. I glance up at the sky as grey clouds loom above our heads. "You sure the rain is going to hold out?"

"It just has to hold until the food is done and we'll eat inside," Alice frowns as she looks at the sky. "Jazzy," she calls as she glances over towards the guys. "Is the food almost ready?"

"Just another few minutes," he calls back as he opens the lid to the grill.

"How are you as Jas?" I ask. While I've seen them and can tell they're doing well, I haven't really taken the time to ask how they are.

"Amazing," she grins excitedly. "I feel like every day I wake up to find something new of his in the house. I'm just waiting for him to bring up the subject of actually moving in."

"Why don't you bring it up?" Rose asks. "Maybe he's waiting for an invitation seeing as it is your house."

"I don't know. I guess I just wanted him to make the first move," she shrugs.

"It seems like he's made quite a few first moves if you're finding his stuff in your house," I say, pointing the tip of my bottle at her before taking a sip.

"She has a point," Rose backs me up with a pointed smile. Alice huffs audibly as she takes in what we're saying, her eyes glued to Jasper.

"He hasn't been home for longer than an hour or so for who knows how long," I continue.

"How would you know? You've been at Edward's," Rose teases. I roll my eyes and bump her hip with mine.

"Shut up," I laugh.

"When are you moving in with Edward?" Alice grins, happy that the tables have been turned. I blush a bit and look down. Truth is, if Edward were to ask me, I'd say yes in a heartbeat and it's terrifying. I mean, I know what we have is real and that what he feels for me is genuine and just as deep as what I feel for him, but it's so soon. We've only been together for a short amount of time, about three months in total. I'm not crazy for being scared, right? It's not completely insane that I'm hesitant about the topic of moving in with the man I'm in love with, right?

"Uh oh," Rose frowns. "What is it?" I look up quickly and glance over at the guys, hoping her volume didn't attract any attention. As if he can feel my gaze, Edward's eyes drift to meet mine and a smile lights up his face. I smile back briefly before turning my attention back to the girls.

"It's nothing," I sigh.

"What did he do?" Alice frowns and glances over at her brother. My eyes widen as I glance back over to see him giving her a confused look. I smile at him sheepishly before grabbing Alice's hand and squeezing.

"He didn't do anything," I hiss, trying to stop the situation that's arising. She stops glaring and looks at me.

"Then what is it?" she insists. I huff exasperatedly before answering.

"It's too fast and too much and too scary and just too...much," I rant in a hushed tone. "But, regardless, I want him to ask," I add on in a resigned tone.

"That makes no sense," Rose says.

"Don't you think I know that?"

"This is what happens when our daily lunches get put on hold over summer. You overthink and stop making sense," she continues, shaking her head in mock disapproval.

"Oh, shut it," I sigh with an eye roll. "I want to, you know? But, isn't it too fast?"

"Not if you think it's right for you and him," Alice answers knowingly.

"I know it is, as long as he thinks it is, too." I chew the inside of my cheek as I ponder the thought that's now nagging at the forefront of my mind. What if we're on two completely different pages? What if he isn't even considering us living together and I'm over here wanting him to ask while simultaneously scared shitless that he will?

"Stop that," Rose demands with a jab to my upper arm.

"Ow! Rose," I frown as I rub the affected area.

"Food's done!" Jasper announces proudly as he holds up a platter with burgers and chicken.

"We'll eat inside," Alice smiles as she gives another glance to the darkening sky. Turning back to me she smiles and squeezes my hand. "We'll finish this conversation later." I give her a tight smile knowing she's going to make sure we do.

As Rose and Alice walk inside, Edward walks over to me and I stand on my tiptoes to give him a chaste kiss. His arm slides around my waist as we pull apart and he narrows his eyes slyly.

"Do I want to know what you three were talking about?" he asks with a smile. I try to play it off with a laugh and smile before shaking my head.

"You want to hear the girl talk?" I tease as I step away from his arm and take his hand in mine. I lead him inside, hoping it'll deter him from asking more questions. We make our way into the kitchen where the others are filling their plates with the food Alice and Jasper prepared. Edward and I join in as everyone maneuvers around each other.

We make our way out to the living room where Edward and I take up residence on the couch with me sandwiched between him and the arm rest. I rest my legs on top of his as I settle in and he sets his plate on top of them. Riley clambers onto the couch next to Edward and practically burrows into his side as he waits for Alice to bring him his plate.

"At the table, Ri," Alice says as she sets his plate on the coffee table.

"Uncle Eddie is here," he protests through a pout.

"You better listen to your momma if you want that extra special pie I made you," I bribe as I nudge his ticklish side with my toe. He giggles as he squirms away from me. It doesn't take anymore prompting to get him to eat at the table, his pout a thing of the past.

"Rose, Bella was telling me you two rebooked your honeymoon," Edward says before taking a bite of his burger.

"Yeah, the hotel was super understanding, surprisingly. And we were able to get flight vouchers. We'll be going the week before school starts," she explains with an eager smile.

"That's awesome. I'm glad you were able to work that out," he smiles back.

"I still want a souvenir," I mumble around a mouthful of food.

"I don't think you had enough food in your mouth," Emmett teases. I glance over to make sure Riley isn't looking my way before I give Emmett the single-finger salute. In true Emmett form, he pretends to catch it and shoves it in his pocket. I roll my eyes as I snicker at his antics.

"Do you guys have anything planned for your time in the Keys?" Alice asks.

"The main thing I want to do is go snorkeling but Emmett claims it isn't a good idea," Rose rolls her eyes.

"Hey, I'm like filet mignon for sharks over here," he defends as he makes a show of flexing his arms.

"Has anyone told you how full of yourself you are?" Jasper jokes. Emmett throws a cherry tomato at him in response.

"Cool it, D-I-C-K," I spell, knowing Riley won't understand. "We're not at Mom's."

"You get food stains on the carpet or furniture and I'm banning you from this house," Jasper laughs.

After Riley finishes his food, he climbs back up onto the couch and over me to get to the space between me, Edward, and the back of the couch. He tries to put his feet up on Edward's lap like I am but, in the awkward space, he just ends up kicking the both of us.

"What are you doing?" Edward laughs. Riley doesn't answer him but just giggles with his tongue sticking out a bit in concentration. After a swift kick to my leg, I decide helping him is my best shot at not getting bruised. I lift him into my lap so his legs stretch out across mine. He grins at me and leans his back against my chest and I wrap my arms around him.

After Riley finishes situating himself, I look up at Edward, who's watched the whole ordeal. I smile at him and he grins back before leaning over to kiss me briefly.

Everyone spends awhile longer at Alice's after the dinner and dessert cleanup. It's not until Riley starts to yawn and settle down that we contemplate leaving. It's been so long since we've had a night where everyone has felt at least somewhat normal and we're finding it difficult to end the night. Eventually, though, Riley's bedtime cuts the night off and we go our separate ways.

Edward follows me into his house before pulling on my hand to stop me. I turn to give him a look of faux annoyance but am quickly met with his lips against mine. I gasp in surprise before kissing him back. I moan against his lips as he backs me up against the wall. Wrapping my arms around his neck and shoulders, I pull him even closer to me as his lips trail from my lips down to my neck. My fingers grip a chunk of his hair as he nips and sucks at my skin.

Edward's hands pull at my waist until I can feel all of him pressed against me. My hands leave his hair and shoulder to make their way down to the bottom of his shirt. He quickly gets the hint and pulls his shirt off. As he does so, my hands find their way to his pants. His lips attach to my neck as I swiftly unbutton and unzip them, pushing them down as far as I can. I can feel him grin against my neck at my eagerness before he kicks the pants off.

His hands push my shorts down as I pull my shirt over my head. As soon as I'm out of my clothes, Edward's lips land on mine again before he lifts me. My legs wrap securely around his waist as he carries me into the living room. He lays us on the couch and wastes no time exploring my body. His lips, his tongue, his fingers all take their time exploring until I'm coming undone beneath him.

"Edward," I sigh as his name falls from my lips. "Need you," I continue through a mumble as his lips meet mine. My leg hooks around his hip and my head falls back as he buries himself inside me.

Breathing heavy, we lay beside each other on the floor. Groaning, Edward grabs the blanket off his couch and pulls it down over us, resigning to staying here at least a few minutes longer. I stare at the ceiling as I catch my breath. Through my peripheral, I can see Edward's head turned towards me with his eyes on me.

"Are we okay?" he asks almost shyly. I'm kind of floored by the question—no pun intended. What does he mean? We just went two rounds in his living room; how could we not be okay?

I turn my head to look at him and see genuine worry in his eyes. Turning over onto my stomach, I snuggle closer to him, wincing as my muscles stretch over my tender ribs.

"Of course we are," I insist with furrowed brows. "Why wouldn't we be?"

"Are you okay?" he asks.

"Edward, what's bringing this on?" I frown as I prop myself up on my elbows. "I'm okay; we're okay."

"You kind of deflected my question at Alice's house." Oh. That's what this is about. Sighing, I hang my head before rolling back over with another wince and stare at the ceiling. "Is there something going on?" he asks as he sits up.

"No," I groan as my cheeks color. "It's nothing."

"Bella," he simply says, calling me out on my bullshit with just my name. "My sister looked like she wanted to kill me."

"You're going to think I'm crazy," I mumble.

"I already think you're crazy," he jokes as he shifts and lowers himself so he's half on top of me. I frown at him and he smiles sheepishly. "You can tell me anything, Bella." With a huff, I resign to letting him in on what happened at Alice's.

"So, I asked Alice how she and Jasper are and she told me they were great and she keeps finding more and more of his stuff at her house," I explain, pausing briefly when Edward interjects with a smirk and says, "Sounds familiar." I give him a pointed look before continuing. "So, I asked if she was going to ask him to move in and she said she wants him to make the first move. I said he's made a bunch of first moves by leaving his things at her house. And then they turned it on me," I say as I shift my eyes from him to the ceiling and finish with, "and asked when you and I are moving in together."

"And that made Alice glare at me?" he asks, still confused.

"No, she glared at you because I paused and Rose took that as something being wrong, which then prompted Alice to think you did something."

"Was something wrong?"

"I mean," I frown and groan before looking at him. "No. But yes?" I stop, not knowing how to proceed.

"Are you going to tell me what's wrong?" he prompts after a moment.

"I don't know if you feel the same as I do," I mumble.

"About moving in together?" he asks and I nod. "How do you feel about it?" I open my mouth to answer but hesitate, the words caught in my throat. "Bella, you can give me any answer and I'll be okay with it," he insists gently and I nod again before letting out a sigh.

"It's too soon, right?" I wonder aloud but he doesn't respond as he waits for me to continue. "But I want you to ask," I confess as my cheeks warm again.

"It's not too soon if it works for us," he smiles softly. "I'm not asking yet because, knowing you, you'll twist it up and think I'm only asking because you brought it up," he teases and I smile.

"It's settled then. I'm moving in at some point," I laugh.

"At some point," he laughs in agreement.

XOXO

"This isn't funny," Edward grumbles as he looks at his costume.

"I think it's hilarious," I grin. "It matches mine," I continue as I motion to the nurse's costume I'm wearing. His eyes rake over my outfit and he groans. The white, stretchy t-shirt dress goes down to just below my ass with a neckline that plummets between my breasts. It has red accents and a red zipper that runs down the middle of the front of the dress. I've paired it with some fishnet stockings and red pumps. My hair falls down to my chest in loose curls with a nurse's hat sitting atop my head.

When I was costume shopping with the girls, I thought this would be a funny couple's costume but wasn't confident this would be appropriate for trick-or-treating with Riley. Edward had promised we would go with him, Alice, and Jasper, so I asked the girls to help me find a costume. Alice insisted I get these costumes for a Halloween party she's throwing along with something else to wear trick-or-treating.

"We could just stay here and have our own party," he suggests and he reaches for the bottom of my costume, pulling me toward where he sits on the edge of my bed.

"Your sister would kill us," I laugh as I straddle his lap. His hands travel around to my ass as he pulls me even closer.

"I'll lock the doors," he chuckles.

"Come on," I giggle as I lightly push his chest before standing up. "Get dressed." With a resigned grumble, he gets up and takes one last look at his costume before changing. As he does, I make my way into my bathroom to finish up my makeup. I put on some false lashes and apply some red liquid matte lipstick before tousling my hair a bit and heading back out to the bedroom.

I look over at Edward as he adjusts his scrub shirt. The navy material fits him perfectly and is pretty much exactly how I imagined he looked back when I thought he was a doctor.

"Look at you, Dr. Cullen," I grin as I walk over to him. I grab the bottom of his scrub shirt and lean up to kiss him. He kisses me for a moment before pulling away.

"You better not have left lipstick on me," he chuckles. Looking up at him, I see a hint of red under his lip. With a quick laugh, I use my thumb to swipe away the transferred makeup.

"There. Good as new," I grin. "Now come on; we need to go." I hold my hand out for him and lead him out the door once he takes it. We make our way downstairs and out to his car.

Alice's house is fully decorated from the curb through the entirety of her house. Between the amount of spiderwebs, multicolor lights, and gravestones, her whole home is transformed. She even has a casket in her front yard. A casket.

"This is insane," I say as I look around as we walk up to her front door.

"This is Alice," he laughs. "She goes all out for Christmas, too. Jasper's in for a treat once the day after Thanksgiving rolls around."

"Why am I not surprised?" I giggle.

"We're not setting foot near here until her decorations are fully up," he says quickly, still smiling. "She put me to work last year and I'm not eager to do it again."

"Oh, come on, you can't help your sister?" I laugh.

"You remember helping her for Riley's party?" he asks as we walk up the front porch steps. I nod with a grin. "That was maybe two percent of what helping her decorate for Christmas is like."

"Yikes," I grin nervously as he opens the front door. "You and I are busy the day after Thanksgiving."

"God, I love you," he grins as we walk inside.

I had no clue Alice even knew the amount of people in her house. I feel like I've be transported into a college house party with how many people there are. I take Edward's hand as he leads us through the crowded entryway into the living room. The larger space gives people room to disperse a bit more but it's still pretty well packed.

"Who are all these people?" I wonder, leaning towards Edward so he can hear me over the chatter and music.

"Work friends," he replies as he glances back at me.

"Bella!" I hear Alice's distinct shriek of an excited voice and turn to see her shimmying through two people. She scurries over to us dressed as Daphne from Scooby-Doo in a purple cropped tank with a matching mini skirt and white knee-high go-go boots. A long green silk scarf is tied around her neck and a red wig is fixed onto her head. "You two made it!"

"Of course we did," I laugh as she hugs me a little too forcefully. It's easy to tell she's already had a few drinks before we got here.

"Jazzy, Emmett and Rose are outside! Jazzy helped me set up some games back there!" she grins when she pulls away. "And there's a bonfire!"

"We'll head out there then," I smile at her. "Your house looks amazing, by the way."

"Thank you!" she grins wider as she looks around. "Jazzy helped me. Just wait until Christmas, Bella. This place is going to look straight from the North Pole!"

"I can't wait," I giggle as she squeezes my hand.

"Oh! I have to go greet these people!" she says before kissing my cheek and scurrying off.

"Come on," I smile to Edward as I pull his towards the sliding glass door. When we get outside, it's like an immediate sense of relief to not be around all the people.

"You okay?" Edward asks in a hushed tone as he glances down at me.

"Better now," I nod. "That's just so many people."

"Yeah, she likes to show her house off. She probably won't talk to some of these people for a few months after this," he explains as we make our way over to where my siblings are sitting. "If you feel like you want to leave, just let me know, okay?"

"Thank you," I smile.

"Hey guys," Jasper greets as we approach. He's perfectly paired with Alice in a Fred uniform. "She still running around like crazy in there?"

"Oh yeah," Edward chuckles. "Always the perfect hostess." He takes a seat in one of the lounging chairs and pulls me down to sit between his legs.

"You two are cute in your matching costumes," Rose notes knowingly. I grin at her and Edward groans.

"I'm assuming you encouraged her when she picked these out?" he grumbles, although the sour tone he takes on is all for show. If he was actually upset by the costumes, he wouldn't have worn it.

"I'm not quite sure I know what you mean," she smirks. Rose and Emmett are also matching in their outfits. She makes a spot-on Harley Quinn with her red and black bodysuit, fishnets, and all black Converse chucks. Her hair is in two high pony tails with the ends of one dyed blue and the other dyed pink. Emmett wears a purple suit with a green shirt underneath and the Joker's signature makeup and green hair.

"We could have done Batman and Catwoman," Edward grumbles in my ear before kissing just below it. I turn and grin at him before gasping and turning back to Rose.

"You know what I just realized?" I rush out as I look over at Rose. "McSteamy!" I laugh and she joins in.

"Oh my god, Em, we need to get you a costume like Edward's," Rose grins as she glances over to Emmett.

"Why?" he asks, confused.

"They're comparing us to characters from that doctor soap opera," Edward tries to explain.

"General Hospital?" he asks.

"Grey's Anatomy isn't a soap opera," I laugh.

"Close enough," Edward chuckles.

"Why are you comparing us to these characters?" Emmett asks.

"Something Bella said reminded me of Grey's Anatomy and it just happened," Rose explains with a shrug.

"So, if he's McSteamer, what am I?" Emmett asks and Rose and I erupt into giggles.

"McSteamy!" Rose corrects through her laughter. "It's McSteamy. And you're McDreamy," she continues as she dabs at the corners of her eyes.

"But why?" Edward asks.

"Because it's funny," I say as I turn to smile at him.

"Is this what we're wearing to trick-or-treat with Riley?" he asks.

"God, no," I shake my head. "I don't think my costume is very child friendly."

"What are we going as?"

"A police officer and prisoner," I grin before kissing his cheek.

"I'm an officer every day," he laughs.

"Good thing I'm wearing the officer costume then," I giggle. He grins and I can tell he's already picturing it in his mind.

"Rosie and I are going as Woody and Bopeep," Emmett boasts proudly.

"Riley wanted to be Spiderman so Alice is going as Spider-Gwen and I'm going as that older Spiderman from the Into the Multiverse animated movie," Jasper smiles.

"It's really cool of you to do things like this with Riley, Jas," Edward says. "He's never had someone do this with him outside of Al and me."

"I love him like I would my own kid," Jasper shrugs as if it's no big deal. "Alice and Riley are my family. Just like Bella's your family."

With the end of Jasper's last sentence, Edward's arm tightens around me and whispers, "Yes you are," in my ear before kissing my shoulder.

"Are you bringing Edward to homecoming, Bella?" Rose asks, changing the subject.

"What?" I laugh.

"We're chaperoning, remember?"

"Well, yeah, but I didn't realize I needed a date to chaperone."

"I'm bringing Emmett," she shrugs.

Turning to Edward, I smirk as I ask, "You want to come dazzle some high schoolers?" He scrunches his nose in distaste.

"That sounds predatory," he grumbles. "I'll come, but let's not talk about dazzling high schoolers," he chuckles.

"Maybe you'll be better than my last homecoming date," I grin and he barks out a laugh.

"Baby, I think you and I both know I'm already better than your last homecoming date," he chuckles as my cheeks warm.

"Your last homecoming date was Tyler, right?" Rose asks with a knowing grin.

"Yeah," I confirm with a nod.

"That's the one you—"

"Rosalie!" I yell, causing a few bystanders to look our way. "My brothers do not need to hear about this."

"Oh, please, we already know about it," Jasper chuckles and my jaw drops.

"What?" I squeak out.

"Yeah, Emmett and I were about to kick his ass until Rose stopped us."

"How did you find out?" I ask, still bewildered that they know. Jasper doesn't say anything but looks towards Rose.

"You big mouth!" I whine as I grab the nearest thing to me, some candy corn, and throw it at her.

"Hey!" she laughs. "I only told Em! I can't help it if Jasper walked by at that exact moment!" She picks up the candy corn and throws it back to me but I duck out of the way, which causes Edward to get hit instead of me.

"I'm just a bystander!" he laughs as he brushes the candy corn off his lap. I grin at him as I straighten back up and kiss his cheek.

"I should go check if Alice needs any help," Jasper says, still chuckling at our antics, before standing and heading to the door.

The four of us hang around outside for a little while longer before it becomes too dark and the temperature drops. Once inside, Edward and I don't stick around too long. It's far too crowded for my comfort level and we've lost Rose and Emmett in the crowd.

Back at Edward's house, I'm quick to get out of my costume. As cute as it is, it's incredibly uncomfortable after a while with how skin-tight it is. Once my makeup is removed and I'm comfortable in one of Edward's shirts, I flop down onto the middle of his bed as I wait for him to come in with the beers he promised.

"Comfy?" he asks as he walks in.

"Very much so," I sigh contentedly.

"Did you notice anything when you swiped my shirt from the closet?" he wonders.

"Was I supposed to?" I ask as I prop myself up onto my elbows. He rolls his eyes playfully before coming over and offering his hand. Quirking an eyebrow, I take his hand and let him lead me over to the closet.

"What do you notice?" he asks as I take in the space.

"You've hung some of my clothes up?" I point out questioningly as I spot some of my shirts on one side of the closet.

"What else?" he asks and I breathe deep as I give the closet another look. When I realize what he's getting at, my jaw drops open and I look over at him.

"You cleared out half of your closet," I say breathlessly.

"I condensed half of my closet," he chuckles. "We need space for yours."

"Are you asking?" I grin.

"I'm asking," he chuckles. "Will you move in with me?"

"Yes!" I shriek as I wrap my arms around his neck. He laughs as his arms wrap around my back. I press myself as tight against him as I can as he grins into my neck. "I love you," I mumble into his shoulder, which he echoes back.

XOXO

"What just happened?" I ask through a whisper as the guys cheer at the TV. I know the Commanders didn't get a touchdown or score any points—at least, I don't think they did. Edward chuckles and reaches down to my head that's in his lap and runs his fingers through my hair.

"We intercepted the ball and ran forty-five yards," he explains patiently.

"And that's good," I state matter-of-factly.

"It's great," he smiles. "The other team had the ball and were trying to score a touchdown in our endzone. When their quarterback threw the ball, one of our defensemen caught it and ran with it towards the other team's endzone."

"Bella, you were a cheerleader, how do you not know this stuff?" Emmett teases.

"I was busy cheering and focusing on not getting dropped!" I argue. "We were always told which routine to do. It's not like I actually watched the games."

"You're hopeless," Jasper laughs.

"Hey, at least I'm making an effort to learn," I pout as I cross my arms over my chest.

"Only because you have nothing better to do," Emmett pipes in with a laugh. I normally spend game days with Alice and Rose but both of them are busy so I'm spending it with the guys and Riley watching the game. Or, at least, trying to. At Emmett's jeering, I look up at Edward, silently willing him to stand up for me but he grins down at me sheepishly.

"They kind of have a point," he laughs.

"You guys suck," I frown as I look over at Riley playing with cars on the floor. He's oblivious to the conversation and the game taking place as he crawls along the floor with his new cars.

I turn my attention back to the game and try to pay attention but all concentration is lost when I feel Edward's fingers comb through my hair again. I sigh contentedly as his fingers absently twirl a strand of hair between them.

"Bella, Edward, before I forget, can you guys watch Riley overnight next Friday?" Jasper asks, only briefly looking over at us before looking back at the game.

"Sure, what are you and Al doing?" Edward answers for us.

"We're spending a night away," he grins. "I'm taking her to Seattle for the night."

"Aw, that'll be fun, Jas," I smile.

"You finally doing it?" Emmett asks and I gasp.

"Emmett!" I protest, not wanting to hear this.

"I am," Jasper grins even wider.

"I don't need to know this!" I groan.

"They're not talking about what you think they're talking about," Edward chuckles. I look up at him with my brows knitted before looking over at Jas. Instead of answering verbally, he holds up his hands and points to one of his ring fingers.

"Shut up!" I grin. "You're asking?"

"Bella, it's mean to say shut up," Riley frowns at me. Edward snickers and pokes my side playfully, making me squeal and squirm away from his prodding finger.

"You're right, Riley. I'm sorry, Jasper," I giggle. "Please stop talking. You're asking?" I revise.

"Yes, I'm asking," he laughs.

I turn to look up at Edward accusingly. "You knew?"

"I've known for a few weeks, yeah," he nods.

"That's not fair, Jas! You told my boyfriend before you told me?" I whine as I look over at him.

"I told my friend, yes. I couldn't trust you not to blab to Al," he defends with a chuckle.

"I wouldn't do that! You and Em are the gossips in the family."

"We aren't gossips!" Emmett argues.

"You kind of are," Edward laughs.

"You're just agreeing with her because she's your girlfriend," Emmett grumbles.

"Bullshit," I laugh. "He agreed with you earlier." Before Emmett can argue any further, the doorbell rings, drawing all of our attention.

"That must be the pizza," Jasper says as he gets up from the chair.

"I need to take a leak anyway," Emmett informs as he stands, grinning as I scrunch my nose in distaste. With both of my brothers out of the room, Edward pulls my attention to him.

"Hey," he says softly. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Jas proposing. He asked me not to tell anyone."

"It's okay," I insist. "I'm not upset."

"I know, I just don't like keeping things from you since, well, you know," he mutters sheepishly. I sit up, placing myself in his lap, and gently hold his face so he's looking at me.

"It's okay," I repeat. "You don't need to tell me everything. Just the super important things," I smile. He finally gives me a smile in return and I lean in to kiss him softly.

XOXO

I secure my hat onto my head as the wintery chill swirls around us. It's a particularly windy evening, sending pins and needles through my exposed skin. Alice and Jasper are spending a weekend away in California so Edward and I decided to take Riley to the zoo to see the Christmas lights.

After the overnight trip where Jasper proposed, he and Alice have decided that once a month they're taking a weekend to themselves because Riley had so much fun with Edward and me. So here we are, about to freeze our asses off to entertain a three-year-old/ okay, that sounded a bit cynical. If I'm being truthful, I've been wanting to see the lights at the zoo for years. It was a long morning of driving to Seattle but, luckily, Riley slept a good portion of the way. We spent the day roaming the city and stopped for dinner at a hot pot restaurant where Riley had a blast cooking his own soup.

Once the sun started to set, we made our way to the zoo where we are now bundling up by the car before going to the entrance. I crouch down and zip Riley's coat all the way up to his chin before wrapping his scarf around his neck.

"I'm getting hot," he whines with his lip jutted out as I pull a hat onto his head and over his ears.

"It's very cold outside, Ri," I smile sympathetically. "You may be hot now but when the wind blows, you'll feel the chill." Without any further explanation, I help him pull his gloves on.

As I straighten, I look over to Edward who's bundled in a deep grey pea coat with a burgundy scar. He pulls up the hood from his sweatshirt and smiles over at me. I grin at him as I take Riley's hand in mind.

"You boys ready?" I ask as I look down at Riley. He beams back and me and nods vigorously. Edward's hand finds mine and we make our way to the front of the zoo.

The line is fairly long as we wait to show our admission tickets and it doesn't take long for Riley to grow impatient. It starts by him shifting from foot to foot before he tugs on my hand and asks me when we're going to see the lights.

"We're getting there, Ri," I smile. He huffs next to me and looks over at Edward.

"Why is it taking so long?" he whines, probably hoping Edward will give him a better answer than I did.

"Come here," Edward says with a gentle sternness. Riley lets go of my hand and walks over to Edward. Turning Riley around, Edward lifts him onto his shoulders. "Do you see any lights?"

"Yeah!" he says in awe as he looks over the crowd. "Uncle Eddie, do you see them?" he asks excitedly.

"A little, yeah," Edward chuckles. "Do you see why we aren't moving?"

"Uh-uh. Why?"

"There are people waiting ahead of us. We'll get there, don't worry. We have all evening."

"Okay," Riley says distractedly as his eyes roam the lights in the distance. As the wind blows a bit, I snuggle closer to Edward and he wraps an arm around my shoulders.

We slowly make our way to the front gate and Riley starts to squirm a bit on Edward's shoulders as he grows more excited. When we get through the entrance, he pulls Riley from his shoulders and sets him on the ground.

"You need to hold one of our hands, Ri," I instruct gently. He grabs one of each of our hands and tugs us along.

"A rhino!" he exclaims through a shrill yell. "Look, Uncle Eddie!"

"Go stand by it and we'll take your picture," Edward tells him. He doesn't hesitate before running over to the rhino and looking over with a big grin as Edward snaps a few pictures.

"I can take a picture of the three of you," an older woman offers as she walks up to us.

"That would be great, thank you," Edward smiles as he hands his phone over. He takes my hand and leads us over to Riley.

"Let's take a picture together," I tell him as I lift him into my arms. "Smile," I say as I point to the woman holding Edward's phone before lowering my arm. Edward wraps his arm around my shoulders so that Riley is between us and the woman takes our picture.

"Thank you," Edward smiles as we walk over.

"You're so welcome," she grins. "I remember wanting to have a picture memory of everything when my kids were young. Your son will enjoy looking through the pictures when he's older."

"Oh, he's our nephew," Edward corrects through a chuckle. Butterflies flit through my stomach at the mention of our nephew.

"My apologies," the woman smiles. "I assumed."

"No worries," Edward returns her smile. "Thanks again," he adds in before we wish her a good night and carry on with our lights tour.

I'm amazed at how much effort has gone into the displays. There are thousands of lights throughout the zoo. The trees along the pathways are all strung with multicolor lights and there are countless animal displays. We're able to spot some animals in their exhibits as we journey along as well.

As the temperature continues to drop, Edward holds me closer as we walk. At one point, we stop at a food booth and buy some hot chocolate.

"One hot chocolate with extra marshmallows," he announces as he hands the steamy beverage to Riley. "And one hot chocolate with extra chocolate," he adds as he hands me mine.

"Thank you," I smile before giving him a brief kiss. He grins at me before he takes his own drink. As we sip our drinks, we continue to walk throughout the zoo.

"Let's get a picture over here," Edward says after awhile as he points to an archway of lights. He finds someone to take our picture and stands ack to show them how to work his phone as Riley and I head over to the archway. He comes over to us and pulls us close as we take the picture. I'm about to walk over to retrieve his phone but am stopped by him grabbing my hand. I look over at him with a quirked eyebrow before he gets down on one knee. I gasp and cover my mouth with a hand as my eyes fill with tears.

"Bella," he starts with a grin, his voice breathy with nerves, as he grabs my left hand. His lift hand reaches into his coat pocket and retrieves a small velvet box which he opens to reveal the most beautiful ring I've ever laid eyes on. "You've become an irreplaceable part of my life, which is something I'll forever be grateful for. Your constant love and support has made me a better person and I truly believe that the moment I met you, I knew I was meeting the love of my life. I want to spend the rest of my life waking up and falling asleep next to you, making new memories with you, and falling more and more in love with you. Will you marry me?"

"Yes, of course!" I sniffle with a tear-thick voice. He takes the ring out of the box and takes my glove off before slipping it onto my finger. Once it's secure, he stands up and hugs me to him. My hands gently hold his face as I bring his lips to mine.

"I love you," he whispers against my lips and my tears finally fall.

"I love you so much," I mumble back as I pull away. I look down at Riley, who's grasping my leg and looking up at us.

"You're crying, Bella?" he asks curiously.

"Yes, but it's because I'm so happy," I smile at him as I life him up to my hip. Edward takes my free hand and leads us over to retrieve his phone. He thanks to woman profusely before she congratulates us and walks away.

"Hey, Riley," Edward says, calling his attention. When he looks over to Edward, he continues with, "What do you think about calling Bella by Aunt Bella?"

He looks between Edward and me before giving a shrug and saying, "Okay."

Once we get back to the car, Edward secures a sleepy Riley in his car seat before pulling me in for another kiss. I wrap my arms around his neck as he hugs me to him snuggly.

"You make me so happy," he mumbles against my lips before pulling away.

"So, was the zoo trip really Riley's idea?" I giggle.

"Yes, I just felt it needed a little addition to it," he chuckles.

I pull my phone out of my pocket and pull him in close against as I hold the phone out for a picture. He wraps an arm around me and smiles as I hold up my left hand to show off my ring for the picture.

"Come on," he says after I turn my phone screen off. "Let's head home." He walks me over to the passenger side of the car and helps me in before shutting the door and heading over to his side. I turn my phone back on once I'm buckled and go to my group chat with Rose and Alice.

LOOK! – B

I send the picture in the following text and don't have to wait long before I get responses.

FINALLY! – A

GET IT GIRL *ring emoji* - R:

I'm guessing everyone knows?" Edward chuckles after a few moments.

"I told our sisters so I'm sure my brothers know, too," I laugh. Edward's hand reaches over and secures mine, weaving our fingers together.

Back home, Edward carries Riley up to bed and I make my way to our room, shedding my winter gear as I go. After a few moments, Edward walks in and closes the door behind him.

"I think he enjoyed himself today," I smile.

"He definitely enjoyed himself," he chuckles. "I'm hoping you did, too," he adds as he closes the distance between us and gently pulls me to him.

"Maybe a bit," I smirk as I wrap my arms around his neck.

"Only a bit?" he asks before his lips find my jaw. "It seemed like you enjoyed yourself more than just a bit," he murmurs between kisses. I hum in agreement before pulling his face so his lips meet mine.

"I think I'm about to enjoy myself a lot," I mumble as I let my hands roam his body. He groans against my mouth as my hands travel south. They stop to unbutton his pants with ease before one of them dips beneath his waistband, palming his cock.

"Bella," he moans as I stroke his length. His hands cup my jaw as his tongue presses against mine. I push his pants down past his hips before stroking him again. His hips buck against my hand as I slowly bring my hand up to his tip before sliding it back down to his base. With a hand on his chest, I gently guide him backwards until he's sitting on the bed. I break away from his lips and pull his shirt up as I straighten. He helps me get it off him before he takes his pants off the rest of the way.

I pull my shirt off as he loops a finger from each hand into my belt loops and pulls me closer to the bed. His lips find the sides of my breasts as I unhook my bra. Once it's off, his mouth latches onto a nipple as his fingers unbutton my pants. I let out an appreciative moan as my pants slide down my hips. Stepping out of them, I straddle him on the bed and his mouth moves a bit further down my chest before I pull his face up so his lips are back on him.

His hands grip the flesh on my ass, kneading it with his fingers. I lower myself onto his lap, slowly grinding myself along his shaft. His fingers squeeze a bit tighter as I move against him.

"Fuck," he grunts before moving one hand away from my ass and lines himself up with my opening. I sink down slowly, dropping my head back at the feeling of having him inside me. You would think at some point I would get used to how amazing this feels, but it's as if this is a new experience every time.

Edward's mouth finds my neck and his teeth scrape across the skin lightly before he places open mouth kisses in their wake. My hips roll against his in a smooth rhythm as his mouth voyages across my upper body.

"Edward," I breathe out as his hands grip my hips and help me quicken my pace. He hums against my shoulder before bringing his lips back up to mine.

"So beautiful," he murmurs and I moan in response. I let one of my hands tangle their fingers into his hair while the other finds his jaw and gently scratches its fingers through his beard. One of his arms wraps around my waist to hold me to him while he flips us over so I'm on my back. He rests some of his weight onto a bent arm while his other hand grips my calf to bring my leg up over his hip. My moans grow louder as he pushes himself deeper into me. The familiar tightening feeling deep in my belly signals my impending orgasm and my hands grip his shoulders in response.

"Come for me, Bella," he whispers next to my ear before nipping the lobe. This creates my undoing and I cry out as my orgasm takes control. I feel myself pulsing around him as my toes curl and eyes scrunch shut.

"Edward," I cry out as I ride out my high. His hips quicken their pace as he comes to his finish, releasing inside me as he groans my name. After riding out our highs, he collapses next to me as we try to catch our breaths. I roll over, snuggling into him before he pulls the blanket up to cover us. He turns his head to grin lazily at me before planting a chaste kiss against my lips.

"I love you," I mumble.

"Fuck, I love you," he pants. We lay in silence for a bit, too wired to sleep. My fingers lazily draw shapes along his chest. Every once in a while, he hums contentedly and pulls me impossibly closer.

"Do you want a big wedding?" I ask, a bit of shyness in my voice. This is my second wedding that I had never planned on having. After James, I was certain I didn't want to get married again but, not even a year of being unmarried, here I am, engaged.

"Do you want a big wedding?" he echoes.

"I asked you first," I frown childishly and he sighs a bit as he thinks about his answer.

"I guess that depends on what you consider to be big," he answers after a minute or so. "I want our families and friends there, but I don't want some huge lavish thing that isn't us."

"I just want close friends and family," I throw in. "No one that I haven't kept close contact with and no distant relatives that I hardly speak to. I just want the people that mean the most to us."

"I like that idea," he smiles. "This is your last wedding. I want it to be everything you want it to be."

"Oh, you're very certain of yourself, aren't you?" I giggle as I prop myself up. "What makes you so sure this is my last wedding?"

"Well, last until we renew our vows," he grins. "You're stuck with me, Babe."

"You're the only person I'll ever want to be stuck with," I grin back before leaning down to kiss him.

And stuck I am. Stuck loving him. Stuck next to me. Perfectly, happily, and willingly stuck with Edward Cullen. And that's exactly where I will always want to be.

The end!

Thank you to everyone who has stuck with me through this annoyingly long hiatus! I finally have been able to sit down and write and finished the story! Let me know what ya'll think in the reviews! This has been such a fun story to write and I am so appreciative of everyone who has read it! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Twilight What?