Thanks to everyone who has added this story to their alerts and favorites. And a huge thank you to those who've reviewed! I suck at replying to thank you personally. I know this but know I think you guys are awesome and I hope you keep reviewing.

Thank you, MC, for all you do.

A quick reminder, The Trip to New York was in the beginning of June. I just thought I'd mention it since it feels anything but summerish right now where I am.

Reminder: Twilight and all its characters are owned by Stephenie Meyer. This all human version of events, however, is mine (with MC's magic touches to make it better).

Song Rec for this chapter:

-18 Days by Saving Abel-

http:/www (dot) youtube (dot) com/watch?v=UHcUEnmQ8AI

Enjoy.

Chapter 18: Counting Down the Days

Supper with my family, the night I got home, had proved to be just as strange and irksome as my car ride from the airport with Jake, and Jess' assault on me at my apartment earlier that day. Renee and Jess bombarded me with barrages of questions; wanting details that I refused to answer, while I blushed profusely wishing they would just let it go. Leah laughed as she sat back and watched their attack and my discomfort—she was absolutely no help. Mike shot daggers in our direction as he tended to Riley; I wasn't sure if the looks were intended for Jess for her enthusiasm or me for giving Jessica a connection to her obsession. Either way it was obvious he wasn't thrilled about the topic of conversation. Jake and Charlie both grunted their disapproval of my vacation activities—of which I had never fully admitted to—before they took a box of pizza, a couple bottles of beer each and sat down in front of the television to watch a baseball game; Mike with Riley following behind them. Neither Dad nor Jake were exactly happy about me spending time with Edward on my vacation; they were both convinced all he was going to do was hurt me, as a result, they were determined to hate him.

Edward. Sigh.

I'd slipped and called Edward by his real name. It was difficult for me to remember to call him Anthony; it just didn't feel right. To me Anthony Cullen was a fictional character now, it wasn't who Edward was, and it wasn't who I'd spent my vacation with. Edward was so much more than the Anthony facade. But that slip was a mistake of epic proportions, it set Jessica on another attack of questions and demands of information.

Their questioning made me feel like I was a defenseless animal cornered by wolves, they just wouldn't let up. They insisted that since I had never told them any personal details of past relationships, somehow obligated me to tell them about this to make up for it.

After I left my parents' place, I'd run to the grocery store to re-stock my diminished pre-trip food supply and immediately wished I hadn't. It had felt like all eyes were on me; judging, questioning, whispering and following me as I navigated through the store. Okay, so they probably weren't all looking at me, but it sure as hell felt like it. I was so uncomfortable, I'd hurried out of there forgetting several things I needed. I'd might have gone back to brave the questioned scrutiny if Lauren's younger sister, who worked as a check-out girl, hadn't loudly gushed about my hooking up with "the Anthony Cullen"; confirming my fears weren't completely out of paranoia. I poorly deflected, stuttering something incoherent to the effect that I didn't know what she was referring to and dashed out of the store.

I was completely unprepared to answer questions about him. Even though Edward had told me that I could tell people we were together, reassuring me again the night before on the phone that he had no intention of denying a relationship with me, even if he wasn't going to help the press figure out who I was, I felt like I shouldn't expose any part of the real him—like it was a violation of his trust somehow.

Work the following day was just as taxing with all the looks and whispers from people—and it wasn't just because of the bouquet of flowers Edward had sent to the office. The note attached read:

Bella - You'd said these were your favorite, right? I hope things aren't too terrible for you at home because of me. If you want to get away from it, you know you're more than welcome to come back to me any time you want. I'll see you soon. X

While the fact that Edward had sent me my favorite flowers made my chest fill with warmth and put a ridiculous smile on my face, they definitely got the rest of the office's attention too. Not that the office wasn't already all-too aware. News spread fast in small towns—of course it didn't help that my sister was married to a co-owner of the company I worked for and Jess did a good amount of damage before I'd come home. I hoped that my conversations with Jessica would curb her gossiping; since I was back, I'd let her know that I didn't want her telling everyone under the sun about my personal life no matter who it involved and asked her to keep things strictly within the family, because this was hell. Though, there was an upside to the stream of questions; I had avoided so many questions from my co-workers throughout the day that I was getting the hang of the art of deflection and non-answers. But by the time I left work that day, I had succeeded in getting absolutely nothing accomplished for the day other than missing Edward even more with the constant reminder of him.

The next couple weeks without Edward dragged excruciatingly slow. I missed him so much it literally hurt—my body ached for him, screaming in protest with the lack of his electric touch. I couldn't sleep—my bed felt foreign, it was too big and too cold without him next to me. Altogether, I just didn't feel right, or whole.

Every morning I would wake in a panic, thinking for a moment that my time with Edward had all been a vivid dream. But that was usually when Edward would call to tell me good morning, as he'd made a habit to do after finding out what time I usually got up for work. His call would re-cement him as a reality, easing some of my panic and dulling the pain of being without his presence.

I'd never known it was possible to miss someone this much. So much that sometimes it even hurt to breathe.

Even worse, I realized I didn't have a single picture of him, which didn't help the feeling that ate at me that Edward was only a dream. Okay so that wasn't entirely true, technically I had access to thousands of pictures of him if I did a Google image search. I even had several pictures of the two of us together in New York, but those weren't the same. I wanted a picture of him that was of Edward not Anthony and I wanted a picture that was mine not the whole world's. That was not to say I didn't have all the pictures of us together that had been published, I just wanted one that was real to only us.

During our time apart I kept as busy as possible with work in attempt to keep Edward off my mind so I could stay sane—not that it ever really worked because he was always on my mind, but it didn't keep me from trying. The stretches of distraction were laced with bits of Edward where we would text one another throughout the day. They were usually about random things that had nothing to do with anything other than it was a way we could be connected. I looked forward to his texts. Though they weren't about anything in particular, they never failed to make me smile, knowing he was thinking about me as much as I was about him.

That Press Junket was hell. I answered the same questions for hours. They should tape the first interview and play it back for the rest… the interviewers wouldn't know the difference.

You know they don't care about the questions; they're there to flirt with you. They would miss you if you weren't there. I should know, I'm kind of a reliable source on the subject.

Yeah I miss you too, love. X

...

I'm so tired this morning. It feels I could literally fall asleep standing up. But it's too unbearably hot out already for coffee.

Try an iced coffee. They're delicious. Why are you so tired? Out partying all night with Emmett?

Really? It's not like drinking coffee when it's sat too long and got cold? Because that tastes horrible… No partying, I just can't sleep.

LOL - No, they don't taste like that at all. They're really good. Try vanilla. –Yeah I know, I can't sleep either.

Alright. I'm trusting you. If I hate it, it's your fault… Sorry you can't sleep.

Fine. I'll take full responsibility, but you won't hate it. –Don't apologize. I'm fine, Edward.

Thanks to you, love, I found my new favorite coffee. These things are great, but they're gone really fast. I think I need to have another.

Insatiable ;)

No love, that's YOU.

Only when it comes to you, Edward. God, I miss you.

I know. Me too, Bella. So much. Just a few more days love…

I was painfully aware of how much longer I had until I saw Edward. I was counting down the days until I saw him again and even though every day I got closer, it still felt like forever away. Two weeks away from Edward felt like a lifetime. He hadn't been kidding when he'd said that this wasn't going to be easy. But the alternative wasn't an option if I had a say in it, so I'd have to figure out how to do it somehow.

The next couple days followed in sluggish fashion, feeling like everything was set on slow motion; five minutes would pass and it felt like it had been an hour. But finally it was the afternoon before I'd see Edward again.

Edward was due to fly into SEATAC early in the morning. I had taken the day off work to meet him at the airport when he flew in. Edward was going to send a car to pick me up in the morning so I could be waiting for him when he landed. I had insisted on meeting him there so I could see him sooner, so he insisted on the driver because he said he was going to need my full attention. I happily complied given that reason.

I drove home from work completely keyed up. Even though sleep had been something I'd not seen much of the last couple weeks, I knew it had virtually zero chance of happening at all tonight with the knowledge that I would see Edward in about twelve hours. To hell with sleeping, I was going to be jumping in that car the second it pulled up in front of my place.

Edward had sounded like he was walking on the same cloud as I was when I spoke to him briefly on my drive home, which made me feel amazing that Edward, for whatever unknown reason, seemed to be looking forward to seeing me as much as I was him. The conversation was short, but his promise of seeing me soon sent my mood soaring, knowing it was finally true.

When I got home, in a cheery mood thanks to Edward, I changed into a t-shirt and jeans and pulled out my suitcase to pack. Edward had asked me to stay in Seattle with him while he was in town and I was more than willing to agree to a couple nights of Edward all to myself.

Floozy Bella was beside herself about the prospect, flashing all sorts of deliciously lascivious images of Edward in my mind making me want him even more if it were possible.

Edward had been vague about exactly what kind of family thing he was going to be in Seattle for; just that his parents lived in the area and his family was getting together. It wasn't a lot to go on for packing purposes, so I erred on the side of caution packing a variety of things and mostly opted for clothing that Rose had picked out for me during various shopping trips she'd dragged me to. I decided to bring along the blue dress I'd worn during my trip just to be prepared for everything. Well, that and the memory of the way Edward looked at me in that dress sent shivers down my spine in hopeful anticipation.

I felt only slightly guilty for not telling anyone I was going to be out of town over the weekend, but not guilty enough to come clean. I didn't like to bring Edward up to Rose because talking about him seemed bothered her; I knew it was because she missed Emmett, but she was too pigheaded to admit it. If my mom knew, she would just fret about me unnecessarily. Jess would freak out and find a way to stash herself into my luggage so she could meet Edward. And Jake would get moody and grunt his disapproval—something I've had more than my fill of since I'd been back from New York. It just didn't seem worth the headache to bring up to anyone, especially since I would be back in time to have our weekly pizza night on Sunday at my parents' place. Most likely no one would even know I was gone. If it was just a family thing, I didn't see how we'd be spotted by anyone. Besides, I didn't know why anyone needed to know in the first place, all informing anyone of anything seemed to do was make things worse. Edward was right to want to hide from all the attention.

A knock at my door interrupted my packing.

I momentarily panicked looking at the suitcase on the bed. It wasn't uncommon for Jake to drop by if he was in the area, just to bullshit over a beer, especially towards the end of the week. If he spotted the suitcase, it would raise questions. Of course he hadn't been by since he dropped me off from the airport because he thought I was being stupid and that I was just going to get myself hurt. But we've never gone this long without hanging out together, so it wouldn't surprise me if it was him. Well, Jake or Rose. Rose had been reluctant to give up any time with Henry since we'd been back, but it was Thursday and Thursday's were Royce's night to have him so even though she usually called before stopping, it could have been her.

Not wanting to explain myself to whomever it was, I quick shoved the suitcase into the closet, forcing the door closed, hoping it would hold.

I heard another knock and hurried out of my bedroom.

I peeked out the window that overlooked the street on my way to the door. I lived in an apartment that was on top of a business in the downtown part of Port Angeles. The lower level was the business and the upper level was an apartment. The lock on the street level never had worked and I never complained because I liked that I didn't have to deal with the hassle of having them call and me going down since there wasn't a buzzer. Plus I knew it was strange, but I found having people knock directly at my door; it felt more like a home. I didn't see Jake's squad car or his regular car, but the street was full of vehicles on a Thursday afternoon, so that didn't mean anything.

I looked out the peephole. My heart lurched and began galloping at uncharted speeds sending tingles through my body. I didn't see his face, he was turned away from the door, but there was no mistaking who owned the riot of bronze hair standing outside my door.

My phone began singing out my favorite song. His song. But whoever that was could wait. Everything could wait because he was here. Somehow, impossibly, he was here.

I fumbled with the lock, having trouble turning the simple mechanism and flung the door open in time to see him turn back around toward the door at the commotion I made trying to open the stupid thing. I vaguely noted that my phone stopped singing at the same time as he pulled his phone away from his ear because I was too entranced by his emerald green eyes that locked with mine.

"Edward," I gasped. My breathing quickened and tears fell from my eyes as I leaped into his arms. "Edward!" I repeated in disbelief.

He staggered, keeping his balance in his surprise as I wrapped my arms and legs securely around him, holding him prisoner there. He welcomed me, embracing me with his arms, holding me just as tightly, breathing a laugh at my exuberance.

"Bella," he breathed through a chuckle, sounding relieved as I breathed in a lungful of Edward's honey and sunshine smell off the skin of his neck.

He smelled even better than I remembered.

My body felt alive. Every last piece of it. Alive. Electric. Whole.

I cut off his laughter with my lips, pressing them firmly to his.

The mood changed instantly, his smile dissolved and he parted his lips moving them with mine, returning my urgency with his own. He quickly deepened the kiss twisting his tongue with mine, letting me taste his sweet breath as he walked us into my apartment, pushing the door closed behind us with his foot, keeping his arms firmly around me.

Questions raced through my head asking why he was here, how he was here. But they would have to wait for later. I had more important things on my mind that shoved those questions back.

I needed him and I could very obviously feel that I wasn't alone in that need.

I unwrapped my legs from around him. He made a sound of protest as I slid down his body, and refused to surrender my lips. He slipped his hand through my hair and held me to him not realizing I was just as opposed to breaking the kiss.

I led our way to the bed, navigating through the apartment that was foreign to him, shedding our clothing hastily as we went. When the condom was in place he threw me roughly to the bed, grabbed ahold of my hips yanking me firmly against his as he stood at the edge of the bed, leaning over me, not yet entering. His eyes were dark and full of wanting need as they locked with mine; they looked exactly the way I felt, I needed him in that moment more than I ever needed anything.

I arched my back and ground against him greedily grasping his hard shoulders, whining his name, begging him to enter me.

Edward let out a shaky breath, "I know," but he didn't concede to my pleading. Instead he kissed my lips eagerly. Then he trailed the kisses across my jaw and down my neck making me writhe under him, begging for the connection, but he continued to withhold. His mouth found my left breast while his hand tended to the other, making me gasp and cry out. He continued his sweet torture by sliding his hand from my breast, trailing his fingers down my stomach and between my legs, pressing first one then a second finger expertly into my core making me quickly and loudly come undone the way only he could make me.

I opened my eyes, breathing heavily as I came down from my high to find the now familiar look of his eyes dark, wild and full of desire as they intensely watched me. He stared for a moment and then opened his mouth as if he was going to say something, but instead quickly closed the distance between us; pressing his lips to mine, making me forget my name until he reminded me in soft murmurs.

Edward slid the palms of his hands up and down along the sides of my bare body soliciting a loud moan. The feeling of his hands on my body was pure heaven. Then he slid one arm around me, finding the curve of my back, splaying his palm on my spine as he slipped his other hand around the back of my neck. He laced his fingers in my hair, lifting me to him and finally pushed himself into me and I could feel all of the last two week's anxieties melted away.

XXXXX

"I just moved some things around so I could catch an earlier flight," Edward explained as if it were that simple. "I didn't want to tell you in case I couldn't pull it off. When you called after work, I was in the car on the way here. I was so close to ruining the surprise I knew if I kept talking to you I would," he said turning to me.

I was only half listening to the words coming out of Edward's sexy mouth. He was standing in front of the stove in just his jeans making us something to eat. I'd staked claim of his t-shirt while he insisted on being more than a foot away from me, so I could still smell his honey and sunshine scent, which left him without one.

I'd have to remember to steal Edward's t-shirts more often.

God it was sexy watching him cook without a shirt on—it was sexy watching him do anything—but I was enraptured by his hard, well-defined muscles moving as he tended to the food he'd insisted on cooking. I sat at the table, one leg crossed under me and the other bent upwards with the foot on the chair, drinking my bottle of beer watching him; marveling at him.

He was here. Edward was really here, with me, in my house and I found it cemented him as reality in a whole new way.

He turned away from the stove, leaning against the counter to face me as he grabbed his bottle of beer from the counter and took a pull. I stared at his rippled stomach, defined arms and sensual neck with the sexy as hell Adams Apple bobbing in the middle of it when he swallowed. My eyes continued up, running greedily along his porn of a jawline finding the sight of it all went straight to my core. We'd only just finished and I was ready for more.

Edward was right. I was insatiable. It was a feeling completely foreign to me, but it felt right, like everything with Edward. Nothing, especially sex, had ever felt right until Edward. Now, it felt so right, I simply couldn't get enough.

My eyes drifted down his muscular chest and stomach, when they made their way to the V that disappeared beneath the waist of his jeans, I licked and then bit my lip in want.

Edward pulled his beer away from his lips catching my gawking and smiled my favorite crooked smile.

"Insatiable," he accused teasingly, easily reading my thoughts.

I set my beer down, got up from the table and walked over to him.

"So, I'm the insatiable one, but you have a condom in your pocket," I accused with a grin tapping on the shape that showed through his front jeans pocket.

"I only made sure to have it on hand so I can be ready for your attack at any time because you, love, are insatiable," he smiled widely, his eyes dancing with the laughter he held back.

"It's not my fault I can't get enough of you, Edward," I said hoping he'd tell me he was willing to test the theory that I couldn't get enough.

"Oh really?" Edward laughed as he slipped his hands around me, pulling me against him. "Well whose fault is it then?"

"Yours, obviously," I teased back.

"How so?" he smirked, amused.

"Given the fact that never in my life has the word 'insatiable' been used to describe me until you," I explained with difficulty as Edward had slipped his hands under his t-shirt and were stroking my bare waist.

My breathing became disjointed.

"And what makes me so different?" Edward asked dragging his fingers down my stomach and running his finger pads along my underwear lines smiling innocently at me, pretending he didn't realize how crazy he was making me with his touch.

The words, "because I'm in love with you," popped up immediately in my mind, nearly leaping from my lips before I could stop them with their surprise assault. Honesty Bella had decided to make an appearance and apparently was nearly as impossible to hold back as Floozy Bella.

Where the hell did all these personalities come from? And where did Edward's go? I hadn't noticed them invite their unwelcomed selves to any of my conversations with Edward since I'd gone home and I seemed to be gaining personalities since meeting Edward. I knew you couldn't catch multiple-personality disorder, but I found myself starting to question if maybe you could.

My eyes locked with Edward's as I grappled to figure out what to say. My breathing got heavier and I could feel the warmth of unease fill my chest.

Crap. What the hell was I going to say? The full, honest truth was far too much; I needed to think of something else.

A voice in my head snorted at the plan reminding me I was terrible at lying.

The silence lengthened. I could feel the air around us thicken with each passing second.

"I don't know, you just are," I breathed. My voice was unsteady, but I was relieved that I was able to keep Honesty Bella from blurting out too much too soon.

"You're a terrible liar, Bella," Edward challenged staring down at me intensely. His green eyes prodding for the answer I wouldn't say. I looked away, breaking the eye contact, trying to hide my emotions that were usually written all over my face.

Honesty Bella jumped up and down, yelling the words over and over, trying to shout them loud enough for Edward to hear.

Between her and Floozy Bella, it was beginning to feel like I had a multiple-personality cheerleading squad living in my head.

"It's okay. I get it," he tipped my chin up and brushing away a stray lock of hair, smiling softly. "Remember, I don't want you doing or saying anything you don't want to or aren't ready for. You don't have to tell me if whatever it is isn't something you're ready to say. You can let me know in your own time. Just know, I understand. I'm a bit scared and overwhelmed by this too."

I knew my emotions were easily read on my face but there was no way—had he read my mind?

Wait. Did he just say what I think he said? Was he saying he loved me too?

My eyes snapped back to his. My heart began racing with hope and want sending warmth from it.

No. I was crazy for even entertaining the thought. It wasn't possible.

Edward gave a nod as if answering my unspoken question, telling me he did, but it was so subtle I questioned if I really saw it. Still, my heart lurched out of rhythm and then continued its race as he closed his eyes and pressed his forehead to mine, my eyes closing with his contact. I felt tears sting behind my closed eyelids with unbridled hope that he did or that he could someday love me too.

I closed the distance of his lips to mine. Our emotions spilled into the kiss, quickly turning it into something more; the food next to us on the stove; completely forgotten.

Edward hooked his fingers on the sides of my underwear and began dragging his fingers down my legs, pulling my underwear until they dropped to the floor, then he lifted me up and set me on the counter. He pressed his hands on the inside of my knees, parting my legs and settled between them.

I reached for the button on his pants, and found with a small tug, it opened completely for me—button fly. I licked my lips realizing he wasn't wearing anything under his jeans. He pulled the condom from his pocket and then let his jeans fall to the floor with a swift "whoosh". I quickly snatched the condom from his hands looking for any excuse to touch him, satisfied with myself that I was able to do so much easier than the last time I'd tried.

He wasted no time, grabbing my hips, to line us up. Edward stared into my eyes. I wondered if I was just imagining the severe emotion that colored them or if it was what I'd wondered what he'd meant by the words he'd just said affecting my perception.

Edward leaned in, kissing me tenderly at first but the intensity grew quickly. When he pulled my hips forward, plunging himself deep inside me, our kisses deepened further.

He withdrew and pulled me against him again, harder this time.

Oh.

And again.

I moaned loudly in response to the feeling.

More aggressively.

Oh God.

Again.

I begged for more.

He complied.

Harder.

Again.

And again.

Over and over until he had me screaming his name as he finished with me.

Sex with Edward always felt strongly charged with emotion and sensation, but there was something more there this time, something was different. I couldn't put my finger exactly on what it was and I knew that it could have been just something I imagined. But I couldn't help but wonder if it was because of the words we didn't quite say; if he did know what I couldn't say was that I was in love with him and that he had meant that he loved me too. If so, maybe the difference I had felt was that we'd gone from having sex to making love.

I didn't know for sure. But I did know that for now, I would have to settle with simply wondering.

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