My arrival back in Forks was smooth, and I didn't even trip as I left the plane, which I considered one of the best moments. The following few weeks were a transition into summer went perfectly. Edward and I enjoyed every peaceful moment we could find. I was welcomed into the Cullen household with such warmth on every occasion that I felt at amazingly at home there. I slept over on countless nights. I finally was able to convice Edward that all I needed in the morning was a bowl of cereal or oatmeal, and that the extravagant breakfasts they normally cooked me – although appreciated – were unnecessary.

The wonerful thing about my time with the Cullens, was that as everyone grew more comfortable with me, they began to relax exactly as I had. Which was an interesting thing. Rosalie became less civil, more crass – which Edward assured me was how she was with everyone. Alice got weirder, and Jasper went along with her. They'd have entire conversations with single looks. I expected it of Alice and Edward, but the ability of Jasper to communicate via emotional waves was incredible. Esme was more motherly than ever, participating in my yoga practices, occasionally braiding my hair, and other fun things like that. Even Carlisle kept offering to go running with me. His excuse was that he wanted to be sure my injuries were healing well, but I think he just enjoyed spending the one-on-one time with the newest member of the family. The one negative relaxing part was that every time I stayed over, Emmett would undoubtedly make a 'lack of sleep' joke, and it got to the point where I was beyond annoyed, and was actually starting to take him seriously. I was dating Edward, and had been, for months now, and we'd never really… progressed in the physical department. It was a notion, swimming in the back of my mind. It's not like I'd ever had particular experience in that field, but I'd read enough, watched enough TV, and accidentally overhead via lip-reading enough 'dirty' conversations that I felt like I was probably missing out.

It wasn't until most of the Cullens were out of town that I worked up the courage to even say something. It was Alice, Edward, Jasper, and me in the house. The other four had gone out hunting. Alice and Jasper had just left to get me some kind of food, since nobody wanted to cook, or let me cook for myself that night. I was hoping they were just going for pizza, but Edward said they had something a little further in mind. Edward was sitting, comfortably slouchedd on the couch beside me. We were watching a new television series, and were catching up with the last few episodes to the point where Alice and Jasper had seen. I bit at my lip slightly, and then worked up y courage. I pulled at his dress shirt slightly, undoing the bottom button, and then redoing it.

"Edward…" I began. His eyes caught mine. The hands that had been behind his head flew forward.

What is it?

"I wanted to ask you something. I mean, I was thinking about something, since Emmett mentioned it."

I'm confused and slightly nervous. What exactly did Emmett do that's made you so unsure? Your heart is racing. He signed, his face worried.

"I was just wondering about, the physical aspect of our relationship." I managed to force out through my teeth I quickly closed my eyes so I could focus as I continued to blabber. "And whether or not it was ever going to…progress." Could I have made that sound any more clinical? Good pitch Bella. I opened my eyes to see what Edward's hands were doing. They were frozen, and his face mirrored his hands.

"I'm sorry if that sounded super clinical, but I wasn't exactly sure how to word things."

Bella, I have enough trouble not killing you in our regular life. You realise how easy it is for me to break you right?

I know. I signed, feeling forlorn. I just wondered if there might be a way to practice into things.

Edward didn't respond at all.

I'm not sure if 'practice' is the right word. I began. This time Edward stopped my hands with his.

"Bella." He paused, releasing my hands, and continued with his. "I… I understand where you're coming from, and if we were any normal couple then I would have probably progressed with you, to some degree. But we aren't normal. If I apply the wrong pressure, move too quickly, if I'm careless for one second, you could be irrevocably injured."

"I understand where you're coming from. But we didn't get to the point we're at now – being able to cuddle on a couch comfortably – without practice. It took you practice being around me, and bombarding yourself with my scent, and taking that extra time to figure out how to deal with me, to get us to this point."

"I'll agree with you there."

"So I don't see why we can't practice, and work up to, something more."

"Because it's too dangerous."

"If I were to take all of my clothes off and lay on you now, would you kill me?"

"It's highly unlikely I'd let you get that far –"

"Would. You. Kill. Me?" I repeated. He sighed in defeat.

"Probably not."

"Then what's a little movement?" I smirked, blushing at my own forwardness. He let his head fall back onto the couch cushion. I didn't push him after that point. I watched him out of the corner of my eye, as I idly watched the TV again. They had the subtitles on, so I could catch everything. I could see Edward clenching and unclenching his hands beside me, as his thoughts raced.

As it turned out, I had timed my 'talk' with Edward perfectly. I had just enough time to rid myself of all embarrassment and relax again, before Jasper and Alice pulled into the driveway. They brought in four bags of food, branded with a Port Angeles restaurant logo and I scowled at them. Jasper simply winked, ferrying the bags to the kitchen in an impressive balancing acct while Alice materialised a plate, and utensils, presenting them to me.

"What did you order? The entire menu?"

"Just shy of it." Alice beamed. "We admitted that the four of us are chilling tonight, so we had to get four meals."

"And four appetizers." Jasper added, very loudly. He was sitting on the opposite couch now, as far from me as possible. He had set out all the covered plastic containers onto the coffee table. There were at least a dozen, of varying sizes.

"And four desserts?" Edward inquired, signing too. "I can smell chocolate."

"Exactly." Alice laughed. "Bella you can pick whatever you'd like, and keep the rest here for the next few days to eat."

"The next few days? Alice you bought enough to feed me for a week." I shook my head in disbelief. "I still think its strange that you feed your food so well."

"You're the Kobe Beef of the vampire world." Edward managed to joke. "I want to make sure that if I do kill you, you'll taste amazing."

I would have missed it if I wasn't looking at him. Jasper swallowed hard, and chomped his teeth together slightly.

"Enough with the morbidity." I scolded. "Feed me peasants."

Even Jasper laughed.

AN:

My next few chapters of adventure for my Bella may go in a direction some fans are not appreciative of. Here are some spoilers/reassurances for the very end (whenever that may be):

- Bella and Edward live happily ever after, and so do Jacob and Renesmee.

Until that point, bear with me, things may get a little…. Unique. Feedback is always appreciated, and I hope you continue to enjoy my story.