WOW…HOLY PEANUTS that was a lot of reviews! Sorry it took a few days longer than expected…Tuesday I was devastated by certain primary results that I'd like to not speak of and yesterday I had oodles and oodles of homework. And right now I'm going to start a paper due tomorrow yayayayay!

Don't own.

Ch 12: Fly Me to the Moon

I walked into my house practically skipping, I was so happy. My mother gave me a stern look, clearly not approving of my little sleepover, but I hardly noticed it.

It was sinking in more and more now. He'd kissed me!

I wasn't dreaming, it had really happened.

"How are you, Mother, on this fine and glorious day!" I grinned, as she was rearranging some flowers in the shop, and gave her a kiss on the cheek. I knew I had a visible bounce to my step, and knew even she wouldn't have the heart to bring me back down to earth right now.

"Good night?" she asked, raising her eyebrows.

"The night was dreadful!" I chattered, as she followed me into the house where I set down my coat and removed my shoes. "The family set us up…and Jacob Black was there…and there were too many cameras…and Edward's cold caught up with him, and I took him home and took care of him, and fell asleep in these awful shoes…"

I continued speaking as I prepared for my shower, and was surprised that my mother hadn't come out and directly asked me.

Yet.

I was fairly certain that she would ruin my euphoria, like she usually did, but didn't care at this point.

"Sounds like a blast." She said sarcastically, then sighed.

Here it came, the stormcloud, the rain on my parade.

"Bella, honey…I'm not sure this is a good idea." She told me. "I know you really like him, but he's your superior at work."

"I know." I rolled my eyes, sitting on my bed. "But he's not like one of those. He's not the stereotypical sleezy boss who diddles with all his female employees."

"How do you know? Bella, he could just be messing around. When he's finished with you he'll fire you and move on to the next pretty face."

"He's not, Mother!" I raised my voice, unable to take this. All of this had gone through my head at one point in time or another, but my gut told me he wasn't a sexual deviant. "If he was, would he have gone through so much to make sure I was financially stable? He paid off my bills, Mother. He paid off all of Charlie's debts. Do you know any scumbags who would do that?"

She remained silent, stunned like I was, and collapsed to sitting on my bed next to me.

"I hope you thanked him for that, Isabella." She said after a moment.

"Of course I did!" I rolled my eyes. "It was only, oh, you know, half a million dollars."

Who did she think I was, a caveman?

Honestly, sometimes she really forgot I wasn't an ignorant child.

"Do you think this is a serious thing?" Her face was pale, her eyes still wide. I think she had automatically skipped past the dating scene and, like most women when someone they know, was thinking ahead to marriage.

"I don't even know." I shrugged, thinking about the possibilities. He had kissed me! "I hope so."

I definitely wanted to experience more of those kisses…

My mother sighed, seeing my smile, and patted my knee.

"Just…be careful, honey."

"Oh, God Mother! He kissed me! That's it! It's not like I'm going to jump into bed with him, get pregnant, and marry him because of it—"

"Like I did?" she interrupted me, looking serious as she took my hand and squeezed it. "I was your age, Bells. Your father was charming, and I didn't know him for very long. Don't get me wrong, you're the best thing that happened to me, but I don't want you making any hasty, life-altering decisions…"

"I know, Mom." I said softly, maintaining eye contact with her. "But you know me. I haven't even had a boyfriend in four years, since that awful fiasco with Jacob. I don't know what this is just yet but I'd like to give it a try."

"You really like this boy, don't you?" she said with a small smile. I nodded, unable to keep the smile from my features. "Though I suppose at your age he'd be considered a man…"

I smiled, resting my head on her shoulder. She was taking this better than I thought.

"I daresay he's handsome." She smiled, toying with my hair. "And the money doesn't hurt the situation, either…"

"Mom!" I exclaimed, flushing. She'd say anything. She had no shame, and if he had been there she'd say it in front of him.

"What? It's true. His family owns probably half the city!"

"I'm well aware of the wealthy Cullens." I rolled my eyes, standing. "Well…I'm going to shower, then head back over to Edward's. Are you set for dinner?"

"Yep. I'm leaving in a few minutes to go to Ellen's tonight." She stood also, and went to the door. "Be good, sweetheart."

"'Kay."

Be good? What was I, six?

Oh well. At least she wasn't going to flip out at me…I hoped.

I showered, changed, and took the bus downtown to walk the rest of the way. I was still getting used to the idea of a possible relationship…I didn't really know how to have a relationship anymore. My last disaster had been so long ago, and it was a shallow high school relationship not meant to last.

I think that was why I immersed myself in my schoolwork in college, then my work once I got out. I didn't want another person wasting my time…

…but Edward seemed so different. He truly was a gentleman, he'd shown me on several occasions.

My heart swelled as I reached his apartment building.

"Hey, I'm back!" I called upon entering his house, glad he hadn't locked it. It was freezing outside and my walk was really really really cold.

"Hey." He smiled at me, coming out of his room. I saw he'd changed, too, into casual but nice looking clothes.

God, I loved that smile.

And I loved how he came over to me and put his hand on my shoulder, just looking at me with that smile and sighing.

"Feeling better?" I asked, reaching up to touch his forehead. My hands were cold, and against his face was warm, but it was just because they were cold. He smiled wider, if possible, and held my hand against his cheek, staring at me with those beautiful green eyes. My heart skipped a beat, and I could feel color rushing to my face.

"Much." He kept smiling, and I thought I was going to melt. "How would you like to join me for dinner tonight?"

"Would this be our second date?" I said playfully, unbuttoning my jacket and heading towards the coat rack by the door.

"I'd like to count it as our first." He said, stopping me from taking off my coat. It was about dinner time now, I guessed we were going immediately. "You know, seeing as I was incapacitated halfway through our last."

"Alright." I said, putting my gloves back on. "I guess that's fair."

"Great." He grinned, flashing me that brilliant smile of his. "I made reservations for Sienna, tonight."

"Sienna?" My jaw dropped. That was one of the best restaurants in the city, and reservations had to be made days in advance… "Edward, that—"

"What? A classy restaurant for a classy woman." He took my hand and kissed it, bringing the smile back to my face.

"But I'm underdressed…"

"You look beautiful." He assured me. "And I wanted to take you ice skating after dinner. What you're wearing is perfect. Do you have a scarf? It's cold out."

And we left, going to one of the most prestigious restaurants in the city on absolutely no notice. There's no way he could have called in the reservations before this afternoon…

He held my hand as we walked, something I wasn't used to. I wasn't used to this whole situation.

It was refreshing, and amazing.

I felt like a teenager again, nervous and giggly, going on my first real date…

…holding hands…

I kept looking up at him, as we walked the three blocks to the most amazing restaurant I'd ever been in.

At least, it was the most decadent. It followed a traditional Renaissance style, with gold and marble, and Renaissance paintings and sculptures…I was envious of this kind of life.

And here I was, in this magnificent place, with jeans and a sweater. I mean, Edward was, too, but he was beautiful, he looked like he belonged, and carried himself as if he owned the place.

With Carlisle's wealth…he probably did.

We received many, many stares as the waiter led us to our table, and Edward didn't seem to notice.

I was really glad he was holding my hand. The disgust on some of these people's faces was unnerving me.

I knew he was beautiful. I knew he was probably one of the most sought after bachelors in the city, and he was known everywhere.

Seeing someone like him with someone like me didn't sit well with this crowd, especially if the two of us were in jeans and my coat was falling apart…and they hadn't even seen that, it was checked at the door…

I really hadn't tried on my appearance. I didn't wear any makeup, and my plain brown hair was down and misbehaving again, staticky with the absence of moisture in the cold air outside. I was in normal jeans and a sweater, though it was one of my nicer ones…either way, compared to this restaurant I looked like a scrub.

"Breathe, Bella." Edward whispered to me, as our host seated us.

Wow.

I hadn't even noticed I was holding my breath.

I inhaled, feeling the wonderful sensation of air in one's lungs, after they'd started burning a little bit…

Yeah. I wasn't really good at breathing.

"Relax." He said, taking my hand in his and kissing it.

God, I loved when he did that. It was just the gesture in itself, it was so classy, so chic.

"Seriously, Bella, you look like you just witnessed a murder." He chuckled, as my expression hadn't changed, apparently. "Why are you nervous?"

"Good question." I answered, sighing.

Why was I nervous? I'll tell you why.

I was nervous because I still didn't believe this was happening. I thought I was dreaming, and any second now I'd be rudely awakened by my alarm clock.

That, or maybe this was some kind of sick reality show…what was that one I had seen in high school? Punk'd?

I shook my head, banishing those thoughts. I knew it wans't that.

But I could still be dreaming.

"Edward, these people hate me." I voiced part of my thoughts, glancing around, then back to his magnificent eyes. "They're whispering about us, about why on earth someone like me is with you. I know they are, I saw the way they stared when we came in…"

"I don't care what they think." He said, leaning back on his chair. I knew he was telling the truth, that he really didn't. He would do anything, and not care. "I've been dealing with their type for quite a while now. They know to expect the unexpected."

"And I'm the unexpected?" I said, unable to keep an edge from my voice. That was basically like saying I wasn't really his type, to the public eye. It was like saying I was nothing.

"In a way, yes." He shrugged. He was being blunt again, almost like he was back in the office again. He was still smiling at me like he was when he was the nice Edward, but now his voice had taken on a more business like tone.

Our waiter came over and we placed our orders, and Edward ordered a bottle of wine, as well.

"Remind me why I put up with you again?" I shook my head, brushing it off. I couldn't help but smile, because he was smiling at me.

"Because you hate me so much you can't help but like me." He flashed that grin, the mischievous one that, in the office, would most likely cause me to storm out of the room.

"Jerk." I muttered, in jest, feigning pouting as I rested my chin on my hand. "And we're going ice skating? I hope you know you'll be holding me up the whole time."

"I don't mind." He grinned. "And you can't be that bad."

"I haven't been ice skating since I was seven, for a very good reason. I have no balance."

"I suppose you're telling the truth, since you did break my alarm clock this morning, trying to stand on heels." He smirked, and I flushed.

I thought he'd still been asleep. At least, I thought he hadn't noticed that I fell…

"I'll replace it if you want—" I started, but he shook his head at me, leaning over the table a little.

"Don't worry about it. I'll just pick one up tomorrow." He took my hand in his again, and kissed it. "You're beautiful when you sleep, you know."

What?

He'd been awake?

But he said he didn't remember…

Oh, that conniving little jackass.

"I thought you had fever-induced amnesia." I said, quirking an expectant eyebrow at him as he simply played with my hand, lightly caressing it.

We were kind of playing footsie, only with our hands.

"I may have lied."

"Fooled me." I scoffed.

"Acting isn't really that hard, especially when the person you're trying to convince was just waving her arms around like a lunatic, making ghost noises." He grinned, at my attempt to fool him that morning. I flushed even harder. "I was only awake a few minutes before you, though. You were shivering, and it was shaking the bed, so I tucked you in."

"I fell asleep on top of the blankets for a reason, so it wouldn't be awkward." I said, crossing my arms at him.

"Bullshit." He said casually, as the waiter brought us a bottle of white wine and filled both our glasses. "You wouldn't have left your shoes on if you intended on going to sleep."

"I…" I started, then closed my mouth. He was right, he'd caught me.

Did he know everything? I was starting to think that he did.

I was starting to think that the fever bit was a little acting, but knew it wasn't, because of the temperature reading I'd gotten.

If not for that, I would have definitely believed it.

"If you were so sick, why did you bother going out?" I asked, as the question popped into my mind. I figured now pretty much anything owuldn't be out of line to ask.

"I wanted to see you." He caught my eyes with his, and I felt the warmth rush to my cheeks. "Even if it wasn't really a date, I wanted to see you. Jasper told me you looked great in Alice's dress." He paused, taking a sip of his wine. "I'm rather inclined to agree. If I didn't know who you were, I'd have thought you were a new model, or an actress, perhaps."

"Okay, now you're just lying." I said, and inwardly sighed. It looked like my cheeks would permanently be a shade of pink.

At least it was some color, as opposed to my usual ivory skin.

"Why is it so hard for you to believe that you're beautiful?" He had amusement in his eyes, most likely at my constant reaction. "Why, I had more questions after the fundraiser dinner on Monday about who you were…many of the young men there would agree with me."

"People talked about me?"

"They were curious. I said you were in a relationship so they wouldn't bother you." He shrugged.

"Did you?" I was smiling, keeping my voice light. "Well, maybe you shouldn't have…am I in a relationship?"

"Would you like to be?" he was smiling as well, his eyes positively glittering, matching his smile perfectly. It was the Smile. The one that was reserved especially for me, I'd learned in these past few hours…

Had it really only been a few hours?

My heart skipped a beat at this, again, the prospect of being in an actual relationship. I hadn't even thoguth of him as my boss this whole time…

I was smiling, and couldn't bringmyself to speak. I nodded dumbly, and saw a wide grin spread across his beautiful face.

"As would I." He kissed my hand once more.

Ah! So amazing!

Boyfriend. It was a word I hadn't used in such a long time.

Who's my boyfriend, do you ask? Why, it's Edward Cullen, do you know him?

That would be such a satisfying answer to one of the women who came into the flower shop all the time. What was her name? Laura? Lauren?

Meh, it didn't matter.

It wasn't the name recognition I cared for, obviously, but it was an added bonus.

"Say, Edward?" I asked, after a few moments of comfortable silence, after our meals came and we began to eat. "Why were you really at the flower shop, the day of the storm?"

"To see you, of course." He smirked. "I had to make up a lame excuse to do it, but it was for the better. If I hadn't, and I hadn't gotten sick from the cold, we might not be sitting here with one another right now."

"Here's to lame excuses, then." I smiled, raising my glass to toast.

a/n: I SO wanted to end it there but decided to be nice. So you should love me muchos.

"No! Edward, too fast!" I shrieked, as he held my hand skating, and let go of me once he'd built up some momentum.

He was trying, and failing, at teaching me how to skate.

I wasn't graceful, at all, and ended up smacking right into the side of the rink to stop, pretty hard, then bounced back and fell on my rear.

He began to laugh, and tried to hold it in as I glared at him indignantly

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I've just never seen someone bounce off of the walls in a rink." He said, chuckling, helping me up. "You're an amusing individual, that's for sure."

"Oh yes. I think throwing your date into a wall is just hilarious." I rolled my eyes, slipping and sliding everywhere as we began to skate again. He went slower this time, and didn't let go of my hand.

Despite my obvious handicap, it was fun.

But I was awful.

I clung to him the whole time and just looked up at him every now and then, when I felt comfortable enough with my awful skating to sneak a glance.

It was a beautiful night.

It was freezing, and he'd given me his scarf to keep me warm, and I had my gloves, so it wasn't awful just yet. It wasn't snowing, at least, on this outside rink.

The cool night air, and the light reflecting off of the ice, and the city lights, and me and Edward, together…it was all too surreal.

I tripped exiting the ice, as we were leaving, and fell into Edward's arms, just like the movies.

This was really too good to be true.

He just smiled down at me, and captured my lips in a sweet kiss, in public. I hadn't been expecting that, I'd been expecting a more…well, not secret relationship, but certainly not one in which we were seen macking it in public!

But we weren't doing anything, really, he just kissed me once.

But it was still in front of everyone, and I thought that was weird. I was never a fan of excessive public displays of affection, or PDA.

Or rather, it wasn't weird, it was just new. I hadn't been in a relationship in so long, I really didn't know what to expect.

I had been cold before, but now I wasn't! My cheeks flushed, though I was smiling as he drew back.

My God, he was sexy when the cold breeze tousled through his hair…

I was star-struck, looking at this beautiful man in front of me.

My beautiful man, I supposed he was, now.

I smiled, as his arm went around my waist and he led me to the skate rental returns, practically holding me up so I wouldn't trip on the narrow edge of my skate.

I liked that.

He was already used to my clumsiness.

Maybe this wouldn't be so difficult, after all?

Aaaand there you have it. Review, all you wonderful, beautiful people!