Chapter 7: Edward's POV

The doorbell is ringing but she's not answering…I knock, but there's still no answer. It's Tuesday, almost 6:30 in the evening, and her car is here. I bring Nessie into the back yard with me and, through the French doors, we see Bella sitting at her kitchen table with red eyes and a box of tissues; her phone in one hand and a pot-holder in the other.

"C'mon, Ness, Bella needs us." I knock and she stares at me for a moment before rushing to open the door and let us in. "Bella, are you ok?" I ask gently placing a hand on her shoulder.

"My dad…" Her lip trembles and she lets me hug her. "H-He remembered me!" She whispers as a tear slides down her cheek.

"Dad, is she ok?" Nessie asks.

"She will be, Ness. She just needs to talk for a bit. I want you to watch that timer and let us know if it goes off." I say as I lead her back to the table where her box of tissues sits and we move to the couch so she can tell me what happened.

My daughter does as she's asked, but I know that I'll have to explain to her about Bella's father. Alzheimer's is a sad and serious disease. I sit with Bella in her living-room and we face each other. "Tell me." I say gently.

"I walked into the large common-room of his 'home' and when he looked up, he said to the nurse who was with him… 'That's my baby girl…That's my Bella'." She gives me a watery smile. "I tried not to cry while I was there, but it was so damn hard."

I nod and let her squeeze my hand. "What did you two do or talk about?"

"He remembered how we used to watch TV and 007 movies together, so I showed him the newest James Bond movie; it was on cable. He was so happy. Sometimes we play cards or checkers; but today while we played gin, he asked me the strangest thing…" She says trailing off at the end. "Anyway, a few hours later when I left, I called Emmett and left a message for him to call me."

"What did he ask?" I ask.

She shakes her head. "I shouldn't…It kinda shook me up and I don't want to upset you…"

"Please tell me?" I ask again.

"He said he saw a lady in his dream. Then…" She looks conflicted. "He asked me if I knew anyone named Nancy…"

I gasp. "Holy s…sugarcane!" I say, stunned. "I've heard that kids and the elderly can see things or people who've gone when they are sick…but this is… They never even knew each other!"

She nods. "I know, Edward…It kind of freaked me out."

"I'll say…" I reply as the doorbell rings. "Are you ok?"

She nods. "Yeah, I'll just check on dinner." She says getting up and dabbing at her eyes again.

"I'll get the door." I tell her as it rings again.

Bella's POV

I hurry into the kitchen to check the timer; seeing that it is fixing to go off, I decide to take dinner out of the oven. Then suddenly I hear a commotion in the foyer. Shutting off the oven and warning Nessie not to touch anything, I run to see what's going on. I'm surprised to find my brother wrestling with Edward

"Em…what the hell are you doing?" I ask loudly.

Emmett has Edward up against the wall. "What did he do, Bells? What did he do to make you cry? You were crying in the message and you said you needed me. Well, here I am…so what did he do?" His face is darker than a storm cloud.

"Daddy!" Nessie cries, peeking into the room.

"He'll be ok, Nessie." I say as I tug at my stupid brother's arm. "Stop over-reacting, you great big oaf! Let him be!"

He shakes his head. "…Only if you tell me what happened, B…"

"It was Dad, Emmett,not Edward, now let him go!" I yell.

Emmett steps backward, releasing poor Edward.

Nessie and I rush to Edward and once he gets up, he hugs his daughter. "I'm ok, Ness. It's ok; I promise. No harm done…"

"Edward, I'm so sorry!" I tell him as I slap my brother upside the head. "Apologize…!"

"No, Bella. If my sister called me, in tears and sounding like you did when we got here; I'd be in just as much of a rage as Emmett was." Edward nods grimly in Emmett's direction. "No hard feelings, Em."

Nessie glares at him.

Emmett smirks. "Thanks, man. So, you seem better, Bells. What happened?"

I tell him about yesterday and how Dad thought I was one of the nice nurse-ladies. Then I tell him how today, when I got there, he remembered me and even watched a 007 movie with me. I tell him how I could barely stop crying long enough to see the phone to dial…and then I tell him how Nessie and Edward found me and calmed me down.

"Wow… I really am sorry, Edward. I didn't stop to think that maybe you weren't the reason she was upset. I should have remembered that she sees Dad on Mondays and Tuesdays." He stops and stares at me. "Oh shoot! You guys…dinner! Bella, I'm so sorry for ruining your dinner!"

"It's ok, Em; dinner isn't ruined. You can join us if you like; it's kind of another non-date." I sigh. "I told you about Saturday and that we were going to have a nice relaxing dinner this evening; just the three of us. Anyway, just get yourself a place setting and sit at the table. There's more than enough chicken for everyone."

"Thanks, sis; I owe you one." Em smirks.

I roll my eyes and acknowledge that he does indeed owe me one. I let theirconversation distract me as I serve the food. Edward tells Emmett about the BBQ and asks if he'll be able to make it. He says he'll make the time to be here. Since he's going to be living here in a few months too, he figures that he should know everyone or at least meet them a time or two. The rest of the meal goes along smoothly and Edward goes back to his house for the dessert which happens to be a chocolate cake that his mom baked this morning.

He puts the covered cake-plate on the dining-room table. "Ladies and gentleman… May I present…Esme Cullen's version of 'Death-by-Chocolate'!" He says with a fake English accent before pulling the cover off with flourish.

Emmett and I stare. It has to be at least seven inches tall.

Edward cuts a piece and plates it. I see three layers of cake… the outside is iced with chocolate icing and the filling is chocolate crunchies on top of a layer of icing… and as we watch, he drizzles white chocolate over the whole piece before topping it with a nice sized floret of whipped cream and a maraschino cherry.

Nessie digs right in as Emmett and I continue to stare at this masterpiece of confection.

Edward smirks…then smiles…then he bursts into a loud laugh. Pointing at my brother, he gasps. "You should see your face, Emmett! Oh, God! Priceless…!" As soon as he calms down, he smiles at me. "So, are you going to eat it or just stare at it?"

I carefully sink my fork into the cake. It's like cutting butter with a warm knife! Putting it into my mouth, I taste every different nuance of chocolate. My eyes close as I savor it. I hear a whimpering moan… or was that me?

"Bells, if you don't marry him, I will!" Emmett jokes. "Dude, this cake is awesome!"

I grin at my silly brother. "You're a nut, Em, you know that… and you can't have him." I blush as I glance his way. "He's mine."

Emmett smirks as Edward beams at me.

We play a few board games and Nessie beats our asses at Disney Trivial Pursuit.

"Em, could you do me a favor?" I hear Edward whisper as I put the game away.

"Sure, man, what's up?" He answers.

"I want to talk to Bella alone for a minute. Could you walk Ness over to our door? It's unlocked and I'll be right there." Edward says.

"Ok, but…I'm watching you…" Emmett says narrowing his eyes at Edward.

Nessie invites Emmett to see her room which is a cross between Star Wars and Disney. This distracts him and they go over to Edward's house after I hug Nessie good-bye.

"You cooked a lovely meal, Bella. Chicken Parmesan is now my second favorite Italian dish…as long as you make it." Edward says turning to me.

"Yeah…?" I ask. "Well, your mom's dessert really topped it off! Do you think she'll make it for the BBQ?"

He grins. "Maybe…I'll ask her if you'd like."

I nod.

"Bella, I'd like to try something…" Edward whispers. "Just hold still…" He takes my hands and steps closer to me. His lips touch mine softly.

I gasp and move one hand to his cheek as the kiss deepens. I feel his tongue lightly tease my lips so I open my mouth for him. His arms wrap around my waist as my hands slide into his hair and I tug, moaning into his mouth. We both still need air so the kiss break after a while and we're left panting and still holding each other.

"That was…wow…" I say softly.

"Yeah…wow…" He says. "Can I do it again?"

I smile. "How about you do it again…when you take me out…on a date?"

"Deal!" He says, quickly. "How's Friday night? I'll pick you up at 6:30?"

"I can't wait!" I tell him.

He pecks my cheek and squeezes my hand before hopping the short fence and rushing into his house.

Thanks for doing this so quickly, hnwhitlock2000! I love ya!