Chapter 10: Edward's POV

She faints, falling out of her chair. *That's crazy!* I think to myself. *Instead of being happy or shocked that we've met before, she faints!*

As I pick her up, I look down at her face and hold her close to me. Damn, Bella feels so good here in my arms. I'll put her in my bed and wait for her to wake up.

I carry her carefully into my bedroom and place her head on my pillow after slipping off her shoes. It's late; maybe I should just go to sleep. We'll wake up in the morning and talk more.

I try to detach myself from my guest but she won't let go of my hand. I decide to forego the usual night-time routine and just sleep in my clothes. Even as I take my shoes off, I know I won't be very comfortable considering that I'm still in my suit, but at least I won't have to wake her.

I've always been a light sleeper so I'm not surprised to wake up a few hours later as Bella begins to move away from me. "B-Bella… are you leaving? Where are you going?"

"I'm sorry to wake you, Edward. Uhmmm, yeah, I need to go home…" She trails off awkwardly. "I should be in my own bed, not making you uncomfortable in yours."

"Bella, please, don't leave on my account. I could lend you something to wear… I mean, when you fainted, I didn't think you'd appreciate me undressing you, so I just laid you here." I tell her. "Then you had such a hold on my hand that I didn't want to wake you by trying to undress myself, so I just laid down beside you…and fell asleep…"

"It's ok; I'm glad that you did what you did, but I really need time to think and stuff… so I think it's best if I go home now." She says softly as she walks to the kitchen to get the little bag she'd brought last night.

"Bella, please, we need to talk about this! There are too many coincidences between us." I begin to beg as I follow her.

"I alreadyknow what you're going to say, Edward. We're meant for each other, right? We would've eventually met and felt this attraction; the same one that we are feeling now." She says in exasperation. "I…I thought we planned to take things slow …I thought we said no secrets! How long have you known about this?"

I shake my head. "I swear to you… Bella, I've only known for a few days. I just didn't know how to tell you. Please don't be angry with me."

She sighs. "I'm not angry, Edward. I'm embarrassed that I fainted and woke up in your bed…it just feels so strange to me. My life has become so weird since I met you. For instance, I've never been asked out by a 9 ½ year old before…and while I'm sure that I've joked about them, I've never actually had a visit by the furniture fairies. My old neighbors were nowhere near as friendly as they are here and I've definitely never been kissed the way you kissed me on Tuesday…"

"You mean, the way I'd like to kiss you again…?" I ask hesitantly.

She takes a breath and just stands there.

I step closer and bring my hand up to cup her face. "May I…?"

Bella looks up into my eyes and whispers. "Please?"

I smile and place my lips against hers. I take in her scent as the kiss deepens. It's sweet with a touch of spice, nothing too over-powering, not like Maria with her over the top floral nonsense either. As I break our embrace, I ask, "Come back to bed, Bella, please? It's late and I can lend you something to wear. I promise…no funny business…just sleep."

She sighs. "Ok…but I want to have time to get dressed at my place before Ness gets home to see me like this. I'm getting too old for the walk of shame, even if I've done nothing to be ashamed of."

I grin and run back tomy bedroom. In my pajama drawer, I have a set of pajamas; Bella can use the shirt. It should cover her all the way to her knees. I give it to her and go to the bathroom to change. When I get out, she's standing next to my bed and I can see that I was wrong. The shirt only covers her to mid-thigh. I bite my lip and ask, "Do you mind sharing the bed or should I take Nessie's room?"

"Hold me…?" She says shyly as she raises the covers.

I nod and we both slip in. I allow my arms to open for her. My heart swells as she snuggles close to me. I know it's taking a lot for her to trust me this much so soon. I swear to myself that I will not try to move things along faster than she's ready for.

God, she feels so good in my arms, as I drift off to dream-land.

Bella's POV

The jangling of Edward's phone awakens me the next morning. I blink and rub the sleep out of my eyes before glancing at the clock. It's nearly 10 am, so I get up noticing that Edward's side of the bed is empty. My heart isn't…He'd kept his word and we'd only slept. I breathe deeply; his scent is worth savoring. He smells of tropical breezes and citrus fruits. I can't believe I'm even here. I'm standing In Edward Cullen's bedroom and wearing only a pair of panties and his sleep shirt which barely goes past my butt.

"Oh, good; Bella, you're awake. Alice is bringing Nessie and Hale over because I now owe her a babysitting stint. She wants to spend the afternoon alone with Jasper. They'll be here in an hour or so." Edward says from the doorway.

"Ok… I'll just run over to my place, grab a shower and change. Do you want help with your nephew?" I ask.

"Really, that'd be great!" He smiles. "I'd miss you if didn't come back…"

I smirk and shoo him out of the room so I can get dressed.

He hands me a piece of toast on my way out the door. "See you soon."

Holding my shoes I run across the open expanse of our lawns. Getting into my living-room, I see a blinking light on my answering machine. I press the button and find a message from Emmett telling me that his car broke down and he's now got a date with his drop-dead gorgeous blonde tow-truck driver, who owns her own garage, andby the way, Tanya's a bitch because she dumped him for an ass-hole with a Mohawk… I shake my head as I contemplate what to wear while I help Edward with his small nephew. I get into the shower and take my time. I love the feel of the hot water surrounding me. The lather of my vanilla and nutmeg shampoo cleanses my body and the scent just fills the room. Stepping out of the tub, I wrap my fluffy terry-cloth robe around me. I open the door to my bedroom and hear a giggle from down the hall. "Em, is that you?" I ask.

"Uhmmm… yeah, Bells. I brought my date to meet you. She lives closer to you then the campus." My brother yells.

"Ok, I'll be out in a bit, and then I'm helping Edward with something for the rest of the day." I call. I pull out my jeans and slip on a sexy bra. Just because he may not see it, leaves no reason for me not to feel sexy…right? Slipping on my tennis shoes, I sigh and resign myself to meeting Emmett's new fling.

The scene as I enter my living-room is incredible. She and Emmett are sitting on my couch and just talking softly. He's not in active flirt-mode or even goofing around with her. He's acting shy and… wow, he just blushed! I haven't seen my little brother blush since he graduated high school. "Hi, I'm Bella… and you are?"

"Hi, I'm Rosalie Hale-Whitlock. You can call me Rose." The blonde bombshell stands and shakes my hand.

"I'm the only one who can call her Rosie… She told me that." Em says quietly.

I smile at him. "Well, it's nice to meet you, Rose. I'm sorry to greet you and run but I promised my neighbor…" I pause realizing that he's not just a neighbor. "I promised my friend next door, that I'd help him baby-sit for his nephew."

"Oh, I love kids. My step-brother and his wife Alice have the sweetest little boy." She says.

I giggle and sit down quickly. "Forgive me…Alice…does she have a brother?"

She frowns. "Yes…His name is…"

"Edward…?" I ask pinching the bridge of my nose. "…And their parents are the Cullens?"

"Yes…" Understanding lights up her eyes. "You're the one who needed to get dressed up last night? Edward's neighbor and love interest?"

Emmett is just staring at us so I explain the whole thing. "Between Carlisle's connections to the publishing firm, the way we originally met and now the fact that you two are going on a date… I'm beginning to agree with Edward. We may truly be destined for each other." My doorbell rings. I get up and rush to open the door thinking it'll be Edward wanting to know when I'll be over. I'm wrong.

"Is my sister here?" A man with dirty blonde hair and grey-blue eyes rushes in past me. "Ro, are you in this house?"

"Excuse me…?" I call after him.

"I'm here, Jas…" I hear Rose call out.

"Don't mind him, Bella. He's just an ass sometimes. Jasper Whitlock, you get out here this instant!" Alice says from just behind me.

"No, I will not, Ali! My sister took off last night with some idiot who can't even take proper care of his car let alone a woman." He yells. "She didn't even call us to tell us she was safe!"

I glare at him feeling rage pour from my body. "Who the hell do you think you are? How dare you walk into my home without even introducing yourself and call my brother an idiot? Just because his car broke down is no reason to berate him. You have no idea what kind of person he is! To think that I was about to help Edward baby-sit for your son!" The room goes silent and I feel the eyes of everyone on me as he turns to stare at me, but I blushingly keep going. "…And I don't care if she is your sister, right now she's my guest! You've no right to speak to her that way!"

Alice slaps her husband in the back of the head. "Apologize, Jasper… Now!"

He gapes at me for another moment before giving in. "I'm terribly sorry for barging in this way, Miss. I was just worried for Rosalie. She's usually more sensible than to just disappear with some random guy and when I saw her tow truck out front, I figured I'd find her and tell her off…I'm Jasper Whitlock. I believe you know my sister and my wife as well as her brother, Edward and his daughter."

I nod trying to be gracious. "Yes, I also had a lovely dinner last night with your mother and father-in-law."

He flinches.

"Edward will have your head on a platter, Jazz, and Mom and Dad will be upset too. I don't know what Mama Whitlock would've said if she was alive, but I'm sure she wouldn't be happy that you've acted this way!" Alice says. "Bella, I'm so sorry about this oaf's behavior! I thought I'd married a gentleman."

"What's going on in here?" Edward says from behind me. "Why should I behead my brother-in-law and why is the Whitlock family reunion happening in Bella's house?"

"Jasper was an ass, that's all." Rose says.

Edward looks at me but speaks to Alice. "Ali, talk to me…"

"My husband just made an ass of himself and offended Bella." Alice looks at me questioningly. "He apologized after she defended her brother and Rosalie and I think she was about to forgive him."

I nod at her.

"Jazz, I thought I…" Edward starts, but then glances at me. "I'll talk to you later. Ali, get him out of here."

"I'm sorry, Edward…really." Jasper says quietly as he follows his wife out. "See you later."

Alice comes running back in. "Edward, where's Hale?"

Edward's POV

"He's with Nessie in my living-room. I came to see what was keeping Bella." I say.

"Oh, ok… See you tonight." She waves and is gone.

I shake my head. "Hi, Em…Rose, it's nice to see you. How's everything? Did you guys want to come and say hi to the kids?"

I wait as Bella locks up, but Emmett pulls Rose along like a doll and they get to my door first. Nessie is jokingly giving Rose and Emmett the 'don't open the door for strangers' routine when we get there.

"But your dad is right behind us. You can let us in!" Emmett is saying.

Nessie says through the mail slot. "I don't know what you're saying, mister. My dad is in the shower and if you don't go away he'll chase you down the street and beat you up!"

I laugh to myself and lead Bella through the back yard and into the house. I stop to write Nessie a new script. When I hand the note paper to my daughter, she giggles and says, "Ok, mister, if you're not going to leave then I'm gonna have to get my daddy to go out there."

Through the window, I see them smile at each other and look around. Those dummies haven't noticed that we're not behind them yet so I open the door and jump out in front of them.

Rosalie jumps into Emmett's arms and Em just gapes at me.

I start to laugh but suddenly see his eyes focus on something behind me. Turning around I see Bella holding little Hale Whitlock and wish the baby had her beautiful brown hair and my green eyes.

That's how you knew with me, isn't it, Eddie? When I held Kate's daughter, you looked at me as if your life depended on the two of us being together.

As I hear her voice again, I remember seeing Nancy hold her friend's baby…wishing the baby had been mine. She's right. I'm sure about Bella. I'm in love with her. I know that Bella is the one I want…I love her. I want her to be with me and as much as she is fragile, she's also strong enough to stand up for people she loves and their friends. She has already let me into her life a little. I'll just have to do something to help her realize that we're meant to be...

Thanks got to hnwhitlock2000! You did this really great and really fast!