Previously…

"What now?" he said, exasperated. I placed my palm on his smooth cheek and he turned to look into my eyes. I was momentarily lost in his eyes, but I managed to clear it…somehow.

"What's the matter?" I whispered.

"Mike," he snarled...

BPOV

I didn't have time to respond, because right then Edward stopped at the porch steps. I looked behind us and saw Mike's car in the driveway. Edward walked into the house and I wasn't surprised to see everyone in the living room. My eyes squared in on Mike, who looked very uncomfortable, shifting uneasily on the white sofa. I had to stifle a giggle. I saw Emmett on the verge of hysterics as well. There was an awkward silence hanging in the air, so I decided to break it.

"Uh, hi Mike, um…what are you doing here?" I asked, trying to be polite. I felt a blush rise in my cheeks as I realized that I was still in Edward's arms. Mike must've noticed because I saw the anger and resentment in his eyes. He didn't even look like he'd heard me. "Mike?" I asked again. He blinked a few times and then looked at me.

"Huh? Oh sorry," he said. Edward growled lowly and tightened his arms around me." Well he was thinking of something alright. The thought made me blush. Edward placed his cold hand on my face and kissed my cheek softly. I smiled up at him and looked into his warm golden eyes. Had it only been three days? He grinned crookedly as we stared into each others' eyes....

I was pulled out of the moment when I heard Emmett clear his throat. "Yeesh, you guys are so lovey- dovey." he said amused. I felt the heat rise in my cheeks again. Edward glared at Emmett and tightened his arms around me, quite an accomplishment. I doubt even a newborn vampire with twice Emmett's strength could pull me from Edward's grasp at this moment. I suddenly felt a little afraid for him. Though, of course, Emmett seemed unperturbed. I knew Edward would get back at his siblings and I felt the strange wave of pity that filled me, but then again, Jasper was here and I can never be completely sure. I took a quick glance a Jasper and saw that he was looking a little worried. Huh. Maybe it was him.

"Um, Bella?" Mike called nervously. Oops. I had completely forgotten about Mike. I felt the traitor blush creep up into my cheeks as if it wanted to be present for the entire conversation. My eyes shot to his face and he was standing in front of us now.

"Yes, Mike?"

"Um, are you okay?" he asked, looking at my ankle.

"Yea," I breathed, "I just sprained my ankle, that's all." Edward tensed. I know how he hates when I don't admit how I was truly feeling. Mike nodded his head absently. It's not too surprising when I get hurt. It's like the circle of injuries. Second nature. I have had plenty of sprained ankles before, but this was unexpected; it throbbed- hard. It felt like the pain went straight through to my bone. I sucked in a sharp breath through my teeth.

"Bella?" Edward said, already walking toward the love seat. I could tell that he hated having to go at human speed while I was hurt. Edward was staring at me sadly, the unspoken question in his eyes. I tried to shake my head but the pain was far too substantial. He carried me quickly, but gently, to the loveseat and sat with me on his lap. Edward stroked my cheek soothingly, staring at Carlisle pointedly.

Carlisle came from his place on the couch next to Esme. He already had an ice pack and a roll of elastic bandages that I have come to know all too well. Another throb came and I whimpered lowly. Mike probably couldn't hear it, but Edward did. He rubbed my back, more anxiously this time, and kissed the top of my head. Alice came behind us and looked at me with a remorseful, apologetic look on her face. I smiled slightly in forgiveness, but I heard and felt the low warning growl that came through Edward's clenched teeth. Alice looked at him and then retreated from us with a horrified expression on her face. I looked at Edward reproachfully.

"You didn't need to growl at her," I said so low that I could barely hear myself. Alice looked at me and smiled timidly. Edward merely shook his head and mouthed the word 'later', with a certain familiar gleam in his eye. He turned his gaze to my ankle before I could decipher what it was. I nodded once; we'll discuss it later. I added mentally in my head. I felt a sudden coldness and realized that Carlisle was examining my foot. I looked at him and saw that he had a disapproving look on his face. I guess he knows what happened the past three days. Alice. I watched as he examined my latest injury, not once did it hurt. I sighed when he put the ice pack on my ankle and rolled the bandage on around it. He worked slightly faster than a human should, but Mike seemed like he was in a daze.

"So, Mike, what brings you here?" I asked trying to bring him back. He looked for a moment like he had just been taken from deep thought. Probably the case. I wondered if he'd even heard me until his baby blue eyes met mine, evident confusion on his face.

"My mom ordered new uniforms for the store," his tone was sort of annoyed and exasperated, as though he'd argued this before. "She gave me specific directions to personally deliver this to you, then watch your reaction to it. She would have waited to show you at work but she has a conference in Seattle. Sorry, she's kind of obsessive about minor details." he tossed me the plastic bag- big mistake. I closed my eyes and waited for the impact. I should have known better by now. I opened my eyes and saw Edward's hand holding the bag a foot away from my face. I looked up and saw Edward glowering at a now stunned Mike.

"Sorry!" he yelled automatically, cringing away from Edward's glare. I smiled a little. I guess people just sometimes forget the unnatural lack of coordination I have. Although to Edward, it seems, there's no excuse, as he was still glaring at Mike. I sighed and touched Edward's hand, still holding the bag a little too tightly. He immediately turned his head and looked at me, the irritation still prominent on his features. I smiled a little and held my hand out for the bag. Although the anger never left his eyes, the crooked smile I loved best flashed across his face as he placed the bag in my hand. I opened it quickly, not really caring. I knew that Mike would tell his mom my reaction, so I tried to keep my face composed, polite. I opened the package and saw the new dark green vest with the words Newton's on the back. I saw Alice's grimace and had to bite my lip to hold the laughter, though I couldn't help the giggle that escaped. I unfolded it and held out in front of me for good measure. I heard Edward chuckle and I guess I hadn't done a very good job. Then I looked at Mike, who was scrutinizing my face.

"Thanks, Mike…it's…nice," I said, searching for the right words. I tried to make my voice as convincing as possible, though not quite succeeding. Mike didn't seem to notice-or he didn't look like he did.

"No problem, Bella," he said, inching toward the door. I always seem to forget the aversion humans are supposed to have when they are near the Cullens. "See you later," he called closing the door before I could even respond.

After the sound of Mike's car faded (from how far I could hear), I turned to look at my future family. Everyone was staring at Edward with nothing but fear in their gold eyes, except Carlise and Esme, that is. I shifted my gaze to Edward, confused. Seeming to sense my gaze, Edward looked down to meet my confused eyes. He smiled warmly and took me into his arms. I felt a slight breeze and then we were on the bed in his room. my lips suddenly very busy. His lips were urgent against mine, and I felt every plane of his cold body against mine. I could tell that he'd missed me as I missed him. I felt the tip of his tongue glide across my bottom lip and I parted my lips with a sigh. I expected him to pull away, but to my utter astonishment, this wasn't the case. His tongue, cold as ice and smooth as silk, ran along the inside of my bottom lip, testing his self control. After a few more minutes of hesitant exploration, he grew more confident, gently nudging my tongue with the slightest of pressure, still slightly cautious as to not put me too close to his teeth. Edward's heady aroma clung to the air around us and I was too dizzy to notice the burn in my lungs until Edward reluctantly to lay his ear over my heart. We lay there, me gasping for air and Edward listening to my frantically beating heart.

"What was that for?" I asked breathlessly. Over me, I could feel Edward's chest vibrate with a faint chuckle. He wrapped his arms around me, locking me in the inescapable confinement of his arms. Not that I would ever want to leave.

"Bella, do you have any idea how much I've missed you?" he whispered in my ear, though his crooked smile was genuine, the emotion was evident in his topaz eyes. I smiled as he lowered his head to mine and placed a lingering kiss on my lips. I knew exactly what he meant. I placed my hands on either side of his face and rubbed my thumbs back and forth across his cheeks. He lifted his head slightly to kiss my forehead.

"I missed your smile," he said softly, kissing the corner of my mouth. I felt my lips pulling up at the corners in response. "I missed your smell," he said silkily, lowering his head to run his nose along my throat. He placed a loving kiss on my pulse point. I felt his lips turn up into that crooked smile when my heart started pounding. "I missed that too," he said gently, kissing my cheek. "I missed your eyes," he murmured, kissing my eyelids. "I missed you," he repeated fiercely, kissing the tip of my nose. This was too much. It felt like my heart might burst from the love I felt for him. I pulled his face to mine fiercely, our lips moving in sync with the rhythm of my heart's jagged beating. He pulled away abruptly, as if something just occurred to him. I opened my eyes, and gasped when I saw the mischief in his eyes. My eyes narrowed in response. I was about to warn him but he got the word in before I could.

"Isabella Marie Swan," he said, disapproving. The hint of humor that layered his velvet voice would have been hard to catch if I hadn't known it so well. I gulped, which caused his smug smirk to grow wider, if that was possible. I remembered his words on our way home...

"Now, Bella," he said with a stern voice, " did you really think I would let you win? I haven't forgotten that you were going along with this too ,you know."

"Oh no," I whispered. Edward chuckled darkly and scooped me gently into his arms.

"Oh yes, love," he said mischievously, placing a gentle kiss on my ankle, then my forehead. I sighed, defeated. Edward just smiled as he flitted to the Cullen's massive dining room. Sitting there was my soon to be family. Carlisle and Esme both radiating disapproval, Jasper relaxed, but worried, Rosalie angry but smug, and finally Alice and Emmett, scared. I felt a cold chill run down my spine when I realized that that was where I belonged. Edward placed me in the chair carefully and took the seat next to mine. He was wearing a sadistically smug smile and I realized that this punishment was long awaited. He'd wanted to punish them for this- us I amended in my head. Edward glanced around the table and turned his head to wink at me. I smiled at him. I can never be mad at him. Then Edward turned toward Carlisle and Esme.

"Do you mind if I do the honors?" he said in a sickly sweet voice. Carlisle nodded slowly, broadly motioning with his hand around the table. Alice looked at him sadly, but Carlisle merely shook his head and motioned with his chin toward Edward. Alice looked at Esme for a last hope, but she responded just the same. With a heavy sigh, she reluctantly turned her fearful gaze back on Edward. He didn't hesitate. I felt the blood draining from my face. Edward noticed and kissed my palm in reassurance before turning toward our family.

"Alright. Firstly," he said...

To be Continued...

Now, I am ending this story here, but there will most definitely be a sequel. I don't have it in my heart to leave it like that. Especially when I have all these ideas!! =)

I also have a few one shots and another story on the way. It's called 'Dartmouth'. Put me on author alert and you will be the first to know. (Don't you just LOVE how that works?!) Anywhoo, until then, keep an eye out. Oh and REVIEW!! ;)

x0x0,

perfeccionista12