A/N: Ok, you all can thank mother nature for this chapter. Here I am on vacation, sitting in a random Starbucks, having been rained out of my campsite for a few hours until everything dries up. And what do I do with this time? I appease my eager readers with a chapter, albeit a little short, good little writer that I am.

Although the bad little writer that I am is once again posting with my wonderful beta, zgirl21, having only read the first half. Sorry, zgirl, Edward just wouldn't be patient, said I had to post this chapter so that I could get going on the new story he and I discussed over the campfire last night (Fireward was making sure I didn't burn down the campsite, although I'm pretty sure he was secretly hoping that a spark would catch the tent on fire or something, so he'd FINALLY be able to use his hose...hehehe). So yes, a new story is in the works, maybe just a little oneshot, for all you fans who might enjoy a little campsite sexing. Gave me some pretty good dreams last night, had me all...ahem, wet...in the rain...ahem! Now, you all know me, and that I SUCK at timely posting, so be patient!!!

As always, I own nothing of Twilight. I do own a semi-soaked tent, a cooler full of yummy food, a pile of books to read and one campsite for 3 more days.

Chapter 12

BPOV

I laid there in Edward's arms feeling overwhelmed with so many emotions. Our bodies fit together so perfectly, seamlessly entwined despite our tangled limbs. With my head on his chest, I could hear the pounding of his heart, almost in time with my own. My heart, which I thought had been broken beyond repair, and yet here I lay beside this man who was already picking up the pieces, struggling to put them back together, asking me to take a chance on love again, with him. Could I do that? Could I love again, completely? Could I trust him? All the questions running through my mind, yet one overshadowed them all; could I trust myself again? I wanted to say yes with every fibre of my being, but the nagging voice inside my head wouldn't let me. The walls were still there, slowly crumbling, but they were still there none the less. Tears pricked my eyes again and I squeezed them shut, willing the tears to stop.

"Bella...I..." he faltered, mirroring the words that had almost come tumbling out of my mouth in the throws of passion, words that I knew would forever change everything. As much as I wanted to say it, to hear him say it, I couldn't, not yet. My heart was only just beginning to open up again, and I was afraid that letting those words out in the open would slam it shut. Yet I needed him to know that I felt the same, so I nuzzled my face closer to him.

"Me too, Edward. Me too," I whispered against his neck, and held my breath in anticipation of his response.

He stirred beside me, pulling back to look down at me and I lost myself in his eyes. I felt his thumb gently trail along my cheek, as he stroked my hair with the other hand. The gentleness in his touch was something I wasn't used to, and I wanted nothing more than to stay there forever with him, wrapped in his arms, locked away from the world.

"Bella, my Bella, il mio amore," he whispered over and over as his eyes held mine, almost as if he was boring his way into my heart. Leaning down, he brushed his lips against mine softly, and I wiggled slightly to get closer to him when I realized we were both still covered in a sticky layer of drying chocolate. Giggling, I glanced down between us and realized just what a mess our intimate moment had made of us and the sheets, streaks of chocolate everywhere. Edward must have followed my gaze and realized the same thing because I felt a silent chuckle vibrate from his chest before he grasped me tightly, rolling me on top of him, capturing my lips once again. I could feel his lips curl into a smile before he pulled away, all the momentary tension I felt melting away.

"I suppose we should get ourselves cleaned up. Would you join me in the shower?" he smiled slyly, and I felt his arousal between us in anticipation. I eagerly nodded my head and he rolled us again towards the edge of the bed, hopping up and offering his hand to me, pulling me up against him as we stumbled to the bathroom, giggling like school children. School children, however, had no place in that bathroom with us, what with the x-rated shower activities that ensued. Every muscle in my body felt like jello by the time we were forced to get out, shivering from the water that had turned ice cold. Edward grabbed a towel and wrapped it around his waist before wrapping another around my shoulders and gingerly drying me off, rubbing my arms and laughing at me while I hopped up and down, trying to get warm.

"I can certainly think of another way to warm you back up," he growled low in my ear as he pulled me in tight to his chest. I grinned and slapped him lightly on the arm before allowing him to turn me around as he proceeded to towel dry my hair, but silently thanking the gods and doing a little happy dance inside at his incredible stamina.

"At this rate we'll never see the light of day, and you have a house full of guests arriving tonight! You can't possibly expect me to feed them without a trip to the grocery store, Edward. I've seen your fridge!" I laughed playfully. I felt him shrug his shoulders and chuckle.

"I did give you fair warning that I can't cook to save my life. I live on take-out and frozen food that I can pop in the microwave," he admitted sheepishly.

I peeked over my shoulder as he wrapped another towel around me. "But the lasagna last night?" I questioned.

He leaned in close, taking my earlobe between his teeth. "Top secret. I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you," he whispered menacingly, nudging me away towards the vanity. "Why don't you dry your hair and I'll go tidy up the bedroom. We can grab a proper breakfast out, since my fridge is so empty!"

I watched him as he turned towards the bedroom, the towel hanging dangerously low on his hips. Although I was standing there thoroughly satisfied, I couldn't help the shudder that ran over me, desire once again blazing through my veins at the sight of him, half naked, running a hand through his mop of wet hair, water droplets dancing down the smooth skin of his back between his shoulder blades, dipping below the hem of that towel, barely covering his exceptionally toned ass (that my fingers had been digging into only a scant few minutes prior). He must have been taking that "300 workout", and the incessant teasing from his co-workers, pretty seriously. I made a mental note to torment him about his calendar contest routine while we were out grocery shopping.

Turning towards the mirror, I swiped my hand across it, clearing the fog that had built up from our steamy shower antics, and stopped short at my reflection. What a difference 24 hours had made. There staring back at me was the face of a stranger, shoulders squared with confidence, cheeks alight with the glow of sexual satisfaction, her eyes dancing with excitement, and yet as I narrowed my own eyes to look closer, there was momentary glimpse of someone I recognized from a long time ago. I smiled then, and my heart warmed, knowing that it was Edward who was responsible, Edward who had brought out this awakening in me, brought me back to my true self, if only for a moment, but enough to find the path again, the path back to me.

EPOV

I pushed the grocery cart slowly, my eyes gazing up and down her slender body, admiring her every subtle curve, as she stopped to glance at the mammoth list before checking over the shelf in front of her and plucking the item she needed, tossing it haphazardly into the cart, now almost full to brimming. She was meticulous, I'd give her that, almost to the point of being a little...anal, shall we say? She had whipped up that list over a quick cup of coffee at my apartment before we ventured out for breakfast to refuel, or now that I'd come to realize, to fuel up for this epic shopping trip. I had stood there behind her, my head resting on her shoulder, alternately kissing the soft skin beneath her ear and nipping at her earlobe, my fingers tracing haphazard designs on her jean-clad hips, recalling our delectably sexy stint in the shower. Even thinking back now, I had to surreptitiously adjust myself and stifle the groan threatening to escape my lips at the sensations this woman could elicit in me just from a simple glance or thought. It was no wonder I had been too distracted to realize just how lengthy that shopping list had grown, Bella now amassing enough food to feed an army.

"Are you sure we really need all of this, Bella? It's just a housewarming...a few appetizers, drinks..." My voice dropped off as I caught her gaze, a stern warning.

"Have you seen Emmett? He'll devour half the food in this cart all by himself, Edward! Do you want your other guests to starve?" she huffed in reply before continuing, a small smirk appearing on her tiny but perfect lips, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Trust me." And again I was adjusting myself while guiding the grocery cart around the corner into the next aisle behind her, this woman who I'd already follow anywhere she wanted, to the ends of the earth if I had to.

How had I gotten so lucky? Already I thought I had it all; the career I'd wanted since childhood, now employed with a fire department that was sure to challenge my skills (if I could ever get a chance to see real flames, that is...), getting settled in my new penthouse condo (thanks to Grandpa Masen's very wise real estate investments), wandering my way around a new city...and now to meet Bella, the woman I never realized I needed in my life until now, and need her I did, like the very air I breathed. I couldn't help but think that somewhere, somehow, the gods were smiling on me, undeserved as it may be. The phrase "leading a charmed life" seemed rather appropriate for me.

Bella stopped abruptly in front of me, causing me to veer the grocery cart to the side, narrowly avoiding hitting her, which would no doubt had resulted in injury what with the weight of all the foodstuff behind it. She paid no attention to the near-collision as she perused her list a final time before turning back to me, declaring that we had indeed completed the mission and could now cart everything back to my apartment and get down to the business of cooking...well, Bella doing the cooking, and I would busy myself with cleaning up the place.

After a much shorter stop at the liquor store, and lugging what felt like an entire grocery store's worth of food up to my apartment and unpacking it all, I tried to offer my help preparing, but Bella would have none of it, claiming I'd just be getting in the way and distracting her from her tasks. Yes, distraction was definitely on my list of things to do today, but she was now in "the zone". I felt a little guilty about all the work she was doing, trying a different tactic and voicing my concerns, but she saw right through me, merely laughed and again reminded me how much she enjoyed cooking without distractions. With a chaste peck on the lips, she shooed me out of my own kitchen before I could argue.

I could only keep myself distracted so long with cleaning and tidying, moving a few still unpacked boxes from this room to that room, making up the bed with freshly laundered sheets, hoping Bella would again be gracing my bed that night. Wandering back out to the kitchen, I immediately held up my hands in surrender when I caught her glancing up with raised eyebrows, before slinking to sit on a barstool at the island opposite where she stood, chopping some vegetables, arranging them with delicate precision.

"Edible art?" I chuckled, but she merely replied by sticking out her tongue in my general direction. That was the final straw, and I took it as an invitation to swoop around the island and capture that tongue in my mouth. She squealed and tried to feign protest by slamming her little fists against my chest. I made good on my statement to her on our first date; simply picked her up, threw her over my shoulder, dragged her back to my bedroom and ravaged her, not once, but twice! Edible art could wait, my seemingly insatiable need for her could not.

A/N: Sorry, this chapter was supposed to include the housewarming party, but Fireward had different ideas, and since he owns me now, I have to do what he says. Personally, I think he's stalling because he doesn't have his act ready yet for the calendar contest, but I digress. Party in the next chapter, and calendar contest chapter after that. Remember, reviews will get you real-life pics of my hot co-workers at this year's calendar contest, once that chapter has been posted, so you've still got time.

Okay all, I'm headed back to the campsite. Have to pick up some more firewood, because I'm thinking Fireward will be at it again. Careful what you wish for, babe. Huh, foreshadowing????? S'mores to you all!!! Mwah!!