AN: I am only borrowing these characters from Stephenie Meyer; they are her creation not mine. I hope you enjoy this little interlude between Bella and Edward while she is anxiously waiting for her lesson.

Read and enjoy, and if you have enjoyed it, please let me know. Thanks.

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Waiting . . .

The week seemed to pass slowly, probably because I was anxiously looking forward to Saturday.

Edward noticed my slight difference as we laid in bed together Thursday night. "Bella, what's bothering you? You seem so anxious about something." His voice was laced with love and concern.

"Nothing really. I'm just concerned about the Calculus test next week. I'm not sure if I'll pass it." I felt so guilty lying to him, but how could I tell him that Emmett had agreed to take me out to ride my bike.

"Are you sure that's all it is? You're not hiding something from me are you?"

I began to wonder if Emmett had unintentionally let something slip then I would lose my day on my motorcycle. I loved Edward with all my heart, but I still wanted to be able to prove I could ride my bike without becoming a hazard to myself. It was almost as if I had to prove I could take risks without fatal injuries. Oh, I knew I would get hurt, but I had accepted that as a normal part of my life years ago, and even with Edward around 24/7, that part of my life – while I was still a human – would never change.

Besides, Edward wasn't happy when he discovered my risk taking escapades. Well, that was an understatement. Edward was extremely disappointed that I would take any risks with my life; he strongly pointed out that I had broken my promise, but then I reminded him that he had also by leaving me after promising he would stay as long as I needed him, and I did need him that truth he finally accepted.

I would always need him; he and I had both learned I couldn't continue without him. Well, I actually learned that before he did. I knew, on the plane back from Italy that the moment he left me again would be the last moment I would never breathe or exist normally.

Edward interrupted my thoughts. "Bella, what are you thinking?"

"What I'm usually thinking," I was facing him and I knew he saw the smile that crossed my lips. Once again, I was thankful that Edward couldn't hear my thoughts.

"That's rather vague." He commented as he looked deeply into my eyes.

I stared back at him, noticing that he did need to go hunting, as his eyes were growing darker. "Edward," I whispered.

"Yes, Bella?" His whisper was always softer and more sensual than mine was. Sometimes I found his whisper was like a soft loving caress.

"I'm glad you're going hunting soon." I replied trying to make my whisper as loving and sensual as his, but it never seemed to match his.

"Are you admitting you want me to leave? Are you finally tired of having me around?" Even though his questions were accompanied by his crooked smile, I felt a small but sharp twist in my heart.

I wondered how he could even think that. He knew I was his and always would be. There would be no question about that ever. "No." I shoot back a little louder than necessary, but not loud enough that Charlie would be able to hear it in his room. "How could you even think that?" I felt the words catch in my throat.

"I'm sorry Bella. I'm beginning to comprehend the depth of you're feelings for me, but I still find it hard to believe that you could truly feel this way about me; I'm just . . ." I laid a finger on his lips to stop what ever he was going to say.

"Edward, you are the one who is far too good for me, not the other way around. I always knew that, but I'm also learning that you're mine as long as I want to keep you around, but you need to realize I will never let you go – never. The comment about hunting was because of your eyes not because I want you to leave." I stopped there; I wanted his absence but only for a short time, so he could hunt and I could ride my bike. These thoughts were the only ones I intentionally kept from him. Maybe later, after I mastered riding my bike, I could show him what I was capable of; that my bike wasn't a danger to me, and that I wasn't a danger to myself while riding it.

I wanted Edward to realize that taking risks hadn't been my way of trying to end my life; they were just ways to bring him back into my life, even if only for a short time. I also realized there had been a few minor mishaps because of the risks I took, but Edward still frowned upon my less than normal escapades.

As we laid in each other's arms that Thursday night, all I could think about was Edward and my bike. I wished Edward would be with me on Saturday instead of Emmett, but I knew he wouldn't agree to such a risky endeavor.

It was bad enough that my cliff diving escapade had almost caused him to commit suicide, but he also noticed all the new scars that resulted from my minor mishaps while Jacob taught me to ride my motorcycle. He was especially concerned about the one on my head, and he wondered if I might have suffered minor brain damage. He claimed that it would explain why I had been so careless with my own safety. Not only had I bought and ridden the motorcycle, but I had also hung around with a group of immature werewolves.

I told Edward he was just jealous because I had found something interesting to do with my time while he was gone.

I'll never forget his reply. He retorted with, "Not interesting, death defyingly dangerous." Then he added, "You began looking for ways to separate yourself from life forever. Bella, I cannot face a tomorrow knowing you will not be there." He accentuated his words with a sorrowful and lost look in his eyes at the realization that he might really have lost me forever.

I replied by taking his angelic hands in my hands and promising him that the only way he would lose me would be by leaving me again. That first night home, after returning from Italy, I understand that with his next departure from my life, I would cease to exist and nothing, not even Jacob, would ever bring me back.

Edward interrupted my thoughts once again by asking, "What are you thinking?"

"About us," I replied knowing that at least it was an honest answer if not a complete one.

"You look so intense, as if you're thoughts are deep and profound." Sometimes he surprised me and made me wonder if he secretly could read my mind but wasn't telling me he could.

"I was thinking about us and everything that has happened in this past year, and how I would feel if I ever lost you again." Even I heard the sadness in my voice.

"I promised I'd never leave again. Can't you believe that?"

"It's not that I can't believe it, it just . . ." I wasn't sure how to put it in words. I knew he would never intentionally leave again. That I had accepted the night his family voted on my status of becoming one of their family, but there were still concerns about the unexpected and unintentional events. What if he found out about my lesson with Emmett; would he become angry enough to walk away?

"What is it Bella? Something is bothering you, and I really want to know what it is so I can make it better."

A small laugh escaped at his comment. For him to make it better, he would have to change me, but I had promised myself to avoid that subject for a while. "Edward, having you here beside me tonight, and every night does make it better. Knowing you'll never leave again makes it better. Knowing that you do love me and that you do want me makes everything better. If anything is bothering me, it is me causing it not you." I smiled at myself; I knew just the thing that would make me feel even safer and more wanted than just being held in his arms.

"Do I want to ask why you're smiling," he probed.

"I just thought of the perfect way for you to make things better." I heard a small groan escape his lips. I didn't have to read his mind to know what he thought was coming, but I thought I would tease him just a little by allowing him to think I would be asking to be changed by expanding my answer. "If you really want to make things better," I leaned into him a little, testing the boundaries of his restraint and our relationship. "You could kiss me." I finally whispered softly.

I was surprised by the intensity of the kiss, and lost myself in the rising emotions his kiss caused. I knew if he kept kissing me like this, he would be able to ask me anything and I would not be able to hide anything from him. I'm not sure if he fully understood the full effect he had on me, but I didn't want to be the one who told him, but I also didn't want him to stop kissing me like that. The only other problem his intense kissed caused was the simple fact that I just stopped breathing as I responded to his passionate kiss.

He pulled away a little and reminded me, "Breathe Bella."

To which I replied, "Okay, for now." I wanted him to continue, but I knew he wouldn't push his or my boundaries any more that night. As he cradle me in his arms, and I snuggled as close to him as possible, he began to hum my lullaby. As I drifted off to sleep, I began to think about Saturday again. In his eyes, I would be taking a risk with my life by going out with Emmett to ride my bike, but I decided to believe it would be an uneventful lesson – in that nothing harmful would happen to me.

Besides, what did Edward have to worry about, Emmett would make sure I didn't get hurt, and I had become decent at riding my bike under Jake's tutelage. The last few times we had ridden together, my injuries had been minimal, just some scrapes and bruises, and that was without any kind of protection like a helmet or knee and elbow pads like Emmett had just purchased. No, this time I would be fine, and I would have fun riding my bike. Maybe I'd even be good enough that Emmett would reassure Edward of my safety, and Edward and I could ride my bike together. My last mental image before drifting off to sleep was Edward and I on my motorcycle flying down the road.