Title: You Found Me

Full Summary: Edward Masen has lived the life of a nomadic vampire, travelling with James and Victoria since he awoke as an immortal. His ability to read minds has had the unusual side effect of making him a vampire with a conscience. Despite the ridicule from his coven mates, he's confident he's making the best of his existence and doing what's morally right... until he stumbles upon a brown-eyed girl reading in a meadow in Forks. As he attempts to befriend her and learns more about the sleepy town of Forks, Edward finds there's a lot more to being a vampire than he ever thought possible.

Pairings: Canon

Rating: M, for language and sexing.

Chapter: Forty-one; Mature

POV: Bella

AN: Last one!

xx

Returning to Forks after our impromptu vacation in Florida was an adjustment. The warmth was replaced by cold, damp weather and a return to well-worn schedules.

In a way, it was a relief having Edward with me as we settled back into the daily grind. It was normal. After the despair of wondering if I'd ever see him again, it was confirmation that he was really and truly by my side and that our detour in Florida wasn't just a glorious dream.

It was easier to deal with the issues that had resulted from our time apart when we were back at home, living our normal lives.

Separation anxiety was the first hurdle. Edward was wary of leaving my side, no matter the circumstance. It didn't matter if it was the one class we didn't share or a grocery store run that he had absolutely no interest in, he didn't like it when I was out of his line of sight. If it was at all possible he went out of his way to glue himself to my hip.

I had to admit I didn't like it when he was away from me either. I'd spent a month cut off from him. I knew how much it hurt when he wasn't there and it wasn't an experience I was eager to repeat.

Realistically, we both knew it was unhealthy and that the likelihood of anything similar happening in the future was improbable. Knowing and being able to take it to heart were two different things. Returning to how we'd been before would be a process that would take a little time. More than ever Edward and I were certain that we would be together for the rest of our lives, so time was something of which we had plenty to spare.

If anyone found our reliance on one another strange, they didn't comment. Thinking about it, we really weren't acting much different than we had before Edward had disappeared. We had always been in tune. As my mother had put it, we "orbited" around one another, always wary of our position relative to the other.

Though Edward was worried his return to school after such a long absence had potential for disaster, he fielded questions about his time in Boston like a pro. He'd been sometime in the seventies, so he knew enough about the city to keep up with the façade.

Of all people, it was Angela who threw him for a loop.

"You better not take Bella for granted," she had demanded, fixing him with a firm stare and a poke in the chest. "Because if you go gallivanting off without warning again, she might forgive you, but you and I are gonna have to have some words."

His flummoxed look was almost worth hearing her scold him, though I did feel guilty that he'd been made out to be an insensitive boyfriend when it really hadn't been his fault.

Edward might have a shot at making it in the entertainment business because his shock lasted only a moment. He was quick to pull an abashed look, his chastened expression so believable even Angela looked sorry for bringing it up.

"I understand," he said solemnly. "If I had known how much it would hurt Bella, I assure you, I wouldn't have gone. I'm sorry for damaging your trust in me." He concluded with a smile that somehow managed to come across as remorseful rather than cocky.

Angela flushed, thrown for a loop. "Um, well, yeah, I mean it wasn't that big of a deal. Just for next time… for, you know, Bella's sake."

I suppressed a chuckle. "I think he's learned his lesson," I told Angela, taking pity on her. Dealing with Edward when he was laying on the charm wasn't easy, as I knew from experience.

Edward nodded along contritely. "I have. I learned everything I needed to when I went to Boston."

Angela cleared her throat, reclaiming her capacity for speech. "Which was?"

His eyes burned into mine. "That, while Boston is a lovely city, it's not the place for me. I want to be wherever Bella is. Looking for my future elsewhere was pointless."

"Heading east, then?" Angela teased. "Alice was telling me that when she and Bella were filling out applications, everywhere Bella agreed to was all in the Tristate area."

My cheeks heated. It was true; sometime during the month I'd been zoned out, Alice had sat me down at the tiny kitchen table in my father's house and laid a stack of applications before me.

She had pointed out that even if we couldn't find Edward, my life would continue on and that I needed to be prepared for the worst case scenario. While I had been annoyed by her no nonsense attitude at the time, I was grateful that she had the foresight to force me to fill out all those applications. If it hadn't been for her tenacity, all the application deadlines would have been long gone before I had gathered the wherewithal to care.

When I had complained that she was acting as if Edward was already dead by forcing me to live as if he didn't exist, she had been more upset than I'd ever seen her.

Her eyes were cold as she showed me the stacks of dummied applications with Edward's name on them, identical copies of the ones she had handed me. She had still been planning my future with Edward when I had all but given up to sulk. Chastened, I had silently completed the ones with my name on them.

"I don't mind," Edward told Angela, wrapping an arm around my waist. "I'm used to travelling a lot. Since my parents passed away all I've done is move."

Angela grinned at him. "I'm glad you're taking this seriously. You had Bella worried. I told her you loved her… I mean, it's pretty obvious to anyone who spent ten minutes with you guys, but sometimes girls need to hear it."

Edward opened his mouth to defend himself but was cut off by a familiar face pushing into the circle the three of us had formed.

"Edward!" Jessica exclaimed, forcing Angela aside to wrap him in a hug as if he was a long lost family member and not an acquaintance she hardly knew. "Thank god you're back! Gym class has been so boring without you. Oh, and Bella's been miserable. I hope you did something about that because it was really starting to get irritating."

I had to smile. Though it had felt like the past month had brought monumental changes to my life, nothing was really that different after all.

xx

There was one person who was a little less forgiving of Edward than everyone else: Charlie.

My dad wasn't an easy person to upset. He'd seen enough as chief of police (even in a town as small as Forks) to be able to distinguish the ill-intentioned from those who merely made mistakes. It was clear he thought Edward fell into the latter category, but it was enough to earn him a spot on my father's watch list.

My reaction to Edward's 'trip' had convinced him that Edward had somehow wronged me. Though I had tried to act normal while Edward was gone to preserve his innocence, I wasn't a very compelling actress. Not having any solid evidence didn't deter Charlie. He had learned better than to ignore his instincts, so Edward remained guilty until proven innocent.

His reception to Edward at the airport was decidedly chilly. I'd been welcomed home with a one-armed hug and a fatherly kiss on the head. Edward had only received a cold stare.

We told my father that Edward and I had scheduled our respective flights to arrive within half an hour of one another to save whoever was picking us up a trip to the airport.

It was clear Charlie didn't believe it was good planning and a little luck that had landed Edward and I in the airport at the same time.

Though we had planned for Alice to be the one to make the trip into Seattle, Charlie had been insistent he do the honours, his excuse being the lack of storage in her flashy little sports car.

Edward later told me that Charlie suspected I had gone to visit him in Boston for the holidays and that visiting my mom was a ruse. I had to admire how close he'd come to figuring out the truth, even if it wasn't quite right.

My gushing recount of my trip to Disney World (minus any mentions of Edward) quashed some of his doubts, as did the charm bracelet I made sure I jangled loudly enough that he noticed. I wasn't a good enough liar to make up stories to bolster the lie and thankfully I didn't need to; Charlie wasn't the kind of person to ask more questions than was necessary.

He'd brought the cruiser to pick us up, so we'd ended up riding back to Forks in the backseat of a police car. I wondered if he was trying to tell us something. At first he'd tried to insist Edward should take the backseat while I rode up front. Though Edward had been more than willing to do whatever my father asked, I'd flatly refused, insisting that if Edward had to sit in the back behind the metal grill, I would too.

After what Edward had been through, there was no way I was going to let my dad make him feel like he'd done something wrong by leaving me to fend for myself for a few weeks. There was nothing he could have done to prevent it and I was going to make sure he knew I felt that way. It was clear Edward felt guilty that he had been unable to wrench himself free of James and Victoria. I didn't want to exacerbate his worries by making him think I blamed him too.

James and Victoria had been manipulative liars determined to do whatever it took to get their way. I was certain if everything hadn't happened as it did, it would have only been delaying the inevitable. If anything, Edward had spared my life by cooperating with them.

Though Charlie would never know the truth, I was certain he liked Edward as much as he was ever going to like anyone I brought home. It might take a while for the cold stares to die down but even Charlie wasn't immune to Edward's uncanny knack for getting people to like him.

By early spring, Charlie's attitude had begun to thaw, just as the frozen ground did. His demeanor was still frosty at times but hopeful hints of greenery were peeking out.

In late March, the first admissions letters from all the applications Alice and I had mailed out in December started rolling in.

I had been offered admission into to several smaller, lesser-known campuses I'd applied to, assuming my marks remained steady. The letters from the big name universities had yet to arrive and I wasn't sure if I was looking forward to them coming or not. Living on my own for the first time – even with Edward covering half the expenses – would be expensive enough without paying excessive tuition.

Edward and I were still locked at an impasse when it came to money.

I knew I could afford to pay the student loans and log enough part-time hours to pay for any of the schools I'd been accepted into. The generous entrance scholarships that were packaged with them made them all the more appealing. I could be self-sufficient and prove to Edward – and everyone – that I could take care of myself.

It had been Emmett who had made me see that maybe I was being selfish by thinking like that.

"You know B, for someone so smart, you sure can be dumb sometimes," he commented casually, like he hadn't just insulted me.

It was a rare window of opportunity. Edward had gone hunting with Rosalie. If my boyfriend had been around to take offense (Edward was a lot more offended by insults directed at me than I was) Emmett would have kept his mouth shut. Now that he had a mate, Emmett had finally started to embrace the benefits of using tact.

One of the most miraculous things to emerge from the Chicago incident (aside from Emmett's newfound ability to keep his mouth shut when it was beneficial to his wellbeing) had been the tentative bond Edward and Rosalie had managed to forge. With Emmett and Rosalie's relationship going strong, Edward and Rosalie had set aside their differences… enough to go out and kill things together, anyway.

They had a lot more in common than they realized. It was funny how alike they were for all the complaining they did about one another. They were male and female reflections of one another; both stubborn to a fault, hopelessly romantic, nauseatingly attractive and prone to fits of moodiness, among other things. It something both Emmett and I got a kick of pointing out when they weren't listening. Neither of us would dare make the comparison to their faces.

I glared at him. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"This whole independent woman act you have going on."

"It's not an act," I said defensively. I'd had variations of this argument with Edward more times than I could count. I didn't need to have it with Emmett too.

Emmett shrugged dismissively. "Okay, fine, whatever. That's not the point. The point is why is it such a big deal letting Edward pay for shit? You think you're doing him a favour but you're not. You're settling for something you don't want. And that's making him miserable and a bigger pain in the ass to be around than usual."

"Emmett…"

"No, hear me out. You're unhappy, he's unhappy. It seems pretty fucking simple to me. No one is benefiting from this stupidity. So unless you have a really good fucking reason, which I suspect you don't… what's the point?"

"The point is it's not my money to spend. Edward shouldn't have to carry me through life. It's not fair. I want to be able to contribute something, too."

Emmett chuckled. "You're really clueless. By existing you've made his life worth living. Do you have any idea how lonely it is to live a century without someone to love? You've given Edward everything he ever wanted. He just wants to return the favour. He would dump every penny he owns into the ocean if he thought it would make you happy and he'd consider it money well spent."

I sighed. "That's exactly the point. I don't want to take advantage of his love. It seems dishonest."

Emmett scoffed. "Let's get real here; this has fuck all to do with honesty. It's your pride that's at stake. You don't want to be the weakest link."

My blood started to boil at his condescending tone. He was passing judgment on me based on his own stupid assumptions.

"You want to talk about pride getting in the way of things?" I snapped. "How long did it take you to apologize to Rosalie, again?"

Emmett breezed over the comment, clearly pleased with himself. "Hit a sore spot, did I? Deflecting isn't going to help. Yeah, I was an idiot but at least I've owned it."

I growled at him, growing increasingly annoyed with his inability to attempt to see things from my point of view. "What is there to own? I'm trying to be selfless!"

"Look, I'm really not trying to piss you off, here. I'm just trying to say accepting a little help isn't a bad thing. It doesn't make you any less of a person. We have the resources to help you. There are a lot of people out there that don't have that. Freeing up the scholarships and stuff you're gonna get might help someone who actually needs them."

I paused, contemplating that. It was a side of the argument I'd never considered before. At times Emmett really stunned me with his unique approach to life and his surprising compassion for others.

"I never thought about that," I muttered, too stubborn to admit it was a valid point.

It had been fine when it was just me affected by my decision, but when I thought about someone out there being unable to go to college because they couldn't afford it and truly had no other options, it made me feel guilty and selfish for taking what I didn't necessarily need.

Emmett saw he'd cracked my shell. His grin widened. "Yeah, well, maybe you should've."

"I'll keep it in mind, okay?"

"Okay, cool," Emmett said cheerfully. "That's all I'm asking. We can talk about something else." He raised a sly eyebrow. "So how's Edward treating you? Fires still blazing in the sack?"

I rolled my eyes, unable to help myself. Trust Emmett to think sex was a safe alternative topic. He might have come leaps and bounds as far as developing tact went but he still had a long way to go.

"That's your idea of changing the subject?"

Emmett looked offended. "What? I'm curious. I mean, you're human, Edward isn't… it's bound to cause inquiring minds to ask questions. For instance, how exactly does him going down on you work? Does it make him want to kill you more than usual? Or is it like some magic ambrosia the rest of us are missing out on?"

My face flamed in embarrassment. In my mortification, my mouth ran without permission, words tumbling out in a tangled mess. "We've never, umm, done that. He won't let me… you know, either."

Emmett gaped at me, looking remarkably like a fish. "Seriously?"

I shrugged. I hadn't intended on saying anything in the first place. There was no way I was repeating it and humiliating myself further.

"No, really? For real?" My silence must have been answer enough because Emmett sat up straighter in his seat. "Where is he? That's unacceptable. He and I are gonna have a talk."

"Emmett, please," I begged. "I'm happy with things the way they are. It's not a big deal. At all. Please don't say anything to Edward. Please."

Emmett gave me a disbelieving look. "Oh, that's where you're wrong. You just don't know it's a big deal because your boyfriend is a stupid, insecure tool."

"It's a legitimate worry," I defended. "If he's concerned, I'm not going to push him. It's not a deal-breaker."

Emmett scoffed, indignant on my behalf. "Is it a legitimate worry? Like his freak out about sex? That turned out just fine. There's nothing wrong with asking for yours. Rosie–"

"Do I really need to hear this?" I interrupted, not wanting to hear about his sexual adventures with Rosalie. It was bad enough hearing them the rare nights that Edward and I stayed in his room at the Cullen home.

Emmett rolled his eyes. "Fine, have it your way."

Edward and Rosalie chose that moment to hop in through the window, landing gracefully one after another. Edward looked ready to pounce on Emmett. He must have overheard everything. It was clear Emmett had known Edward was within earshot; his too-innocent grin told the whole story.

Surprisingly, it was Rosalie not Edward who got the first word.

"You're a dumbass," she told Emmett flatly.

"Aww, Rosie, I was just trying to help out a girl in need."

"A girl who didn't need help, you big oaf," Rosalie snapped, cutting her eyes at her mate. "Look at her; she's mortified because you couldn't keep your big mouth shut."

She dragged him up from his spot on the sofa, pulling him up the stairs.

"She'll thank me later," Emmett promised, shooting a grin over his shoulder.

"Shut up and let's leave them to talk out the mess you created." Rosalie punched his arm, her voice and Emmett's responding groan of pain fading as they climbed the stairs.

"Bella?" Edward asked cautiously, settling into the spot Emmett had vacated.

"I'm sorry," I apologized, reaching out to grab his hand. "Emmett–"

"You don't need to explain to me, Bella. I know Emmett brought it up. I heard." His expression turned stormy, annoyed with Emmett's interference. He paused, asking carefully, "Is that something you would like to try? I'll admit, at first I was worried I might hurt you if I pushed myself. But now that we have more experience… I'm willing to try… if you want."

I scooted across the foot that separated us, wrapping my arms around him. Once again, Edward surprised me with his willingness to do whatever it took to make me happy, even if it was against his better instincts.

I cupped his cheek in my hand, kissing him lightly. "You know that I never felt anything was missing from our relationship, don't you? That I'm perfectly happy with the way things are?"

He nodded, returning my kiss with a soft one of his own. "I know. That doesn't mean you shouldn't want to try new things. I can understand that."

"I want to try everything with you," I admitted, my chest squeezing with affection for him. Touched, I made a split second decision but it was one I knew I wouldn't regret. "And that includes college stuff. I'm not going to hold back anymore, either. Go big or go home, right?"

When Edward and I got matching acceptance letters to Columbia two weeks later, we started making plans to move to Manhattan.

xx

The next months flew by. I wasn't sure how it happened, but senior year was coming to a close without any time seeming to have passed at all. The buds that had promised to blossom in early spring were suddenly full bloom and the days were as hot and moist as they ever were in Forks. Graduation loomed just around the corner.

The day that had seemed so distant the first day of freshman year arrived quietly. Everyone was abuzz with excitement but I found myself calm. It was just another stepping-stone to the future.

Edward was more excited than me. He had never been to a graduation ceremony before. When he had graduated from high school in 1918, he had missed the event for his father's funeral. He'd never actually completed a full university degree, either. So we were experiencing our first graduation together. His youthful exuberance about it was really cute.

Jasper responded dryly that it was far less exciting the twentieth time, but Edward was undeterred.

Wearing the navy and yellow robes that signified we were Forks High graduates, we marched across the auditorium, shook hands with important people and held up our diplomas for a barrage of flashing lights and cameras.

Charlie and Renee sat in the audience, in a room together for the first time in over a decade, the proud smiles parents always wore at these events plastered on their faces.

My mother had been warned that Charlie was unaware Edward had come with me to visit her in Florida. She had gleefully mimed zipping her lips, loving that she had a secret to keep.

"Oh, baby, I'm so proud of you," Renee gushed, crushing me in a hug. "You, too, Edward. Since your parents couldn't be here, I hope you know you can consider Charlie and I your family."

Charlie's moustache twitched but Edward seemed not to notice.

Edward offered a genuine smile. "Thank you, Renee, I appreciate that."

"No problem, honey. I should be thanking you for taking such good care of Bella. I've never seen her so happy. She glows."

Edward shrugged bashfully, wrapping an arm around my gown-clad waist. "I'm sure it's more than just me."

"Maybe. But you've had a hand in it." Renee squeezed our hands, her excitement obvious. "And now you're leaving. My children, going off to study at Columbia. It's so exciting. Isn't it, Charlie?"

Charlie's moustache twitched again, but his pride was clear. "Yeah. Ivy league. Who would have thought a couple of kids from the sticks would make it out to New York City?"

"I did," Renee claimed, brushing hair from my forehead. "I always knew Bella was headed for big things. She's smarter than either of us ever were."

"That's true," Charlie admitted with a wry smile. "A better cook, too."

"Maybe not for long. I've been trying out some new dishes," Renee boasted. "Phil really loved my pot roast."

"You sure he wasn't just being nice?" Charlie suggested. I stifled a giggle. It did seem to be the more likely option.

"I'm sure it was delicious, Renee," Edward added. My mother beamed at his confidence in her abilities.

"Anyway, that's not important. We were talking Columbia," my mother continued, her tone bright. "Have the two of you found an apartment yet? Last time we spoke, Bella said you'd seen some that looked promising…"

xx

"Edward?" I called out to the next room, "what happened to the box of kitchen stuff? I swear I saw you bring it in, but I can't find it."

Edward strode into the room carrying the box I'd been looking for. "This one? It's awfully heavy. How can one person possibly need so many tools just to cook food?"

I shrugged, my collection of cooking utensils and gadgets didn't seem all that excessive to me. "That's the one. Thanks."

I kissed him on the cheek and tried to take it from him but he refused to let me unload the heavy box from his arms.

"I'll put it in the kitchen and you can unpack it, okay?"

I nodded. I'd never really undergone a full-scale move before but I definitely appreciated that having a vampire around made it easier than it would have been otherwise.

I was trying to be better about accepting help, even when I didn't necessarily need it. Sure, I could have moved the box myself, but it made Edward feel better to offer assistance and, truthfully, it was nice that he wanted to. He wasn't trying to undermine me, he was just trying to help. Keeping that in mind made all the difference.

We still had the occasional clash about our varying opinions on money and my need to do things on my own, but they were usually resolved quickly and with compromise.

For instance, the apartment we had settled on was a modest size, clean and in a nice neighbourhood. It was far from the lavish luxury condo Edward had originally had his eye on but it wasn't the tiny one bedroom I thought was most practical, either.

Now that we were in the process of unpacking, I was glad for the added space. For someone who'd only been on the planet for less than two decades, I'd sure acquired a lot of stuff.

Both Charlie and Renee had gifted us with all sorts of odds and ends necessary to run a household; everything from towels to flatware to the old leather furniture my mom had put in storage when she and Phil had redecorated the previous summer. Filling the empty apartment with all the things that would form our lives together for the next four years, and possibly longer, it was starting to feel like a home already.

Edward came up behind me as I absently tossed aside the newspaper padding from one of the boxes. He wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed the back of my neck.

"What are you thinking about so hard about?"

I laid my head on his shoulder. "Nothing. Just how much stuff we have. Where to put it all. And maybe a little about how much I'm going to love living with you." I couldn't help but smile.

He returned my grin twofold. "Good. You're not still worried about Charlie?"

My dad's warmed up attitude to Edward had chilled considerably upon learning that Edward and I planned to share an apartment post-graduation. With Renee in our corner and the fact that we were moving out of state, there really wasn't much he could do about it, but it was obvious he thought it was too soon.

"He'll get over it eventually."

It seemed to make Charlie feel better to know that Edward and I wouldn't be alone in the city. In a surprising move, Emmett and Rosalie had decided to follow us across the country. Emmett and Edward's brotherly relationship was like a vortex that Rosalie and I had found ourselves sucked into. The four of us had grown quite close.

If anyone had told me six months ago that I would consider Rosalie one of my closest friends, I would have thought that they were certifiable. But somehow, it had worked out that way. With Rosalie graduating alongside Edward and I, there was nothing tying her and Emmett to Forks. In four days they were set to move into an apartment building a couple blocks down from ours.

Until then, they were staying with us, helping us get settled. At the moment they were out squaring some paperwork with the landlord they were subletting from. I hadn't paid much attention when they'd left, too engrossed in the mountains of stuff waiting to be put away to really listen.

It was just the four of us for now, though I had a feeling we'd be seeing the others before the year was out.

Jasper and Alice were somewhere off in Mexico. They were enjoying a few months of travelling before settling back down. It had been a long time since they had a chance to spend time as a couple without family. When Rosalie had been solo, the Cullens had stuck together for her sake. Now that she was paired off and enjoying the blissful honeymoon stage of her relationship with Emmett, they felt the time was right to do a little globetrotting.

Carlisle and Esme had decided to stay in Forks. Like Alice and Jasper, it had been decades since they had enjoyed any real alone time. As much as they loved their family, I got the impression were enjoying being empty nesters. Even so, I had a feeling it was only a matter of time until Esme missed having a large brood to fuss over and insisted she and her husband pack up and follow the rest of us.

Edward's tone grew soft. "I don't want you to have regrets."

I twisted in his embrace so I could wrap my arms around him. "Believe me when I say I have absolutely no regrets." I pointed at my face. "I've been smiling so much my cheeks hurt. If that isn't proof, I don't know what is."

He squeezed me tighter.

"Good." Pausing to glance around at the chaos of the apartment, he gave me his most charming smile. "I'm getting tired of hauling boxes. What do you say we take a break?"

"Well," said demurely, running a thumb down his jaw, "most of the bedroom has been unpacked."

"Actually, I finished the rest of it," he proclaimed proudly. "I unpacked everything that was marked 'closet.' Our clothes are sorted by season they'll be worn, then colour, with an additional section for formalwear."

I laughed. It was so Edward. "Thorough."

An indignant crease sprouted on his forehead. "We're going to need to be able to find our clothes."

"I don't think we're going to need clothes for what happens next," I teased, standing on tiptoe so I could kiss him.

Edward grinned. "We'd better get on that immediately if we want to finish before Emmett and Rosalie get back."

"Emmett and Rosalie aren't supposed to be back for another two hours," I reminded him. "They said they 4, right?"

"Yeah, so like I said… we'd better hurry."

I squealed as he scooped me up in his arms and raced to the bedroom. He hadn't been kidding when he said he'd finished it up.

Everything was immaculate, down to the polished wood and neatly placed throw rugs on the floors. The duvet we'd chosen together at Bed, Bath and Beyond the previous week was draped on our bed, complete with neatly tucked French corners. He'd even lit a row of candles on the dresser. It was a stark contrast to the living space we'd just been in, where our stuff was placed in haphazard piles covering every available flat surface.

"Someone was hoping to get lucky," I teased, arching an eyebrow and running a hand through his hair.

He tossed me on the bed and climbed over me, hovering on his hands and knees as he dipped down to kiss a trail along my neck.

"I don't have to hope. You're a sure thing," he teased back. "I already know I'm the luckiest man alive, anyway. I couldn't get any luckier if I tried."

I pulled his face to mine, unable to come up with an adequate response. Edward didn't seem to mind. His hands floated down my ribs, easily finding the hem of my shirt as I occupied his lips with mine. He tugged the fabric over my head impatiently and tossed it off the bed. My bra and shorts were the next casualties.

Edward refused to let me do the same with his clothes. When my hands would draw close to the fastenings, he would tangle his fingers with mine and place them elsewhere, kissing me until I forgot my name, much less what I'd been attempting to do.

"Edward," I groaned, when this happened a third time.

He shushed me, his lips skimming the curve of my breast. I let out an involuntary hum as his lips closed around my sensitive skin. The coolness of his lips was a refreshing contrast to the muggy August weather.

"I told you I had plans. Be quiet and let me carry them out." His eyes were dark with desire and his voice lowered an octave. Both were filled with delicious promise.

"Carry them out faster," I complained, the final syllable dragging as Edward's practiced fingers found the one area of my body still covered by fabric, manipulating the soft flesh in ways he knew made me squirm.

Locking his eyes with mine, he hooked his fingers in my panties and leisurely drew them down my thighs. The moment they were past my knees, I kicked them off, already frustrated with his unhurried pace.

Free of the restrictive material, I spread my legs for him, wanting more, as always. I didn't need to say a thing. It was signal enough. Edward was more than eager to fulfill the silent request. Dropping several kisses along my ribs and stomach, he lowered his head between my legs. I sighed at the soft wash of his cool breath on the charged flesh.

His tongue was swift to get in on the action; it fluttered gently, lazily, picking up pace as he graduated to firmer strokes. My fingers twined in the mussed bronze of his hair, holding on for dear life.

I hated to admit Emmett was right, but when he'd said this was a big deal, he'd been spot on. As much as I loved having Edward inside of me, there was something really intimate about having him this way. I hadn't known what I'd been missing out on. Neither had Edward, for that matter. I got the impression that he enjoyed it as much as I did.

Since the first time he'd gone down on me, not long after we agreed to expand beyond our narrow comfort zone, his confidence had grown leaps and bounds. With the frequency with which he was willing to hone his skills, it was no wonder. He was able to reduce me to a puddle of boneless need in seconds.

I thought it probably had something to do with him being a vampire. The cold firmness of his tongue and the tingling sensation of his venom made it so intense it was hard to think anything could possibly feel better.

I tugged on his hair, desperate to crest the waves of sensation assaulting me, though what I needed was always just beyond my grasp. Edward had perfected the art of teasing to an infuriating degree.

I half-moaned, half-cried his name, caught in limbo between frustration and bliss. Edward took that as his cue to finally give my body the release it ached for. I sighed and curved into him as the relief of climax washed away the last vestiges of tension.

Edward slithered up my body, still fully dressed. The scraping of fabric against my hypersensitive skin made me shiver.

"Good?" he asked, licking his lips. His satisfied smirk told me he knew precisely how good it has been. There was an underlying pride that made me smirk back.

"Better," I admitted, not about to pretend it had been anything less than mind-blowing. I curled into his side, enjoying the feeling of post-coital contentment.

He pulled me closer, kissing me gently. I didn't like the way I tasted as much as he did, but I didn't mind it either. Edward made it bearable. I much preferred the way he tasted. His skin was always sweet, without the saltiness of human skin. With the added tang of venom, he tasted even better.

Pulling away, I tugged impatiently at his T-shirt, ready for him to be as naked as I was. "Take this off, now. And these," I tugged at the pocket of his jeans.

Obediently, Edward stood, discarding his clothing in less time than it took to blink. He was back by my side, completely nude, without seeming to have moved at all.

"Like this?"

I nodded, biting my lip as I stared unabashedly. I didn't have much experience with naked men, but there was no doubt in my mind Edward ranked among the most beautiful. Even after almost a year together, I still had to pinch myself once in a while to remind myself he was mine.

"Umhmm."

I dragged my nails down his chest, trailing kisses after them. The contented purring I adored so much spurred me on.

Scattering several kisses on his face, I decided I was in a playful mood. I was always so impatient to have him that I rarely teased him like he did me. Today I was feeling comfortably sated. It was time about time he got a taste of his maddening medicine.

I pushed at his shoulder, encouraging him to roll onto his back. He complied, letting me guide him into a more submissive position without resistance. I kept my eyes on his as I straddled his legs and slowly dipped to drop a wet kiss on the tip of his straining erection. I moved purposefully, wanting him to have a lingering visual.

Sparing a soft flick of my tongue, I pulled away, replacing my mouth with my hand.

Edward's groan of protest and muttered curse were audible but he said nothing to stop me. His only response was to flex his hips into my hand, seeking friction. He would never insist that I do anything I didn't want to and I was counting on it.

"Something wrong, baby?" I asked innocently, establishing a rhythm of feathery touches.

"You're evil," he ground out, his voice a strained whisper.

"If there's something you need, I'd be happy to oblige," I told him, kissing his cheek.

He shook his head and his honey eyes narrowed. He stubbornly refused to play my game. That was okay. I could be patient. I was playing with the master of patience, but I had one up on him this time and we both knew it.

"All you have to do is ask," I promised coyly. "I think you'll find I'm very reasonable."

I kissed a trail along his ribs, making sure he felt the wet heat of my tongue. The pace of my hand slowed to a sluggish crawl.

Edward groaned, frustrated by the step backwards. "Bella, please." His hips raised higher, but I drew back, playing up the demure role I'd established.

"Please what? Is something the matter?"

I hid my smile, enjoying the sight of his face contorted with need. It was a reversal of our usual roles and it filled me with a strange glee to see him so desperate. I understood why he enjoyed teasing me so much.

He remained mute. His eyes squeezed shut and his breaths turned shallow as he tried to ward off his frustration. He was on the verge of cracking.

Eventually he could stand the slow pace no longer. Gritting his teeth, he begged, "Jesus. Faster, please, Bella?"

I complied with the request and stroked his cheek, pleased he was finally playing the game with me. It was a start, but it wasn't what I wanted. Or rather, what I knew he wanted.

"Like this, baby?" I asked him, bending to kiss him as my hand continued to work him.

He nodded wordlessly, but I could tell he was still unsatisfied by the way he squirmed under my touch.

"You can ask me for anything, you know that, don't you? Anything at all. I want to make you happy. Tell me what I can do to make it better."

His eyes met mine, heavy with lust. He swallowed hard repeatedly; the pooling venom a sure sign he was frantic with desire. This time his response was almost immediate.

"Put your mouth on me?"

I grinned and kissed him deeply. "My pleasure."

His moan of satisfaction as my mouth met his most sensitive skin sent a shot of adrenaline charging down my spine. He was so close to the edge, I had barely settled into a rhythm before he reached his pinnacle.

Within seconds, he pulled me up his body and reversed our position. A second after that, he was inside of me. I gasped at the unexpected but definitely not unwanted intrusion.

I'd rarely seen his amber eyes so full of fire. What might have been frightening in other circumstances was thrilling. Even through the blaze, I could see his love for me; he would never hurt me. He so rarely loosened his grip on control, it was nice when he just took what he needed and asked questions later.

I let myself float, content to let him take the lead. I trusted him implicitly.

The lovemaking was quicker than it had ever been between us before. When it was over, we laid side by side on our brand-new bed in our brand-new apartment, panting as we recovered. I tucked myself under Edward's arm, wrapping it around me like a cool shawl.

"That was awesome," I breathed. "I love it when you get urgent."

He gave me a lazy, sated smile. "You're not tired?"

"We still have a lot of unpacking to do. I can't afford to be tired."

Edward grinned, a lot happier about the prospect of more unpacking than I was. He enjoyed sorting out our apartment. I wasn't sure if it was because it was a mark of our lives meshing together or if he really just liked organizing things. I was betting on a combination of the two.

"Well… if you're not tired, we still have time for another round before Rosalie and Emmett are due back." Gold eyes burned hopefully into mine and I couldn't say no. As if I wanted to anyway.

When Emmett and Rosalie strutted in the door an hour later, Emmett burst into a chuckle, shaking his head in disbelief.

"The two of you waste no time. Rosie and I leave for a couple of hours and already the two of you have christened the place. You know you've only officially lived here for seven hours right?"

xx

"Bella?" Edward called. I heard the door to our apartment shut behind him. He'd been out with Rosalie and Emmett, hunting. Usually one of them stayed behind, but not tonight. I was completely on my own for the first time since the semester had begun.

I had used the opportunity to make a trip to the drugstore.

It was merely a precaution. I had been certain it would turn out it was all in my head. A figment of my wild imagination. I knew it wasn't possible, but somehow it was. Because it was. The evidence was indisputable.

I'd taken the test three times. Three separate brands. Each with the same result.

They lined the counter in a neat row, daring me to contradict them.

And so I stood speechless, staring at myself in the bathroom mirror, wondering how I was supposed to tell Edward. I didn't believe it myself, yet. How was I supposed to make him believe?

Edward was at my side in a flash, his arms tucked around me like a soothing blanket. As comforting as having him wrapped around me was, it didn't stop my insides from churning with nerves. It seemed like an eternity since he'd stepped in the door, though I knew it had only been seconds.

How was I supposed to explain this to him? I didn't understand it myself. It wasn't supposed to be possible.

He griped my shoulders, turning me to face him, his eyes full of terror. "Bella, sweetheart, you're scaring me. What's the matter? Did something happen?"

I pointed at the white sticks lining the counter, my voice stuck somewhere in the vicinity of my stomach. My whole body was numb. I couldn't feel my arm, but I could see it moving, pointing at the three white sticks that had upended my life as I knew it.

Edward's head tilted as he analyzed the odd scene.

I saw the moment understanding struck. His entire face slackened, shock seeping into every feature. A loaded moment of silent staring and absolute stillness passed before he turned to me.

Thank god he didn't push me away. I didn't think I could have handled that. Instead he drew me closer. I felt an invisible weight lift.

"Bella?" The mix of disbelief and amazement scrawled on his face was just as present in his tone. Never had my name been so loaded. I had no idea what to tell him, no idea how to begin to explain the impossible.

I swallowed hard, forcing down the lump in my throat. One of us had to say the words and it looked like it was going to be me.

"I think I'm pregnant."

xx

Yes, that's the end of the regular chapters. Cliffhanger for the win.

Originally I had planned to have Bella find out she was pregnant shortly after Edward was kidnapped if it was more popular (it was, very slightly), but the support for kid/no kid was so closely split I decided to push it to the end of the story so those who were anti-baby (and some of you were awfully passionate about the subject, trust me!) could get some closure without having to read to the very end, while those who DID want to see Edward and Bella with a baby could get a little taste in the epilogue. Trust me when I say it's going to be very different than BD. SM and I just don't agree on some things.

To those of you who are passionately 'no baby' and are moving on… thank you for reading this far! I've enjoyed sharing this story with you and I hope I'll see you again for my next story :)

To everyone else… I'll see you in the epilogue ;)