You guys are amazing – I promised two updates a week for each time we passed a hundred review mark, and I've gotten over 150 reviews in the last week alone! You crazy, crazy people! ;) Keep it up if you want double updates! (Yes, I have thrown all resemblance of a social life out the window)

Thanks to all who came out of hiding to review! Sorry I didn't reply – I have been working like mad to get this chapter done in just a few days time.

The people who make this story worthy of your eyes are so near and dear to my heart: my beta, Ginginlee, and my fantastic prereaders, Lizzylillyrose, Sammielynnsmom, and Morethanmyself.

And let's get back to that kiss, why don't we…

Taking the last step to where I was, his hand rose to my forehead and swiped my hair back, looking into my eyes as the rain dripped from my eyelashes and onto my cheek, disguising themselves as the tears that threatened to fall.

"You are so beautiful," he muttered, the words soft on his lips.

Without another word, he grabbed my face in both of his hands and pressed his body as close to mine as our standing position would allow, and he did something that I had been waiting for for over twenty years.

He breathed in, he smiled, and then he kissed me.

Chapter 18

2010

I could feel as the rain beat down on my face, and I could taste the water on my lips. My hands clung to his t-shirt as he cradled my face, and I wanted to get lost inside of him. Loosening my grip on the fabric of his shirt, I flung my arms around his neck, pressing up on my toes to get closer, and he glided his arms down my body until they rested on my hips, pulling me right to him.

He would only release my lips to move his face so he could kiss me again. His lips were soft, full, and tasted like the fresh summer droplets that fell between us. I felt goosebumps on my skin as the hot air mixed with the cool rain, and a shudder involuntarily rocked through my body.

"Bella," he said again, almost reverently. Another loud peal of thunder sounded in the sky, accompanied with incredible flashes of lightening that illuminated the darkening horizon.

"When you said it was done," I began, referring to his little ramble of words before he kissed me, "does that mean…?"

"Remember that time you told me to let you know when I was no longer someone's husband?" he joked with another dazzling smile. "This is me letting you know." He slowly pulled me back to him and kissed me again, this time both of our smiling faces making it difficult, but we didn't dare allow something as simple as our elation stop us from kissing.

"YO! BELLA!" I heard after a few minutes, begrudgingly separating myself from Edward and looking over at Seth who was running towards us.

"What, kid? I'm kind of busy here," I relayed seriously, earning a laugh from the said reason for being busy beside me.

"It's great that y'all are all sucking faces and shit, but I just saw lighting hit really close to the ground back there, so unless you really want to know what an electric current feels like coursing through your body as he's kissing you, I suggest you take this love fest inside."

"Where do you learn this stuff, kid?" I asked incredulously as Edward just took my hand and all three of us began running inside.

To all of our amusement, Charlie was still sitting on the back porch, swinging back and forth on his porch swing with a very smug look on his face. Luckily the overhead covering kept him from getting wet like the rest of us were, but I still wanted to get him inside, surprised that he hadn't already gone in.

"Go ahead and say it," I started, shaking my head as I helped him stand up.

Edward held the door open for us as I helped the old man walk inside, rolling his oxygen tank behind him.

"Say what, baby?" he asked seriously. "I don't have a single thing to say. Nope, not me."

Seth grabbed Charlie's arm for me and helped him to the living room while I wrung out my dripping hair on the porch.

"You're soaked," Edward said, leaning against the wall and letting the screen door shut.

"Pun intended?" I asked, causing him to release a full belly laugh and shake his head.

"God, Bella…" He laughed again.

"What?" I shrugged, kicking off my shoes and leaving them by the mat.

"Let's just get inside before I make good on that pun."

"Whatever, buddy." I laughed now. "It's not like my uncle being home has ever stopped you before." I took his hand as we walked back into the house, careful to not make puddles on the kitchen floor with our dripping clothes.

"It's a good thing for him that I have more self-control these days."

I raised a brow in his direction, silently challenging him.

"Knock it off, pretty girl. I only just kissed you," he said while shaking his head. "Always pushing me to go further." His voice dropped as he took the extra step towards me that closed the distance between us, wrapping his arms around my shoulders as he kissed me again.

"I never heard you complaining," I rebutted as his lips left mine.

"We need room for rational thinking here," he said, not sure who he was trying to convince, though, because he didn't dare take a step away from me.

"We've had twenty plus years of rational thinking that didn't get us anywhere," I challenged.

"I don't want to lose you again."

"Then I suggest you keep kissing me."

"You like that, huh?" He laughed, and I loved seeing the light back in his eyes.

"Not to give you a big head here or anything, but you're not too bad at it."

"Oh, well I'm glad I meet your standards."

"Eh," I shrugged, "my kissing standards are pretty low. Don't worry."

He pinched my side, causing my normal laughs to turn into squealing giggles.

"Oh, God! Not the giggles again!" He laughed now, continuing his relentless tickling.

I collapsed to the kitchen floor, only to be followed by Edward as he refused to release my sides.

"Stop!" I screamed between bursts of laughter. "I kill you!" I mocked in my best Achmed the Dead Terrorist interpretation.

"I don't think so," he yelled over my screams.

Before we knew it, both of us heard a clearing of a throat behind us, and we both froze in our movements and looked up. My head was on the ground and tilted backwards, so when I saw Charlie with his hands on his hips standing by the door, he was upside down.

"So I think this is a good moment to say my peace," he said seriously, still scowling.

Edward tensed a little bit and sat back on his legs, and I looked at him for help, but he was too busy lost in the stare down with my uncle, a chastised look on his face. I scooted so I was sitting up too, afraid for some reason that Charlie was going to scold us like we were teenagers.

Sitting there for what felt like eternity, Charlie didn't say anything, and we didn't even think about moving.

With a deep breath, he finally let out a very loud, "It's about damn time!" which confused me even more.

"What?" I asked, looking over at Edward who looked just as confused.

Holding up his pointer finger at us, he continued, "I would just like to say, I told you so! To both of you!" And then with a bow, he grabbed the handle of his oxygen tank behind him, and he rolled it back into the living room.

"I think that just happened," Edward deadpanned from beside me, but I was too busy looking at the now empty space by the entryway to look over at him.

"And you were afraid he was going to shoot you," I mocked, finally breaking out back into laughter.

"Oh, no you don't," he said, right before he tackled me back to the ground.

O.o

I would have loved for time to stand still, to never leave that moment, to be lost forever with Edward kissing me again on the kitchen floor, however, he had children to spend time with, and I had dinner for my Uncle and Seth to make. Leaving me with another kiss on the front porch, he ran off to his truck, getting wet all over again from the pouring rain, and waving to me as he pulled down the street.

"Oh, sweet baby Jesus," Charlie said as I walked in and collapsed on the couch.

I answered him with a very large smile in his direction.

"That boy has you struck all over again." He laughed. "And you're getting my couch wet," he said more seriously, pointing at me.

"Uncle Charlie," I answered in a dream like voice. "Please tell me that really happened."

"Get a grip, child," he berated, causing me to laugh in my seat.

"Hey, Bella," Seth began.

"Yeah, kid?"

"He really does make you happy, doesn't he?"

I was surprised with how dead serious he sounded, and when I looked over at him, he was looking at me with such concern. "Yeah, Seth, he does."

"I don't think I've ever seen you like this before," he continued from his spot on the chair on the other side of the room.

"What do you mean?"

"I think your face is going to break if you smile any bigger," he mocked, and I threw a pillow at him for it.

"Hey…you'll see. One day, I hope to God you experience happiness like this."

"It makes me happy to see you happy, baby," Charlie offered, and I turned my head to look at him, noticing tears in his eyes.

"Don't go getting soft on me, old guy," I broke through, my voice betraying the strength of my words.

"You've been through too much to not be this happy, Bella. And I'll say it again, it's about damn time, my child. I've only ever wanted you to be happy."

"God, Charlie, when did you turn into such a sap," I said while wiping the tears that fell down my cheeks.

"Is this like some serious family moment? Should I leave?" Seth asked, and I regretted not having another pillow to throw at him.

"Shut it, kid. You are family." I sniffed and tried to get it together. "Besides, where is that girl of yours? I clearly remember asking you to bring her over to get my approval. You're not slipping that past me, are you, boy?" I said seriously, even though there was a clear intention of trying to lighten the mood in my tone.

He smiled, and I was glad that it worked. "Yeah, I'll still bring her over."

"Good. And if Rebecca makes you as happy as you are, I'm sure there won't be a problem."

"You remember her name?" he asked incredulously.

"Come on, Seth, give me more credit than that. I'm about to go mama-bear on your ass, and that shit ain't pretty."

Tears swarmed in his eyes then, too, and this caused me to half-laugh-half-cry, my reaction seemingly contagious as Seth did the same. Charlie, however, used the remote to flick on the TV, and he mumbled, not so quietly, "Softies," which just made us laugh harder.

O.o

I woke up the next morning to sounds of drilling coming from outside my window. Crawling out of bed, I walked over to look out, noticing a whole group of half-naked people below me. Edward, Emmett, and Seth were all shirtless, and Emmett's three girls were dressed in only their bathing suits, laying out on towels and reading books.

I looked at the clock, noticing it was just past ten, and I was honestly surprised I had slept in so late. I didn't bother changing out of my cotton shorts and tanktop as I walked down stairs and into the kitchen. Uncle Charlie was perched at the table, struggling with the glasses on his face as he tried to read the newspaper.

"Morning," I said, the word coming out a lot more groggily sounding than I expected.

"I made an extra pot of coffee for you," was his form of greeting me.

"Ah." I smiled. "Good man!" I walked over and poured myself a large cup, adding in my spoonful of sugar and a good amount of creamer. "So would you mind telling me why exactly we have a nudist colony forming out in our backyard?"

He didn't even give my comment a second thought, being plenty used to the way I spoke by now. "Those Masen boys insisted this house was on the verge of collapse," he said, rolling his eyes. "So they have taken it upon themselves to play Bob-the-Builder."

"And the girls?"

He looked up over the top of the paper at me before shrugging and going back to whatever column had caught his attention. "Emmett thought it might be nice if they spent some time with you."

"Yeah?" I asked, taking another sip of my coffee.

"I think they could use some woman advice…or something," he dismissed, coughing lightly afterwards.

"You don't really think I'm the best one to give advice, do you?" I worriedly voiced.

"And why would you not be?" he stated harshly, becoming defensive as he glared my way.

"I just…I don't know. I'm a divorced woman in my forties with as much life experience as a sheep."

"A sheep? Really, Bella?" He rolled his eyes, making it very obvious. "That's the best you can come up with?"

"Oh, whatever. You know what I mean."

"No, I don't, actually," he fought, putting the paper all the way down on the table.

"Uncle Charlie," I started, trying to find the exact words to explain.

"Bella, you listen to me here. I'm sick and tired of you discounting yourself. You are a strong, intelligent woman who could really help those girls. There is absolutely no reason why you wouldn't be good enough to pass on advice to them. Now stop your self-deprecating bullshit and get on with it now." He huffed loudly, and when my silence and apologetic look told him that I got the message, he picked his paper back up and began to read again.

"Besides," he added after a minute, "their next best bet is Emmett, and he is the last person they should turn towards for advice about boys…and such." He waved his hand in the air, and I had to at least smile at the one.

"Fine, but if they wind up working in a brothel one day, no one is allowed to shift the blame to me."

"Yeah, yeah, kid, just go put on some darn clothes and get out there. I think someone else might be a little bit excited to see you, too," he hinted with a sly smile.

"I keep trying to tell Seth that it's not going to happen between us," I deadpanned, earning a good chuckle from Charlie, which I hoped meant that I was forgiven.

I took my cup of coffee upstairs with me as I changed into my own bathing suit, no longer the skimpy bikini that I wore back in the '80s, but I didn't feel like too much of an old hag in it, either. I, however, still threw on a light dress to cover up the rest of my imperfections. After finishing my coffee, brushing my teeth, washing my face, and throwing my hair back in a ponytail, I trotted back downstairs and out the back door, grabbing my book on the counter on my way out.

"Well this is a nice sight to be greeted with in the morning," I spoke as I turned the corner and found the guys hard at work. I took in the sight of Edward especially – I couldn't help that I was a little biased – and quite enjoyed the view of his tan, defined back as he worked over the siding with a paintbrush. His head turned at the sound of my voice, and he winked at me, his smile evident for everyone to witness.

"Well, hi, yourself," he said, though he turned back to the house to keep working.

"Bella-bean!" Emmett greeted, smiling in my direction as well as he screwed nails into the house with the drill.

Seth must have not heard me, since he had headphones in, but when he went to get more paint on his paintbrush, he smiled and waved in my direction.

"I'm not paying you boys for this hard labor, am I?" I asked in a serious tone, crossing my arms across my chest, even though I was just giving them a hard time.

"Charlie promised your homemade lasagna," Emmett quickly responded, which made Edward just laugh from beside him.

"And what was that for, Mr. Masen?" I addressed Edward's obvious scoff at the lasagna comment.

"Oh nothing," he sang out, still moving the paintbrush back and forth.

"Is there a comment you would like to make on my cooking?" I tried again, trying to hide my oncoming smile.

He just shrugged. "Not at all."

"Yeah, I thought so, buddy."

He laughed at me then, and I chuckled as well, but I walked away from them and headed towards the girls.

"Hey, Bella," Anna greeted first, smiling at me as she was eating an apple.

"Hey, ladies," I said back, sitting down on an open space on the blanket. "Can I join you?"

"Sure," Molly said as she flipped a page in the book she was reading. Sydney was playing on some hand held gaming system thing and said a small hi in my direction.

It took a little while of talking about nothing between us, but eventually Molly surrendered whatever secret she was trying to keep and talked to me about it, Anna adding into the conversation when appropriate. And before we knew it, at least two hours had passed, and the four of us were lost in our giggles and squeals at boys they were dating, friends they loved to hate, and even talking about memories they had of their mom.

I took a moment to really look at them, the way Anna's green eyes shone with the maturity of a girl becoming a woman, the way Molly's wit kept everyone laughing, and how Sydney still held sweet innocence but yet had knowledge beyond her years. I wanted Rosalie here so badly to see how amazing her girls were growing up to be.

When Anna had asked me about sex, though, I thought I was going to vomit. I knew she was in college, older than I was when I had lost my virginity, but the topic still caught me off guard. Molly also listened with rapt attention as I explained the details of protection, the dangers that came with physical intimacy, and how important it was to wait until you were sure, because once you gave it away, you couldn't get it back, and how sometimes that could be the most gutting feeling in the world.

I tried to as best I could to explain to them that sex was a lot more important than it seemed like when you were just a teenager. I for one was especially ignorant to how it would affect me as a person, and I vividly remembered feeling like a shell, wanting nothing more than to take it back after the first time I had done it. I had craved my innocence so badly once it was gone.

But I knew, even if someone would have had this talk with me then, it wouldn't have changed what I did. I didn't think anything could have stopped us.

Anna was explaining her relationship with a boy named Ryan right as Edward and Emmett came back around the house, having made their way around the corner in the time we had spent talking.

"You ladies ready to head out?" Emmett asked, slipping his shirt back over his shoulders.

"Yeah, Dad," they sounded, gathering up their belongings with a promise to continue this conversation with me another time.

Edward stuck around after they left and took my hand, leading me out to the stables.

"Where are we going, Mr. Masen?" I asked coyly, enjoying the feel of his hand wrapped around mine.

"Ah, leading you away to your death," he mocked.

"Funny," I quipped sarcastically, pinching his side.

His laughter filled my ears, and it made me smile myself.

Once we were in the barn, he took a saddle off the wall and pulled out Jenna, placing it on her and leading her out into the field as I watched on the sideline. With one foot secured, he stood and swung his leg over the horse, sitting up straight.

"Well," he held his hand out for mine, "are you coming?"

With a smile, I lifted my hand to his, holding on tight as I swung up behind him, wrapping my arms around his bare, sweaty waist.

We didn't ride far, or for long, but it was quiet, peaceful, as I clung to him, being bold and placing light kisses on the back of his shoulders or side of his neck. We stopped on the other side of Charlie's land, no longer being able to see the house, and he jumped off, helping me once he was on the ground. He tied the reigns of the horse around a branch of a tree and collapsed down on the grass afterwards.

I decided to lie next to him, resting on my stomach as he was on his back. He placed his arms under his head, acting as a pillow of sorts, and he turned his gaze to the left so he could look at me. We were shaded by the trees around us, and it felt nice to get out of the sun, even though it didn't make that much of a difference with the heat as high as it was.

"Did you have fun today?" he asked with a smile.

"I did."

"You guys were laughing a lot. I think Emmett almost started crying at the sound."

"Why is that?" I chuckled, imagining a man the size of Emmett cry, even though I knew it was very possible.

"His girls sounded so happy."

"Ah," I smiled, although sadly, "that makes sense."

"They're such good kids."

"They are."

"I swear they have better heads on their shoulders than we did at that age," he remarked, sighing deeply.

"God, you're not kidding. I was thinking the same thing today when we were talking about…" I paused, not wanting to get into it, "um, things."

I knew the blush in my cheeks must have given me away, but I ducked my head down, trying to get away with it regardless.

Edward just laughed. "Some things just never change, do they, Bella?"

"I'm still just as awkward as I was when I was seventeen, don't worry." I rolled my eyes, knowing just how true it was.

Somehow he pushed my side and rolled me over almost effortlessly, and he hovered over top of me, looking down with a devilish smirk.

"I wouldn't be too sure of that," he said, light dancing behind his blue eyes.

"And you're obviously just as clueless if you can't see it, Masen," I rebutted.

"No…some things are the same, but you're different too. I can see it even in the way you move. You're more confident, sure of who you are. It's sexy."

"Sexy?" I laughed.

"Hmm-mmm," he agreed.

"I don't know about that."

"I do," he whispered, leaning down farther to kiss me, his whole body shifting and coming down to rest against mine.

I couldn't believe it had just been the day before that he had kissed me for the first time. It was effortless between us, and it took only seconds for things to get heated. His naked chest pressed against me, the thin fabric of my dress was quickly pulled up my legs and torso. Edward breaking our kiss as he removed the material from my body and flinging it across the field.

When I raised an eyebrow at him, he shrugged his shoulders, mumbling how he had wanted that gone all day, which only made me laugh in return.

The best part about this, though – making out with him almost naked – was that it wasn't awkward at all. I at least expected some hesitance and nerves to come from somewhere and present themselves, but they didn't. I wanted Edward with a passion that was undeniable, and it felt so good knowing that he felt the same way.

I felt him move above me, against me, and I felt the effects that this was having on him, but unlike when I was younger, I didn't back away. It only made me want him more, and I couldn't help the heavy breath that escaped me when he moved in the right spot, only being hindered by his basketball shorts and my bathing suit bottoms.

"Bella," he panted heavily into my neck, moving his hips against me again.

"Oh God," I cried out, my head falling farther back into the grass.

"We should stop," he said, although he didn't lift himself from me.

"I don't want to," I said honestly, my eyes glued shut as I tried to focus on all the amazing feelings that were coursing through me.

"Tell me to stop," he said again, the tone in his voice begging, and I knew when I opened up my eyes to look at him that stopping was the last thing he wanted to do.

I cursed the sudden thought of my sex talk with the girls that had only happened less than an hour before. He was right…we needed to stop, go slower. There was no need to rush anything.

"Damn-it." I sighed, pounding the grass in frustration.

With heavy resign, Edward lifted himself, coming to lie down beside me so our shoulders and the length of our arms were touching.

"Being adults sucks," he commented, earning a humorless laugh from me.

"Tell me about it."

Edward surprised me, though, as I felt him grab my hand and intertwine our fingers that rested side-by-side on the grass.

"Your skin feels good," he voiced after a few minutes, after both of us had caught our breaths.

"You know, I'm very fond of this whole you complimenting me business. Feel free to continue," I joked, squeezing his hand.

"Hmmm," he pretended to think. "Well, your lips taste good."

"Yeah?"

"Oh yes."

"Anything else?"

"Your body looks…amazing, Bella," he said, looking over at me.

I rolled my eyes and huffed, sure that he was full of it.

"I mean…if you don't believe the effect you have on me, feel free to do some research, and I'm sure your findings will be very prominent. If you need some hands on research as well, I'm sure I wouldn't mind."

"Don't temp me, Masen." I laughed pretty loudly, not even blushing at his highly suggestive words.

"We should get back," he finally said less than a minute later.

"Why?" I pouted, enjoying our spot.

"Because if we don't leave now," he said, rolling back on top of me, "we never will." He kissed me chastely once more before hopping to his feet, holding out his hand for me to take.

I knew he was right, so I grabbed onto his hand, though once I was on my feet, I refused to let it go.

O.o

It was a few days later when I was in the kitchen, making dinner for the boys as a thank you for helping with the house earlier that week. The lasagna was hot when I pulled it out of the oven, and the glass dish grazed past the material of my oven mit, searing my skin on the inside of my wrist. Quickly putting the glass down on the top of the oven, I rushed over to the sink, turning on the cool water and allowing it to rush over my burning skin.

There was a horizontal white line appearing on the red skin of my left arm, and I quietly cursed to myself.

"What happened?" Edward walked into the kitchen from the living room, his face morphing into concern as he saw me hunched over the sink, arm in hand.

"Oh, nothing. I just burned myself when I took the lasagna out of the oven."

He came over and stood behind me, pressing his body into mine as his arms came around to take my wrist in his hands. He pulled it from the water for a few seconds as he surveyed the damage, lightly running his thumb around the white mark before putting back under the faucet.

Kissing the side of my neck, he whispered, "I'm sorry. Do you want me to take you to see a doctor?"

I shook my head, leaning back on his chest. "No, it's alright. I've survived worse." I smiled, turning my head, seeking his lips. He kissed me lightly before he ran his forehead against mine.

"Kiss me again," I asked, using the back of my arm to shut of the water. I maneuvered myself so that my back was pressed against the counter, and he came and stood directly in front of me.

"You need ice for your arm," he said softly, even though he wrapped his hands around my waist, getting the fabric of my shirt damp from his wet hand.

I rested my arms on his shoulders, careful to keep my left wrist turned up so it wouldn't touch anything, and pulled him closer to me. "It can wait."

Slowly inching forward, eyes roaming my face before closing, Edward seared his lips to mine, lifting his dry right hand to hold my cheek. He then pressed more of his weight into my body, and I ached in the best way at the added pressure. His slim hips moved in small circles, almost as if he was doing it unconsciously, against mine, and I absolutely loved the sensations it caused. Edward actually made me feel desirable.

An old, worn out woman like me felt wanted. It was a feat only Edward could accomplish.

Things were just getting interesting between us when I heard screeching tires outside before a slamming of a door. Edward took his lips off mine, not bothering to move his body much as a look of confusion crossed his face.

"What was that?" he asked, tilting to the left to look out the window of the kitchen and into the yard.

"What's goin' on?" I heard Uncle Charlie call hoarsely from the living room.

When I heard a loud crash, Edward and I both looked at each other gravely before we took off running, out of the house, off the back porch, and into the yard towards the barn. Seth was in the barn. The hair on the back of my neck stood high at the thought of who could have been in there with him.

There was an old, beat up, rusted sedan in the gravel drive, but I had never seen that car before in my life. Edward, on the other hand, must have recognized it because a low, "Fuck," escaped him as we continued our path to the barn.

"YOU LITTLE SHIT," a woman screamed, and right as we ran through the door of the stables, we both saw as this woman lifted her hand and smacked Seth right across the face.

"Vanessa!" Edward yelled loudly, his voice becoming low and dangerous.

I, on the other hand, only saw the back of her head, but her stringy brown hair was unkempt and matched her torn jeans and too tight t-shirt. I didn't even think about what I was doing before I did it, and if Edward would have caught on, he probably would have held me back, but all I thought was that woman just hit my child. It was an impulsive thought; the first thing that came to mind.

So, just like any mother would have done…I tackled the bitch.

O.o

End Notes:

Thoughts?

Review and you could get the answers next week instead of waiting! ;)