A/N This story was featured in the Fandoms for Hope and Relief compilation. Christina Downs looked it over for me and Mina Rivera made the lovely banner.
Putting my hand on Bella's knee to still its bouncing, I whisper in her ear, "Are you nervous?"
She looks up at me, surprised.
"No. Why do you ask?" When I look at her knee, which is once again bouncing, she blushes. "Well, maybe a little," she admits.
"I didn't know you to be a nervous flyer," I comment. "And you seemed fine during the trans-Pacific flight…" I trail off.
"Oh, it's not the flying, I'm fine with that."
"Then what?"
She hesitates a few moments before softly confessing, "I'm a bit nervous about meeting your parents."
I can only gape at her. "They've known you for years! They've visited me in Brisbane, and you've stayed at their house before. You weren't nervous then. Why now?"
She sighs. "I know it's silly. But I wasn't your girlfriend before. They only had to like me as your friend back then. What if they don't like me as your girlfriend?"
She looks truly worried about this, but I can't help but snicker, to which she half-heartedly slaps my chest.
"You're right, baby. It is silly," I tell her, placing a quick kiss to her nose while she pouts adorably. "My parents already love you like a daughter. And when I told them we're together, my mom may have not-so-subtly exclaimed that it was about time. You've got nothing to worry about."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
I seal that promise with a kiss. Before we can get too carried away, the fasten seatbelt sign comes on and the captain announces our descent into O'Hare.
o.O.o
I declined my parents' offer to pick us up from the airport. There is no point in them driving there and back through this wintery weather, when a taxi can easily drop us off at their doorstep. Bella is still bouncing her leg nervously, so I try to distract her by pointing out some landmarks and places from my childhood. While she's been to Chicago before, she hasn't seen it in winter yet, and the snow does add an extra element to the city.
My mom must have been waiting at the window, because before I have even paid the driver, she comes rushing down the front steps. Bella and I barely get out of the taxi before we are enveloped in warm hugs.
"Oh, I'm so happy you're finally here!" she exclaims. "How were your flights? You must be tired and hungry. Well, I've got chicken soup and grilled cheese to tide you over until dinner."
Het waterfall of words only halts when she notices Bella shivering.
"Oh, you poor thing, you must be freezing! Let's get you inside and warmed up."
With that, she leads Bella to the walkway and into the house, leaving me to carry our bags inside. Luckily, we've only got Bella's massive roller suitcase and my duffel bag. I decide to save us the hassle later on, and carry everything upstairs before joining my parents and Bella in the living room.
o.O.o
Our first afternoon stateside is spent simply relaxing and making small talk. I can tell Bella is still a bit nervous at first, but she soon relaxes, thanks to my parents' warm welcome. We call it a night fairly soon after dinner, though, the long day of travel and the time difference catching up on us.
After trudging up the stairs, Bella halts in front of the door to the guest room, leaning up to kiss me goodnight.
"What are you doing, B?" I ask, trying to contain a knowing smile.
"Didn't your mum say she prepared our rooms for us? As in, plural?" she asks.
Taking her hand in mine, I guide her over to my door.
"Sweetheart, she knows we're sleeping together. We just told them about moving in together. You're sleeping in my room and they'll be fine with it."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm not sleeping without you," I say decisively. "Now come on, let's get to bed."
o.O.o
I'm quick in my nightly routine, just washing my face, brushing my teeth, and stripping down to my underwear. Bella takes considerably longer, so I take out my tablet to read a bit while I wait. When she emerges from the ensuite, my jaw drops at what she is wearing.
"Come on, Edward," she huffs. "Surely you've seen pajamas before."
I have, just not with this much fabric, on her.
"Is that flannel?" I ask, incredulous.
"Very funny. You know I'm not used to the cold. How are you not freezing like that?" she asks, gesturing to my bare chest.
I just chuckle and open my arms in invitation. She doesn't hesitate and snuggles up nice and close. I jump a little when her feet brush against my legs; they are actually quite cold, so I make a mental note to turn on the heater in the morning so the room won't be as cold tomorrow night. It takes a while for her shivers to subside, so I rub my hands over her arms and back in an attempt to warm her up.
"So," she says after a few minutes. "This is where you brought all your girlfriends?"
I know she's teasing by the smile in her voice, but I do feel the need to clarify.
"Actually, only my high school girlfriend has ever been in this room, and we only made out here. I'm serious!" I say when she looks at me with a raised eyebrow. "I didn't want to risk my parents walking in on us."
She contemplates that for a moment before she suddenly looks a bit shy.
"Last time I came over here with you, did you want me in here?" she asks softly.
I don't even hesitate when I tell her that I absolutely did, but was too scared to make a move. She then asks me what I would have done, had she been in my room back then.
"I could tell you," I reply. "But I'd much rather show you."
There is no mistaking the shiver that runs through her then. Although I think I know what it means, I do ask her if she's still cold, just to be sure. She simply shakes her head and looks up at me with a mixture of love and lust in her eyes. I roll over her and kiss her deeply, pressing my body into hers so there's no mistaking my intentions. She sighs, which turns into a moan when I grind my hips into hers.
Bella giggles when I make quick work of removing her silly pajamas, grumbling about the stupid flannel keeping her body from me. She then uses her feet to push down my boxers before pressing her heels into my ass, pulling me in close. I'm positioned so perfectly, it only takes a flex of my hips before I'm sheathed in her warmth. I love how she always sighs in satisfaction when I first enter her; the feeling of being complete and being fully together never gets old. We move in a steady rhythm for a while, just feeling each other and letting the pleasure build slowly.
When Bella's hands move to my ass and she starts squeezing, urging me to go faster, I know it's time to switch from gentle lovemaking to just that little bit harder. I sit up and yank her down the bed, eliciting a breathy giggle from her. With her pert butt in my lap, I place her legs on my shoulders, taking the time to kiss the skin at her ankles before moving inside her again. She can't move as much in this position, holding on to my legs, but the way her fingers squeeze my thighs and her eyes close in pleasure tells me I'm hitting that spot deep inside that makes her see stars. Her perfect tits bounce with each thrust and a blush is spreading across her face and chest, making for the best view in front of me. Her sighs turn into moans and her muscles start quivering around me, alerting me to her impending orgasm. At home, I don't mind her getting rather vocal, but I don't want to risk my parents overhearing us. When her moans grow louder I drop down onto my arms, capturing her lips with my own. Knowing I won't be able to hold out any longer, I angle my hips, trying to keep hitting that spot inside her. She pulls me in closer, kissing me with abandon. It doesn't take long before I can no longer control my thrusts. They become erratic until I still on a groan, pulsing with my climax.
Bella is pretty much bent in half in this position, so I'm quick to roll to the side. She doesn't let me go, though. Instead, she stretches out her legs and snuggles into my side. We're both panting, our hearts pounding. Once we've caught our breath, I fetch a washcloth and towel from the bathroom to help her clean up. Eventually, jetlag gets to me, and I fall asleep with my face buried in Bella's hair.
o.O.o
The next morning, I wake up to wandering fingers teasing down my stomach and soft lips pressed to my chest. Waking up in my childhood bedroom with the love of my life is something I've fantasized about, but never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd get to experience it. I have every intention on starting the day on another high, but just as Bella wraps her legs around my waist, there's a knock on my door.
"Edward," my mother calls. "Are you awake?"
I curse under my breath at the interruption before answering.
"Yeah?" I do my best to sound sleepy.
"Are you awake? Can I come in?"
"Give me just a second," I reply, noting our rather compromising position.
Once I've pulled the sheets up so Bella is sufficiently covered, I call out for my mother to come in. However, Bella tucks into my side, feigning sleep. I don't have a chance to dwell on the strangeness of that reaction, because just then the door opens.
"I went to wake up Bella for breakfast, but she wasn't in her room – oh!"
My mother's eyes widen as Bella tenses in my arms.
"Mom, I wasn't going to let her sleep in the guest room," I say in a low voice, going along with Bella's pretend-sleep. "I figured you'd have no objections to us sharing a room."
"Oh, of course," she replies, flustered. "Well, breakfast is about ready, so…"
"Thanks, mom. We'll be down in a bit."
Once the door closes, Bella sits up abruptly and punches me in the arm.
"What the hell, Edward? She obviously didn't know I'd be in your room!"
She is so cute in her indignation, I can't contain my smile.
"It's not funny! How am I supposed to face your parents now?"
"Babe, come on. Like I said last night, we're moving in together. They'd be naïve to think we'd be staying in separate rooms. It'll be fine," I try to reassure her.
She looks away, although I spy a small smile on her lips. Stubborn as she is, she won't admit defeat just yet. Then her face turns red before she buries it in her hands.
"What's wrong?" I ask, reaching out to her.
"My pajamas," she mutters. When I fail to comprehend her meaning, she clarifies, "They're on the floor. Your mum probably saw them. She knows I'm naked!"
Again, I fail to see the problem with that. It's not like she flashed my mom or anything. But I do realize she's embarrassed right now, which leaves me no other option than to distract her. I snake my hand under the sheets, trailing it up her leg to her waist, pulling her close.
"I'm sorry you're feeling embarrassed," I whisper in her ear, then kiss her neck. "Let me make it up to you."
Being reminded of her nakedness has me hard again. I lean over her, skimming my hand down her body to find her ready for me. But then she stops me.
"You're parents are waiting for us," she reasons. "We should get dressed."
I reluctantly agree, but do sneak in a quickie in the shower.
o.O.o
After breakfast we head downtown to soak up the Chicago winter atmosphere. I suggest walking along the Lakefront Path, because it offers amazing views, but Bella declares it much too cold for that. So instead, we opt for the Art Institute. There are so many different exhibits, but permanent and temporary, it's difficult to decide what to go see.
"I get plenty of modern and contemporary at work, so let's skip that," she reasons. "Oh, they've got a Rodin exhibit! Let's do that one, and then maybe medieval and Renaissance art?"
I indulge her, knowing it's best to let her lead when it comes to art. At the very least, I'll get a free tour no museum tour guide can provide. We spend the morning and most of the afternoon walking from room to room, enjoying the art, and have lunch at the museum's Caffè Moderno.
Once we have soaked up as much art as we can for the day, we walk through Millennium Park to McCormick Tribune Ice Rink. I rent us some skates and help Bella secure hers. For someone not used to winter sports, she takes to the ice amazingly well. Noticing my surprise at this, she turns around and laughs.
"I may be an Ozzy, but I do know a thing or two about skating, love," she teases. "Back home, we spent a lot of time rollerblading. That's basically the same, except warmer."
I must admit I'm a little bit disappointed. I'd been looking forward to guiding her across the eyes, my hands on her hips to make sure she wouldn't fall.
She still lets me, though.
o.O.o
Christmas Eve is surprisingly laidback, considering my parents have been practically begging me to spend the holidays with them for the last couple of years. I was expecting some lavish feast with our entire family, but instead it's rather low-key. We watch some old black-and-white movie while a fire crackles in the fire place. It's all very quaint and I'm enjoying every bit of it. December in Brisbane is much warmer, and I love it there, but it's nice to experience an old-fashioned Christmas on occasion.
My mother cooks a delicious dinner Christmas Day, with all the trimmings, and refuses our help in preparing it. She insists we spend time with my grandparents, who are spending the day with us and are delighted to be introduced to Bella. She charms them effortlessly, prompting Grandpa Cullen to not-so-subtly let me know that "this girl's a keeper, son". Don't I know it.
o.O.o
Between Christmas and New Year's we meet up with my college buddy Emmett and his wife Rosalie. Bella's met them before, but it's nice to spend more time with them now. We go to Giordano's for their famous deep-dish pizza. It's a Chicago specialty, and something I insisted Bella try on this trip. She and Rosalie hit it off and they make plans to get together before we fly back to Australia. I make a mental note to invite them over after we've moved.
Although Emmett and I chat regularly through our messaging service, it's good to catch up face to face. I tell him about the latest project I'm working on and he's happy to share anecdotes from his work. He started a body shop for specialty cars, catering to some interesting clientele. Rosalie does his PR, getting his name out all across the country. They're quite successful, and I'm happy my friend gets to make a very comfortable living doing what he loves.
They also enjoy throwing parties, inviting a wide variety of guests. They're renowned in the greater Chicago area for their Fourth of July barbeques and Halloween shindigs. From college and high school friends to VIP clients, everyone is itching to receive an invite, knowing they're in for a fantastic night. Of course they're throwing an amazing New Year's Eve party, and of course they made sure we received an invitation as soon as they heard we'd be in town over the holidays. Nevertheless, Emmett feels the need to remind me.
"Are you guys still coming over for New Year's?" he asks. When I nod, he smiles broadly. "It's gonna be great! It's all black and white, and Rosie's got the most stellar dress that makes her look like Marilyn Monroe took a page out of Jessica Rabbit's book. And I get to dress up all fancy in a tux and a hat and stuff. We're gonna have a blast!"
His enthusiasm is contagious, and I clap him on the back, promising we'll be there. I know for a fact Bella has been shopping with her colleague Alice, who's quite a fashionista. She picked up quite the stellar dress herself.
o.O.o
The day before New Year's Eve we go through boxes of my stuff, deciding what we want to take back to Australia. There are high school yearbooks, knick-knacks, sports memorabilia… Truth be told, I don't think there's much of this stuff I'll need with me. However, I needed a pretext to have Bella stumble upon something.
"Edward, why on earth do you have not one, but two Disney snow globes?" she wonders aloud as she rummages through a box of odds and ends. "And did you seriously keep stubs from every film you saw in the 90s?"
Trying to contain my nerves, I simply smile and tell her to just keep on digging to see if there's anything good in the box. I can tell when she finds what I stashed in the box. Her mumbling and rummaging stops.
"Edward?" she asks softly. "What's this?"
I look up at her, noting the small item in her hand. I leave my own box for what it is and move to stand in front of her.
"Go ahead," I urge her. "Open it."
She gently lifts the lid, a gasp escaping her lips. In the little velvet covered box is my great-grandmother's heirloom. It's an Art Deco style ring, with diamonds and sapphires. I asked my mother to have it cleaned and to check the size before we left Brisbane. Luckily, Bella has the same ring size as Gran Platt, so I know it'll be a perfect fit.
When she looks up, I'm on one knee. One of her hands covers her mouth in surprise. I take the box from her, taking her other hand in mine.
"Bella, we've been together officially only a few short months, but I've been in love with you for years. There's nothing that would make me happier than to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?"
A/N Thank you for reading! If you'd like to see the ring I described, check out this link: collections/vintage-engagement-rings/products/1-58-carat-art-deco-engagement-ring
