I gasped when I woke up. What happened. Edward was laying there beside me. His eyes closed and he was still sleep? I thought. He looked glorious. His shirt was off and his chest was rising and falling slowly. I sighed and leaned back into the pillows. I wasn't tired anymore. That was the weirdest thing that I have ever done. Why had I said yes to that. There could have been things that I could have been doing instead of this so called sleeping. When would Edward wake up? How long did this stuff normally last. I rubbed Edward's back slowly hopping that he would wake up, but the only sound that I heard from Edward was a soft moan of my name.
"Bella," That's what it sounded like and I didn't know if he was still sleeping, or he was awake but something made me want to rub his back more. It was so smooth and soft. I loved it. My hand moved lower under the sheets then back up. It was a pattern and Edward seemed to be loving every minute of this because he didn't stir. I don't know what brought me to do this, but I just did because I liked making him happy and right now I was in the kind of mood where I was really happy. I used both hands now, trying to cover more space on his back. I hoped he enjoyed this because this was my way of being nice to him and showing him that I might actually have feelings for this creature.
"Mmm, Bella," He groaned again and the way that he spoke clearly told me that he was awake now. I bent down to whisper in his ear.
"Yes Edward?" I asked him nicely and somewhat teasing. He sat up on his arms and looked at me with his golden eyes. He looked as happy as I did.
"Good morning to you too," He smiled and I leaned back away from him sitting on my side of the bed. "How was your first sleep in 90 years Bella?" Edward asked me. I thought about this. I hadn't slept in so long and that felt good, but now I was wide awake. I knew that I wouldn't ever get that tired again, though some part of me wanted it again and again. It was kind of a craving.
"It was very good, I slept wonderfully, but I don't think that I want another one for a very long time," That was a lye, but I didn't want Edward seeing how much I loved sleeping next him. I was so peaceful in his arms and that told me how much I really loved him.
"That's good Bella, I slept very well and now I feel like I could run a mile," He gave me a genuine smile and my body warmed. Yeah I felt the same way. I felt that I could run forever and I could. I could run forever and never get tired out.
"Edward what is that stuff and how did you get it?" I asked him softly.
"Well like I said, it was something that Carlisle got from someone a long time again and he never used. Not once, he was going to save it for something special," I thought for a moment how was last night something special. "I just wanted you to try it with me because I was extremely curious to see what it would do. Carlisle told me that it wouldn't harm us and that it would only last for a couple of hours and then it would fade away because of the venom in our veins would just eat it away. It's kind of a numbing medicine. It takes over the venom for a period of time and causes us to get tired and fall asleep for a few hours, but then the venom kicks in again. That's why we wake up," Edward explained to me. I nodded my head in agreement and I understood it a little more now. I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair. It was time to get up and get dressed and ready for the day to come. Today we were all going to start cleaning up my old home and get things looking back to the way they did before.
"Bella?" Edward asked as I was already up and out of bed. I looked back at him. He looked so cute. I wanted to run back into the bed and tackle him to the mattress and kiss every inch of his body. Now wasn't the time for that though.
"Yes Edward?" I asked him nicely. I wasn't in the mood to be mean right now, I was far to happy for that. I waited for his response, but I didn't get anything from him he just stared at me with a smile and that was enough for me. I got dressed quickly hand ran down the steps. I loved it here in this house it was so big.
"How was it Bella?" Alice asked as she greeted me down at the bottom of the steps. I looked at her with wide eyes. I didn't know what she was talking about until I remembered that she could see into the future.
"Oh it was very nice, different, but nice I slept well for the first time in 90 years," I kind of joked. Alice smiled and wrapped her arms around me pulling me into a hug. This was nice and I was glad that I kind of had a family, if that's what you wanted to call it.
"So Bella are you ready to go furniture shopping?" Alice asked me following me into the living room. I kept walking, but I looked back at her with confusion.
"For what?" I had furniture in my old home, why did I need more.
"Well we are going to get you some new things to sit on, that's why silly," Alice giggled and pulled me along into the car.
"What about Edward, isn't he going to coming with us?" I asked her as she shoved me into the car.
"Nope, it's just going to be you, me, Rose and Esme. The guys are going to be over at your house, they are going to be working on cleaning it up for when the furniture comes," Rosalie and Esme got into the car and I felt this loneliness. I wanted Edward with me really badly and I wanted him to hold me tight. But he wasn't here.
"Don't worry Bella, you'll get to see Edward later today, we aren't going to be out all day long," Alice assured me and I really didn't want to go looking for furniture, I would have rather helped clean up my house.
Alice wasn't right about it not taking all day, because it did and the only thing that I wanted to do was go home and read a book or do something by myself. I hated being with all these girls. They were nice and kind of fun to hang out with, but sometimes they were just to girly and I couldn't stand to be with them. I just wanted to either be with myself or with Edward. We got back home and we ordered all the things that Alice and Esme thought that I might need in the house. They told me that they were going to pay for everything and I was grateful, and I told them that I could pay for things myself, but Alice insisted that she pay because it was her gift to me. I got inside and I was greeted with a bunch of dusty and dirty looking men. They were all wearing work clothes and they all looked so cute, but there was only one who I really had my eyes on. It was Edward and he looked so darn cute.
"Your back," He smiled and came straight for me and wrapped his arms around me. I didn't mind that he was dirty, I thought it was kind of cute, so I wrapped my arms around him as well and pulled him closer to me. "Did you have fun shopping?" He asked. I glared at him. I knew it wasn't his fault, but I never wanted to go on an all day shopping trip with them ever again.
"No, I didn't have fun at all, I hate shopping and it's no fun when you don't get to take anything home. Everything was ordered and it won't be here for a couple of weeks," I mumbled throwing my stuff down on the couch and sighing. I wasn't tied because I wasn't ever going to be tired, but I just wanted to relax. All that walking at human speed was so boring. I hated it.
"Well Bella, before you get to comfortable, there is something that I would like to show you," He took hold of my hand and we went running out the front door. I wished he could have carried me, I wasn't in the mood to run. We stopped in front of this house. Everything about it was perfect. It was cleaned up and most of it was repainted. I gasped in surprise.
"Edward, did you and the rest of the guys do all of this?" I couldn't believe it. The house looked as good as new. He nodded his head slowly and kept his hand around mine.
"Yeah, we were working on it all day and we were just taking a little break, we were just about to go back to work on it when you guys came home from shopping. What do you think about it Bella?" Edward asked me as he led me up to the front door.
"I think it's wonderful, I can't believe that you guys did it all today." I couldn't stop looking at it. It looked just as it did when I last saw it. This brought sad memories along with it. I wanted to cry at this thought.
"Come on, let me show you the inside, I can't wait until you see it," Edward squeezed my hand a little more as he opened the door and led me in. All the window's were open to let the dust and other things out and it was so open. I gasped. Everything looked the same as it had. The couch and chair was in the same spot the t.v probably didn't work anymore. It was dad's old t.v. I walked through the house and it looked to be in good condition and I was so proud of Edward and his brothers and father.
"Edward this is perfect, it looks just as it did when I left it," I turned to him and looked at him with astonishment. He held me tight in his arms.
"That's the way I wanted it to be for you Bella, I want you to feel at home when you are there. Comfort is my main goal for you." He rubbed my back lovingly and I couldn't help but snuggle into his chest.
"Come on let's go up to your room," Edward took my hand and led the way up to my room. Everything was so clean and tidy. I loved it, I couldn't wait until I got to move into this house. My room looked just as it had when I had last lived here.
"Edward," I had my hands up to my face. I couldn't believe this. It was like the best gift that I was ever given. He held me tight in his arms while I buried my face into his chest.
"I wanted to give you something special Bella, now you shouldn't feel bad about this, we didn't mind doing all the work, It was giving us something to do," I moved away from his grip and went to my old bed. I loved it. Memories flooded back into my mind. I remembered everything. I wanted to spend all my time in this house now.
"Thank you so much Edward, I don't know how I could ever thank you for something like this, it's perfect," I went to my bookshelf. All the books were still there. This house must have been untouched when Charlie and my mother passed away. I could then keep all of my old things. My fingers grazed the books and I looked at them carefully. Maybe my favorite book would still be there. Aha! I found it. I pulled it from the other books and blew off the dust. Romeo and Juliet.
"This is my favorite book," I whispered. I felt Edward inch closer behind me. I took in a deep breath as I flipped through the pages all coated with a little bit of dust. I smiled remembering how many times I read this book. I knew it by heart. I felt Edward place a hand on my shoulders. It was a light gentle touch, but it meant a lot to me. It meant that he really cared about me.
"I used to read this book every night before I went to bed, it always put me in a good mood and put me to sleep," I murmured mostly to myself.
"Bella," Edward whispered next to my ear. I felt the chills from his breath run up my spine. I felt his hands slide down to my waist pulling me against him. I sighed and let my eyes fall shut. I was going to allow Edward into my heart and into my life. I was going to push all those bad thoughts and memories away and let only Edward in. Be relaxed by his touches and soft comforting words.
"Edward, I would like to tell you something," I turned around. Everything that happened today really changed the way I looked at Edward and the rest of his family. Got me to thinking that I no longer needed to keep the past in mind. It was the past and what was done was done and over with and wasn't going to come again. Hopefully because now I didn't need to be afraid of the past when I knew I had a brighter future to look forward to.
"Anything Bella," He whispered. I turned myself around in his arms. I placed my palm up against his chest and looked into his golden eyes. I took a deep breath. I didn't know where to start or how to tell him. "You can tell me anything Bella and whatever you tell me shall not hurt me," He caressed my face and I relaxed into the touch.
"I've been thinking, and it just hit me when you showed me the house and this book and everything, that I don't need to be afraid anymore. I have you and the rest of your family here to support me and that if anything bad were to happen to me that I know your always going to be here with me no matter what happens and I just want to thank you for going through everything that I've practically had to go through myself. I don't know what to say and I feel as though my heart is going to explode right through my chest right now, I don't know how to explain it," I kind of laughed as I rested my head against his chest. Was this odd tingly feeling in my chest, this warm feeling that took over both mind and body. Was it love. "What does love feel like Edward?" I never really knew what it was. It was so difficult for me to understand and comprehend because I was never taught about what it was myself. I needed to be retaught. Edward was the perfect teacher for this.
"It feels like you can't breathe when your around that one special person, even if you don't physically need to breathe. It's this warm feeling that you get. It takes over everything in your being and you can't help it. There is nothing that you can do to help the feeling of love from taking you over. It just kind of happens in time," He was starting to whisper and he was looking down at me and I knew that he knew I was in love. He was hardly talking when I got closer to his lips. "All you want to do is be with that one special person and give them the world, kiss them and tell them how much you really care about them," Our eyes were closed. This was the most intense moment that I've ever had. My breathing was slightly labored and Edward and I were touching in every possible way. Fully clothed that was.
"Edward," I stopped him by saying his name.
"Yes Bella," He breathed right in front of my face. My mind was already in a haze from his close proximity.
"I think I might be in love with you," I mumbled. I was warm all over and I knew that now was the right time to admit my love for this man. He had done more for me than I ever wanted anyone to do for me. He had changed me into a totally different person.
"Bella," Edward asked softly. I opened my eyes to look at him.
"Yes Edward?" I was the one asking now. He looked surprised when I opened my eyes. I thought something was wrong. "What is it," I touched his face hoping that he was alright.
"Your eyes Bella," He whispered brushing his fingers down the side of my face. I didn't get what he meant until he led me to a mirror. He was right. My eyes were changing color. They were no longer the piercing red that they once were when I first came here to Forks. They were a very light orange kind of color. It would take some time before my eyes were golden like Edwards, but this was just a minor change to what Edward had actually done for me. The room was still as he held me. Held me close. I sighed closing my eyes leaning my head back against his solid frame.
"Do you feel better now Bella?" He whispered into my hair as he held my hands tightly in his. We were slowly rocking back and forth in my bedroom. I was feeling a lot better that I had gotten that off my chest. I felt enlightened and like I could fly or do anything. I guess that was the power of love. I slowly nodded my head as he kissed the side of my neck.
"I am glad that you are feeling better now Bella," He let out a sigh of relief. "I knew some day that this moment would come, when you finally opened up your heart to me and told me how you were feeling. It's the most magical feeling of all, being in love," Edward whispered to me. I was so happy. I wondered if Alice and Jasper felt this way towards one another. Or Emmett and Rosalie. Or was everything just sex for them. I kind of laughed at that thought. I knew that Carlisle's and Esme relationship was kind of like that for them. I could see it in their eyes every day and I didn't fully understand it a few months ago, but I do now and Edward was right, it was the most magical feeling of all.
"Can we go back to your home Edward, I don't think I'm ready to move back into this house yet, I'd probably get really lonely, so if you don't mind I'm gonna hang out at your house for a while," I smiled and took both of his hands in mine and kissed the tips of his fingers with the brush of my lips. He grinned.
"Fine by me Bella, whatever you wish," We ran back to his house hand in hand until we got to the front door. They were all sitting there in the living room and they were watching t.v and snuggling close to one another. Such a sweet picture I thought.
"Bella!" Alice squealed as she came running towards me. She embraced me in a hug and the love that I felt for Edward kind of rubbed of and I hugged Alice back encircling my arms around her tiny figure. "I'm so happy for you guys," I pulled away from her and Edward wrapped an arm around my waist. I smiled and looked down at my feet. Edward was very protective and I knew that he was going to be for the rest of the this relationship, but that only made me feel that much safer.
"Edward, Bella, we are so happy for the two of you," Esme stood from Carlisle's hold and came and gave both of us hugs and a kiss on the forehead. What would we do without her. I was glad that everyone was approving of this.
"Welcome to the family Bella," Emmett smiled from his spot on the floor. He was holding onto Rosalie's hand and she was actually smiling to. Was she glad that her brother finally had a mate. When would Edward and I reach that part of our relationship .
"It's good to have you here Bella, you really do belong in our family," Jasper spoke up. Alice moved back to him and hugged him tight. I could see how happy everyone really was. The love from all of them was almost to much to handle, but I welcomed it was open arms.
"I would like to thank all of you guys for being here for both Edward and I and mostly me, I don't know what to say," I gasped. I was feeling more and more like a human by the minute. I hid my face in Edward shoulder. He held me close.
"She's going through an emotional roller coaster right now," Edward soothed me and everyone laughed. He led me to the couch and we were all gathered for a movie. This was perfect. Edward and I could spend as much time together and now I didn't have to worry about be cautious around Edward. The lights went off and I went straight into his arms snuggling my face into his neck breathing him in. He was perfect. Our hands played together and we weren't even paying attention to the movie. It mostly consisted of Edward kissing me and touching me lightly on the skin. I enjoyed every minute of it. I was so comfortable around him and the rest of his family now.
"I love you Isabella," He whispered half way through the movie as he played with my hair. I giggled lightly and kissed his cheek.
"I love you too Edward," I murmured. Emmett threw a pillow in our direction.
"Come on you two, we are trying to watch a movie, get a room," He hissed and Edward chucked the pillow back at his brother telling him to shut up. Because everyone else but him and Rose where doing cuddly fun things to one another. Alice and Jasper were gazing into each others eyes lovingly. And then Carlisle and Esme were lightly kissing. Edward just happened to be playing with my hair at the time.
Emmett rolled his eyes and continued to watch the movie.
After it was over, everyone was headed up to have their fun in the bed.
Edward led me up the steps with his hand and anticipation grew throughout my whole body. What was going to happen next. We weren't going to make love like everyone else was? Were we? I hoped not. I wasn't ready yet. He led me into his room and dimmed the lights. I looked at the bed before us. It was made and everything was in place. I gulped and turned towards Edward when I heard the door click shut and lock. He wanted sex tonight and I knew it.
"Edward, I don't think that I'm ready for this just yet," I mumbled looking around. He moved over to his shelf where all his music and books were stored.
"Ready for what Bella?" He asked. I could see in his eyes how much he wanted this. I felt the heat start to form, and this time it wasn't from just the love. How would I put him down nicely.
"I don't think that I'm mentally stable for this just yet," I spoke.
"Sure you are Bella," He turned on the music and it was soft and slow. Perfect atmosphere music. What was he doing. Did he want to ruin everything that we had just accomplished by sex. He walked towards me and took my hands in his and placed them around his neck. Then his hands were placed on my waist and we began to sway. I calmed down a lot. I kind of laughed then too. He smiled when he saw realization hit me.
"What did you think I wanted Bella?" He asked nuzzling his face into my neck. I let out a struggled breath.
"I thought you wanted to make love to me," I whispered taking some of his hair in my fingers and playing with it. He brought his face up again and we were inches apart.
"I would never do such a thing, well not now at least. I want to wait until you are ready for it. Now I just want to hold you Bella," He whispered against my lips. I kissed him lovingly and I was so happy right now. Nothing could ruin this moment. We danced together slowly. Kissing and touching one another. He was a very good dancer, but this was only slow dancing, so there wasn't much to do but sway back and forth. I was in love. We danced most of the night and talked about how much we cared for one another and we ended up downstairs at the piano. I leaned against Edward's shoulder as he played the most beautiful music ever. It never got old and his fingers never stopped playing.
A/N: This was kinda a shorter chapter, but I wanted to get it up as soon as possible. So here it is. Tell me what you thought of it!! yay for Bella and Edward.