Disclaimer...as usual SM owns Twilight...I own some veeeeery old copies of The Face....I miss The Face.

Green Cross Code

EPOV

Fuck.

I said it.

She heard it.

I meant it.

Now she hasn't spoken in what feels like forever but in reality has only been less than a minute. My face was buried in her hair next to her neck, that fucking strawberry smell taunting me with every breathe I took that she didn't feel the same way. Could I have completely misread her feelings?

When she admitted that she thought she liked me more than I liked her you could have knocked me over with a feather. How could she even think that? When every move I make is now with her best interests in mind. Unless she didn't realise that every breath I took now was only worthwhile when she was by my side?

She wasn't going to say it back.

The silence had gone on for too long. Had I scared her? Was I moving too fast? Her fingers hadn't stopped twisting in my hair. Every time she let them go wild in my hair I looked crazier than I normally did. But I didn't care, so long as she still wanted to do it.

This is why I never let myself get close to people.

This is why my Ignore Bella Plan was going to be a good thing.

She was under my skin now.

It was going to be painful if I had to ignore her now.

I don't think my body would cope with the withdrawal symptoms.

I don't think my brain would cope.

"Please say something." My mouth told her, deciding now was the time to rebel against my control. My lips grazed her neck as they spoke the words making her shiver. At least I was getting some sort of reaction from her.

"Edward." She moaned. "You make my brain stop."

What kind of fucking reply is that?

"Is that good or bad?" I mumbled. Her hands fisted into my hair, pulling my face away from her neck to stare fiercely into my eyes. I've never seen a brown so deep or lashes so perfect.

"Always good." She told me firmly with a decisive nod of her heart shaped face.

The moment had passed. She didn't say it. I could see the regret in her eyes as we continued to stare at each other. This hadn't gone as planned. I was pushing her too hard, too fast. I knew that if this was going to work then I had to let her set the pace, not pull her along behind me. I just wish I had known that before I had said those three stupid little words.

Only they weren't stupid. They meant something. They were difficult for me to admit to myself let alone say out loud. Saying them had been freeing though. So maybe it wasn't such a bad thing?

Fucked if I knew.

"I'm tired. Let's go get some sleep." I told her as I stood. "Climb on." Turning my back to her I crouched so she could clamber onto my back. What I loved about her being on my back I couldn't tell you, but some prehistoric impulse in me made me want to carry her everywhere I could. I loved it. It made me feel like a man. And considering she weighed next to nothing it was a pretty easy thing to accomplish.

"I wish you wouldn't carry me around." She told my ear.

I wish you loved me.

"Yet you still climbed onto my back like a fucking monkey." I laughed and ran us up to my room with her giggles in my ear.

BPOV

I am such a fricking moron.

He said it into my ear. I would have to be deaf to have not heard him. I hadn't had any appendage in my mouth seconds before he said it so it counted.

I love you only counts when you say it like you mean it.

He had meant it.

So why hadn't I said it back to him?

I feel it don't I?

For goodness sake, I was turning into one of those conflicted romance novel heroines. I'll say it when it's right. I'm scared of going too fast. Renée and Charlie went too fast and I knew how that turned out. I refused to be Renée or even Charlie.

My back was being cuddled into his front, his toned long arms holding me tight across the stomach like he was scared I was going to make a run for it. Not that I could if I wanted to, I had no idea where I left my truck keys.

He hadn't mentioned it, after waiting patiently for me to return the sentiment he had changed the subject. I felt like such a bitch when I caught the brave little soldier look that was fastened onto his face. There was no light in the room but my eyes had long adjusted to the darkness. I could make out his desk, his computer, the bookcases that lined the wall. Sleep just wouldn't come. It wouldn't heed my call for sweet nothingness. Damn brain wouldn't stop whirring.

I knew it had taken a huge amount of effort for Edward to say what he did. Over the past two days he had been nothing but honest with me, answering my questions with barely a pause. What had I given to him? Nothing but questions and lack of response to his declaration of love.

Shit.

I am deficient.

Do I love him?

Yes.

Can I say it?

Maybe.

Testing my ability to actually say the words I spoke them softly to the room.

"I love you Edward Cullen."

That was simple. There was no rejection, no disgusted look, no retribution. Not that there would be from Edward. I glanced back at his sleeping face and noted the serene smile on his luscious lips. The bottom one in a slight pout just begging to be taken between my own. Why is it that men always look like angels when they slept?

"I adore you Edward Cullen."

Finally I slept.

EPOV

We slept for far longer than is polite. Finally waking well after noon in each other's arms and for a second I had forgotten that she hadn't said she loved me. Except she had.

When she thought I was sleeping.

What a cop out.

I dropped kisses onto her shoulders to get her moving but she turned round and trapped my bottom lip between her own.

"I've wanted to do that since last night." She declared letting it free for only a second before claiming it again. I palmed her bare tits and told her the same thing making her giggle and moan. A sexier sound does not exist to me.

Her hand dove under the covers to curl around my shaft making my breathing hitch with the boldness of the move. She certainly wasn't coy when it came to this part of our relationship. Any previous concerns I had regarding her experience, or lack of, had long since been quashed. Her hand stroked along my length and all of the blood rushed straight to my groin. She smiled through the kisses she was planting across my shoulder when she felt me harden under her touch.

"Bella." I moaned, unable to string a coherent sentence together any more. She pulled away from me to look at my face, her teeth biting into her bottom lip and that was my undoing.

In a second I had her flat on her back beneath me, wriggling and giggling as one hand pinned her arms above her head and the other strayed down to thighs. My finger moved teasingly across her clit making her hips buck up against my hand eager for more friction.

"Edward." I barely heard her say my name, her head tilted back into the pillow, her back arching when my teeth grazed across her hard nipple. I was just slipping a finger inside her when my door crashed open.

I forgot to lock it.

Shit.

Emmett guffawed from the door way but didn't close the door. Before I could shout at him Bella's voice loudly pierced where there once had only been gasps and pants and moans and groans.

"What the fuck Emmett?" She actually growled at him.

"Sorry Bells. Liking your style there Edward." He raised his eyebrow and threw us a wink before continuing. "Carlisle called; they'll be home in half an hour." Then he closed the door and stomped down the hall. Her hands were still pinned down above her head, my finger at the entrance to the happiest place on earth. Disneyland had fucking nothing on Bella Swan. Our eyes locked and she dissolved into giggles.

"Thank god the covers were strategically placed." She managed to gasp out between convulsions and I couldn't help but join in. I finally managed to stop her laughter by smothering her lips with my own but before I could get too carried away she slid off the bed and started pulling on clothes.

"I'd better get home."

"No."

"No?"

"No." She rolled her eyes at me in faux annoyance.

"Yes."

"Stay." Monosyllables ruled for the next minute as we followed the same format.

"Edward." She finally sighed, tiring of our game. "Charlie will be home soon. I have to go."

"I want you to stay here forever." The stern look she wore immediately softened. I pouted up at her, determined to have her stay even if my parents would be home shortly.

"I really, really have to go. Where's my shirt?" It was currently where I had hidden it under my body when she wasn't looking.

"I don't know." I shrugged nonchalantly but she didn't fall for it.

"Edward! Give. Me. My. Shirt. Back."

"I don't know where it is." My grin gave me away and she pounced. I'd never seen her move with more elegance as her body coiled and pounced down onto mine. "I knew I'd get you back into my bed." I murmured against her neck as I held her in place gripping her waist.

"Don't get me all riled up when you can't finish the job Cullen."

"Don't call me Cullen." Her hips circled once against my groin with a delicious slow purpose.

Tease.

"Your parents are going to be home any minute." Her hips continued to slowly circle against my groin making me hard and uncomfortable within the confines of my hastily thrown on jeans.

"Bella." I managed to groan out when my fingers dug into her ass pulling her tighter into me making sure she could feel how hard she made me. Her hands slid down to cover my own. I thought she was going to press them further into her flesh but she prised them off her perfect ass and she hopped up from the bed, holding her shirt victoriously.

How did she get that from under me without me noticing?

That's right, she was grinding my junk to distract me.

"You're a tease."

"Yup." She threw her shirt over her head. "All's fair in love and war."

"It was hardly war." I sat up and grabbed for her hand but she was too fast.

Has Jasper been teaching her the art of spry bastardness?

Before I could use all of my allotted seduction weapons I heard a car pull up in front of the house. Bella's eyes widened as she realised that my parents had arrived home, the horror of the situation took over her expression. I didn't care, I wanted Esme and Carlisle to meet Bella, to love her like I do.

"Edward I can't meet your parents like this." Her hands worked through her hair in a desperate attempt to smooth it down and hide the fact she had just gotten out of bed.

"You've already met Carlisle." I reminded her.

"I am not meeting your mother looking like an easy slut." She hissed at me, grabbing her trainers and yanking them on.

"It's too late Bella, unless you plan on hiding out up here for the rest of the day." I laughed as she looked like she was contemplating the idea, her brain working furiously to find a way out of the house without being seen.

Too little too late at that point as we heard Emmett's loud voice drifting up the stairs.

"Edward! Bella! They are home." Bella looked like she wanted to fly down the stairs and grab Emmett by the throat as his statement was accompanied by the soft laughter I knew well but she had never heard.

"Come and give your mother a hug Edward." Esme called up and I heard them move through to the kitchen, heard the kettle being filled and switched on, the sounds of cups being placed on the counter, of a spoon being pulled out of the drawer. Bella sank down onto the bed with her face in her hands with a small groan. "How does Bella take her coffee?"

Esme's voice asked through the intercom. I shrugged, even though she couldn't see me.

"Bella?"

"Milk. One sugar." The acceptance of imminent doom was obvious in her voice, she finally lifted her head and looked at me looking terrified. "You're mother is going to think I'm a total slut." She moaned.

"Milk. One sugar Esme. We'll be down in a moment." My finger slipped off the button and I walked over to Bella, pulling her onto her feet and enveloping her in my arms. "She won't. Esme doesn't judge people Bella. Besides, you are no slut." I murmured soothing words onto the top of her head until her posture shifted and she was standing with more assurance than she had been.

"Don't leave my side." She whispered into my ear before taking my hand and gesturing for me to lead the way downstairs.

BPOV

Oh my god.

Oh my god.

Oh my god.

With every step down to the kitchen where Edward's parents lay in wait this chanted in my head. Barely able to keep from hyperventilating I focussed my eyes on Edward's back. The only thing keeping me from bolting was his reassuring hand in mine. When his skin touched mine a soothing wave of calm would wash over me, leaving the rest of the world pale in comparison to him.

The absolute terror I had been feeling in the bedroom had decreased to only a tremor, vibrating dangerously underneath the calm. As soon as Edward takes his hand from mine it will explode in a hideous display of stuttering, tripping and mortification. A display that would make Emmett snicker like the devious fucker he is. I could have killed him when he announced I was here in a non subtle manner. It took every muscle in my body to make me stay on the spot and not sprint down the stairs to exact a bloody revenge.

Edward turned into the kitchen and I expected his hand to drop from my own but his grip tightened slightly to reassure me before relaxing but not disappearing. Emmett sat with his back to us and when we walked past him my hand shot out at its own volition and smacked him directly across the back of the head in a quick movement.

"Hey!" He cried out, his hand moving to the spot I had made contact with as Edward's laugh filled the room. Thankfully the Cullen parents were pulling their suitcases in from the car at the time.

"You're lucky it wasn't worse Emmett." I hissed with venom. "I could kill you right now."

"You should have been more concerned with leaving before they got back than having Edward inside you then." He pouted at me and sniggered at the aghast look on my face.

Before I could come up with a witty retort Mrs Cullen silently padded into the room and hugged Edward, he dropped my hand and returned the hug. Leaving me standing awkwardly, unsure as to whether I should sit down or remain standing. The past couple of days had left me comfortable in the Cullen household, but now the rules had changed, the parents were back under the roof and I was the interloper.

"Esme this is Bella." Edward stepped back and made a sweeping gesture with his arm.

"Bella, I'm so pleased to meet you. I trust the boys have been gracious hosts?" What Esme did next shocked the hell out of me. She wrapped her elegant arms around me and gave me a hug filled with warmth and love, just like the one she had bestowed Edward with only moments ago. I found myself hugging her back. She was cloaked in the scent of a classic and no doubt expensive perfume, dressed in soft fabric and when she pulled back I found myself wishing she would adopt me.

She seemed to tower over me, her chocolate honey hair perfectly coiffed, makeup looking like it had been done by a professional. This was a woman who would leave people in awe. I realised I was gaping at her like a moron quickly after she had stepped back and awaited my answer.

"Yes, they have both been great." I tried to smile winningly at her but am pretty sure I looked like I had the IQ of Forest Gump. "You're home is gorgeous."

"Thank you." The radiance of her smile almost floored me.

"Bella was helping me with some biology homework Esme." Edward informed her casually, throwing himself down onto a chair with a practiced nonchalance. Mrs Cullen gave me a sly look, quickly appraising my hastily thrown on shirt, the pillow creases still indented on my face and finally my hair in its entire finger brushed glory as her elegant eyebrow arched.

"That certainly takes a lot of study and practice to get right." She said with a completely straight face, Emmett winked at me from behind Esme's back, Edward smirked and my face went the colour of a tomato.

"I should go home. I don't want to intrude on your homecoming." Edward frowned deeply at me when I mentioned going home and Esme noticed with a contemplative look that was quickly smoothed away.

"Don't be silly." Said a deep voice from behind me. Dr Cullen rounded into my vision and smiled at me in welcome. "Nice to see you again Bella."

"You too Dr Cullen."

"Please, call me Carlisle out with the confines of the hospital." His steady hand clapped down onto Edwards shoulder before scooping up a cup from the table and bringing it to his lips.

I was uncomfortable and itching to leave, but to leave now would be the ultimate in how not to interact with your new boyfriends parents. They had just welcomed me to stay in their house and there was not a hint of falseness in it. These people were polite, rich and beautiful. Taken separately every single one of them was an impressive specimen of aesthetically pleasing genetics. Together, as a family unit, they were breathtaking. They looked like the kind of family you would see in an aspirational advert for some sort of healthy living.

I didn't belong in their presence, let alone in one of their beds.

Charlie would be home in a couple of hours and I wanted to be back when he arrived. It would help to have Alice there too, to keep up the illusion that I had spent the weekend with her. She would be absolutely desperate to question me about the weekend anyway so I knew I would have no problem getting her to come over. Sunday's were the Hale Quality Family Time day, so Jasper would most probably be somewhere that involved rented shoes, which he hates. It dawned on me suddenly that I had no idea where my phone was, or my car keys.

"Edward? Um, do you know where my phone is?" He shook his head and shrugged at me.

"You maybe left it upstairs Bella." Interjected Emmett. "I'm pretty sure I saw you with it last night."

I could have died. Even if it was perfectly obvious that I had been here for the night I was content for it to be unspoken. For Edward to have to field the questions once I had left. Again my face felt like it was on fire and Emmett shook with laughter.

"Bella?" Esme started. "We are perfectly fine with the boys having overnight guests."

What?

What kind of parents are they?

Wait, how many times has this happened before? This nice cup of coffee with Edward's latest conquest? Am I only the latest in the long line of suckers who had fallen for his 'your lips have haunted me from Chicago' and 'I love you' crap?

"Happens a lot does it?" I asked no one in particular coldly. "I should go."

"Bella, that wasn't what she meant." Edward quickly jumped to explain but I didn't listen, I didn't care. I was an idiot. Of course he had a past. A past that included a multitude of easy skanks who all looked like Jessica fucking Stanley. I knew I didn't belong here. Edward was destined to be with someone who looked like a fricking supermodel with the brains of a rocket scientist. The kind of woman who raises millions to help a war torn country in the morning and wins a volleyball championship in the afternoon.

The kind of woman that I currently was not and had no hope in hell of becoming.

Irrational thoughts continued to prance around my head as I scrambled to find my phone and my keys.

Why do I have to lose everything?

I was sure I had left them on the coffee table beside the cream couch.

Dammit.

"Bella, stop, look, listen."

"Don't recite the fucking green cross code to me Edward." I told him in a low warning tone. I was suddenly not in the mood to be fucked with.

"Please. I've never, ever, had anyone stay overnight before." That made me stop.

"Let alone someone I wanted Esme and Carlisle to meet." That made me look.

"I love you." I was listening, and so was everyone else in the house as they stood crowded in the doorway trying to look subtle and failing in epic style when Emmett and Carlisle let loose identical low whistles of amazement. Edward glared at them to make them disperse but Esme lingered and smiled proudly before disappearing.

"I know you must have a past Edward. That you didn't live the life of a monk before you met me."

"Then why are you acting like a lunatic?"

"I don't know." I answered honestly. I didn't know whether it was because I was so intimidated by his life and family or because it drove me crazy to imagine his lips touching anyone other than me.

"Are you jealous?" He asked with a little self satisfied smirk. One that I wanted to smack off his face with the back of my hand.

"Maybe." Exasperated I admitted one of the options, lowering my eyes again, too embarrassed to even look at him. "At least with me you have nothing to be jealous about."

"Are you kidding me? What about Newton? Or that fucking bar guy? Or any of the other runts at school who use you as spank bank fodder?"

"Ew."

"It's true Bella, I've got everyone to be jealous of. I may have had a past, but you are my future."

Smooth bastard.

He had closed the space between us, his face tilted down to mine barely half an inch away. My hands found themselves sitting on the waistband of his jeans, working their way back towards his absolutely biteable ass. His lips made light fluttering contact with my forehead before making acquaintance with my cheek bones, my chin, my neck and finally arriving with more pressure on my mouth. His teeth grazing my bottom lip before his tongue smoothed along my teeth and pushed further into my mouth. Aware his parents were in the next room I pushed away from his slightly but couldn't bear to not have any contact with him at all. My hand slipped into his and I grinned sheepishly up at him.

"I think you may have to get used to me being irrational when it comes to you and other female type people."

"Only if you can get used to me being jealous of any guy that leers like a sex offender at you."

"I fear we have reached an impasse."

"Take things as they come, Bella, I get the feeling we can work through anything so long as we are honest with each other." I nodded in agreement. He wasn't the only one feeling like that now. As irrational as I can be when it comes to Edward Cullen I could see that the only thing that could trip us up was deceit. And I for one planned to be nothing but completely honest with Edward, no matter how painful that could end up being for one of us in the times to come.

"I really should go home now. Where are my keys?" His mouth quirked slightly before he pointed to his pocket. "Give me them then!"

"Fine, spoilsport."

"I'm not rummaging about in your pockets with your parents only a room away."

"I'll say it again, spoilsport."

"You are such a deviant."

"You love it." He pronounced with conviction. "Your truck is in the garage, I had Emmett bring it in last night. Through here." We walked through a door I hadn't noticed before and were suddenly in the garage.

My truck sat alongside a huge Jeep, Edwards Volvo, a classic Jaguar and a fancy ass sports car that I'd never seen before. It was long, sleek, and shiny and probably cost more than Charlie could make in two years. In other words a complete waste of money but I wagered the engine purred like a contented wild cat. Rose would love it.

"Nice car." I commented.

"It's my fancy occasion car."

"It's yours?!" How could a seventeen year old afford a car like that? Then it occurred to me that he had said his father was an accountant. Aren't they meant to make megabucks? It would make sense that he had been left everything. He had never mentioned any siblings or extended family. Surely he would be living with them if they existed.

"Well, yeah. It was gifted to me."

"Gifted? By whom? The Queen?"

"Carlisle's father gave it to me when I turned seventeen."

"We have lived two very different kinds of existence." I mumbled, feeling insecure again. The altruistic volleyball playing goddess loomed large in my mind again before I beat her down with Edward's declaration of love for me.

"Not anymore." He grinned at me, looking suddenly more like a teenager than like the man he usually did. "I don't think I can wait until tomorrow to see you again Bella." He backed me up against the truck, his arms either side of me, his body pinning me in place.

"You are just going to have to Edward. I really have to leave."

"Part of me is scared that you won't come back." He admitted, lowering his eyes before sweeping them back up to mine.

"Don't be silly. I haven't finished interrogating you." I grinned at him before managing to duck under his shoulder. If I didn't manage to leave now I never would. Unlocking the truck I yanked the door open. The creaking hinge echoed through the sterile garage. Honestly I'd never seen a garage so devoid of oil and grease.

Sitting on the driver's seat was the biggest bouquet of red roses I had ever seen.

Turning to face Edward I went to thank him, even though I had told him during our many question and answer sessions over the past couple of days I had told him that I hated roses, that they were the most clichéd flower one could ever receive.

"Thank you." I told him, wrapping my arms around his tensed waist. His eyes didn't leave the flowers.

"You don't like roses, you think they are clichéd." He told me, remembering our conversation.

His jaw clenched, making the muscles flex.

"I didn't do that."

A/N: Howdy peeps.....Read, Review, Recommend to Friends and Family!....if you want to.

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