Chapter Four: "Woman" (Bella's POV)

I closed the phone, set it on the bedside table, and rolled back over to face Edward. "Guess what?" I asked him, stroking his chest softly.

"What?"

"Nessie just left with Esme to go hunt, so we have some time alone." I snuggled into his side and rested my head on his chest.

"Do you remember when Ness insisted on interrupting us every morning?"

I laughed. "Yes. We'd have to listen for her little footsteps, and then scramble to get dressed."

"And she would hop into bed between us, and kiss me before demanding that I kiss you. And then I would have to sing to her."

"The same song every morning--your lullaby for her."

"And then we'd plan our day out, and she would sometimes fall back asleep, right here in my arms."

"What's your point, Edward?"

"I miss that." His fingertips traced patterns down my arm, but this was instinctive--natural. "Now it's all about Jacob." He sighed.

"You knew it would happen eventually," I said gently. "She'll always love you." I kissed his face softly.

"I know, love. It's just that the past eight years have flown by. She's a…woman now. I miss when she used to fit right here." He squeezed me tightly and laughed. "Nine or so years ago, if someone had told me that I would be jealous of Jacob Black over another girl, I would have laughed. And possibly injured them."

I picked up my head and looked at him. "Don't be jealous, sweetheart."

"Ha! Right!"

"You know, you couldn't ask for a man to treat her better."

"I know that."

I gently took his face in my fingertips, tracing his perfect features. "You do realize that you only have months until she'll be seventeen. Technically."

Edward sighed and rolled his eyes, reminding me of Nessie. "I know. Maybe I should extend the deal to eighteen or twenty-one."

"Edward Anthony Masen Cullen!" I exclaimed, slapping his arm. "Don't you dare!"

My sudden attack made him laugh. Grinning crookedly, he mimicked my tone to perfection. "Isabella Marie Swan Cullen!" His hand slapped the blanket over my bottom. Laughing again, he spoke before his eyes turned dark. "Why not?

"Because you just said she's a woman. And by the way, just to jog your memory, we started our relationship when I was seventeen. That's the whole basis for the deal, the whole reason that Jacob can have her when she's seventeen."

"So?"

"So you'll be a hypocrite if you don't let her date him." I gave him my most threatening glare.

"Chill, love," he said casually.

Oh, I can fix this problem, I thought. Putting my hands on his cheeks, I stretched my shield around us until he could hear my thoughts. I watched his face as he caught my drift--first his eyes widened in shock, and then he attempted to smooth over his face, failing miserably. Finally, I brought my shield back to me, and my hands fell on his chest with a smack.

"I get it, Bella," he said, rolling his eyes. "Seventeen. Got it."

Not wanting him to be crabby with me, I smiled before kissing his lips. "Thank you. Now do you feel better?"

"Not really."

I searched his face for a moment before hopping to my feet on the mattress. "Roll over," I commanded him.

Edward raised an eyebrow. "What?" he asked, bewildered.

"Roll over," I repeated. He held my gaze for a moment before complying and settling on his stomach. I took a seat on his lower back and instantly started massaging his shoulders before kissing his ear. "We have a while before she comes back," I said. "Let me make the tension go away."

"That feels so good," he sighed, already loosening up.

"You don't need to worry and fret," I told him, kneading his muscles. I slowly slid back and started rubbing his lower back. "Because you'll always have her, and you'll always have me." I kissed his shoulder. "And one positive thing about her growing up is that if we go to Alaska, she'll be going to school, so there will be lots more time for us."

"More time for back rubs?" he asked a little dreamily.

Knowing my hands were succeeding in distracting him, I grinned. "Maybe, if you give me massages in return."

"It's a deal. But since you're already doing such a great job, I'll pay you back some other time."

My fingers kept kneading as I bent down and softly kissed a stretch of his spine. "Edward," I said in his ear, my hands cupping and rubbing his toned shoulders. "You're an amazing father. I love you so much."

He tilted his head so his lips could reach mine. "I love you, too. More than life. Thanks or being a great mother and wife. And masseuse."

I laughed and kept rubbing his shoulders.