A/N: You guys continue to absolutely blow me away with your reviews and support. Thank you all so very much!!! Only 5 reviews away from 800... this goes so far above and beyond my expectations, I'm so flattered. :-) We're winding down a bit in the story, but expect 5 or more chapters, I'm not sure just yet. I don't have an outtake for you guys right now, and I'm sorry about that, but I've been busy with RL and also coming down with a cold, so I hope you don't mind, and that you'll review anyway!!! :-) I thrive off of your feedback. Thanks as always to LittleLea05 for beta-ing for me, I'm glad you're feeling better, chica!!!

Disclaimer: I don't own it. Dang and blast.

EmPOV

Bella regarded my childhood bedroom much the same way she had my apartment right before she'd moved in and changed things around. "How is it still messy when you haven't been here in over a year?" she pondered, looking perplexed.

"Just in its nature, I guess," I said, shrugging. I was trying to convince her to come back to bed, but she kept on gathering pesky clothes to put on. For some reason, she thinks it's necessary to get dressed before having breakfast. I say, so long as there isn't splattering bacon grease, bring on the naked. My parents were gone for work and/or errands already, it's not like anyone would know…

Renee was unnervingly upset about the fact that Bella and I moved into my parent's house. We still saw the Swans every day, and Renee eyed me less and less each day, but I still couldn't help but get the willies when I saw her now. I didn't mind when her daughter eyed me hungrily, but her mom… Ick.

"Well, I still don't get it," she said, rolling her eyes at my Metallica posters from my youth. "I'm going to go for a walk," she announced.

I groaned. "Baby, I wanted you to come back to bed. I can think of a better form of exercise we can do," I suggested, wiggling my eyebrows at her. She grinned, but shook her head.

"I promised Renee," she said, shrugging. "I think your mom's coming, too." She reached for her running shoes she'd brought over from her house. "When I come back you can take a shower with me," she suggested.

"Yes please!" I said, sitting up in bed while other parts of my anatomy sprung to life as well. There was nothing better in life than a wet Bella… wet everywhere.

She jumped over to the bed, fully clothed, laid a quick peck on my lips, and then dashed away to meet with our moms. "Bye! I love you. Stay sexy for me, okay?"

"Will do!" I said cockily, giving her a smile that flashed my dimples. She hesitated at the door once more, and looked like all she wanted to do was jog straight back into bed, but that familial duty of hers called and she waved before leaving. I couldn't hate her for her sense of family, though. If it weren't for that, she probably never would have agreed to helping me after my accident, and I wasn't sure how I would have survived without her. Of course, I wouldn't have known the difference, but that's beside the point.

I missed her already. Fuck. How was this physically possible? We spent so much time together, it seemed like we never really had alone time. And yet I couldn't get enough of her. She leaves the room, I miss her. She leaves the house, I practically get separation anxiety. This was fucking nuts.

I decided to consult my father about it. My dad met my mom when they were teenagers, and fell in love pretty much straight away, if their accounts were correct. They'd been together ever since, and I respected and looked up to them as the pinnacle of wedded bliss. I'd talk to him when he got home from work. I had some very specific advice I wanted to ask him for.

I also needed to have a conversation with Charlie. Ever since our fiasco morning, I'd been dreading talking with him, but I knew it was something I had to do before Bella and I went back to Madison next week. I wondered if he'd be busy after work tonight, after I talked to my dad. Somehow I doubted that. Charlie was well known for his daily activities being rather predictable, and I knew the Mariners were playing the Royals tonight, and Charlie would be glued to the TV with a can of Vitamin R in his hand.

Would he kill me if I interrupted? It was only the Royals after all…

I figured this was important enough that he might just let me talk to him at least during the commercials.

I was starting to have a mild freak out concerning the topics of tonight. After all, I wasn't exactly known for serious conversations, and I already knew this was life changing. The box in my sock drawer was burning a figurative hole in the wood.

Was I really going to do this? Here? Now? I did my crunches and leg exercises, hoping to get rid of some of my excess energy. I also briefly considered calling Jasper, but decided that he was either busy with Alice, working at his new job, or sleeping. None of those activities would be easily accepting of a phone call, so I left my best friend alone, even though I was feeling the need to talk with him. The fucker always had that fucking calming effect that was completely bizarre but needed at the moment.

I needed a plan.

BPOV

You'd have thought that The Mothers hadn't seen each other in decades rather than twelve hours. They never stopped chattering, and I think for awhile they forgot I was even there. They did this ridiculous looking speed-walking thing that made them look like they were waddling when not executed properly, and I couldn't help but laugh.

Apparently, my amusement alerted them to my presence, and they stopped gossiping about what had happened at the last hospital picnic between Cindy the Candy Striper and Dr. Blake Steele. Blake Steele. Good Lord, did the man's parents have no shame and Harlequin romance novels handy?

"What's so funny?" Renee demanded.

"You guys," I said, still laughing. "And Blake Steele."

They grinned at that, too. "Yeah, it is kind of a ridiculous name, isn't it?"

"Does he look like Fabio?"

They both burst into giggles, and I rolled my eyes as I laughed with them. Well, it was more like I was laughing at them, but they didn't have to know that. "Not exactly," Esme said. "Though if you weren't with Emmett, I'd definitely try to play matchmaker."

"No you wouldn't, you would still be pining that Emmett and I would give you grandbabies someday."

"Well, aren't you going to?" Esme said a surprised look on her face.

"I- we're- what?!"

"You're not planning on being just you two are you? Don't you think you'll regret that someday?" Esme's forehead furrowed in concern.

"It's that we've never-"

"Yes, it's a little bit early to start planning, or trying, I suppose, but-"

"Ma, we haven't even talked about it before!" I exclaimed. "It's not…"

The Mothers stared at me as if I had grown a second head on my shoulder, and it was acting like a pirate's parrot.

"You've never talked about it?" Esme looked incredulous. "I thought you were serious about each other." She tilted her head like a confused puppy.

"Well, yes, we're serious… and we've talked about marriage…" I used the world cautiously. "But we haven't talked about kids yet. We're really young…"

"I was younger than you when I had Emmett!" Esme said.

"And I was your age when I popped you out, kiddo," Renee added.

"But-" Apparently I was an old maid next to them or something.

"Oh, it will happen soon anyway," Renee dismissed, and Esme nodded. I felt my jaw drop. Did they know something I didn't? My heart started to thud in my chest, terrified and thrilled at the prospect of something happening soon between Emmett and me. We'd been together for nearly ten months. Was it too soon to be thinking about marriage or having kids? After all, I had just graduated college, and Emmett still had a year left. I didn't want to be one of those girls who got married right away and gave up on my dreams in any way.

Then again, when had Emmett ever tried to crush my dreams? And to think about a life without him in it terrified me and very nearly brought tears to my eyes. I couldn't live without him even if I tried, not any more. Marriage would just be an official title to what we already had.

And it wasn't like I hadn't thought about it before. Yet those had been fantasies, random musings on my part. It hadn't threatened to become real, not until now.

I shook my head and tried to get back into The Mother's conversation, which had slipped back into hospital and police department gossip, though it didn't escape my notice that Esme was currently talking about the OB/GYN and his wife. Hmph.

We walked for about an hour, and I had never been more thrilled to get back to the Cullen's house. I was dying for a shower, and for Emmett to reassure me that he wasn't going to knock me up any time soon, at least not on purpose. We'd always been careful with my birth control and condoms when necessary, and I was pretty sure Emmett wasn't ready to be a dad just as much as I wasn't ready to be a mother yet, but I just needed to talk with him to make sure we were on the same page.

Emmett was in the kitchen, staring at a half a sandwich sitting in front of him. This in and of itself was odd. "Emmett?" I asked, touching him on the shoulder, and he jumped.

"Hiya, Bella," he said, giving me a smile, but his eyes didn't quite match. Huh. "Have a good walk."

"You could say that… but then I'd think you were crazy." I wound my sweaty arms around him and nuzzled my nose into the back of his neck. He shivered.

"That bad, huh?"

"Ugh, I swear, one of these days, The Mothers are going to kill me with their questions."

He winced. "They weren't inquiring after my cock, were they?"

I burst into laughter. "Your mother wouldn't allow that conversation regardless. And no, not about your cock precisely. Your demon seed was mentioned, however."

"My demon seed, huh?" He turned in his chair and wrapped his arms around me. I prayed he wouldn't notice my horrendous BO. "What about it?"

"They assume that you're planning on unleashing upon my poor, unsuspecting uterus," I explained teasingly. "They were shocked we haven't been planning grandbabies for them yet."

I gauged his facial expressions, and kept waiting for a look of panic to cross over his face.

Instead, he just grinned and said, "A bit soon for that, isn't it?"

Well, I wasn't expecting that calm of a reaction. "Yeah," I said, still waiting for the bricks to fall and for him to start stuttering and making excuses about how we're too young, too inexperienced, too new in this relationship… all valid points I was waiting to give myself.

"But that's something you want, right?" he asked, stroking my hair back from my face and shocking the hell out of me.

"Well, eventually, yeah. But I mean, not any time soon…"

"Then we're in agreement," he said, and kissed my forehead. "Okay, I believe that you owe me a hot shower, is that correct?"

"Um… yeah," I said, bewildered. He took my hand and dragged me out of the Esme's state of the art kitchen and up to their beyond amazing bathroom. Emmett seemed more than eager to divest me of my clothes, and I was more than willing to let him. I tugged on the bottom of his shirt, and soon, we were both naked and kissing passionately.

Now this was more like it. Just us, just the way we were meant to be together. Our kisses grew more and more urgent, and before I knew it, my butt was up against the sink's vanity, and Emmett was devouring my mouth completely. I could feel him hard between us, and I couldn't do anything but hold on and let the assault continue.

His lips tore away from mine, and I protested with a groan. But then, his lips were finding my neck, and he found that sweet spot of mine, and then I couldn't complain about anything. My right leg hitched around his hip, trying to bring us closer. "Oh Emmett," I sighed. "More, I need more."

"You're gonna get more, don't worry," he mumbled into my ear, and then he thrust his hips hard against me. Before I knew it, he was lifting me up, and allowing my legs to wrap around his hips. We'd never been able to do this before, not with his leg or his arm. Apparently Emmett was stronger than I expected, and it turned me on like no other.

"Em, I need you inside me," I gasped, and he smirked in response. I could feel my nipples harden against his chest, and he kissed me deeply as he walked us towards the shower. He flipped on the water, getting it to the right temperature as I feasted on his neck. He was slightly salty tasting, and I loved it.

I let out a little sound of surprise as he backed us into the shower and the water came down over us. It was perfectly warm, and therefore the shock of the cold tiles was contrasting as he pushed me against the wall, kissing me deeply as I moaned into his mouth. He gripped my ass harder as I writhed against him, desperate for friction. The tip of his cock slipped against my clit, and we both groaned in unison. Alright, that was it.

"Emmett, NOW!" I demanded, and he fulfilled my request promptly, filling me to the hilt in one hard thrust. My toes curled instantly, and he began to pound into me against the cold wall. "OH!" I let out, holding onto him tight and throwing back my head, thumping against the tile as he fucked me hard against it. His pace never slowed, and I felt my body tightening around his.

"Shit, fuck," he kept muttering. "So good. So tight. Bella," he moaned. It made me so wet, hearing him say my name like this. "I'm gonna cum, you need to cum with me honey… touch yourself," he grunted. I obeyed, tapping on my clit lightly, and I felt myself tighten further. "Fuck, fuck," he swore, and then I felt him spilling inside me. I came seconds later, inspired by his blissed out 'O' face. I loved it when he came for me. I slumped against him, and somehow managed to unwind myself from him, knowing he couldn't support my weight for much longer.

The water was starting to get on the cold side as he kissed me all over my face, peppering me with tiny pecks everywhere. "I love you," he murmured between kisses.

"Mmm, I love you, too," I said. "I can't believe you're strong enough to do that now." I bit my lip. "It makes me wonder about all the other things you can do." My weak knees wavered just thinking about it.

"I'd love to show you," he said. "Later."

I frowned. "Oh, alright. Now wash my back."

"Yes dear," he said in a fake bored tone. I smacked him and turned around.

"Stop staring at my ass," I said playfully, knowing full well that's exactly where his eyes went. He was always an ass man.

"You're no fun," he said under his breath, and started washing my hair with his shampoo. I loved smelling like him afterwards.

"Oh, I'm lots of fun, and you know it," I teased.

EmPOV

Being with Bella calmed me down no matter what, but now that I was away from her, I was a nervous wreck. I had made up some lame ass excuse that I had to go to Thriftway because I was going to make her something special for dinner, which I knew had simultaneously confused and alarmed Bella. I never cook, period, and I think she was worried I was going to inadvertently poison her or something.

I sped down the road towards the Swans house, knowing full well that Renee was out with Esme somewhere shopping, and I wouldn't have to worry about running into them for awhile. Charlie's cop car was parked out in front of the house, and I was relieved that Charlie had known me my entire life. Otherwise the whole "talking to the dad who's a cop" thing might have been a bit too intimidating.

Then again, Bella was worth it.

I knocked on the door, and waited. It took Charlie a minute to answer, probably prying himself away from the TV only during commercials. I didn't blame him. If I heard that Emerald Queen Casino commercial one more time… And I barely even watched the M's nowadays.

"Hi Emmett," Charlie said in that gruff voice of his.

"Hi Charlie, can I come in?" I asked. It had just started to rain, so I was doubly eager to get inside and get this over with.

"Uh, sure," he said. "Want a beer?"

"Sure, why not?" I said. I hated Rainier, but I'd do most anything to get on Charlie's good side again. He still hated me for screwing his daughter in Renee's car, I was sure of it.

"You know, Bella's not here," he said, sitting on the couch on the opposite end of me and handing me a large can of Washington's finest.

"I know. She's at my house, actually. I told her I was going to make her dinner when I got home."

He raised his eyebrows at me, and I didn't know if it was because he was surprised I wasn't with Bella, or that I might be cooking soon. Everyone was well aware of my faults in that category. "Well then, why in the hell are you here?"

I took a deep breath. "Sir, there's something I need to talk with you about."

"Is that so? You knock my baby up, or what?" He looked cautious, but not angry… yet.

"No! No, nothing like that!" Someday, not yet.

"What then, you wanna marry her?" Charlie was much more perceptive than I gave him credit for. Either that or I was incredibly transparent.

"Yes, actually." His jaw dropped in surprise. Clearly he hadn't expected me to confirm it.

"I'd like your blessing to ask Bella to be my wife."

"I- I mean- what?" Charlie seemed bewildered.

"I love Bella very much. I know I was a douche in the past, but that's what it is, the past. Bella's my future, I just know it. And nothing would make me happier than for her to be my wife."

Charlie just stared at me, mouth agape. He didn't even react when Ichiro hit a rare homerun, sending in two other runners. Minutes passed, and I began to shift awkwardly on the couch, trying not to seem too hot under the collar when really, I was a sweaty, awful mess.

"Fine," he finally said, and I let out a huge sigh of relief.

"Really?" I asked, just wanting to make sure I hadn't imagined it.

"It's obvious you love her," he said in that gruff tone again. "And clearly she loves you. Make her happy. And if you don't, you know I'll kill you." He gestured towards his gun belt sitting on the coffee table that I hadn't noticed before. I knew Charlie's bark was bigger than his bite, but I still gulped nervously looking at the thing.

"I promise, I'll do my best," I said. "I never will," I quickly added when his eyebrows raised again skeptically.

"Treat her right, Emmett," Charlie said. "Now, do you want to watch the game, or are you going to propose to my baby girl right now?"

"I'm still trying to think of a plan," I said. "I want it to be perfect, she deserves that."

He grunted in agreement, and I got up from the couch. "Thank you, Charlie." I reached out to shake his hand. Instead, to my shock, he pulled me into a brief hug, slapping me hard against the back.

"Hey, you've always been family," he said. "This just makes things official."

Now I was the one to be speechless. I nodded and walked out to my car. Charlie had already shut the door behind me.

I sped towards the Thriftway, triumphant but puzzled by Charlie's reaction, and got fixings for dinner, just so Bella wouldn't think I went crazy and lied about shopping. If anyone asked, I couldn't find the parmesan cheese.

Twenty minutes later, I was calling, "Honey, I'm home!"