Disclaimer: All characters belong to Stephenie Meyer. I own the plot.

Thank you to Dazzled eyes22, I am so happy I have your mad skills and guidance as help. Thanks for always reminding to be better.

AN:

First of all I want to say sorry to those of you who commented and I didn't reply to this time, but it doesn't mean that I appreciate them any less. Thank you for taking your time to voice your opinion and/or add me to your alerts. I hope you will enjoy this next chapter.

oooooOOOOooooo

Chapter 25

I clamped my hand over Edward's mouth because he kept laughing at the stupid poster stuck to my ceiling. He just didn't stop, but it was still such a wonderful and melodic sound. My cheeks were so hot and furiously red that you could fry an egg on them. I burrowed my face in my pillow, while trying to get him to quiet down. This was mortifying.

"I didn't put it there," I mumbled into my pillowcase.

"What was that?" he mouthed in between chuckles. I guessed he was doing his best not to wake up Elizabeth. She was snoring lightly next to us in her crib.

"I didn't put it there." I eased my face from the pillow and glanced sideways at him. "Alice and Jasper did. I… I just couldn't bring myself to take it down. So I kind of forgot that it was there."

He snaked his arm under my neck and pulled me to him. However, he was still laughing gently. Edward's eyes were widely amused and incredibly soft, when he smiled this unreserved. "You look beautiful, when you flush like that."

"I'll take it down tomorrow," I wheezed through my humiliation.

"Not on my account. Leave it." He finally quieted down and the room went silent for a while. I could hear Edward's stable heartbeat mixed in with the rhythmical breathing from Elizabeth. It was soothing.

"Edward, can I ask you something?" My face was searing red again and Edward stared back at me puzzled. I hoped the vague nightlight hid some of the color on my face.

"Sure."

I propped to my elbow, hovering just inches from his face. "Er… do you always carry condoms around?" My voice was barely audible.

Edward cupped my cheek. "Do you want to have that conversation now?" He asked softly. I nodded knowing what that meant - past relationships. Who, when and how long?

"Would you tell me?"

He nodded. "Yeah. There isn't actually that much to tell, so the conversation will be short," he said sympathetically. My mouth popped open. I waited. "No, I don't usually carry condoms around. I had a meltdown when I decided to come here and actually got some. I had no motive or plans, but it seemed appropriate, just in case. What good that did us." He smiled, but it was only a weak twitch of his mouth.

"Are you mad that I didn't take the pill?" I bit my lip hard, almost breaking the skin. It had been my decision and not his.

"No. I guess things would be less complicated if you had, but I understand why you didn't. I respect your choice not to take it."

I pulled in a heavy breath of relief and decided to take the conversation in another direction. I really didn't want to dwell too much on the pill that was flushed down the toilet. "So… how short will the conversation be?" I prompted, dying to know what his life had been like while we were apart. I lithely ran my fingers over the sheet, feeling the treads when I grew nervous.

"Uh… I had a one-night stand about six months after you took off. It's definitely not one of my proudest moments, but I did it. I was drunk out of my mind, pissed off, and frustrated. I'm actually the asshole who doesn't even remember her name," he said quietly. A dark shadow crept over his face. It was silent for a long time. The wheels in my head were turning furiously. Something was missing.

"That's it?" I asked confused. I pondered and put the pieces together. He started nodding. That captured my attention like a whiplash. "You had a girlfriend?" I paused. "Rosalie?"

Edward let out a strange little huff. "I did. I just never had sex with her, though," he answered slowly and placed his hands behind his head when he rolled to his back.

I stared flabbergasted. "You said you were with her for six months, and that…" I searched for words, but he cut me off.

"It just never happened between us," Edward said gently.

"Wow…"

"Yeah. I told you that I had my doubts about how I felt about her. That was one of the reasons that I had doubts. I. Just. Couldn't. Do. It," he enunciated.

I just gaped at Edward. Someone as gorgeous as Rosalie couldn't strap Edward down and get him into bed, whereas I had pulled off that maneuver twice now. How did I manage it? I don't know, but fact was that I had. That was simply baffling. "So it wasn't because she didn't want to?" I couldn't stop rudely prodding into his personal life, but passing on juicy details like this was like declining a free gourmet meal. Not happening.

"Oh, Jesus, no. It wasn't because of her lack of effort that it didn't happen. It just felt wrong somehow. I am not saying this to be mean because I have no reason to be. I just need you to understand. I cannot say no to you, but I could never make myself say yes to her." He paused. "To you, it may seem like I am casual about sex, but in all honesty I'm not." Edward turned to his side and leaned his head in his hand. "Now, it's your turn."

"Well that's an even shorter story. There hasn't been anyone."

"Why not?"

"First, I was a bit preoccupied with being pregnant and putting my life back together. Then, I became a mother. After that, I bought the bookstore and I didn't need anything else in life. Well, one thing was missing, but besides that, Jasper and Alice were always here. Emmett and I became friends immediately and I was happy with that. I wasn't searching for anything or anyone else. On top of all of that, Elizabeth was the new love of my life."

"So what was missing?"

"Isn't it obvious?" I smirked at him.

"Just tell me, please," he whispered. The same darkness from this morning unfurled in his eyes.

"You were missing, Edward." A beautiful smile lingered on his face "I love you."

He leaned over and kissed me softly. It was a gentle and loving brush of his lips. "I love you too."

I nuzzled closer, laying my head on his chest. We snuggled into each other's arms. I savored the kiss he placed on my hair. "Stay put," he said suddenly and untangled himself from me. He got out of bed and leaned over Elizabeth's crib. He picked her up gently, while holding her to his chest as he picked up her pacifiers and covers. Carefully, he climbed into bed again and settled her on his chest. Elizabeth didn't make a sound. She was still out cold. He tried to pat down her chaotic hair to keep it from tickling his face. "Come back, baby." He motioned with his hand and I snuck up to him again, carefully finding the position that I had been in before. Elizabeth was inches away from me and I wondered if this felt the same as going to heaven. I figured this had to be better.

"You're going to spoil her rotten, aren't you?" I whispered.

"Every chance I get."

oooooOOOOooooo

I woke with a slight and odd smelling breeze feathering across my face repeatedly. I eased one eye open to find the source of the strange odor. Oh, morning breath. I rubbed my face before taking in the vision of Edward and Elizabeth that were just in front of my face. They were so beautiful laying both on their sides. Edward had Elizabeth loosely caged in his arms with her back pressed to his chest. There was no telling where her hair ended and his started. It was the exact same color. They looked so serene, without a care in the world as they slept.

I glanced at my alarm. It would go off in about five minutes. So instead of waking them up, I gently got out of bed and found a clean set of clothes and headed for a shower. I washed quickly and got ready for work. Wiping the damp mirror and stared at my face. My eyes were still bright and excited, just as yesterday morning. It wasn't the sex shining through. It was my happiness.

I scanned the fridge for anything edible and came up with the same result as yesterday. Nothing. I fished the marker from the windowsill and wrote on the fridge, following our routine as usual.

Dinner: Bella.

Shopping: Bella.

With Edward here, I had plenty of time to get that done and it would give Jasper and Alice some time to themselves. Both were in their room chatting and about ready to go back to work without some time off to enjoy each other. I wished there was something to be done about that.

I finished throwing my hair into a long braid and headed back to my room. Edward was awake now, but Elizabeth was still zonked out. He laid still just looking at her and running his fingers through her hair. His eyes were full of adoration. "Morning," I whispered. He smiled gently, peering up at me.

"Hey. You're leaving?" His face scrunched up.

"Work," I said and frowned, knowing I couldn't possibly play hooky no matter how much I wanted to. I had a business to take care of and I'd taken the entire weekend off. "You looked so sweet, so I didn't want to wake either of you. I'll be back around five. You two have fun and call me if you need anything, okay?" I wanted them to have some time alone together today, preferably undisturbed by a hovering and meddling mother. A day with Elizabeth was just what Edward needed. Since his time was so limited with her, he should have full advantage of this time with her. I didn't want to crowd him.

"Okay," he whispered and Elizabeth stirred.

"Oh, and I am taking your tux to the dry cleaners." He mouthed a short 'thanks' as I headed out the door.

The day at the store flew by fast. The morning was busy. I had no time to ponder a rocky decision that I made last night or to have a sit down. I was dead on my feet until Angela arrived to take over at the counter. I could then run through the supplies that had yet to be unpacked. I plopped tiredly down in my office chair getting ready to look at the numbers. I prayed to god they wouldn't be headed south. Sure, business was good, but it could always be better. This was my livelihood and a big part of my life. It needed to be nurtured to survive, just as all other living things.

"If you think any harder, your hair will catch fire." The loving and gentle voice startled me out of my reverie. Oh, how I loved that soothing tone.

"Hey, Edward," I mused and eased back in my chair. I stole a moment just to look at him and ponder how the hell I got someone like him to love me. Love me… wow! Looking at his smile and his eyes and how he took me in, I could see that he really did love me, just like I loved him.

"I came by to see if I could help you or something. Elizabeth and I were getting bored sitting inside all cooped up in the apartment." He picked her up from the stroller. "Didn't we, sweetheart?" He cooed at her and she grinned.

"So what did you do?"

"Well, we took a walk to the park. I was a novelty between the nannies gathering there. Not a lot of testosterone above the age of three around that place. I was lucky to escape intact."

I laughed. "I thought you couldn't do that sort of stuff?" I asked puzzled.

"Yeah well, I got sick of the idea of putting my life on hold because someone might recognize my face. So to hell with it… sort of. Jenks is on speed dial should something happen and he is not far away."

I chewed my lip. Edward being a little blatant about the whole safety thing didn't comfort me. This was not good for him and definitely not for Elizabeth. "What is not far away?"

He leaned over my desk and kissed me on my cheek. "If I said my shadow, would that be close enough for you?" He grinned at my hardly concealed concern. "Black suit at the entrance is Jenks' cousin or something. I'm not entirely sure that he speaks, but his name is Felix."

I sighed with relief and eyed the tall tank-like man that I saw lurking. He had an eye as sharp as a samurai sword. I nodded, while telling myself that I could trust Edward. I just had to learn to do it by instinct. He would never let any harm come to Elizabeth. "Did anything else interesting happen?"

"Emmett," he answered simply and his face became a blank slate.

"Oh, no." I closed my eyes, refusing that topic. What had he done now? "Don't buy into anything he says. If you do, please divide whatever he says it with his social security number first. Then that might come close to the truth."

Edward laughed. "Give the guy some credit. I think he's pretty cool and a loud mouth for sure, but he really doesn't mean any harm."

"He usually doesn't." I shrugged.

"So about what I came here for. It said on the fridge that you were supposed to do the shopping. I can get that for you."

"Oh Edward, you don't have to."

He came around the desk and leaned over me. "Let me help, Bella," he whispered and kissed my forehead. "Remember, you're not alone."

"I really don't deserve to have you." I murmured, suddenly feeling overwhelmed with all his kindness. I wasn't used to this.

"None of that please. Now, hand over the shopping list and we will see you at five. Mr. Muscle at the door is looking antsy, besides it might take me a while to figure out how to do grocery shopping. It's pretty much a first for me."

"One question, Edward. Are you real?" He frowned, but looked amused at my question. "Or am I going to wake up with bruises on my arm from pinching myself awake?"

He hummed and fingered my chin with his thumb and forefinger. His mouth was gentle and giving when it met mine. He smoothly coaxed his way to a deeper kiss and I was left breathless instantly. He pulled back. "Real enough for you, baby?"

"Real," I murmured. I fished the shopping list out of my jeans pocket and handed it over.

oooooOOOOooooo

The chicken was minding its own business in the oven and I could hear Edward from the bathroom and water splashing everywhere. He was giving Elizabeth a bath. I wondered how he found all the trivial daily stuff with Elizabeth so overtly exciting. Not to sound mean, but he was kind of like a dog with a new bone. He wanted to keep it all to himself. However, in the back of my mind I figured out the why of this whole situation and why he embraced it all with such open arms. He was alone in the world. He'd lost his family, but now he had one and he would fight to his last dying breath to protect it. Perhaps that was even why he had said nothing about my choice not to take the pill last night. Maybe, if I did get pregnant, it wasn't a bad thing for him. Sure, our reunion hardly had its first heartbeat, but Edward knew who he was and he would handle life in his own calm and perceptive way.

I couldn't help let my hand flee to my stomach. I figured the odds were about fifty percent.

"Hey, Bella."

Hi. Where's Alice?" I asked spotting Jasper, who just came home.

"Working late. Just us tonight," she said and leaned against the counter. She fell still and listened to Edward laughing in the bathroom. Her face clouded with anxiety, though she tried to hide it. "I'll be in my room," she said quietly. I sighed knowing that run and duck maneuver too well. She had pulled it off with Emmett for a while when things were really bad with her. It was because of Edward's presence.

I knocked on the door when Jasper failed to emerge for dinner after the third call. It wasn't like her. "Can I come in?"

"Sure," she answered warily.

"Dinner is ready."

"Uhm…. I'm not hungry," she answered wringing her fingers like she was strangling small snakes.

"Is that the real reason?" I asked, hoping that I wasn't being too blunt by calling her out. Jasper didn't answer. "Edward understands," I said carefully. Jasper's gentle and ocean colored eyes lingered on me for a while. She wasn't comfortable without Alice here that was obvious. "I know it is hard for you with him here, but won't you even try to have dinner with us?" I asked. She still didn't say anything. "Look, come out and have some dinner with us. If it gets to be too much, you can just bring your plate with you and eat in here. I really wish you would have something to eat."

"Okay," she mouthed, the sound was barely audible. I felt a pang of pride for her. It would be so much easier for her just to refuse and be hard headed, but she made an effort and that was worth a lot. For so long, she tried not to let the attack get to her, but sometimes she just needed a little push in the right direction. Usually, it was Alice who nudged her, but today I took the liberty to do it hoping it would be okay for her. Jasper was quiet throughout the meal, but she was present and that's what mattered.

Edward glanced at the screen on his phone and let out a heavy breath. I untangled myself from where we were lying on the couch when I felt the tension run through Edward's body like a freight train. I knew drama was headed my way. I just knew it.

"Rose," Edward said quietly when he answered. He threw a small glance at me and headed for the kitchen like that would make me unable to overhear his conversation. No such luck. The apartment was hardly a mansion.

"Yeah, I am still going." He paused and listened. "Rose, I really don't want to get into this now." I was hanging onto the edge of the couch, pretending not to listen to what was being said in the kitchen. "Yes, I'm at Bella's." My heart stopped dead in its tracks. "Look, Rosalie. Can we talk about this tomorrow? I promised that I would, so can we not make a big deal out of it?" I leaned over, catching a fleeting glimpse of Edward pinching the bridge of his nose. "Tomorrow, Rose. Goodnight." He hung up and spotted me watching him. He smiled wryly. Trouble.

I trotted into the kitchen where Edward eyed me hesitantly. "You got something you want to fess up to?" I asked, while my stomach knotted itself around my intestines.

"I might." He paused, but didn't continue. My mind just raced ahead with lunatic ideas about how things might not be over between them. No matter what he said yesterday. He was vulnerable just as much as me. We were both so easy to hurt. I understood that with clarity as bright as the sun. I really had left my heart open up to him. His silence was like a fire alarm ready to be cranked. "Stop chewing that lip, like you missed lunch. It's not what you think." He brushed his fingers across my cheekbone, letting the pads linger on my lower lip. I let it go from the grip of my teeth, but I was still holding my breath. "The charity thing that I am going to tomorrow, I promised Rose that I would still go with her."

"Like a date?" I felt like someone dropped a boulder in the pit of my stomach. It crashed to the bottom with rough force.

"Not exactly. Well, to the press, exactly like that, but Rose knows it is just as friends. I made that very clear to her."

"But why?" I just didn't get it. He told me that they were done.

"Because she has had a series of, let's call them, unsuccessful relationships that have gained her a bit of a reputation. So she wanted to keep our breakup on the down low for a little while longer. I agreed to that."

"So, tomorrow you have a date with your ex-girlfriend." Oh just freaking great! Though, it was sort of ironic that her rep needed his loyalty, considering what Edward said never happened between them.

"No, I don't. Tomorrow, I am escorting a friend to a benefit as a favor."

"You're splitting hairs, Edward," I muttered tartly.

"Bella, you have nothing to worry about." I wasn't sure if I should be pissed off or what exactly to feel. I just knew that I didn't like it one bit. "Besides, I thought you might feel that way, so I asked Emmett to go as well." My mouth popped open in shock. "Does that make you feel better?"

"Yes," I answered petulantly. I was still a bit miffed. It wasn't like he had asked me to go. I wasn't sure that I was even interested in attending, but that was not the point. I wanted to be the one asked. Not Rose.

"I agreed to this before I knew where we were headed, Bella. I'm sorry that I didn't tell you sooner." He fingered my braid, running his fingers down the swirls.

Tuesday night arrived and I hated it. The tux was picked up from the dry cleaners and Emmett was sitting with his legs slung out across the kitchen, waiting for Edward to finish. He looked very handsome in his rental tux and bigger than his usual huge Mack truck cutout.

"Move your ass, Edward," he hollered. I wasn't sure where it came from, but Emmett and Edward already had a brotherly lingo growing between them, basically sounding like a couple of teenagers.

"I'm coming, so just shut up." Edward bent down and tied his shoelace, before he quickly placed a few kisses on Elizabeth's cheeks. "Bye, sweetie." He wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me closer. I was not an ounce happier today than I had been yesterday. I hated that he was doing this thing with his ex-girlfriend, no matter how much he denied having any feelings for her. I knew that I should cool down about it. It was a mere three days ago that we officially got our wires untangled and decided to give us a go. Though, it felt like ages ago. "Stop worrying, please." He smoothed his thumb over my forehead. "Or those lines will be permanently carved into your forehead."

"I'm not worried," I said.

"You're lying," he answered and smiled before he kissed me. "I'll be back around midnight." I nodded in response feeling wretched that this was the last night he was in New York and he was spending it with her and not me. I really didn't want to be a party pooper, but I was losing that battle.

"Have fun," was all I was able to say just before they left.

I was sitting on the couch, pretending to watch the show with Alice and Jasper, while I was counting the minutes until Edward would be back. I was feeling like a schoolgirl with a bad case of sour grapes. Elizabeth was in bed already and I basically had nothing to do, but chew my nails or pick at my cuticles.

"I met her, you know," Alice said suddenly.

"Who?"

"The girl that you're obviously jealous of."

"I'm not jealous," I almost spat back at Alice.

"Excuse me, but you are. Bella, open your eyes. As far as I can see, Edward worships the ground you walk on and it took me less than an hour to figure that out. So please stop sitting here gnawing you lip to shreds waiting for him. He's in love with you, not Rose."

"How do you know about that?" I asked.

I caught a glimpse of Jasper's indulgent smile. "It's Alice. She just knows," she threw in and shrugged.

"Besides, she's not his type at all. And she is a bit of a bitch," Alice said. "Well, maybe not a total bitch when she loses her façade." I stared at her. "I met her in L.A." Alice frowned almost irritated when I seemed to not follow what she was saying.

"Oh, right." I muttered. "Thanks, Alice," I finished, hoping she would drop the conversation.

"Can we go to bed now?" Jasper whispered. She leaned her head back and looked up at Alice sitting behind her. I threw a quick glance at the time. It wasn't late at all. Alice nodded. Her eyes were suddenly alive and animated, when regarding her wife. They were trying to go stealth about it, but I knew things had made a u-turn between them. It was clear as day. I was happy for them, but it made the apartment feel small. My sex radar was kicking in and I knew exactly what was happening in their room.

oooooOOOOooooo

The hall was dark and lonely. I was dwarfed in Edward's t-shirt and it smelled heavenly of him. He insisted that I kept it, knowing I had a thing for wearing his stuff. He left most of his belongings here because he didn't need them right now. He treaded his fingers through my hair, while running the tips over my scalp. "God, I hate this," he murmured.

Edward had proven just how dependable he was when he returned a quarter to midnight. We hadn't slept at all. We had only been lying in bed, talking a little and kissing on occasion. We hadn't made love, just reveling in the skin on skin feeling. On some level, I wanted to be intimate, but it seemed insignificant compared to having a few hours where I could just feel so close to him. That was far more important.

I leaned in and rested my head against his chest. "It's okay, Edward," I whispered as loneliness crept into every cell of my body. I didn't want him to go. He curled me into his long arms and sheltered me from the festering cold that would come in the wake of his departure.

"Fuck, I don't want to go." His voice grew thick. It was four in the morning and he was on an early flight to Frankfurt. He wouldn't be back for at least two weeks and our little world of make believe was over for now. He was leaving.

"But you'll be back soon," I interceded.

"You bet your ass I will." He paused. "As soon as I can and not a second later."

"Kiss me," I whispered.

He cupped my cheeks and placed a slow and reverent kiss on my mouth. "I'll miss you."

"Right back at you," I answered, before he kissed me softly again. "Can I ask a favor?"

"Anything."

"If you miss your period…don't take a test until I'm here. Deal?"

"I promise."

"I love you."

"Me too." Pushing back my distaste with his departure, I tried to go for humor to lighten the depressing tension. I wanted to be strong for him. "Now be a big boy and go, or you'll miss your flight."

The silent click of the door when he left was almost like a thunderstorm cracking across the sky. I wiped a few silent tears on his shirtsleeve and went back to bed. It seemed so big now and I felt so empty. I picked up Elizabeth and curled around her for some warmth and company.

oooooOOOOooooo

I worried about Edward. We spoke every day, but it was like he was becoming more and more distant. I was horrified at the thought that we couldn't handle this separation and that a few measly weeks were enough to drive a wedge between us. I thought that we were strong, perhaps just not strong enough.

"Please talk to me, Edward." I asked quietly. This was another phone call where he hardly spoke. He was so far away, so disconnected that it was numbing.

"There isn't much to say," he answered quietly. The silence was just so powerful. It was hard to beat it down, but I had to.

"Are you having second thoughts about us?" I held my breath letting the tension turn to cement in my chest. Did I want to hear the answer to this?

There was a sharp intake of breath. "Why would you ask that?" There was another horrible stretch of silence unfurling in the dead air. "Are you?" His voice lost volume, like a deflating balloon.

"Of course not."

"Then why?"

"Edward…" I breathed. "What is wrong? Please, won't you tell me?" I was at the brink of tears. I could only imagine all the reasons that he was so distant. He was so far away with women that were beautiful and I could only imagine all the ways that they could distract a man.

"I don't want to burden you."

"Well, you do…" There was another hiss of breath. "When you won't talk to me, I worry so much about you." Tears oozed from my eyes. What could be so bad? Well, my imagination was vivid enough to draw a few conclusions that would cause this detachment.

"Please don't cry. I don't want to make you cry. I'm not good at this, Bella. I hate that I can't keep this from you. It's like my whole world just did a one-eighty. I feel like such a fucking pansy ass because I can't stand to be away from you or Elizabeth. You're all that I think about. Every minute of every day, I wonder what you are doing and what I am missing out on. I hate it. I just want to come home."

"Home?" I wasn't sure the word made any sound. Did he just describe me as home? That was a bit daunting.

There was a weak melodic sound of his laugh. "Yeah, home. You are my life now. I was so used to being on my own. Being on the move like this has been fine so far, but now I have somewhere that ties me down. You're like a siren's call to me. I lost that feeling of home when I was seventeen and my family died. I haven't felt it once since, but now it is all that I feel."

"You're homesick." I smiled. My strong and capable man, my Edward was homesick. It was kind of cute. I had to admit that. However, I was heartbroken that he was so depressed. "Edward, you'll be back in a week and we'll be here waiting for you."

"I really needed to hear that."

"I'll tell you every time you want."

Our initial plan had been to take things slow, but in matters of the heart, there was no controlling it. I couldn't reel in my feelings anymore than I could take it slow with Edward. What I felt for him and had for so long was irrevocable. There was no going back.

The next day I left the shop feeling content with the inexpensive gift in the small paper bag in my pocket. It was such an inane thing, but I knew deep down in my gut that it would help dissolve his depressive mood. At least, I hoped so. From the bookstore, I shipped the small gift off to the latest hotel address that Edward had given me, hoping UPS wouldn't screw up the delivery and he would miss his gift. I had planned he would get the other one when he returned. Home.

oooooOOOOooooo

The room was dark. Suddenly, a figure cloaked in the shadows crossed the room. I was held captive in my dream. The dark shape bent over Elizabeth's crib, but I felt no fear. For some reason, I knew that she was safe. The shadow wouldn't harm her. I faded and sank back into oblivion.

Warm fingers slipped across my forehead and down to the column of my throat, tracing over my collarbone. I knew those fingers. They would warm my lonely body at any given time. A warm and loving hand palmed my cheek. Next, there was a gentle pressure of lips to lips and I wasn't so sure that I was sleeping anymore. I carefully opened my eyes finding what I hoped for.

"You're home?" I barely whispered. Edward was sitting at the edge of the bed, gazing down at me with this completely peaceful look in his eyes like someone had given him back his vision after he had been living in darkness for a century. "You're not supposed to be here yet."

"I couldn't let the opportunity pass. I needed to test the best present that I've gotten for years." He dangled the key and tacky keychain saying HOME above my head. It was the key to the apartment that I had shipped off to him. "God, I missed you," he murmured. His voice was dripping with relief. I realized the shadow that I had seen bent over Elizabeth's crib was no shadow at all. It was Edward and he was really back.

Without hesitation, I quickly crawled off the bed and threw myself across his lap and into his arms. I needed to hold him just as much as I needed to feel his embrace. He gave me exactly what I needed and cocooned me closely in his arms, crushing me to his chest.

"I love you," I said, needing him to hear it and hoping he understood that he was the world to me. I inhaled his fragrance and instantly my insides grew hot and melted like butter. I hugged him closer and burrowed my face into his neck. God, this felt so good. It had been a little more than two weeks since was here.

He started kissing my face with reverence and eagerness took over both of us. This heat between us flared to a roaring bonfire soaked in gasoline. I needed to feel his skin, his mouth and his hands. I needed to know he was real. Edward seemed to be just as impatient as me. Our mouths connected fiercely and our tongues mingled.

Edward wasn't exactly gentle. He seemed more frantic. "Fuck, I hate being away from you!" His voice was rough, his hands were demanding and I was right there with him.

"Make love to me, Edward." I asked underneath his demanding mouth.

"Elizabeth…" he said as a way of explaining.

I ran my hands up his back under his shirt, feeling his smooth and warm skin. "She's sleeping. We'll just be quiet." I panted. "I need you." I rubbed my pelvis against his hips, clearly feeling the hard swollen ridge at the front of his jeans.

Edward pivoted us and placed me on my back, trapping me under him. "You sure?"

Our mouths collided again. Wet, warm and demanding. "Yeah." I pulled his shirt over his head and I was instantly wrapped in his god-like scent. He smelled better than any product you could ever place on your MasterCard.

He pressed against me with his hips. I moaned while spreading my legs wider and inviting him closer. I treaded my hands into his hair, knotting my fingers, bringing his mouth back to mine. Edward grabbed my thigh, bringing it up along his hip and spreading me wider for him. "You feel so good. I thought that I was losing my mind not seeing you," he said as his hand skimmed up my hip and under the oversized shirt that I wore to bed. I choked back my groan, when Edward lavished attention to my breast. I reached down and worked furiously at the buttons of his pants. He was wearing far too many clothes for my taste.

"Da-da," sounded from the crib about a yard and a half from the bed. My heart did a double beat then stilled for a moment. I had been so sure that she was out for the count and now she was grinning all over her lovely face looking bright and ready for a new day. It was three in the morning. As hot and bother as we had been, we both froze within an instant. From her crib, Elizabeth was standing against the bars with her chubby arms hanging over the side and stared at us.

"What did she just say?" Edward's eyes were wide, surprised and consumed by elation. That was my other present for him.

"I've been practicing with her to teach her to say daddy." I shrugged, feigning that the blush creeping into my face was invisible. "I guess it worked."

Edward clambered off me and sat back on his knees for a moment. He ran his hands through his hair as this incredible smile dominated his face. It was the most breathtaking smile that I'd ever seen. He rubbed his face with his hands like he couldn't believe this was real and not just a figure of his imagination.

I reached up and took one of his elegant hands in mine. He looked so overwhelmed. "Welcome home." I kissed his palm.

"Just saying I love you seems a little thin right now, but I love you so much." His fingers lingered over my lips for a moment. He stepped off the bed and picked up his daughter. "You hear that, Elizabeth? I love your mommy and I love you, sweetheart."

Elizabeth put her head on his shoulder and nuzzled in. I could only imagine what it meant to Edward that his daughter recognized him. Edward quickly changed into his pajama bottoms, climbed into bed, and we all snuggled up, letting this reunion be about all of us.

Elizabeth quickly fell asleep again and began snoring. Edward and I just locked eyes. "How long are you home for?" I asked.

He glanced at the alarm. "Less than twenty hours now."

"Better make them count," I whispered.

"Yeah." He smiled softly. "Did you get your period?"

"Not yet, but I am cramping like hell."

"I see." Edward answered. "Two days late?" I nodded and wished that I knew what he was thinking at this moment. He would be able to keep the code to the vault of the national bank and lie smoothly about the combination to anyone. His face had so many facets. "Will you do something for me?"

"Anything."

"Come." He unfolded from the sheets and pulled me up from the bed. I carefully avoided waking the sweet girl sleeping between us. On the way out of the room, Edward picked up something.

"Take this." He handed me the white package when we were in the bathroom. I didn't take it.

"Now?" I blurted and rubbed my face. Talk about getting straight to the point.

"Yeah, now," he said softly, still giving nothing away.

"Do I get to have some privacy?"

Edward rolled his eyes at me. "Just pee, Bella. Don't be prissy about it."

"God, you sound like Alice." Edward's brows shot up, surprised. I shrugged. "Last time I did this, Alice told me the exact same thing." I guessed if he wanted to see me pee, who was I to complain? I didn't mind.

When Edward handed me the stick and I took it this time, my heart and mind caught up with the gritty fact that now we would know the consequences of my drunken night with Edward. Up until now, I was able to not pay attention to it and pretend it didn't exist and live happily in my ignorance. I stared at Edward. "It's okay, Bella. I'm still here and I am not going anywhere."

I swallowed noisily and peed on the stick. I put the cap back on and handed it to Edward without giving it a second glance. I finished and washed my hands. The seconds felt like hours. Edward just kept staring at the small window, waiting for that damn plus or minus sign. That symbol may change our lives once again.

Edward slowly bit down on his lower lip, before his chest swelled and he sighed. Giving nothing away as usual. No anxiety, no joy and nothing that would reveal how he felt.

"What does it say?" My mouth was drier than the Sahara desert at midday.

"What I wanted it to say," Edward said evenly and kept staring at the damn stick.

"Oh?"

oooooOOOOooooo

Thanks for reading and I hope to see some comments while I run and duck.

Come find me on Twitter - thumannlegend

Please check out my original story on www thumannlegend blogspot com