We stayed snuggled up under the sheets for a few more minutes laughing quietly at Emmett's outburst.

I had never seen Edward so…open and alive. Sure, he had his moments before, but now it seemed like the dark cloud that hung over him had blown away in the wind.

The sun was coming out, and I couldn't be happier.

"What do you want to do today?" He asked.

"This is good." I said hugging myself closer to him.

"I think so too, but I guarantee that Emmett will be back up here any sec-" Edward was cut off by a loud bang on the door.

"Mom is making breakfast so get up!"

We both got up and got dressed and made our way downstairs. Edward seemed a bit wary of having to be near his family.

I took his hand as we walked into the kitchen.

Esme looked up at us from the stove and smiled. "I'm almost done with the eggs; take a seat at the table."

She dished out three plates of food and placed them in front of Emmett, Edward and I.

We ate in silence.

Edward's eyes stayed down looking at his plate or over to me. His gaze never wandered to his mother or brother.

After breakfast was cleaned up, Edward and I went back up to his room and sat on his couch.

I could tell that he was still uncomfortable. He wasn't looking at me and his eyes were focused on his knees.

I slowly brushed my hand through his hair and he looked at me.

"Are you alright? You seem a little nervous."

"Yeah, I'm fine I guess. You know that is the first meal I've had with any member of my family in over two years?"

"I know it's hard for you, but they really do love you."

He sighed and closed his eyes.

A few moments passed in silence.

"Remember what I told you about Newton?" He said quietly.

"Yes."

"That is kind of where it all started." I looked up at him. I wasn't sure where he was going with this conversation.

"You know the bets and the competitions? Well, I was a straight 'A' student all through school, probably because of that. Emmett, however, was not. He didn't do too bad or anything, but when he came home with a report card with only one 'C' it was like he had cured cancer or something to my parents. He always got a 'well done son' from our dad and we would go out to eat to celebrate.

"One year we both had our projects entered in the state science fair. Afterwards my dad would brag to his friends that Emmett had been entered. It was a great accomplishment to even get entered. My project actually won in my grade level, he didn't bother to mention that bit of information to anyone. I was twelve, and to have your own Dad dismiss your hard work was devastating.

"I was dragged to every stupid football game and wrestling match of Emmett's by both of my parents. It didn't matter if I had other plans or not, 'you need to show your support your brother, Edward' is the response I would get if I complained about going."

I took his hand in mine and threaded our fingers together.

He took a deep breath and continued. "When I was fourteen, I had entered a competition where the winner would get to play with the Seattle Orchestra in a concert. I won. It was going to be the best night of my life. I was very proud of myself for the achievement.

"I was dressed up in a tux and there were people there that even tried to style my hair. It was a big deal.

"I was out on a huge stage and there was a big audience in attendance that night. I was walking on air. It felt so good. When I finished and stood to the applauding crowd, I searched for my family. My mother was there, standing, clapping and snapping pictures. Next to her were two empty seats."

He paused.

I could see the hurt in his eyes just as if this had happened yesterday. The too familiar pucker in his brow returned.

I put my hand on his cheek and turned his face towards me. "Tell me what happened next."

"When we got home, my mother found Emmett and he had complained about going, he said it was stupid to have to go and sit through some boring 'piano show'. She found my dad in his study and asked where he had been. He was supposed to meet her there. He told her that he had forgotten and had been out with some of his colleagues from work.

"God Bella, it sounds stupid now, but when you are just a kid that kind of shit can really hurt. It really messed with my head. At that point I was trying everything to impress my parents. I felt I just needed to work harder. What I was doing wasn't enough; I had to push myself to the limit. There just weren't enough hours in the day anymore to keep up, and that's when I went to James."

"Who's James?" I remembered the name from Emmett's story.

"James was a senior. He was considered 'the guy that can get things' at school. And I wanted something, anything that could help me. He gave me amphetamines, speed, uppers, whatever you want to call it. I was reluctant to take it. I didn't know what would happen. He talked me into trying it.

"I didn't sleep for 4 days. It was perfect, and I wanted more.

"My grades stayed high, I was top in the class. I had all the time in the world now that I didn't have to sleep. My mind was racing all of the time trying to come up with new ways to impress my family. That is when I got the idea to apply early to Julliard. Getting in to Julliard at my age would quite an accomplishment. I knew that my father would be impressed. So I applied and earned an audition. My school was taking a field trip to New York in the spring and that is when I set up the audition. Again, perfect. The perfect surprise.

"I got home and waited impatiently for the response from the school. Finally it came. I got home and saw my parents looking at all of the information that they had sent with the acceptance letter. I couldn't believe it. I was overly excited. They had given me a full scholarship. I knew that my parents were just waiting for me to get home so that they could congratulate me. My heart was practically going to burst out of my chest. Of course, the pills probably caused that.

"The reaction from my father was not what I expected. He was outraged. I was shocked to say the least. He sat me down and went on and on about trust and honesty. He told me that this was a waste of his and my time. I was supposed to follow his footsteps and become a doctor. Have a 'real' career and not play around with a piano. He told me that I would graduate from high school and go to the college of his choosing with no complaints.

"I sat there on the couch and realized that I had no control over my life. My dreams didn't matter, and that I would never be able to satisfy my father. So I let it go. All of it. My dreams of what I wanted in life, and my father's dreams of what he wanted in my life. That's the day that I stopped trying, stopped caring.

"After that day I started hanging out with James and his friends. I didn't need the pills that kept me awake anymore. I just wanted to be numb, and for the first time in my life I got what I wanted."

He looked at me then and I couldn't read the emotion that he held on his face.

"Edward, I…" I didn't know what to say. He was pouring his heart out to me and I didn't know what to say.

He looked away. He was about ready to get up when I stopped him by kneeling beside him and putting my hands on his shoulders. He kept his eyes away from mine.

"Edward, look at me." I demanded.

I place my hands on either side of his face and turned his head to face me and his eyes met mine.

"I'm not saying this because of what you just told me. I'm saying this because it is how I've felt since when I first met you and how I feel today.

"Edward you are an amazing person. You are super smart, funny, ridiculously talented, and handsome as hell." I smirked at the last one.

"That's not very convincing." He said with the corner of his mouth lifting.

"Smart ass." I said grabbing his ears and pulling him to me so that I could kiss him.

There was a sound in the hallway.

I broke away from our kiss to see what it was.

Esme was standing in the doorway with her hands over her mouth. She had tears streaming down her cheeks. By the look on her face, she had heard the whole story.

Edward stood like he was going to make a run for it as Esme slowly walked into the room.

"Baby, I didn't know that's how you felt." She said through sobs. "We've always been so proud of you."

Edward remained silent.

When she reached him she wrapped her arms around him. Edward just stood there like a statue. After about thirty seconds he broke away from her and marched out the door.

I tried to follow, but by the time I even made it to the top of the stairs the front door was slamming.

I waited for a couple of hours for him to cool down and come home, but he never did.

I called Alice to pick me up and take me home. It was raining by the time we got there, and we ran inside.

I took a quick shower and changed my clothes.

I searched under my bed for my duffel bag and through some clothes and toiletries in it. I grabbed my backpack and ran back out to my truck, and headed back to the Cullen house.

Esme welcomed me back. She had not heard from Edward. I went up to his room and waited.

I fell into a light sleep on his bed around ten.

I woke up to the sound of the bedroom door opening and closing and the squishing sound of wet shoes on the hardwood floor.

I clicked on the bedside lamp to see Edward drenched from head to toe, his hair plastered to his forehead.

I jumped up and ran over to him. "You're freezing!"

"I-I'm s-s-orry." He managed to get out through his chattering teeth.

I pulled him into the bathroom and started the shower.

"Strip." I told him. He looked at me wide-eyed.

I walked over to him and grabbed a hold of the bottom of his shirt and yanked it up over his head. I shouldn't have done that.

Ever since the day that I came over and Edward was shirtless when he opened the door, I've had a 'thing' for Edward's topless form.

I ran my hand back down his chest and stopped at the waistband of his jeans. I don't think that I was breathing. I don't think he was either.

I started to unbutton his pants and I felt his hands on my waist. He was so close. I could feel him let out a long breath on my ear.

He slid his hands under the hem of my shirt. I could feel his cold fingers on my skin.

He slowly pulled up my shirt. I raised my arms so that he could lift it over my head.

He looked at me in just my bra, and I closed my eyes when he started to kiss my neck.

I went back to removing his pants. I had the last button undone and was starting to tug them down when I felt him grab a hold of the sides of my pajama pants and start to pull them off.

They slid down my legs and I was left in just my bra and panties. I kicked them to the side and continued to pull off his pants. Finally the wet fabric of his jeans released him and he was clad only in his boxers.

I reached with my hands to his face and brought his lips to mine in a heated kiss.

I felt my bra loosen and the straps fall down my arms. I let it fall to the floor and he pressed me against the wall.

I slid my hands down his back causing him to shiver. I hooked my fingers in the sides of his boxers and started to slide them off his hips.

We were so wrapped up in one another and with the sound of the shower running, we didn't hear the bedroom door open and someone come in.

"What the…"

Edward quickly pulled his lips from mine and pulled me into his chest so that I wouldn't be exposed to the intruder to his bedroom. I ducked my head under his chin.

"Get some clothes on and get your ass in my study NOW!"