*Disclaimer - Sadly, I own nothing of Twilight with the exception of merchandise, bought and paid for. I do, however, own my love for borrowing the characters and playing with them however I choose to. I thank Stephenie Meyer for creating the TwiWorld and for allowing us to have our fun with it. She owns Twilight, the insanity it created in my mind is my own.

I felt very encouraged by the feedback on this chapter from my beta and special pre-reader. Hope you like it too! Thanks for reading!

Whatever Works

Welcome to the Family

Edward was nibbling on my shoulder. His teeth dug into my flesh just enough to get an imprint to mark me but not hard enough to draw blood. It didn't hurt – it felt exquisite. His tongue swirled over it after he checked out his work, and then he continued down to the crease in my arm. It wasn't weird. Not in the least.

"Bella," he murmured, rubbing his cheek on my forearm. His voice was raspy. "I know we don't have a contract for this, but my mouth wants to make love to your arm. Can I do that? Will you let me?"

"What about the toe contract?" I replied breathlessly.

He grunted as he pulled my hand up to his face, placing the palm on his cheek. "You're not ready for that, Bella. Don't take on more than you can handle." Turning his head, his mouth was then on my palm, and he was kissing it, very softly at first, little teasing pecks, but then he deepened it, sucking on the fleshy part, running his tongue along the lines at the base of my thumb. "I'm not going to defile your life line. But I'm taking your love line – it's mine." My whole body shuddered as he ran the tip of his tongue on the line nearest my fingers, ending at my index finger. He kissed the tip and then took it into his mouth.

"It's yours!" I panted, sucking in air in desperation as he moved on to suck the next finger. After each digit was loved in his special way, he cupped my hand against his cheek once more, holding it there with his eyes closed.

"When you're ready, Bella… really ready for me to take your life, just let me know. Your heart belongs to me, but I'm not running away with it. Stay with me, Bella. Let me love you. You don't have to be alone anymore. I want you… all of you…"

"You have me, Edward. You had me at hello." Oh god… I need to work on that one. That was cheesy, even for a dream. "Is this a dream?"

"You're my dream come true."

Wait… stop the train... that was too cheesy for Edward. It's a dream. It's just a dream, Bella. Wake up!

My eyes flew open. A dream. Edward was not making love to my arm – okay, I didn't clue in to the fact that it's a dream with that humdinger? The most sensual experience I'd ever had was definitely a dream, but the man who had left me breathless and drenched from a dream lay beside me in bed, snoring softly. Even in the heavy shadows he looked beautiful. His hair was a mess and so sexy. I wanted to run my fingers through it and make it more of a mess. I wanted it to be my mess.

I bet I'm a mess… I debated slipping out of bed before he awoke and saw the hag that had taken my place beside him overnight. I'd have a life with only dreams of Edward then – any bit of attraction he may have felt would be quashed. Did I have time? I didn't want to take up time in his shower and make him late for work. I lifted my head to check the time on the digital clock on Edward's side of the bed.

"Oh shit! Edward!" My whispered call didn't even cause a stir; he snored on. I tried a little louder. "Edward? Are you awake?" Still no response. "Oh god… how do I wake you up?" Sitting up in the bed, wearing his t-shirt that was drenched with sweat from my dream, I felt chilled to the bone. He looked warm. Then again, he was dry. I tugged on the bed covers to wrap myself. I needed the warmth and coverage more than he did. My nipples were taking on a life of their own and were liable to poke out an eye if he ever happened to open one, whereas he hadn't even noticed the removal of his blankets. His nipples weren't poking through the fabric of his shirt. His tummy was still rising and falling with his rhythmic breathing. His… oh my god… no, he definitely wasn't affected by any chill. Part of him was happy and alert and ready to start the day.

I shouldn't be staring at his boner… I shouldn't have displayed his boner… I should stop thinking about his boner and cover him back up. Laying the sheet over it seemed to only enhance it. It's really quite impressive. He'd be proud of it… he should be proud of it. I lifted the sheet and added the comforter to it to cover him with both. The extra padding should help. But if I wanted to remain covered as well, I'd have to crouch down – at his waist. There would be no way to avoid admiring the impressive display he had laid out at that point. Would that be so bad? YES! It's late, Bella! Focus! I dropped all covering from myself and spread it over Edward, leaning across him to bunch it up so he wasn't tenting both sheet and comforter.

"What are you doing?"

"You're awake!" I jumped at the sound of his sleepy voice. A quick glance confirmed that I had succeeded in giving him a modest covering. I, however, was very aware of the damp t-shirt exposing my own hardness. Had he witnessed my stupidity with the covering and uncovering and gawking?

"Mm-hmm. Is something wrong?"

"I was just fixing the covers... I was cold."

"That could be because you're not under them. Come back under." One hand lifted my side of the covers up, and the other briefly disappeared under his own half. Readjustment? If I wasn't blushing before, that certainly did the trick.

I shook my head, remembering the initial reason for me being in this position. "No, it's late! We have to get up!"

Frowning, he rolled over to check the time. "Bella it's 6:15..."

"Aren't you supposed to be on set?"

He chuckled and pulled me towards him. "I don't have to be there until noon today. We're working late, so I won't see you tonight. Come back to bed."

"Esme –"

"–is fine. Alice and Jasper are there." He held his arms out to urge me forward some more. "You look cold." His eyes darted downwards but immediately back up. And yes, my nipples noticed him noticing them and stood up taller. I had no choice but to dive under the blankets with him. He cuddled me and rubbed my arm briskly. "There, that's better. I thought you were in a big rush to get the hell away from me. I thought I'd still managed to be a pig even when I was doing my best to be gentlemanly."

I smiled at him and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. "You've been a perfect gentleman. I'm sorry for my episode last night. That doesn't happen... I'm not someone who cries like that."

"You needed it, obviously. Are you feeling better today?"

"Definitely. That's done, I swear." The last thing I wanted was for him to think he'd be dealing with that all the time if we were to... what...?

"I'm just glad I could be there for you." His lips pressed against the top of my head.

As good as his arms felt around me, I felt awkward. Did he think I was totally pathetic? A friendless loser? Did he think I was latching on to his crowd out of desperation? "We should still get up... I should, anyway."

"You do want rid of me," he said with pout. "I disappointed you... or I smell. Tell me, really, what is it?"

Well, I had a naughty dream about you, and I'm soaked and embarrassed, and you greeted me with a morning boner, which didn't help me with my own situation. "Do you want anyone seeing me sneak out of your room? Your sister has already asked if we were sleeping together."

"Did she? And what did you say?"

"I said no! We weren't… aren't, really… I don't think this is what she had in mind, but if she saw me coming out this morning –"

"I know this isn't what she had in mind." He snickered evilly. At least he wasn't upset with her about it. "Nosy little witch… do me a favor and if she asks anything else, just tell her to ask me. That'll teach her. Anyway, the only person who would see you coming and going is Emmett, and if you don't already know, your adoration of him is mutual. He thinks you're great. And great for me."

I lay there stunned. They had discussed me? And me with Edward? "Mike's not around?"

Edward ran his hand down his face, sighing. "Nope. He won't be staying over here anymore – not after the Jessica thing. No one will be. It's just you, me, and Emmett up here. Quiet, private, secure. Just how I like it. You know, Alice's gall is really annoying me. I almost feel like messing with her… the little busybody."

"I shouldn't have said anything." I frowned. They had been getting along much better. The last thing I wanted was another rift between them.

"You absolutely should have! I'd like you to feel you can tell me anything. This, in particular, is our business. And not hers. Look, I really don't give a shit what she thinks is going on. It is what it is."

Which is…?

"I don't want to rush anything just to be a brat in reaction to her. I want to take this at our own pace. Right? Do you agree?"

Stupidly, I nodded. I should have taken the opportunity to ask what he had in mind.

"Damn. I almost wish you hadn't agreed. I'd love to parade you around in front of her as my girlfriend." He wore the coy grin of a brat. It didn't annoy me as it had in the beginning. Now that I had a better understanding of him, I knew it was his way of being playful. "I don't want the first time I kiss you to be part of a silly game though. There's enough we have to work around to be bothered playing games with Alice. So, as I said earlier, I'm working late tonight. If you want, you can sleep here. I've seen how you sleep – I wouldn't even wake you coming in," he teased.

Again, he stunned me. His mind was all over the place, and he seemed to blurt as efficiently as I could, only he didn't stop. It was one thing after another, making my head spin and heart race. "You want me to sleep in here tonight? Without you?"

"Only for part of it. I'll join you at some point. If you want. Or I can get up early, and we can have coffee together up here if you'd rather not. I just like watching you sleep. Am I coming off as creepy yet? Watching you sleep, the arm thing the other day, and my fascination with your feet… it does seem a strange beginning. Normally, a kiss would say, 'hey I really like you' and then we'd go from there, but it's not going that way with you. For some reason, all my weirdness is coming out, and I haven't even kissed you. I haven't even asked you if that's something you'd want!" He chuckled, possibly becoming aware that he was doing a rambling blurt. This was the most unsure of himself I'd ever seen him act, and it was adorable, especially with the rasp in his morning voice.

I left him hanging, and he pinched his eyes shut, an embarrassed grin on his face. "I just like hearing you go on that way," I explained in a soft voice. "Have you got more?"

"More? Hell yeah! Bella, you fail to realize there is a whole world of things trapped inside that I haven't been able to, or can't, get out. Wanting to kiss you is a no-brainer. Who wouldn't want to?"

"Why haven't you then?" I finally worked up the nerve to ask a pertinent question.

"Because…" He hesitated and exhaled heavily. "Remember I said that I had things to take care of? Well, I really wanted to get all of that sorted before… Bella, I don't want to start something I can't finish. Basically, that's the reason. I'm being mature – as mature as I'm capable of being. The old me would have just went with it and let the chips fall where they landed. I can't do that now. I just hope you understand and have patience with me, because I really want to see where this goes."

~ 0 ~

Normally, I had patience, but Edward was testing it in the most frustrating way. I barely saw him for several days as he worked long hours through the weekend on a vital outdoor shoot that couldn't be done during the week. Yet he asked me to be there for him, and I couldn't refuse – I didn't want to refuse – so I would wake up with him spooning me, having crept into his bedroom at some point during the night without waking me, as promised.

It felt amazing having his arms around me; he was so tender and sweet. I had never spent the night with a guy before, even James. Being so young at the time, our relationship was rushed make-out sessions that eventually advanced into sex, but there were no loving cuddles afterwards. With Edward, I had the reverse – a total cuddlefest and long conversations in the mornings with his slow, raspy wake-up voice driving me crazy… gah! But no sex. Not even a kiss. He would kiss parts of me, but we hadn't really kissed. It felt like we were building an emotional intimacy like I'd never experienced, yet there were still things he wasn't telling me. And would it kill him to kiss me?

Since Jessica had been let go, Sue was doing the cleaning upstairs. Taking advantage of Alice and Jasper helping with Esme, I had been helping her and Emily out in the kitchen more often. Jasper had taken Esme's breakfast to her one morning, and Sue left to tend to the upstairs rooms, leaving me and Emmett alone in the kitchen. He had an hour to kill, waiting for Edward to leave so we were chatting away as I mixed up some eggs for us.

"Good morning, you." Edward came up behind me and nuzzled at my neck as he hugged me from behind. "Wait… you're not Sue!" Both men erupted in laughter when I elbowed him. Then he turned me around and smiled down at me, kissing the tip of my nose. "Sit down. I'm going to serve you today."

"This should be good," Emmett chuckled as we sat together watching Edward. "He thinks he can cook now because he did it for a shoot the other day. He didn't actually cook – Bree did. And what they ate for the scene was prepared off-camera by someone who can cook."

"Bite me, Emmett. I can cook!" Edward was protesting but looking quite lost. "Where's the pot?"

"Pan," I corrected. "You'd cook eggs in a pan."

"That's the flat one, dude. Over there." Emmett was really getting a kick out of the scene. I thought it was sweet.

"Have you ever made eggs?" I asked when he poured the mixture into the pan before heating it on the stove.

"Sure! Of course I have."

"Once," Emmett announced. "We blamed the sickness that ensued on hangovers, didn't we?"

"Fuck off!" Edward was still laughing. "Personally, I think it was Botulism from the slacker who last cleaned the dishes." He turned and shot Emmett a look.

"It wouldn't have been Botulism," I commented. "Salmonella is more likely." They both turned to look at me. "From undercooked eggs."

"Oh shit." Edward looked panicked as Emmett burst into a fit of laughter. "I'm not gonna kill you guys with this, am I?"

I ended up supervising, as he insisted that he wanted to get better with things like this and doing it was the best way to learn. He did all right with breakfast, even if the toast was a tad burnt. Though Emmett's advice was, "Stick with cereal, dude. It's safe."

~ 0 ~

Edward went to the set without Emmett. He was working indoors, and he had Sam with him there and back, so he felt comfortable leaving Emmett to help me with Esme. It was high time she really began working those legs; massage therapy and TENS could only do so much for her, and getting her in the pool had inspired me. I ordered a floatation device that fit around her waist so she wouldn't have to sit on the steps. Even the slightest kicking in the water would help strengthen her muscles. It would also blow her 'dead legs' scheme, and allow me to really get her mobile. Edward highly approved of my ploy, but Alice was hesitant. Thus, the reliable watchdog Emmett was to be there – 'just in case.'

I appreciated it. Emmett was a big help, and with him there, I didn't feel like everyone thought I was an evil bitch for making her work out. He stood behind her in the water while I did slow, methodical movements controlling her legs. Alice watched like a nervous hen from the side of the pool while Jasper attempted to keep her calm. They took her back to her quarters after our session. Emmett and I took a breather before heading back in.

"You're great with her," he commented once he was sure they were out of hearing range. "Edward was concerned he'd get someone who stirred shit – either called her on her phony paralysis or worked strictly by Banner's orders… which are somewhat shady, if you ask me. Is he still saying limited therapy?"

I nodded in frustration. "She must be paying him off. Or he's a really shitty surgeon. The thing is, it's not a hysterical paralysis – that can happen with emotional trauma but not in her case. She knows she's capable of moving."

"Edward says she does walk – somehow."

I couldn't help but smile at the knowledge that he and Emmett had discussed everything that we had about Esme and we were all on the same page. "I ordered her a walker, crutches, and canes with all the equipment. She's gonna walk in front of all of us! Forget the hobbling along for middle of the night pees," I giggled.

"You're great with Edward too."

Emmett's remark not only changed the subject but the tone of it as well. I swam closer, almost feeling as though this was even more private than the discussion about Esme. "He told me you'd be accepting if anything were to happen between us," I said quietly.

"Hell yes! It's more than a reprieve for all of us not to have to deal with his crankiness and surly face every day," he said with a wide grin. "Needless to say, he hasn't been doing much dating. He hasn't even been the incorrigible bad boy of old – which I fully expected a return to after the accident. As a friend, it's good to see him coming out of his dark days in a good way. It's strange seeing how he is with you – on one hand, he's the guy we all know, not the persona he wears in every other situation. Do you know how rare it is for him to really let someone he hasn't known for years really know him?"

"Sometimes I don't feel as though I do," I confessed. Emmett was so easy to talk to, and I could be open with him. He knew everything.

He offered me a reassuring grin. "It'll take time to know all, but you're getting there. What I was going to say is, it's great seeing him be true to himself, but I'm also seeing a whole new side to him lately. It's something I've never seen from him – he actually cares how this turns out. For the first time, he's not looking at what he can get out of it before it's over. He's thinking about what he can do to ensure it lasts. It's gonna make him sound like a dick, I know, but he has never been one to think of a girlfriend as anything but an outlet for fun and a physical release. He doesn't even go as far as to call the girls he's been involved with 'girlfriends.' I don't know if he had a girl in London, but since he moved back to New York, there was only one he actually seemed to care about, aside from getting laid. That was years ago. She was a conniving little bitch, though, so thank Christ he saw through her before he got too emotionally invested. It's huge that he's opening himself up to you – for so many reasons."

I was really taken aback. He was much more forthcoming about personal issues than he'd ever been. It made me feel good that Emmett trusted me along with Edward. "I've never been conniving, myself, and I'll try not to be a bitch," I remarked with a grin.

Emmett smiled and helped me climb out of the pool. "The perfect girlfriend for Edward… and he's actually aware of it, and amazingly, he wants a full relationship. He's into this – deep. Welcome to the crazy family, Bella!"

A/N ~ Happy Victoria Day to my fellow Canucks! :D ~ SR