…

9.

"It won't fit." I sighed, exasperated.

"Yes, it will. I've been toying with it for long enough, Bella. Trust me on this, will you?" he huffed.

"Edward," I groaned. "It. Will. Not. Fit." I accentuated each word with a poke to his chest.

He pinned my hand to the wall, eyeing me pointedly. "Shut up, and let me do this, woman."

I narrowed my eyes. "Are you kidding me right now?" I think my eyes twitched a bit because he released my hand and backed away slowly. "Thank you. Now, I'm sorry, honey, but that thing's too big, and it's just not going to go in that little space."

Disappointment marred his features and he sighed. "Dammit. I really wanted to get it in there."

I rubbed my thumb along his jaw, loving the feel of his scruff under my fingertips. "I know, Edward. We can try again later if you want, but I don't think it'll ever happen. The walls aren't gonna move, baby."

He regarded the antique armoire longingly. "Maybe we can find a space in the living room for it?"

I smiled and took his hand in mine. "Now you're being rational."

He shrugged. "I really wished it would have fit in the dining room, though."

"I know, but the doorway is just too narrow," I explained, rolling my eyes. "Come on, and bring the tape measure."

An hour later, the armoire occupied its own little corner of the living room and looked like it had lived there its entire life.

"I love it," I sighed, leaning against Edward's shoulder.

He tightened his arm around me and kissed my hair. "I'm sorry about earlier. I was being a stubborn, overdramatic ass."

I feigned shock. "No way! You? Psh, I'd never figured you for the sort."

"And I'd never figured you for the sarcastic housewife." He smirked.

"Is that what I am now?" We'd been living together for about six months by then and there wasn't much about each other we didn't know. I'd learned that Edward could be charming, yet a little pushy and insecure. He was such a conundrum at times, but I loved him; every inch of him, in fact.

His eyes searched my face for a moment and he stood from the couch and walked over to the armoire, opening up one of the drawers. "Not quite," he said, holding up a little blue ring box. "But," he kneeled in front of me and took both my hands in his, "if you want to be, Bella, I'd love to have you."

Tears fell over my cheeks; my mouth split into a huge grin.

"Would you be my wife?" His voice quivered around the edges. I wiped my tears and watched as he opened the box. "It was my grandmother's, and then my mom's and I'd like it to be yours," he explained as he took it out of the box and offered it to me.

I couldn't speak, only able to nod as he slipped the ring on my finger. "Are you going to make any noise or have I finally rendered you speechless?"

I squeaked a "yes," before jumping into his embrace and peppering kisses all over his face.

…

My knees hurt, but the hold Edward had in my hair sent tingles up and down my spine.

"Christ, baby." I watched as he threw his head back, pure ecstasy written all over his beautiful features.

I hummed around his shaft and took him deeper into my mouth, relaxing my throat around him.

We were in the on-call room, enjoying a little private time before I went home while he was just coming on his shift. Crossing paths like this happened a lot and as much as I would have wanted for him to take me against the wall like he had done last week, Aunt Flo had reared her ugly head and he was going to have to settle for his fiancée's mouth wrapped around his cock.

I was pretty sure he didn't mind one bit.

The look on Edward's face and the grip he had on my hair, as he shifted his hips and lost himself in the sensation of fucking my mouth, were almost as satisfying as watching him hover over me as he made sweet love to me. Almost.

I gripped his ass and pulled him flush against my face, my nose buried in his trimmed curls as he hummed in pleasure.

It might have been hard for most new couples to deal with the kind of hectic schedules we had, but working in the same place and living together made things easier. We had access to each other at work and at home, and would take full advantage of that every chance we got.

"Fuck, Bella, I'm close, baby," Edward hissed as I cupped his balls and ran my middle finger behind them, massaging the skin there while my mouth worked his shaft. I ran my tongue along his length and swirled it around the head of his cock before taking him in my mouth all the way, until I had to swallow around him and pull him back out.

His grip on my hair was almost painful as he thoroughly enjoyed what I was giving him, and I whimpered when my eyes met his. He was so breathtakingly beautiful from this vantage point. His brows were pulled together, his jaw was taut, as if he was afraid of losing control, and the way his lips parted as his shallow breaths came in pants only intensified the need I had for him.

I cursed Mother Nature and decided right then to get on the shot instead of the pill. Being able to forgo her wrath every month sounded like a great plan at the moment.

"I'm gonna come, baby." Edward's eyes blazed as his features twisted up like he was in pain before I felt his release hit the back of my throat. I swallowed everything he gave me, ignoring the bitter taste before letting him pull me to my feet. "Thank you."

I pulled up his pants and boxers, setting them around his hips, but before I could say anything, Edward's mouth met mine in a searing kiss, his tongue delving into my mouth easily as he held my body close to his.

I hummed in pleasure, reveling in the intimacy of our kiss. It was such a turn on, knowing he could probably taste himself on me and didn't care. We kissed for a few more minutes before I pulled away with a last chaste kiss to the corner of his lips.

"I can't wait 'til next week," I whined, pressing my forehead to his chest. Inhaling, I got lost in the scent of him surrounding me and closed my eyes. I was so tired, but happy to be going home. The only thing better than that would have been to have Edward come home with me.

He wrapped his arms around me, holding me tight. "I know. Rosalie changed the schedules around again, it'll get better. Emmett proposed so things will get back to normal around here."

I nodded, knowing the situation couldn't really get any worse. "I'm going to go now, before I fall asleep right here and we both know I won't sleep for long if I'm in here."

If there was a doctor in the hospital, he or she would be put to good use. I needed to leave as soon as possible.

"All right, Bella." He kissed my lips sweetly. "I'll miss you."

His eyes were bright, a relaxed ease in his movements as we unlocked the door and slipped out of the room and into the empty adjoining locker room.

I pulled my hair up in a messy bun and slipped on my jacket, as I watched him slip out the locker room door with a last wink thrown my way.

Such a lady's man, Dr. Cullen.

I walked by Alice's station and ignored her cheeky, knowing grin before tiredly making it to the elevator and eventually finding my way home.

…

"Coffee?" I asked, taking off my gloves and washing my hands. I'd just saved some guy from having to have his leg amputated. I was pretty sure getting a cup of coffee was well deserved.

"Sure," he replied easily. "You were great in there, Dr. Swan." He walked by me and held the door open for me.

I grinned, feeling my cheeks flush. "Thank you."

It was so unnerving to be able to blush like that even after all this time, just because he'd witnessed me in action. His job was important, too, of course, but he always marveled at what I could do with a scalpel and complimented me on a job well done, even if it ended badly.

He was my biggest fan, and I was probably his as well.

Holding hands, we made our way to the cafeteria.

"Old habits die hard," I commented, as he took two cups and filled them before handing me one.

"It's tradition." He shrugged before taking a sip of the bitter, hot liquid.

I nodded in agreement. He was more of a sentimental fool than I was, but it was why I loved him so much. We'd started out as friends and colleagues but had grown into so much more over the past year. I couldn't imagine my life without him.

I remembered Edward asking me if I believed in fate or kismet. At the time, I didn't. I could now look back and see what was right there in front of me—an opportunity I almost let fall through my fingers because I was scared.

Stumbling through my parents' death had been difficult, but I had kept myself too busy to feel it in its entirety. I ended up filling my life with work and the few friends that I had made there.

Irina had walked into my life when I needed her, and had similarly walked out just as easily once I'd found Edward. We'd remained friends, of course, but sex aside; we would never be as close as we once were. Distance and our busy lives made getting together or even talking on the phone nearly impossible.

She married Peter last month in a private ceremony on one of the Hawaiian Islands. It was unexpected but completely like her to do that without any expectations or warnings. I was happy for her, just as she was for me when I found Edward.

Through it all, I was pretty sure Edward and I were it for each other. He got me, whether I was moody, flirty, horny, or just plain self-conscious and doubtful; he was always around to hold me or kiss me or tell me everything would be okay.

As well, the ring on my finger wasn't going to go away anytime soon; we just needed to figure out a time and place to get married.

Maybe it was our turn to plan a trip somewhere, after all, the unexpected things in life seemed to usually end up with the best results.

If anyone could attest to that, it was us.

…

We're almost there folk; only one chapter left. Thank you so much for your kind words with this story. As always, it's been an adventure.

I couldn't do this without Midnight Cougar, Joey or Mandi. Thank you girls, as always.