As always: Everything and anything related to the Twilight saga belongs to Stephenie Meyer. This is a work of fiction based on her writings. No harm is meant by it.

Special thanks and much adoration to my beta Kelly.

Chapter Seventeen: Reestablishing the Rules, Eighteen to Go

Dazed.

That was the best way to describe Bella on Thursday morning as she watched Edward sleeping beside her. His lips were curled up somewhere between a smile and a pout as they always were, and his arm was firmly holding her close to him. His arm felt heavy, yet comforting around her, and she couldn't help but run her fingers up and down the smooth skin.

The urge to just lean forward and kiss him took her by surprise as her eyes kept their stranglehold on his rosy pink lips. After yesterday, she didn't know what to think about her best friend. She was awed by Edward's display the previous night. It would have been absolutely heart breaking to watch, but to have been a part of it, to have been the person he was asking forgiveness of, brought her to tears, still. It was something that she would never forget, especially when as of late, all she could think about was Edward.

Lately, her mind kept flashing images of her kissing Edward at any given moment. During the usual production overview meeting on Monday, she was discussing the newest novel she was editing, a basic mystery novel, when she accidently called the main male protagonist Edward. Luckily for her, no one knew otherwise, but the Freudian slip had taken her by surprise. It was inexplicable, but to be frank, she didn't need an explanation. She knew it was because of their little game; it was starting to take over their lives.

She continued to look at Edward's peaceful face, her knuckles brushing lightly across his cheekbones, before finally deciding to pull herself away. She had to get to work soon, and couldn't afford to spend any more time lazing about at home.

Slowly, she made her way into the bathroom to shower. It was as she was reliving the pressure on her bladder that she groaned aloud.

"Fuck," she griped loudly, flushing the toilet.

"What?" Edward asked exasperated as he barged into the bathroom, startling Bella.

"Damn, Edward. Can't a person pee without you running into the bathroom?" she jested, stepping into the bathtub, hissing as her bare feet came in contact with the cool marble floor.

"You screamed!" he argued, groggily, his voice hoarse with sleep. He rubbed at his eyes, as he tried to wake up.

"Sorry. I just got my period."

Edward frowned, letting out an irritated sigh. "That's it? You yelled because you got your fucking period. I thought you fell and got hurt. Christ, you gave me a fucking heart attack. What the hell's the big deal about getting your period?" he protested, climbing into the shower with Bella.

"Eww, Edward. Get out," Bella whined, shoving at his chest, momentarily having to bite her lip from releasing a moan. She loved how he felt under her hands.

"Why?"

"I just told you, I have my period, and you just climb into the shower with me. That's gross."

Edward scoffed, huffing. "I don't care. Besides, I remember you telling me when we were younger that in the shower, your flow sort of stops. So shut up and pass me the soap. I have to get to work."

"Oh because I don't," she argued, passing him the soap, making him smile. He loved when she was all riled up.

"Oh you so have your period, Ms. Crabby Pants," he chuckled as he rinsed off the soap.

Bella growled and shoved him aside so she could wash her hair.

"So, what exactly was the big deal about Aunt Flow this month?" he asked, passing her the conditioner when she asked for it.

"Saturday is supposed to be my day, since you decided to break the rules and use yesterday as your day, but now we can't because of my fucking period. I've been lucky the last two months. I've gotten it during the beginning of the week so I didn't have it on a Saturday" she belly ached, stepping out of the shower.

"So, we can postpone your rendezvous until Sunday, right? Your flow only lasts three days, so I still don't get what all the fuss is about," he replied, joining Bella by the sink to brush his teeth.

"You don't get it, do you? We established the rules at the beginning of the game for a reason, Edward. We agreed Saturday's only, and what do you do, you blatantly disregard the rules, like you always do. You're such an anarchist."

Edward laughed, nearly choking on the mouthwash he was gargling. "You didn't exactly complain, Bella. Don't make me out to be the bad guy, here. You were just as much a participant as I was."

Bella rolled her eyes, noting the tone of voice Edward was using.

"Relax," she told him. "Yesterday was beautiful Edward. Really, I'm not angry because of what you did. It was by far the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me. It's just that, you chose the wrong day. Saturday's Edward, the rule is Saturday's."

Edward stared down at her, a look she didn't recognize on his face. He almost looked disappointed; she could even say he looked grieved.

"Okay, Bella. I can respect that, but I can't lie. It's getting very hard to control myself around you. I can't help it, sometimes," he answered, honestly, his eyes impossibly green. Bella blushed, and turned away. She didn't say anything to him, but she couldn't help but think that he wasn't the only one who couldn't control themself.

They met up by the coffee maker once they were both dressed. Bella smiled as she walk toward Edward, her coffee mug prepared just the way she liked it.

"Thanks," she mumbled as she blew on the hot beverage.

"Not a problem," he answered distantly, and Bella couldn't help but to feel as if it were her fault.

"What's wrong?" she asked, placing her coffee mug down on the counter top and crossing her arms.

"Nothing," was his response. He didn't look at her, and it that was something that Bella despised.

"Look at me," she demanded, grabbing his face between her hands, so he would face her. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," he repeated, staring at her.

"Why are you lying to me?" she whispered in disbelief.

"Bella, really, nothing's wrong. I'm just thinking about something Alice said to me."

"What did the little devil tell you know?" Bella jested, releasing her hold on his face, and sitting down. She gestured for Edward to join her.

"Nothing much, really," he began, sitting down across from her. "She just mentioned something about me not settling down, yet. You know how she is. She wants the whole damn world to get married."

"She's nuts," Bella scoffed, teasingly, though she too had heard those same words from Alice in the last couple of years.

"No shit, but I can't help to wonder."

The room fell silent, which was something unbelievably odd for the two of them. Yes, it wasn't rare for them to be quiet around each other, but this was the first time that the silence has been deafening…awkward. Neither of them knew what to say.

"I should get going," Edward spoke up breaking the silence, as he stood up, but Bella stopped him.

"Wait!" she called out and he halted his steps. She ran over to his bedroom and retrieved the game hat. She raced back to him, but just as she rounded around the sofa; her heel caught the edge of the rug under the end table.

Edward ran over to catch her, and he nearly missed, just getting a hold of arm in the last minute. He pulled her up close to him, and Bella couldn't help but gasp.

The position wasn't out of the ordinary. They had stood face to face countless times, but there was something different about the way he was holding her and the way he was looking down at her.

"Thanks," she whispered, her hands still firmly placed on his forearms. He nodded before letting go. He bent down and picked up the hat and held it toward her.

"Leave it to you to almost kill yourself in anticipation," he joked, breaking the tension in the air. Bella was thankful for it. Something was off that morning, and it was driving her nuts.

"Very funny. You know I'm walking impaired."

Edward chuckled lightly and shook the hat once more before opening it up wide for her to pick out her letter.

Bella slipped her hand into the hat, and felt around the bag before pulling her hand out, empty handed. Edward stared at her confused as Bella glared at him.

"Cheater!" she accused him, pulling the hat away from him.

"What are you t-ta-talking about?" he stuttered out, his eyes wandering away from her.

"You cheated! I folded every piece in that hat to be exactly the same, and now I feel in there, and some of the pieces feel different. You cheated! You looked for the letter S didn't you," she scolded, pointing at him the entire time.

"Sorry," Edward apologized not really meaning it, and Bella knew it.

"Liar. You're not sorry. You looked for the letter. You lied to me. You told me you chose your letter and then you went looking for the one you wanted," she deciphered, pointing out her evidence.

"You're right," Edward conceded, shrugging his shoulders in defeat. "I don't apologize though. I'm not sorry one bit because I finally got you to accept my apology after all these years. You have no idea how long I've waited for that. I know it's cheesy, but the day after you woke up in the hospital you didn't even…you never even told me off about it. I felt so guilty, and yesterday, I finally got the chance to relieve some of that, so I'm sorry I broke another rule I guess, but I'm not sorry for doing it," he answered, sternly, never taking his eyes off of Bella.

The images and sounds of last night started to flash in Bella's head, and tears began to well in her eyes.

"Don't cry, Bella," Edward spoke up, coming forward to wipe the tears away.

"I'm sorry. I never realized how guilty you've felt all this time about that day. I feel terrible now," she gasped out through her sobs.

"Bella, don't," Edward tried to reassure her, bending down to level his face with hers. He held her face in his hand, so he could really look at her. Bella's breath stuttered as he stared at her.

"Never. I never want you to feel guilty about that. Do you hear me? It was, and it will always be my fault."

Bella sniffled as Edward leaned forward to kiss her forehead, and much like the other morning, her heart skipped a beat.

"Now, choose your letter, and take a fucking Midol. You're so fucking emotional!" he teased, hugging her before bending down to pick up the hat again.

"Asshole!" Bella chuckled through her sniffling, finally selecting her letter, Edward trying to peak as per usual.

"You okay?" he asked her, putting the hat down on the couch and walking him and Bella toward the door to head to work.

"Yeah, I don't know what's wrong with me this morning."

"It's fine, Bella. Everyone's allowed an off day."

"Well, Noam, eight down, eighteen to go."

"Did you just call me Noam? Like Noam Chomsky the anarchist?" Edward asked, as he locked the door behind Bella.

"Yeah, what's wrong? Did I stump you? Can't think of an anarchist of your own to call me?" Bella teased, smiling broadly at Edward, thankful that the tension that was present earlier, was now gone.

"No, let's see. I could call you Che, but he was more a radical than an anarchist, so I'll go with Franco."

"Franco was a dictator!"

"Yeah, and he believed in the order of rules. I think it's very fitting for you!" Edward called out to her as he headed to his car. As he opened his door, he called out to Bella.

"Bring it Franco!"

"Fuck you, Chomsky!" she yelled back, getting into her own car. She smiled to herself at the commonalty of their banter, but something was still off. Something had changed, and she didn't know what.