A/N

Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight. I own Britward and a battered London A-Z that I can never make sense of.

Huge thanks to everyone who read and reviewed last time (I'm touched by how many of you started researching Bella's condition, bless you), and heartfelt thanks as always to Trip for beta'ing (although I was fiddling with this one right up to the last second so I'm afraid any errors are mine alone!).

Special thanks this week also to Credorosa for rec'ing The Search in the Promising New Fics section of her blog! So exciting :-) You can catch more of Credorosa's reviews, recs and awesome musings below:

fandomfanatic . blogspot . com

BPOV

Jake has been in the bathroom for a really long time, for a moment I wonder if he has fallen asleep. He was pretty wasted earlier. During the speeches his champagne kept spilling over his glass when he spoke.

I finally hear the flush and I quickly rearrange my white chiffon babydoll and try to get more comfortable on the bed. The sheets feel rough and itch my skin. My stomach turns over with nerves.

When he appears he is wearing only his underwear and his black hair is a little dishevelled. His glazed expression finds me and he grins.

"Bells, you look fucking hot," he slurs.

"Um, thanks," I reply, watching him stumble to the bed. I hope we are able to do this with Jake this drunk.

He leaps on top of me and when he pushes his tongue into my mouth I can taste whiskey. His large hand finds my breast and squeezes a little too hard. I yelp but he doesn't seem to notice, or if he does he ignores me. The fingers of his other hand dig into my hip and he pulls my pelvis towards him while he presses down. I can feel him hard against me so I guess I don't have to worry about that.

He drags his lips and tongue down my neck and breathes heavily in my ear. His hand pushes open my thighs and reaches between my legs, his fingers stumble a little over my flesh before he pushes one inside.

"Ah!" I'm not ready and it hurts, and I instinctively pull my legs together. I worry that Jake will be angry but he just ignores me and pushes my legs wide again.

"Jake," I whisper and my voice is shaking a little. "Can we maybe slow down? We have all night, let's just take things slowly yeah?"

He brings his almost black eyes up to meet mine.

"Slowly?" he asks, eyes wide. "We've waited for years, Bells. Don't you think that's fucking slow enough?"

"Well yeah I guess. I just meant-"

His hand grabs at my chin, forcing me to look at him.

"Listen, you are my wife. We got married today. And I want to be with my wife, properly. You know how much I want you, right?"

I do. He has always made it very clear.

I nod.

"And you want me too, don't you Honey?"

"Of course, Jake."

"Well then, please just relax, okay?"

I nod again and take a deep breath. He is right. He's always right.

When he kisses me again it's different, softer and gentler. Which is strange because Jake is never that gentle. He smells different too, the whiskey is gone and is replaces with...pine and -

I gasp and look up. The eyes staring back at me aren't black but emerald green...

When I jolt awake it takes me a moment to work out where I am. It's stuffy and warm and definitely not Washington.

It's okay. You're in London; you're home.

I take a deep breath and try to shake the dream away and get my bearings. Last night was the party, Edward was...I told him everything and...

My breath catches and I quickly turn around and he's there.

Edward Cullen is in my bed.

A very sleeping, very gorgeous, very topless Edward Cullen.

You told him everything and he's here. He kissed you and you ran and he followed and you tried to have sex with him and you panicked and...you told him everything and he's still here.

My heart is racing and as gently as I can I lay down next to him and prop my head on my hand to watch. I'm not ready for him to wake up yet. I'm not ready to face the day.

But God, he's beautiful; lying on his front with the sheet pulled down to the top of his boxers. My hand is itching to trace over the stunning expanse of muscle and smooth skin that is his back. His arms are folded above his head and his crazy hair is poking out in every direction. His face is turned towards me and the sight of his full lips reminds me of his kiss last night. Kisses that felt like nothing else I'd ever experienced. His mouth searching mine, the taste of his tongue, his hands - Jesus, his hands -

"Do I have something on my face?" He suddenly mumbles, eyes still closed.

"Shit!" I leap about a foot in the air and his throaty chuckle fills the room. He opens his eyes and stares at me, laughing.

"You're awake then?"

"Yep," he grins. "I tend to wake up when someone's eyes are burning a hole my face!"

I blush and he takes my hand to pull me back down beside him. I lie back willingly, facing him.

"I bet you're pretty used to waking up to women staring at you, huh?"

He shrugs, smirks. "Not really, I'm usually half way out the window," he teases.

I roll my eyes but then ask softly. "But not today?"

His smirk disappears and he pulls me closer.

"Nope, definitely not today."

He leans his head towards mine and kisses my lips softly, twice.

"Hi," he whispers.

"Hi," I reply, feeling oddly shy.

He stares at me for a moment, then reaches out to wind a piece of my hair between his fingers. What is up with this guy and my hair? But I'm smiling because I told Edward Cullen everything and he's here. And now he's awake too.

He puts his arm around my waist and shifts me a little closer to him. He grazes my neck with his mouth.

"So I was thinking," he mumbles against my skin.

"Hmmm..." God, that feels nice.

"After everything you told me last night," he gently sucks my collarbone. "We need to take things very," kiss, "very," kiss, "slow, right?"

I nod.

He takes my earlobe gently between his teeth, how can I have never realised how erotic that is?

He continues with his mouth and his words. "So I propose we strip things" kiss, "right back" nibble, "to basics."

His mouth finds mine and he kisses me more deeply. He makes me not care about morning breath. His hands are warm on my back and he pulls me to him. Kisses my cheek, my throat, my other earlobe.

"What do you think about that, Bella?" he murmurs.

I really have no idea what he means but as long as he keeps touching me I couldn't care less.

"I think I'd like that." I manage to say.

He pulls his head back.

"That's what I figured," he smiles. "So how about we start with..." He rakes his eyes down my body in a very purposeful way. "...a first date?"

His green eyes are laughing and I can't help laughing back.

"That actually sounds kind of perfect." I grin and we just stare at each other for a moment.

He stands. "I'm going to go home, shower, change and make some arrangements and I'll be back to pick you up around midday, yeah?"

"Sounds good." I wonder how I got so lucky.

I walk him outside and he lingers on the doorstep to give me a soft, teasing kiss. He wraps one arm around my waist and pulls me close to speak softly in my ear.

"Everything will be fine, Sweetheart. I promise."

My heart feels lighter than it has in months and as I watch him walk up the street I notice that something out here seems different today.

Then it hits me. For the very first time since I arrived in England, the City of London is filled with sunshine.

When, upon arriving back at my apartment, Edward promised me a "Mega Date" I wasn't entirely sure what he meant, but he has definitely delivered. He has shown me some of the major sites: the Tower of London, the Dungeons, the street performers in Covent Garden. We walked along Oxford St and laid stretched out in Hyde Park. I don't think I've ever had such a full day.

The weather has been incredible. After so much cloud and drizzle, the heat and sun seems to bring the city alive. And the people - well, they love it. It's as if they have never seen sun before! Earlier, when we were in Trafalgar Square, I thought I was seeing things when a group of over-heated Londoners took off their shoes, rolled up their pants and paddled in the fountain! Edward just laughed like it was normal.

After a dinner, we are now back at The Embankment, having a drink outside. The sun is getting lower in the sky and the temperature is cooling and yet a lot of the men are still walking around shirtless.

"So, Brits are kind of insane in the heat, huh?" I say to Edward, watching his profile, the edge of his hair taking on a golden hue in the low sunlight.

"Oi Bellamerica, that's my countrymen, you know!" He pretends to look offended.

"Edward, they got in a fountain."

He snorts. "Yeah that was pretty mental."

He throws his arm casually around me and I snuggle a little closer. He kisses the top of my head. All day he has been affectionate with me and my heart is practically flying with the knowledge that I haven't scared him away with the truth. But every kiss has been chaste and every touch casual, I think he is afraid to break me after everything that took place last night.

"What's it like at home when it's warm?" I ask, eager to hear more about the town Edward is from.

He smiles slightly. "It is a little crazy there too. When the weather is nice the seafront is absolutely packed; lots of families, hordes of people walking their dogs, cyclists, you name it. Some folk even brave the beach!" This makes him laugh and I can't work out why.

"The pier gets pretty busy too, and Adventure Island, the little theme park; especially during school holidays. The traffic and parking is impossible but...I guess it's kinda awesome."

It sounds pretty wonderful to me. Being next to the sea must be so freeing.

"It sounds great."

Edward shrugs. "Yeah I guess. I mean, it's really tacky. A lot of the town centre is very run down. But occasionally, when the weather is warm and the breeze not too strong, and the light is getting low like right now, it can be sort of beautiful."

"Maybe we can go there one weekend?" I curse myself the second the words leave my mouth. Good one, Swan! It's your first date, you've no idea if things can even work between you because of your problem and you're already asking to visit his home town! Where is damn family live!

As I feared, his jaw tightens and he looks a little uneasy. "Um, sure maybe. I mean, I don't go back there that often myself so..."

"Of course, sorry. I was totally jumping the gun."

"It's just my father and I," he says. "Like I told you last night, we don't get on that well these days."

"Yeah of course, I understand."

I'm about to ask more about his father when he suddenly leaps up and grabs my hand to pull me up with him.

"Come on, it's time."

"Time for what?"

"For the final part of the date." He grins nervously at me.

We walk along for a few minutes until we stop at the foot the London Eye. I watch him glance up and swallow quickly.

"Edward, we can't. What about your vertigo?"

"I'm over it," he says through slightly gritted teeth.

"Is that so?" I raise an eyebrow. "I don't want you to be uncomfortable. It is pretty high..."

He puts his hands on my shoulders and faces me. "Okay, first of all, please don't be saying stuff like that because it doesn't help me. Secondly, it's the most efficient way of seeing London and I want to show you my city. Lastly, I already have the tickets so...come on."

Eyes fixed carefully straight ahead, Edward leads us to the next open pod. He hands our tickets to the attendant and steps inside, helping me up the step after him. He smiles tightly at me.

I jump when they close the glass door behind us.

"What about the other people?" I ask, each pod look like it could hold about 20.

Edward sits on the bench in the middle of the pod and pulls me down beside him.

"There aren't any other people," he tells me. "I hired it out just for us."

"Wow, Edward, that's so generous." I breathe.

He shrugs, blushes a little. "Maybe I just wanted you all to myself," he says.

He brushes a piece of hair from my face and kisses me softly. When I attempt to deepen the kiss though he pulls back.

"So this looks safe, right?" he says, getting up and wandering around to inspect every corner of the glass structure. I stifle a giggle at the poorly-concealed panic etched into his face while he attempts to appear casual.

"Edward, why don't you come back here to the middle till we get up a little way?"

He does this and we sit together, my hand in his. His grip is a little tighter than is necessary and I gently stroke my thumb along his skin to try to relax him. We slowly climb for a few minutes and Edward mainly fixes his eyes on the floor, which is the only part not made from glass.

Eventually I'm curious to look out so I stand and go to walk to the edge. "Coming?" I smile at him gently.

"Yup," he says, taking hesitant steps to the edge of the pod. When he is almost there he reaches out his hand for the mental railing and kind of tugs himself closer, jaw tight. It's as if the several inches of glass preventing us from falling out aren't even there. He grips the rail with both hands and his knuckles are almost white.

"I can feel you smirking from here, Swan," he growls with half closed eyes and I can't help laughing.

"I'm sorry, Edward," I say between giggles. "It's just so cute, you being afraid."

He finally looks at me and rolls his eyes. "Thanks."

He takes a deep breath and moves his gaze to the view before us. I do too and almost gasp. It's beautiful. The sky is striped orange and pink and purple and the skyline almost glows. I can see Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, and the river below us shimmers, reflecting the sun's remaining rays.

"Wow..."

"Yeah it looks pretty great, eh?" Edward says and he looks a little more at ease. "It's actually okay as long as I look out and not down."

I move my body closer and place my hand on his lower back, feeling the tense muscles there.

"Thank you for this, I love it."

"You're very welcome," he replies softly.

Then Edward makes the mistake of looking down.

"Jesus..." he mutters.

I have an idea.

"Listen," I begin. "I think what's required here is a distraction." I slide my arm around his back and unpeel one of his hands to bring to my waist, turning him to face me.

"Do you agree?" I whisper, running my fingers along the column of his neck. He says nothing and with my hand at the back of his head I gently bring his mouth to mine.

The kiss is sweet, soft and with the echo of last night's heat just below the surface. I want more of him. I touch his tongue with the tip of mine and he opens his mouth hesitantly. I gently guide the kiss until both his hands are at my waist pulling me closer and his tongue pushes harder against mine. A shiver runs over me and I grip my fingers in his hair, he makes the same humming groan he made last night when we kissed for the first time. I feel aware of every single part of my body and I'm once again struck by the thought that if he can affect me in such a way then maybe things won't be as physically difficult between us as I feared.

I break away, breathless, and he brushes his mouth against the pulse-point in my neck.

"You're missing the view, Sweetheart," he whispers.

I pull back and look at him.

"No, actually I see everything very clearly."

He brings our mouths back together and I think it's safe to say I have sufficiently distracted him from his phobia.

When he breaks the kiss again he says, "You're so beautiful. You...you make me kind of crazy you know?"

He laughs lightly and runs a hand through his hair.

"I mean, I hardly recognise myself with you, Bella."

I'm not sure if this is a good thing and Edward must see the look of confusion crossing my face because he quickly reassures me.

"No no, that's not bad. It's just, well, I'm not the sort of bloke who takes a girl on a "Mega Date"" He rolls his eyes at himself. "Or up a fucking overgrown Ferris wheel when I'm shitting myself! I'm not the sort of bloke who spends the night with a woman because the only thing he wants to do is hold her."

He pauses, looking sheepish.

"And I'm really not the sort of bloke who actually says all of that stuff out loud!"

I laugh and it crosses my mind that this moment right now may be the happiest I've ever been. Except I know that is ridiculous and it's been only 24 hours.

"But with you I just am. I'm...that type of bloke. And I'll admit my head is fucking spinning." He finishes.

"Mine is too," I say quietly. "We still need to talk about...stuff though." I sigh.

"Yeah I know. But I promise you, we are going to fix this. I'm not rushing you into anything at all."

"I know you aren't."

I steel myself. I know what I need to say.

"But maybe I want you to."

Edward just looks at me.

"Maybe I want to...try. I think I want to pick up where we left off last night, only minus the lying and the panic attack." I laugh nervously.

Edward swallows hard and this time I know it's nothing to do with his uneasiness with heights.

"You don't need us to...get to know each other more?"

How can this possibly be the same Edward Cullen I met two months ago? Cocky, assured and pursuing everything in a skirt. I of all people should have known better than to judge someone on initial appearances.

"I know you, Edward. Now I want to know more of you, all of you. You don't have to worry, I'm not going to break." I think every drop of blood in my body is currently gathering in my cheeks. Why is he making me ask for this?

I'm struck with a sudden thought. "Unless you don't want to?"

He grabs my waist and pulls me to him, giving me a kiss that sparks fire inside me and promises so much more.

"Christ," he groans, "are you fucking joking? I've literally thought of nothing else since I met you. I just didn't want to panic you, that's all."

"I'm not panicking anymore," I whisper.

"No, you're really not," he agrees, smiling.

"So we can, um, experiment? See how things...are?" I ask, unable to look him straight in the eye.

He grins, hugs me. "Abso-fucking-lutely."

"Did you just quote Big from Sex and the City?"

He shrugs. "Maybe."

I laugh. "God, I thought the chick flicks were bad enough!"

"Yeah yeah," he says. "So when do you want to, to use your unpleasant expression, experiment?"

Deep breath.

"Tonight?" I suggest in a small voice.

Edward's face is the perfect combination of ecstatic, nervous and aroused.

"Sounds good," he says, casually.

"There is just one problem though," I grin.

"What's that then?"

"We're 450 ft in the air!"

"Well then," he says, lowering his gorgeous lips to mine. "I suppose in the meantime you'll just have to distract me some more..."

A/N

My last name isn't Meyer and therefore there will be no fading-to-black here. Ed will pick up next time exactly where we have left off...

Ten Eddie cuddles go to the first person to identify which awesome US teen drama I stole the distraction-on-a-Ferris-wheel technique from?

Also, thanks to irishmic for "Bellamerica" ;-)

As always I would love to hear your thoughts so please hit the button below.

Thanks

A x