Stephenie Meyer owns these characters... I just wanted to play a bit. No copyright infringement intended. I don't own Twilight and everything here is fictional.

Thank you my dear phoebespromise – for everything. You're so pretty inside and out.

Hope all those still reading had a lovely holiday and thank you for continuing to read and review! I appreciate it more than I can say!

Chapter 12

I could watch Bella sleep for the rest of time, so beautiful, so serene, so perfect… The afternoon was laden with heightened emotion, she needed the peace. I carefully removed myself from her soft legs, arms and got dressed.

The day was waning, but still very pleasant outside. I grabbed my notebook and headed to the dock to write.

The McCarty's SUV was still parked in the drive indicating they hadn't actually left… yet. I felt relieved and hoped they would reconsider. Bella didn't deserve the harsh words or attitude. I'd been there since her first strokes of paint; I knew how hard she'd worked. Everything was tied into the Lodge for her…especially her mother's memory.

After getting settled at the end of the dock, knocking around a few sexy thoughts from yesterday, I felt the vibration of foot steps on the wood planks. The weight of the sound, prepared me for a visit from Emmett.

"Hey man."

"Emmett. Can I get you something?"

I turned to face him, squinting in the late day sun setting behind him.

"Yeah… listen, I just wanted to apologize for my wife." He sighed in almost exasperation. He stared off towards the lake. "We've been through a bit of a rough time lately. Rosalie's mom passed away about six months ago and she's just drifted so far away in her grieving. I was really hoping this trip would help her focus… on us."

I scooted over to allow for room next to me and offered a friendly nod, to let him know I understood.

"I mean, even with the kids and everyday life it's hard enough to find couple time. But, we've really lost our way. She would never speak to anyone like that before. I hardly recognize who she's become…Or who we've become for that matter." He scoffed to himself, lost in his depressing reality.

I was at a loss. I'd never been married or even in a relationship worth fighting for. I was beginning to realize how well Bella had handled her mother's passing. From what I'd experienced she'd handled it with grace. She had her moments, as it was still very raw, but I believed, the Lodge gave her peace in horrific circumstance.

"You know Bella just lost her mom recently too. It's how she actually came to run this place. Maybe if you can convince your wife to stay for the duration of your reservation, she could speak to Bella about that. It might benefit both of them. Emmett's eyes widened presumably at the unfortunate irony, then nodded at the hope that they could bond over it. We laughed slightly in kind and knowingly considering the dynamic so far between the women. But we agreed it was worth a try.

Emmett punched my shoulder in typical male teasing. "So you and Bella… you guys been together what? A couple of years?"

I laughed loudly. "Way off… try, we met last week when I showed up sans reservation."

"A week? You've only known each other a week?" He asked surprised.

"I know, it's crazy." Running my fingers through my hair, I continued. "I wish I could explain the instant connection we had. It's definitely on a level I've never experienced before. I actually live in Chicago."

"Oh, man that's a ways from Sequim, Washington," he said shaking his head.

"Tell me about it. I've already tried to leave once, just to visit my family in Seattle. I stayed two days and came straight back." We laughed together, but the truth wasn't really all that humorous.

"But soon you'll have to get back to work and your place, right?"

I sighed, "Soon."

Emmett stood, inhaling a cleansing breath. "I'll go talk to Rosalie right now. Please extend to Bella, that I appreciate all she's done. And good luck to you man. Sounds like you have some tough decisions to make. She's a beautiful woman, seems like a real sweetheart too." He gave my shoulder a pat as he made his way off the dock.

As I gathered my things and headed toward the lodge, Bella's sweet words echoed in my mind… stay forever.

Forever.

That word never held much meaning to me until recently.

Oo~TWSL~oO

Emmett was successful in convincing his wife to stay through the week. However, Rosalie never did approach Bella. The McCarty's kept to themselves in their suite, on the dock, had a picnic by the waterfall and took one boat ride. After I shared the details of Emmett's conversation with her, Bella seemed even more committed to giving them their privacy and making sure they were comfortable. We prepared delicious meals, opened good wine and stayed out of their space.

On Saturday morning, I helped Emmett load their things into the SUV. Rosalie stopped just in front of Bella and I held my breath. Bella extended a small basket of homemade muffins towards her and smiled. "For the road…"

Rosalie's mouth turned slowly into a forced grin. "Thank you." It was better than nothing. Emmett made up for his wife's distance by giving Bella a friendly squeeze and grateful smile.

"Your lodge is great and the food was incredible. I'll be recommending it to our friends. Good luck with… everything." His attention turned towards me at the end and Bella's brow furrowed slightly. She shrugged and questioned me in silence, while they started down the drive. I pulled her in front of me, resting my head on her soft shoulder.

Wrapping my arms around her middle, she let herself relax and melt into me.

"Well, that went well, don't you think?" I mumbled into her shoulder.

She scoffed and sighed. "I guess it worked out okay…" Then she tightened her grip on my arms, looking for reassurance… or solace.

Oo~TWSL~oO

"So, when is the next reservation?" We were making dinner, quietly working together, Bella's ipod on in the back ground. I put the chicken breasts in the oven and moved in behind her at the island, where she was preparing a salad.

I pressed my hips against her ass suggestively and placed a few wet kisses on the side of her neck. "Hmmmm… keep doing that and I might cancel them all so we can be alone." I smiled against her sweet skin. The past week was quite a test. I knew Bella was measuring herself against her mom in every regard. I explained to her that there was a learning curve as with everything in life. Nothing would ever be perfect. By midweek, I noticed Bella become more comfortable with daily tasks… cleaning the room, the laundry, and preparing the food.

"Actually, my mom had a couple of original bookings that we didn't cancel. One is next weekend. One couple arrives on Friday for the weekend and another arrives on Saturday for a week."

I turned her in my arms and placed a sweet kiss on her lips, feeling her smile under mine.

"What was that for?" She asked.

"I'm proud of you… happy to be here with you." The pasta started to boil over on the stove. I moved to turn down the heat and she resumed her vegetable chopping. "I was hoping you might want to do something… different with me tomorrow."

"Oh yeah. What did you have in mind?"

"Well, since I left Seattle so abruptly last weekend, I thought I might head back and visit a bit more. And… I was thinking about introducing them to my… girlfriend." I watched her out of the corner of my eye, while I continued to stir the pasta. Truthfully, I couldn't wait to take Bella to meet my parents. I knew they would fall for her as quickly as I had.

"Baby, it's no pressure, I just really want you to meet them and I want them to meet you and it's no pressure and…" She moved towards me, kissing me to end my stumbling.

"You consider me your girlfriend?" She asked with wide eyes.

"I absolutely do. You're the only thing I want and need…"

Her arms wound around my neck, pulling my face to hers. The kiss she gave me was soft, sweet and tender. As our lips parted, Bella pressed her forehead into my chest and exhaled. While soft fingers lingered on the back of my neck, I waited anxiously for a reaction. "How long have you waited to talk to me about this?" She asked quietly. "When are we doing this?"

I held her tighter. "How about tomorrow?"

Her fingers pinched the skin on my neck slightly. She pulled back and rolled her eyes at me. I couldn't help but laugh. "I just talked to my mom this morning and I thought I'd wait until the McCarty's left before bringing it up. I totally understand if you don't want to go. I just really wanted you to meet each other before I have to go… back to Chicago."

Oo~TWSL~oO

I awoke to warm hands trailing up and down my spine, teasing and tickling along my ass. Soft lips placing warm kisses along my chest and collarbone, legs tangled. While my mind wasn't completely alert, other parts were. I tightened my grip around my favorite waist and pulled Bella closer to my erection. I felt her heat as she twisted her hips against mine, swirling, swiveling and making me groan.

"Mmmm baby, you can wake me up like this anytime," I whispered in her ear, rolling to position her on top of me, straddling, aligned perfectly. My eyes were greeted with beauty… a mass of tangled hair, gorgeous pink cheeks from morning arousal. She rotated her hips, sliding her wetness over my cock, teasing me as I trailed my hands over her back. I quickly grabbed her hips, stilling her at the perfect angle, burying myself into her warmth.

We moaned together at our blissful contact.

As she settled above me, our bodies matched a slow pace. She rose up, resting hands on my chest lifting and dropping. "Fuck Bella…" I groaned as she increased her rhythm. Teasing her nipples while she rode me harder and harder. She shifted her arms to my thighs behind her and continued to move. Rubbing small circles in her swollen flesh, I reveled in making her moan and gasp above me. Her walls were tightening and clenching my dick.

"Oh, shit baby, right there. Oh my god… I'm gonna come…" she trailed off as her gorgeous body found its release. She gripped, fingers curling in my chest hair as she rode out her orgasm.

I flipped us over so Bella was beneath me, still reeling from her pleasure. I brought her legs up to my shoulders, as I pressed my hands on either side of her, slamming my lower body into hers… deeper. Desperate for release, I pumped erratically into her before reaching an intense climax. She welcomed my weight as I collapsed on her, sated and breathless.

"Fuck baby, that was… incredible," I whispered into her swells.

Her body trembled with a small giggle. "I totally agree."

I caught her lips in a passionate kiss. "We should get moving if I'm going to meet your parents. I won't be able to look them in the eye, if you continue fucking me like that…"

I raised a teasing and seductive brow. "Shower time then." I pulled her by one leg and threw her over my shoulder, eliciting a playful yelp and a sweet spank on the ass.

Oo~TWSL~oO

It was late afternoon when I pulled into my parents' driveway and watched Bella assess my childhood home. My parents had purchased the house in Montlake when I was in my early teens so I essentially grew up in the area. The house recently went through a complete overhaul as my mom's tastes have changed over the years.

I led Bella out of the jeep hand in hand. My parents hadn't met any girlfriend of mine since I left for college. I knew my mom would be beside herself in excitement. My parents stood on the front step in greeting, before we could reach the door. Esme pulled me into a hug, but I never dropped Bella's hand.

"Mom, Dad… This is Bella Swan." I brought Bella in front me. My mom embraced her quickly. She was caught off guard and stumbled back into me slightly.

"Bella, it's so wonderful to meet you," she gushed, looking over her shoulder to grin her approval.

"It's nice to meet you too, Mrs. Cullen."

"Don't you dare call me that my dear. It's Esme… I mean it," she said with a wink.

My dad came forward, pulling her into a hug too. "I'm Carlisle. I see why my son is so smitten with you," he joked.

"Dad!"

We shared a knowing laugh and moved inside. "We were thinking about taking you over to Coach Stewart's pizza place for dinner tonight," Esme said.

"Coach Stewart?" Bella asked.

"He was my baseball coach in high school. When he retired he opened the best pizza place in the area."

My mom led us into the kitchen offering something to drink. "I think I'll give Bella a quick tour," I said pulling her by the hand.

"I thought you could stay in your old room since the guest room is being painted. Alice and Jasper can't make dinner, but she's going to stop by on her way to the shop in the morning."

Bella paused to look at the family photographs along the stairs. School dances, grade school portraits, vacations at the beach all told our family story. Her fingers hovered over the glass of the most recent image.

"When was this taken?"

"That was at Alice's wedding."

"You clean up very well…" she teased. I kissed her forehead and pulled her towards my old room.

She giggled at the bunk beads and headed straight for the trophies and books on the dresser. "Most Valuable Player… Best Free Throw Percentage… Assist Leader…Looks like someone was a jock growing up," she teased.

"Well, I may have played a little baseball and basketball, but I wasn't a typical jock, for your information," I reciprocated the tone in jest and fun.

She grabbed me around the waist and giggled. "I didn't say typical… you're anything but typical, Edward Cullen." I kissed her sweetly and noticed her eyeing the twin sized bunk beds. "So do I get the top?"

"Well, after this morning… I'd say the top works very well for you…"

Oo~TWSL~oO

Sitting at the small table eating veggie pizza, drinking beer and watching Bella laugh with my parents was bittersweet. I felt so completely content, though Chicago and Adventure loomed. My parents shared stories, some embarrassing others funny. Bella laughed, wondered and appreciated. I wish she'd enjoyed the same security I'd had.

When we returned home, we wished my parents good night and headed upstairs. We took turns in the bathroom and Bella snuggled into the bottom bunk waiting for me. I crawled in next to her, grasping her face between my hands, rubbing my nose along hers. Enjoying having her to myself again, I kissed her slow and loving.

She hummed her approval, edging her legs between mine. "Thank you, Edward," she whispered.

"For what, baby?" I continued my feathering of kisses over her cheeks and jaw.

"Bringing me here, showing me your past, introducing me to your family. They are so lovely."

I met her gaze as she found my heated skin underneath my t-shirt.

"Bella, over the past few years, I've felt so lost. All my friends are married, have children. I've been… restless. I've been considering moving back here. And when I met you… everything just fell in place."

Her breath hitched slightly, eyes glistening.

"I'll do whatever it takes to make this work. If you tell me it's too soon, that's okay. But I'm ready to take that step. I'll stay here with my parents until I can find something close to the lodge… if that's what you want or…"

"Yes." She exhaled.

"Yes?"

"Yes, I want you here… there… with me. I want this so much. Please move into the lodge with me."

A/N

Thanks again everyone for reading! Please let me know your thoughts in reviews!

(at)phoebespromise and I entered the A Christmas to Remember Contest – please head on over and see if you can find our fic and remember to vote for your favorite! www(dot)fanfiction(dot)net/u/2569316/

We also did a o/s for the Squeeze My Lemon writing exercise… it's lemony! www(dot)fanfiction(dot)net/s/6578307/1

A few recs this week:

Heat of a Blue Flame by 107yearoldvirgin – found this via Twilight Awards banner making giveaway – and I am really enjoying it. You should give it a read! www(dot)fanfiction(dot)net/s/6215656/1/Heat_of_a_Blue_Flame

We Were Here by lola-pops – I'm sure you're all reading but if you aren't… www(dot)fanfiction(dot)net/s/6562901/1/

Love is the End by phoebes(dot)promise – you better all be reading this one too! www(dot)fanfiction(dot)net/s/6562901/1/

Ninety Days by samrosey www(dot)fanfiction(dot)net/s/6553051/1/ a unique and interesting story and you will love it!

Ice Inside Your Soul by maxipoo1024 – I was directed towards this story and I'm liking it! Please give it a read! www(dot)fanfiction(dot)net/s/6568476/1/

xo

jaime