Edward

We walked back towards the house. I stole a quick kiss before we went inside. I opened the door and everyone turned expectantly.

We walked inside. I sat down in a large armchair and Bella climbed up into my lap seemingly without thought.

She blushed an interesting shade of magenta when she realized that everyone was looking at her. She made an attempt to move but I held her there. She looked at me and I shook my head slightly. She seemed to understand that I wanted her to stay where she was and she relaxed a little.

"Hey Bella!" Alice trilled. "Are you feeling better?"

"Yes, thank you. I'm really sorry that I lost my temper before."

"You should do it more often, little sister." Emmett said with a huge grin on his face. "Funniest thing I have seen in a while" She looked like a cranky kitten. He thought. I had to smile at that. I had always thought her anger was a little endearing.

"Yes, I kind of liked seeing Evil Bella come out." Alice said. Seriously, where has she been hiding and can she come out to play more often?

Bella laughed with everyone else.

"I'm sorry Bella," Kate said. "I should not have grabbed you like that. I didn't hurt you did I?"

Bella held out her arm to look at it and I gasped to see another set of bruises on her arm. I glared at Kate.

"Well, at least I match now." Bella said poking at the new hand shaped bruise on her left arm. She seemed nonchalant.

"Oh Bella, I am so sorry! I truly did not mean to hurt you!" Kate exclaimed. I am very sorry Edward. I promise I will not touch her again. I nodded.

"Its okay, Kate. I am used to bruises by now." Bella laughed a little. Kate looked at her quizzically.

Emmett intercepted the look and laughed.

"Our Bella here is the world's biggest klutz, Kate. I don't think I have ever seen anyone fall down as much as her. It makes it worth having her around, just for comic relief." He laughed loudly. Bella sighed and shook her head.

I glared at Emmett.

You know its true Edward. That girl is a walking disaster. He grinned at me. I smiled a little back. Life around Bella was always interesting to say the least.

We all sat around talking about inconsequential things. Bella had curled into my chest and I realized that she had not spoken in a while. When I looked down I saw that she was asleep. It had been quite a long emotional day for her. I was about to lift her up to take her upstairs when I noticed that everyone had stopped talking and were looking at her.

"What?" I said, too softly to wake Bella up. I knew they would all hear me.

Carlisle looked at everyone and then spoke first.

"It's just kind of fascinating watching her sleep. I think most of us have forgotten what it was like to actually do it."

I smiled. "I know what you mean. She thinks I am crazy of course. She doesn't see anything interesting in it at all and can't see how I can sit for hours and watch her."

"She looks so peaceful." Irina said, and Carmen and Eleazar both nodded in agreement.

At that moment, Bella frowned and said quite clearly, "Do your own dishes."

Everyone looked shocked. Then they all laughed quietly, including Emmett. I could tell he was fascinated by Bella's sleeping too.

"She talks in her sleep." I said, somewhat guiltily. I had not told them about this quirk.

"This explains how you can watch her for hours on end." Esme winked at me.

"Maybe you should take her upstairs and put her in bed. I am sure that she is not as comfortable as she could be." She said. And she would not like anyone other than you hearing her talk in her sleep. I nodded.

I lifted Bella up, careful not to jostle her and carried her upstairs. I held her in one arm and opened the door with the other, pushing it closed with my foot. I carried her over to the bed and laid her down gently. I stood back and looked at her for a moment. Irina was right; she did look peaceful. Her soft hair flowed around her like a river and her long dark lashes fanned out on her lovely smooth cheeks. Her lips were parted a little and her breathing was deep and even. She was unbelievably beautiful.

As I watched her she moved to her side and I could see that the dress she wore became twisted in her legs. I frowned. She could not be comfortable like that. I reached down and untied her shoes, setting them next to the bed. I looked at her, torn. She needed to be comfortable to sleep but the thought of undressing her had my breath coming faster. I had never seen her in her underwear. Suck it up and do it Edward, it is for her comfort, nothing else.

I gritted my teeth and careful rolled her so that I could reach the zipper in the back of the dress. I unzipped it gently, trying not to wake her. I turned her onto her back, sucked in a deep breath and slid her dress off of her shoulders. I blew that breath out sharply when the dress slipped down past her breasts. She had on a pink and white striped bra with a pink bow in the middle. Her skin looked so soft and creamy and I had to clench my fists for a moment to regain control. How I wanted to touch her!

Comfort only Cullen! I berated myself.

I quickly but gently pulled her dress the rest of the way down and off of her. I clenched my fists and my jaw when I saw her undressed before me. She was wearing a pair of ridiculously short boy shorts with the same pink and white stripe as the bra. With the same pink bow. It should be illegal to even purchase those things, much less wear them. They were temptation itself. Focus damn it!

I quickly turned away before I could act on the lustful thoughts in my mind. I went over to her luggage to find her some pajamas. After pulling out several bits of lace and silk I gave up. There was no way I would be able to keep my hands off her in those miniscule things. I opened my own bag and pulled out one of my t-shirts. I crossed back over to the bed and sat down next to Bella.

I lifted her up, trying to ignore the feeling of her soft skin under mine and carefully pulled the shirt down over her head. Bella did not wake up during any of this. She must really be tired, I thought.

I put her arms through the proper holes and pulled the shirt down her body. I was able to think a little clearer now that she was covered. I lifted her up carefully and pulled the blankets back. I laid her down and pulled the covers up over her. Then I finally released the breath I had been holding.

I walked over to stare out the window until I had myself under control. As I stood there, slowing my breathing and trying to rein in my lustful thoughts I saw a movement in the yard below me.

Tanya.

She was standing outside looking up at our window. She beckoned to me when she saw me standing there. I did not want to leave Bella but I was going to have this out with Tanya once and for all. I would not tolerate her threatening or hurting Bella again.

With one last look at my sleeping love I crossed swiftly to the door and down the stairs. I could feel the eyes of my family on me as I walked outside.

I hope you know what you are doing Edward-Esme

Be careful Edward, you are putting out a lot of anger-Jasper

Kick that bitches ass!-Rosalie

I ignored the rest of the thoughts as I leapt down the steps and crossed over to where Tanya was standing. We were about sixty feet from the house.

"Well?" I said rudely. My hands were clenched at my sides.

"I wanted to talk to you, Edward," she said silkily.

I crossed my arms in front of me.

"About what?" I had a pretty good idea about what she wanted.

"Well I am sure your human told you everything that happened when she was out here walking." She said snidely. Running crying to her boyfriend, typical.

"Actually she didn't say anything about it. It was only after we noticed that you had hurt her that the story came out." I growled. How dare she put her hands on Bella!

"Well, I didn't mean to hurt her or anything. You know how fragile they are." She said spitefully. I can't help it if she is as fragile as a dry twig.

"You should never have put your hands on her in the first place, Tanya. What in the hell were you thinking?" I asked angrily.

"She wasn't listening to me Edward!" Her voice became more strident. "I told her that she should step aside and she was ignoring me! I was just trying to get her attention." She crossed her arms over her chest.

"Of course she ignored you!" My voice rose. "What did you really think would happen? That she would just say 'oh, well ok Tanya. I'll just go home and you can have him'?" I said sarcastically.

"She's no good for you Edward. You know we could be great together. At least you would not have to worry about breaking me!" She said smugly.

Her words stung, but not in the way she intended. They only reminded me of the things that I had said to Bella in the forest. Reminded me that my true love was upstairs sleeping peacefully while this catty woman was trying to destroy my happiness.

Tanya must have seen my reflection on her words as a victory because she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around my neck. The woman never quit! I grabbed her by the upper arms and pushed her away. Hard. She stumbled back a few steps then looked at me as if I had lost my mind.

What?! He's rejecting me? Again? With everything I could show him he should be worshipping at my feet! Maybe he is just uncertain about how to progress…I can help with that…

I decided to set her straight once and for all.

"Tanya, I have tried to be as gentlemanly as possible with this because I have not wanted to hurt your feelings. But in hurting Bella you have gone too far. So I will tell you in no uncertain terms that there will never, ever be anything between us. My heart, and the rest of me for that matter, have already been claimed. Do us both a favor and stop pursuing. Nothing will come of it and you will only be angering me and hurting yourself."

She only stood staring at me and I turned to walk away.

"Just one more thing, Edward." Tanya said. What now? I just wanted to escape, to go back to Bella.

"What now, Tanya?" I said wearily, turning back to her.

"This." She said, grabbing my shirt and yanking me to her. She crashed her lips to mine in what she thought was a passionate kiss. The only thing I felt was disgust at her maneuvering.

I grabbed her hands and shoved her from me. Then I very deliberately wiped the back of my hand across my mouth. Tanya looked dumbfounded. I opened my mouth to speak when I heard a giggle coming from the house. I looked up and saw Bella standing at the window, looking down at us. When she realized I saw her she ducked back into the room, letting the curtain drop.

I turned on Tanya, hands clenched, rage flowing through me like a river.

"I swear to GOD, Tanya, if you have screwed up anything with Bella and me I will tear you limb from limb!" She shrank back from the ferocity in my voice. I ran back towards the house, praying to all that was holy that Bella would let me explain what had happened.

I charged into the house and up the stairs. My only focus was Bella; I did not even try to hear the thoughts of my family.

I reached the door of the bedroom and paused for a moment. I took a deep breath to steady myself before knocking once and opening the door.

"Bella?" I said tentatively. I had no idea what her reaction would be. What had she seen and what meaning had she given it?

She was looking out the window, arms crossed over her chest. She was still in my t-shirt and it barely covered her bottom. Her lovely pale legs gleamed in the moon light. Focus Edward!

She slowly turned to face me, looking at the floor.

"Bella, I-." I started to speak but she held up her hand to stop me. She walked over towards me slowly, still looking down. She stopped in front of me and I realized she was shaking. Was she crying? I felt my heart twist. What had Tanya done?

"Please look at me." I said, hoping there was some way to repair this disaster.

She looked up at me and if my heart had been beating it would have stopped.

She was laughing! Laughing! So hard she was shaking and tears were pouring down her face.

I couldn't stand it anymore. I reached out and grabbed her by her arms, picked her up off the floor and clutched her to me. I swung around in a circle, laughing in relief.

"Don't ever do that to me again, woman. You almost gave me a heart attack!" I set her down on the ground and looked at her face. She was smiling radiantly.

"A heart attack? Now that would really be something!" She giggled.

I took her face in my hands and kissed her. I pressed kisses to her face, her cheeks, and her neck as I spoke.

"You *kiss* scared *kiss* me *kiss* to *kiss* death *kiss*. I was giddy with relief.

She started laughing again.

"I wish you could have seen your face when she kissed you, Edward. It was like someone made you eat human food or something. You looked so disgusted it was hilarious. I hope that witch finally understands once and for all that you are all mine."

"All yours, now and forever." I kissed her slowly this time, brushing my lips back and forth across hers. She sighed with pleasure. Then she yawned.

I laughed. "Come on Sleeping Beauty. Time to go back to bed."

"I would still be sleeping if someone hadn't been trying to steal the love of my life out from under my nose." She smirked.

I took her hand and led her back to the bed. She got under the covers and I laid down on top of them, next to her. She snuggled up against me, throwing her arm over me. I ran my fingers up and down her back, stopping before reaching the hem of the shirt she wore. I didn't need to tempt fate.

"Edward?" she said my name softly.

"Yes, my Bella?"

"Who changed my clothes?"

Damn!

"Um, well…you wouldn't have been comfortable in that dress but you couldn't just sleep in your…well…without any pajamas. But the ones in your bag were too…I mean…they didn't seem that comfortable either…so I figured the shirt would be better." I couldn't believe that I was stuttering. I was sure that if I were human I would be blushing.

"So you changed my clothes." It was a statement.

"Um, yes." Would she be angry?

She laughed and I felt relief pour through me.

"Well your shirt is a whole lot more comfortable than any of those lace and silk things that Alice bought me." She took a deep breath. Inhaling. "Smells better too. It smells like you. I like it."

She was quiet for a long time and I thought she had gone to sleep. Then she spoke.

"Edward?"

"Hmmm?"

"That means you saw me in my…underwear. Were you, you know, tempted at all?" She sounded embarrassed.

So tempted I had almost undressed her completely and taken her right there. So tempted that I could have crushed granite with my teeth from clenching them together. So tempted that it had taken all my self control not to rip her clothes from her body and show her the meaning of temptation. I could not say those things to her though. Not without acting on the thoughts that went with them.

"Very much," was all I said.

"Really?" She looked up at me.

I bent my head and kissed her softly before whispering in her ear.

"Very, very, very much," I said. She shuddered.

"Oh." She sounded surprised. I laughed softly.

"Now sleep, my love. You have had one hell of a long day and you need your rest."

She reached up and kissed my jaw then yawned and nestled back into my chest.

"Good night Edward."

"Good night Bella."