A/N: I do not own Twilight.

Thank you to Laura for being a wonderful Beta and to all my reviewers…!

Chapter 8

Edward

I woke up on Saturday morning with a great big smile on my face. Last night was wonderful… no it was more than wonderful… it was perfect. The evening was perfect and most of all, Bella was perfect. There was something about her that was just so enchanting and breath-taking and I couldn't wait to see her again. Today was my only full day off this week so I thought why not do something now? I didn't want to seem too forward but if I waited until after lunch and told her this was my only day off then I'm sure it would be fine. We could spend the afternoon together… just the two of us… it would be great.

I quickly called her and she agreed to come round at two. I couldn't wait. I took a shower and got dressed and then proceeded to tidy up the living room and kitchen after last night. Ah last night. I'd never felt this good after a date unless I'd slept with the girl so this was new for me. Once I was ready and had had lunch I flipped through the TV channels and waited for Bella. The doorbell rang and I jumped up immediately.

'Be cool Edward,' I chanted to myself.

I opened the door revealing the goodness in front of me. She was wearing a white patterned summery dress and gold sandals. The weather was hot and sunny. Perfect. I leaned forward to give her a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Morning," I said ushering her inside.

"Hi," she replied with a look of determination on her face.

"I had nothing to do today so I thought I'd ask you round seeing as this is my only day off this week. I hope that's okay."

"Yeah, of course. I had no plans," she grinned.

"Great. I was wondering if you wanted to go out to central park… to make the most of the sunshine?" that seemed like a romantic thing to do. Girls loved all that shit.

She contemplated it, "yeah sure. That sounds great."

"Good. Let me just lock up," I fetched the car keys off the table and unlocked it, "and you can wait in the car."

"Aren't you forgetting something?" she asked.

"Urm… no?" The confusion must have shown on my face as her lips twitched.

"What about this tour you promised me?"

"Ah that. Ok sure. Follow me."

I gave her a quick tour of the downstairs but avoided the study. I didn't want to have her ask me any questions about the piano. It was my private thing and I didn't know if I was ready to share it with her yet.

I chanted to myself as we arrived at the door to my bedroom, "please don't let there be any dirty underwear on the floor, please don't let there be any dirty underwear on the floor…"

I pushed the door open apprehensively and was pleased to find that it was very tidy. I breathed a sigh of relief and showed her it briefly trying to avoid any awkwardness about the fact that it was my bedroom. Where I slept. And did other things...

Once the tour was finished I got myself sorted and we went to the car. We drove there chatting mindlessly about the warm weather and once we parked I walked round to Bella's door to open it for her. We'd parked right next to an ice-cream van.

"How about an ice cream?" I asked resisting the urge to put my arm around her. I didn't want to seem too keen.

"Yes please. I'll have…" she bit her lip while deciding. It was both the cutest and sexiest thing ever, "a cornetto please."

"Two cornettos," I said to the guy as he produced them for us and I paid him.

I lead Bella over to a spot on the grass under the shade of a tree and we both sat down eating our ice creams. I couldn't help myself from watching her tongue dart out of her mouth every time she took a lick. Wow that was sexy.

"So Bella…" I started, thinking what to say.

"So Edward…" she teased, "tell me something about you?"

Had I not done that the last times we went out? Maybe I wasn't as good at this date thing as I thought.

"Something about me? I've told you loads already."

"No something different. Something I don't know and that barely anyone knows." She smiled seeming intrigued.

"If it's something barely anyone knows do you think you're special enough to be told?" I teased.

"I like to think so." She grinned.

"Ok then." I decided what the heck, "Guess what my favourite hobby is?"

"You told me about your hobbies?"

"Not all of them."

She laughed, "Ok. Is it something sporty?"

"Just guess." I wanted to see if she'd get it.

"Football?"

"No."

"Swimming?"

"No."

"Tennis?"

"No. nothing sporty." I gave her a clue.

"Haha ok. How about… saving cats from trees?"

I burst out laughing, "no that's not my favourite… but it comes in second." She giggled.

"Ok… not sporty…" she mused, "is it something musical?"

"Just guess."

"It is!" She exclaimed. Wow. She could read my facial expressions easily.

"Ok," she considered, "playing the guitar?"

"No."

"I don't know." She was giving up, "just tell me!"

"No."

"Oh I don't know… piano?"

A massive grin stretched over my face.

"Piano. Oh really?" She seemed pleasantly surprised.

"Yep. I'll play you something some time if you'd like?" I had so many songs that I'd written thinking about her. I had a particular one in mind.

"Yes, I'd like that." She smiled looking at me adoringly.

"Can I ask you a question Edward?" she asked going all shy.

"Of course. Anything."

"Are me and you… I mean are we… us… boyfriend and girlfriend now?"

Were we? I suppose we were. At least I hoped we were.

"I would like that more than anything. If you'd like?"

"I would." She beamed.

I came over to sit next to her and laid my back against the tree that she was leaning on. I put my arm around her shoulders holding her close to me and she relaxed into my touch laying her head against my shoulder. She took my free hand in hers and traced delicate circles on my palm as I leant down to kiss her forehead. We sat there in comfortable silence for I don't know how long, just being together. It was magical. I looked at the pond in front of me and watched the water glistening like diamonds in the sun. It looked beautiful, but nothing compared to the angel in my arms.

"Hey Bella," I whispered.

"Yes?" She replied still whispering.

"You know in the club when I said I didn't find my job scary sometimes?"

"Yes." I could hear the smile in her voice.

"I lied."

-

I lay in my cold bed that night wishing that Bella were laying here next to me. I didn't want her here to have sex or anything like that, I just wanted her here. I felt so empty without her. My mind was so confused and I couldn't understand why I was having these feelings. I couldn't go five minutes without laughing about her clumsy nature or imagining her dreamy brown eyes.

What the hell was wrong with me?

I groaned and stretched and decided that I just couldn't sleep feeling like this. So I chose to do the only thing that would calm me down. I went down the stairs and into my study and sat at the piano. I placed my fingers on the keys and just let my mind take over playing any melody that would come to me. I knew what melody it would be before I even started playing. It was her melody. Bella's. It was the same lullaby I'd started playing repeatedly since I met her. The music was always in my head… much like Bella. I continued stroking my fingers across the keys enveloped in another world trying to figure out what emotions were going through me.

Lust?

Yes, without a doubt. Bella was gorgeous and there were so many things I wanted to do with her…to her…

Need?

That one was indisputable. I'd come to a stage where I needed Bella. When I wasn't with her I just had to see her. She was like a drug to me and I was addicted. Very addicted.

Surprise?

That one was hidden away but it was there. I never thought I'd have this with a girl and I just believed I would spend my life bouncing from girl to girl. I never wanted what I have with Bella to begin with. But now I have it… I'm not letting it go.

Love?

Love? Where did that one come from? Did I love Bella? I mean was I capable of loving her? I treated girls like they were only good for their looks so could I really love someone as wonderful as Bella? I knew the answer.

The answer was yes.

Yes I could.

I felt a huge sense of satisfaction. This was the foreign emotion. It was blossoming inside of me and now I know what it is. Love! I love Bella. I stopped playing and just stared into space. Yes. I fucking loved her.

I'd never felt so happy and exhilarated. I was in love and it felt great. I had the burning desire to tell Bella but I stopped myself instantly. Bella seemed to have fun with me but there were moments where I'd see a glimmer of another emotion in her eyes. Not a good emotion. I had the feeling there was something she was hiding from me and I couldn't scare her away by telling her that I loved her. I just couldn't. I'd find the right moment. The right time. If she didn't say it back then it didn't matter.

Because I was in love.

A/N: You know what to do… please review! [I'm a poet as well as a writer ;) ]