A/N: Finally an update! I know I have been fail lately, but here you go. Hope you enjoy it!

Thanks to my wonderful beta LittleLea05

"The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity." - Dorothy Parker

Disclaimer: Plot mine, everything else, Stephenie Meyer

Chapter 19 – Inquiring Minds

Bella POV

You know…they say curiosity killed that cat. I think it's because the cat couldn't run away fast enough. Granted if you are in a wheel chair or crutches you can't run very fast either. It's been two months since my accident in the fire. Two very long, very tedious, months. It's now the beginning of May and I am quite literally going insane. I get my cast off in a couple days and it seems that now that I know the date, the seconds are dragging by.

After Edward went back to work the boredom really started to set in. I spent a lot of time thinking about my accident. What went wrong, what I could have done to prevent things? What would have happened if the accident was worse than it actually was? And, what I wanted to do with myself now. I had this sudden clarity, a new lease on life, I suppose. Especially after the horrid 'conversation' with Renee. It took her coming in for me to see my life for what it really was. I was disappointed with myself. I held myself back in life because stupid shit my mother pulled so long ago. It was like my accident was my chance to be born again and live my life with no reservations, and I planned to do exactly that. Edward really entered my life at just the right moment and I was ready to give him everything that I was.

I wasn't able to really get out of bed to do much of anything the first couple weeks. Getting sick of being locked in my head over thinking everything, I reread every one of my books that Edward had brought over from my place, which really wasn't that many. I watched what movies Edward owned, which again, wasn't a lot. Basic cable was starting to annoy me and I was quickly running out of things to do.

That was a month ago. A month ago I started to be able to get up and move around on my own. So I unpacked and moved fully in. It was weird, looking around Edward's apartment and seeing bits and pieces of me in there. A couple weekends ago Emmett, Jasper and Edward moved the last of my heavy furniture in here while Alice and Rose packed what was left. Alice was due in June and I had my concerns of her being pregnant and packing my apartment while I was laid up. I was just thankful that Rose was there to help her curb her packing. Although, the goodwill got a healthy donation of crap from me via Alice, things she deemed I wouldn't need anymore.

I laughed my ass off as I unpacked one particular box of my stuff. It seems Alice needs to put her two cents in whenever she could. Sitting in the top of a box filled with some very uh…personal items was a little note from Alice.

Bella –

You have Edward now. Either ditch most of this stuff or use it with him. Nobody in their right mind needs five different vibrators.

-Alice

She was right but I didn't have the heart to part with them just yet; I just needed a good place to hide them where Edward wouldn't find them. This is where curiosity killed the cat…or me….or Edward. Kind of depends on how you look at it. I decided to hide a box in his closet labeled 'Bella's crap'. I know, not very creative, but I took the queue from him since there was also a box labeled 'Edward's crap' in there too. And…I snooped. I know I shouldn't have but I couldn't help myself. It was just sitting there, begging to be looked in.

This is where I discovered that my boyfriend had a rather large collection of porn. Impressive collection too, I might add. He liked a variety of things, that was for damn sure; from Madam's Naughty College Students to Accidental Threesomes to Girls Gone Wild. I was sure this was something he never intended on me finding. It was hysterical. I was intrigued. And good lord I was fucking horny. It had been a month since we were able to actually have sex because of my accident so I decided a mesh of my personal stuff and Edward's hidden DVD collection was in order.

Edward would stay at the station most nights, but thankfully since he lived so close to work, he could come home on the slower nights with his pager and gear. You just never know when those slower nights will be, so I never knew exactly what nights Edward would be home. So when Edward walked into his bedroom to almost find me in…let's just say a less than stellar position.

I had just gotten myself comfortable in his, our, bedroom – well as comfortable as I could be with my leg still in a cast. I put a DVD of his I found in (I stuck with a basic Girls Gone Wild) and I was just barely getting started when I hear the front door shut.

"Bella? Where are you?" I scrambled to grab the TV remote and turn the TV off. I shoved my old faithful underneath my pillow and pulled the blankets quickly up over my naked lower half. I just got covered up when he came into the bedroom. "There you are. What are you doing in bed? I figured you'd be up and about more now? What do you want to do for dinner?" He asked a million questions without giving me a second to even answer. He sat on the edge of the bed and started pulling his shoes off. I glanced across the room at the alarm clock over by the TV to see that it was just after six, that's when I noticed the empty Girls Gone Wild DVD case just sitting there like a beacon in the night.

"Its dinner already? Damn. I guess that day just got away from me." I was trying to distract him from looking towards the TV.

"Yeah. What'd you nap the afternoon away? Come, get up. I'll make us something good for dinner and I'll tell you about this call from earlier." He tugged on my hand and I tried not to budge an inch.

"You go ahead on in there. I just need a moment, need to wake up fully before I try to walk." He nodded and dropped a quick kiss to my forehead. I breathed a sigh of relief as he stood up and headed towards the door. However, he didn't make it very far. In fact, he froze at the door, looking down on the top of his dresser, right where the open, empty DVD case was sitting next to the TV.

"Bella?" He didn't turn around as his hand reached out and grabbed the case, flicking it open to make damn sure it was empty. He turned around, his eyes wide and incredulous. As soon as his eyes met mine I pulled the blanket up and over my head. My face was flaming, I knew it, and I could feel it. "Oh Bella…" He said in a sing song like voice. "Is there something you want to tell me?" I could hear him walking around the room and then the distinct sound of the top of a cardboard box being pulled open. "Huh, guess you found my secret stash. But what is this?"

I ripped the blanket away from my head to see him kneeling next to my box of crap, holding up one of my vibrators. He smirked at me and started digging around in my box pulling out various other things. I felt like a little girl getting in trouble for sneaking in the stray cat I found on the street or something. Everybody masturbates, I know this, Edward knows this but there is nothing more embarrassing then having your boyfriend catch you in the middle of some self lovin' - even more so when he catches you using his collection of porn.

"Bella…" He lifted a DVD from my own box and smirked at me. He was having way too much fun with this. "Why would you use my porn collection when you have your own? Look at this…The Perfect Secretary: Training Day, Ass Toys & No Boys, and….is this a guy/guy porno Bella? That's….um….kinky."

"No, that's hot." My voice was quiet, not surprisingly.

"Hot? Really?" His voice had taken on a smugness as he sauntered over to the bed, one of my vibrators in hand. He pulled the blanket up and tossed it aside as he sat to the left of me, not before getting a good glance at my totally nude lower half. "Hhmm…were you gonna have some fun without me?" He whispered as he placed a kiss just below my ear.

"Perhaps…"

"So you find two guys getting it on together hot do you?" I nodded as his hand trailed up underneath my tank top as he started to push it up. "You know, it's a lot more fun if you lose the top too." I sat up a little and let him pull my top off and throw it across the room. "Would you find it hot if I was kissing another guy?" I groaned, loudly. "Mmm, I'll take that as a yes."

"Would you ever do that?" Not like I was willing to share, but that's just too hot not to think about.

He chuckled. "Nah, I don't think so." He muttered as his mouth enclosed over one of my nipples. I arched into him. "Would you? Make out with another girl?"

"You know I have."

"That's right…but I don't want to share you…even with another broad."

I laughed. "Me either. Another girl or Guy." I couldn't help but moan as his hand trailed down lower and slip between my legs. "Why'd you bring that over?" I mumbled out as he started to assault my neck too.

"Oh this?" He handed me the vibrator. "I thought maybe it might be easier for you to show me what you were just about to do if you had one of these."

I blanched. "Awfully sure of yourself are we?" I smiled. This could be hot.

"Yes ma'am." I tossed the vibrator he handed me back towards the box and he looked a little crest fallen. I reached under my pillow and pulled out old faithful. "Oh…didn't know you had one over here already."

"Yeah…well…I had to quickly hide everything when you came in."

"Why?"

"Because…um…well…I didn't…" I stammered.

"Bella…trust me when I say that would have been the hottest thing to walk in on you doing. Ever." I leaned in and kissed him, letting our tongues dance together. He slyly reached up and grabbed my hand, pulling it down with his and old faithful. "Show me…" He whispered, I shivered. "Please?"

I grabbed the remote off the night stand and handed it to him. "You might want to turn the TV back on then." He didn't waste any time turning the TV on. The movie had been playing this entire time since I had only turned the TV off and not the player. On the screen were two women using a double ended dildo together and I groaned at the sight. I had a healthy appreciation for almost all things sexual, no matter if it was two women or two men. It was all hot to me.

I set the vibrator on the bed next to me and let my hand gently trail over my breasts and lower. I tried to pretend that Edward was not sitting right next to me, breathing heavily and watching my every move. I watched the screen, watched the two girls on there move together, their groaning becoming my own as I let my hand slip between my legs. I was so hot. It had to be a combination of the movie and Edward's watchful eyes. I groaned again as I let my own fingers slip in me.

"Oh god Bella that's so hot…" I looked over at Edward to find him shifting and pulling his pants down enough for his hard length to be released. He tore his shirt off and tossed it across the room. "You really like watching this Bella? Two women getting off together?" I nodded and glanced down. I watched entrapped at the view of Edward stroking himself while watching me. We were masturbating together and it was fucking hot.

I reached over and grab my vibrator and turn it on to the medium setting. I moaned as I slipped it in wishing the entire time that it was Edward instead, but with my cast, sex could be hard, not like we tried it yet. We had gone back to fooling around after my leg had healed enough for us too.

"Move it faster Bella…" His breath was barely a whisper but I heard him none the less. Neither one of us were paying any attention to the video in the background all we could do was watch the other. There was something so sensual, so voyeur like, to watch Edward stroking himself. Seeing exactly what it was he liked to do to himself, because nobody knows how to get yourself off better than you.

I think I might have growled when Edward's strokes picked up pace when I started thrusting faster. I tossed the vibrator on the bed a few seconds later. "Edward, fuck me. I want you, not the toy. Please?"

"But your leg - does it still hurt?"

"They make pain killers for a reason Edward." He kicked his pants off the rest of the way and crawled over me. I scooted down the bed as he moved some pillows and propped my leg up and out of the way the best we could. I couldn't wait for the cast to be gone! I must be addicted to sex because I missed this more than I thought I did when he thrust into me.

"This won't take long…" He growled into my neck as he started to move. I understood what he meant. It had been about a month since the last time we had actual sex and we were both close already. Besides, having the porn on in the background too didn't help the situation any, or did, depending on how you look at it.

I slid my hand down between us and started rubbing myself. "That's okay Edward…I just need…I just…"

"I know…" His movements started becoming erratic and I knew he was there, just a few more thrusts. I reached over and grabbed the vibrator, turned it on full blast and touched it directly to my clit knowing that would set me off.

"Oh fuck…" I cried as I threw my head back. It felt like my whole body was convulsing with the power of my climax. Edward had stilled above me seconds later, his arms trembling as he too came. Somewhere in the background I swear I could hear his fire pager going off.

From that night on, we have been having our little "joint self lovin' sessions" together at least like twice a week. It never fails that his beeper goes off during or right at the end of sex together. It's like the fire gods know or something, maybe they want to punish me for not being at work. I don't care. The last month of being stuck waiting for the cast to come off has been hell, during the day - at night is a whole other story…

Edward POV

Bella gets her cast off tomorrow and I can't honestly tell you who is more excited about that, me or her. I miss having her at work although I know it'll be another month before she can return. At the last appointment, the doctor was saying June 7th as the earliest she would return to work. That was not even close to soon enough for me.

We were struggling at the station without her. Jasper was running the engine and it was down to a three man crew – Emmett, me and the new probie Seth. We desperately needed another warm body to help us out since Jacob up and left us and Bella was incapacitated. Carlisle had even started looking for another probie since my probationary period was up in one month. But when Bella comes back, then we would have one firefighter too many. It was a sticky situation.

Day before yesterday we went on a small house fire and I ended up sitting out with Jasper and running the engine because it was easier to just send in Emmett and Seth rather than try and fit all three of us on the hose. Carlisle was not too happy about that actually. Sometimes, if there are other captains or if we aren't first on scene, Carlisle will run the engine so that we can pair off to go in.

"Hey Edward, Rose is here." Emmett's voice echoed up the stairs. It was Thursday evening and I had asked to have the night off instead of leaving in the morning. I had also asked Emmett if he could have Rose come by so I could talk to her. I was ready to buy a ring for Bella. I still had no idea when I was going to purpose but I needed to talk to one of her girlfriends. Part of me was still thinking about giving her my mother's ring but I needed a girls take on things. And not Alice's. She is the fashion smart, forward thinking one of the girls – yes, but she also had a big mouth and couldn't keep a secret. We had only actually been together for about nine months, but when you know…you just know. And I didn't want to wait to spend the rest of forever with Bella.

I came to a halt at the bottom of the stairs to see Emmett dropping a small kiss onto Rose's lips. I cleared my throat to let them know I was standing there. "Okay Edward. I am only letting you take Rose to dinner because you said it had to do with Bella. Usually when another guy asks my girl to dinner they leave with a black eye, so feel fortunate."

I laughed. "No worries Em. I just need to have a conversation with Rose. She'll come back to you in one piece and fed too."

"Will you stop talking about me like I'm not here and a dog that you are passing off for the weekend or something?" She huffed and looked at me. "Are we gonna go or not?" I was starting to seriously question my decision on asking for Rose's help now.

About fifteen minutes, and one semi uncomfortable car ride later, I pulled up in front of a small mom and pop type café. The waitress had just brought us our drinks when Rose decided to break the silence. "Okay…I'm going to assume that you didn't just ask me here because the foods good. Since I know we are talking about Bells and you didn't ask Alice instead…we're here talk about rings right?"

"Am I that transparent?"

"No." She paused and took a drink of her soda. 'I'm just that smart. Besides, Alice would shriek like a giddy little girl and probably end up having early labor from the excitement."

"I laughed. "Yeah, you're probably right. Okay…so…I haven't decided on when or where I just know that I want to."

"Just…" She sighed. "You know how she is. When it comes to Bella smaller scale is better. She hates big productions, making her the center of attention, grand gestures…all of that isn't her."

"Oh yeah…I definitely think it'll be a spontaneous thing."

"Okay. Good. Have you looked at any rings yet? She isn't a big jewelry person, simpler is better."

I nodded my head and reached into my pocket. I produced the little black box that held the ring my mother wore. "It was my mothers. I can't decide if I want to give her that as an engagement ring or go buy her a new one. That's one of the reasons I asked you here." She picked up the box and opened it. Nestled inside was a small white gold band with a single solitaire rectangular diamond. There was also a simple white gold band that would fit with it on our wedding day that would make it a set.

Rose was quiet for several minutes. She didn't say anything; she didn't look up and if I didn't know any better I would almost say she wasn't breathing. Finally she snapped the lid back and slid the box back over to me.

I don't do very well with emotions in women, especially tears, so to see the unshed ones behind Rose's made my heart jump. "It's perfect Edward. It's simple and understated and she will love it. The fact that it was your mothers too…it's like a love story come true." She looked down at her lap and quickly wiped away a single tear. When she looked up again I got to see the hard women I was used to dealing with. "So don't fuck it up!"

The rest of dinner was pleasant after the "talk". Rose is a very…interesting person. I can see what Emmett loves about her; she is a perfect match for him. Me however, I don't get it. But to each their own. We talked about Rose and Em's little girls who I didn't know that much about anyway besides their names. I felt a little pang of jealousy when she pulled out pictures to show me. I think I do want kids…someday. I love Bella and I'll do whatever she wants, but I am not opposed to adopting. There are plenty of children out there that need a loving home, a parent that cares and wants them. I could be that parent.

I dropped Rose off at her apartment after dinner and hurried back home. I was anxious to see Bella since I hadn't gotten the chance to see her all week. When I made it into the apartment I found Bella fast asleep on the couch, TV remote in her hand. I moved her to the bedroom with a little difficulty. I was just climbing into bed next to her when her sleepy voice broken the quiet.

"Edward?"

"Yes sweetie?" I kissed her on the cheek and got comfortable.

"What time is it?"

"Late Bells. Go back to sleep. Big day tomorrow."

"Mmm….I can't wait." She hummed as she scouted next to me. "Love you."

"I love you too, Bella."

A/N: Kind of a filler chapter, Kind of not. Depends on how you look at it.

Ok, so… I haven't done this in a while but I wanted to for this chapter. I have an outtake for you when you review. It's from Rose and it'll help you understand a bit better why she got so emotional at dinner with Edward. Just something short and sweet from me to you. Thanks for reading.