A/N: I want to give all of you my deepest thanks for your wonderful words and support. The number of reviews for the last chapter just blew me away. Thanks to those who have added the story to their alerts and favourites. You guys rock!

On a different note I just want to let you know that the terms and procedures I'm using are Australian/British. I do realise that the American system is vastly different and that ideally this story should be set in Australia but the idea just didn't sit right with me. I couldn't honestly explain how everyone ended up in Australia! A lot of the story is based on my and my friends' experiences. I really wanted to write about a strong, caring Bella doing a job that I admire greatly (and yes midwives are extensively used in Australian hospitals). I hope that American readers can suspend reality while reading and still enjoy the story as it is a work of fiction. After all, vampires don't exist either - do they?

Chapter 5

Hours later, Bella lay in bed, unable to sleep. Every so often, she would reach up and rub her cheek where Edward's lips had touched it. She imagined that she could still feel the tingles that had raced through her when he leaned forward and kissed her.

Rolling over onto her stomach, Bella pounded her pillow, trying to get the kiss out of her mind. It was only a kiss on the cheek. That's all. He was only saying goodnight. Jacob kisses you goodbye all the time.

Jacob's kiss had never sent a shiver of desire down her spine like Edward's. Had never kept her awake at night, reliving every single second of the evening. Luckily she was working the night shift on Sunday so she could sleep in.

Finally, around 2am she drifted off to sleep. Edward haunted her thoughts even there, with Bella dreaming about him kissing her on the lips instead of her cheek. Her dreams got progressively more erotic as they went on, their kisses turning into much more.

The dim, grey light of a rainy November day filtered through Bella's window when she woke up. Looking at her bedside table, she noted that it was nearly 10.30am. Lying back against her pillow she yawned, not feeling at all rested. She looked down and saw her bedclothes all twisted around, testament to her restless sleep. Memories of what she had been doing with Edward in her dreams raced through her mind.

"Stop it! That's enough," she said aloud.

Ok, she was attracted to Edward. She felt breathless when he was in the same room and her pulse would start racing. She admitted that to herself, but she didn't know if he felt anything towards her. And she was not the type of woman to just throw herself at a guy.

Thinking about last night, she thought she had detected a spark of something in his eyes, especially when he leant down to kiss her cheek, but she couldn't be certain.

She had enjoyed watching him interact with his family, could see the close bond he had with them, despite having lived on the other side of the country for so long. She'd seen his sense of humour at dinner, easily parrying the others' teasing, giving as good as he got. And when he'd smiled at her, she'd had trouble breathing.

Her thoughts turned to Alice and she smiled. She was thrilled that Alice was pregnant. Bella knew that Alice and Jasper were planning to start a family in the near future and the fact that it had happened so soon was wonderful. Alice would make a great mother and Jasper a doting father. She would be sure to have Alice booked in for a check up and ultrasound this week.

Bella spent the day quietly, tidying up and getting her laundry done. She rang Jacob to see how he was. Jacob told her that he and his father had talked for a long time and that he was beginning to understand his father's reasons for not undergoing treatment. He still wasn't happy about it but he was trying to learn to accept his father's decision. Bella was relieved for Jacob's sake. Hopefully it would allow father and son to make the most of the time they had together. In the afternoon, Bella lay down to have a nap, a routine she always followed when she was working nights.

Arriving at work for the start of her shift, she was given a run down on the happenings of the ward since Friday. Bella was upset to find that Mrs Chan had lost her baby.

"What happened Sue?"

"Saturday afternoon she started bleeding heavily so we called Dr Haas in. He tried everything to stop the bleeding but there was nothing he could do. She spontaneously aborted the foetus around 7pm."

"Poor thing," sympathised Bella. "It's not unexpected I suppose because her placenta was completely covering the birth canal. How is she coping?"

"She's pretty distressed as you can imagine. Her mother's stayed with her most of the time as her husband's still at sea. Dr Haas did a D & C this morning."

Bella nodded at the mention of this common procedure when a woman miscarried. They were taken to surgery for a dilation and curette in order to ensure there was no foetal or placental matter left in her uterus that could lead to an infection. An infection of the uterus could render a woman infertile and care needed to be taken to avoid this.

"Has she been offered counselling?" asked Bella.

Sue nodded. "Yes, but she refused. I've given her the number anyway, in case she realises she needs to talk to someone after she leaves. She's been placed in the room furthest from the babies. It's just too distressing for her to see other women with their babies."

Bella sighed knowing that this was a common reaction by women who'd miscarried. They often felt like they didn't have the right to grieve as they often hadn't even looked pregnant when they'd lost their babies. But they needed to work through their loss just like any other grieving parent so Bella gently encouraged them to change their minds.

"When is she being discharged?"

"Dr Haas said she should be fine to go on Monday. Either he or Dr Cullen will discharge her if they see fit," replied Sue.

"I'll make sure I talk to her while she's here. Any other news?"

"Nothing much today. There's been three admissions over the weekend. Two boys and a girl. All healthy. One wants to go home tomorrow as this is her third and her other children are young. There shouldn't be any problem with that but that won't be on your shift anyway."

"Who's on call tonight?" Bella wasn't sure if Edward was on call as he wasn't officially supposed to start until tomorrow.

"Dr Haas. He's been on call this weekend. Shame. I wouldn't have minded the gorgeous Dr Cullen stalking these corridors on my shift," grinned Sue wickedly.

Bella smiled back, her heart not in it. She was stupidly disappointed that Edward wouldn't be coming in during the night. After tonight she wouldn't be in until Tuesday morning.

"Dr Haas is great," protested Bella half-heartedly.

"Oh I'm not saying he's not, but Dr Cullen, whew!" she laughed, pretending to fan herself. Sue had been happily married for over twenty years, with two teenage boys, so Bella knew she was kidding but it annoyed her. Not that she would let anyone know that. Bella laughed weakly as Sue put on her coat, grabbed her bag and left for the night.

Bella didn't mind the night shift as it was usually quiet, or as quiet as a maternity ward with newborns could be. Bella used the time to catch up on paperwork, make sure supplies were stocked and her favourite thing, cuddling restless babies. She often took the opportunity to chat with the new mothers who were often awake, answering their questions. The quiet of the night seemed to drop the barriers and new mother's often asked questions that they may not have raised otherwise. Usually to do with marital relations after giving birth. Bella didn't have first-hand experience but answered as well as she could. She always advised them to ask the doctor when they had their post-natal check up.

Beginning her rounds, she went into each room with a patient. If they were asleep she left them alone, otherwise she would carry out her checks. Entering one room, she introduced herself to the new mother.

"Hello Mrs Watson," she said, looking at the woman's chart. "How are you feeling?"

Mrs Watson smiled tiredly at Bella. She had her baby in her arms, trying to get him to sleep. "Simon's decided night time is for crying." To prove her words, the baby began grizzling, looking for a nipple. "I've tried feeding him but it's not working. I'm getting so sore."

"Can you try again for me? I just want to see if he's latching on properly. If not, he'll be sucking too hard, tiring himself out before he's full and you'll get really sore nipples," said Bella sympathetically.

Nodding, Mrs Watson offered her breast to the infant, his little mouth opening greedily, searching for his feed.

Bella leaned forward and gently pried his mouth open, releasing the suction on his mother's nipple. "You need to make sure that his mouth covers the entire nipple, not just the tip. Ideally, your areola shouldn't be visible. That way he doesn't have to work so hard for his food and your nipples will be grateful." Bella helped her latch her son on properly, who promptly began suckling.

"What if I don't have enough milk?" Mrs Watson asked anxiously.

"That's why we weigh the babies several times a day. They can lose weight very quickly which could be caused by not enough milk. Also, we need to check their nappies and make sure they're wetting them regularly. If both of these look normal, then you won't have any problems."

"What about formula?"

"Of course, breast milk is the best food for your baby but if you decide that you want to bottle feed, most commercial brands of formula are fine. You may need to try a couple to see which one you prefer," advised Bella.

Mrs Watson looked down at her son. "Will I be a bad mother if I prefer not to breast feed?" she whispered.

"Of course not. And don't let anyone tell you otherwise. There are many reasons why babies aren't breastfed and your baby will be just as healthy and happy with formula milk. And you will bond just as well with your baby. It'll also give dad a chance to bond with him as well. It's your body and your choice. If you do decide to bottle feed, make sure you're shown how to sterilise the equipment properly and how to make the formula up properly. Too thick formula can make a baby constipated and be in pain, too thin and he won't get the nutrients he needs."

Mrs Watson nodded, clearly weighing up her options. Bella left her to finish her feed and continued on. Walking to the very end of the ward, she looked into Mrs Chan's room. She saw the woman lying on her side, tears rolling down her face.

Walking up to her, Bella gently laid a hand her shoulder, wanting to offer her some comfort. Mrs Chan looked up at her, her eyes red and swollen from crying.

"I'm so sorry about your baby, Mrs Chan," said Bella. "Is there anything I can do for you? Anything I can get you?"

The woman just shook her head and gave a small hiccup. "Why did this happen? What did I do wrong?" she cried.

Rubbing her shoulder, Bella answered her painful question. "You did nothing wrong. It's just one of those unfortunate things. There's no explanation for it. You mustn't ever blame yourself."

"Will it happen again? What if it happens again?"

"The chances of it happening again is extremely unlikely. And you would be scanned very early in the pregnancy just in case," replied Bella.

Mrs Chan sniffled. "I don't know that I could do this again. Get pregnant. I'm too scared."

"Mrs Chan. I know you think you don't need to talk to someone, but please believe me when I say that it would be the best thing for you to do. You need to grieve and process what happened when you're ready. You lost your baby, a baby you loved even though you never met him or her and you need to grieve that loss. You need support to work through it. Please, think about it. The support group is made up of people who have lost their babies too. You can talk to them about how you feel and they'll understand, because they've been there too. Just think about it when you feel you're ready, ok?"

The other woman just nodded, her cheeks still wet with tears.

"Would you like something to help you sleep?" asked Bella. She doubted that Mrs Chan had gotten much sleep the night before.

Mrs Chan nodded and Bella gave her a light sedative, just so that she could relax and hopefully get some sleep. "If you need anything, or you need to talk, please press the buzzer, ok?"

She left Mrs Chan to her thoughts and finished her rounds. The rest of the night passed uneventfully and Bella was glad to get home and get some sleep.

Walking into the unit on Tuesday, virtually the first person she saw was Edward. Two days away hadn't diminished his effect on her in any way. If anything, she was even more aware of him than before, especially after Saturday night and her subsequent dreams of him.

"Hi Bella," his green eyes smiled at her.

"H...hi Edward," she replied, pushing open the staff room door.

"How have you been?" he asked as she put her coat and bag away in her locker. "Did you enjoy yourself on Saturday night?"

What did Bella say? The truth? No, because I was so aware of you all night that I couldn't relax and yes, because I can't stop thinking about you? No, better not.

"Ah...yes. It was lovely. I'm really happy for Alice," she replied instead.

"Yeah, great news. I had Elaine book her in on Thursday for her ultrasound and check up."

"That's good. What about you? Did you enjoy it on Saturday?" Why did I ask that?

"Yes, it was fun," he replied. "You looked beautiful." He looked at her hair, tied up in its usual work bun. "You have beautiful hair, it seems a shame to put it up out of sight," he noted.

Bella felt the familiar tension she always had in his presence as his gaze roved over her hair and down her face, lingering on her mouth. Say something, she thought.

"Um...thanks. It's easier to handle if I tie it up, it gets in the way. I probably look all matronly like this," she said before mentally kicking herself. Now he probably thinks I'm fishing for more compliments.

Edward shook his head, the corner of his mouth lifted in a slight smile. "I'd never describe you as matronly, Bella. That's probably the last word I'd associate with you," he said, looking intently at her.

Bella felt like a deer caught in the glare of headlights, she couldn't look away. "What word would you use?" she asked before she could think about it.

Edward's green eyes had darkened, and he was about to speak when the door opened and another nurse entered the room. Bella looked away, breaking the spell he seemed to cast over her. Telling her pulse to calm down she greeted the newcomer, who gave her a perfunctory hello before turning her attention to the handsome new doctor.

Bella used the opportunity to leave the room, hurrying to the nurse's station to get her handover. She needed to get her mind on her work and away from her fascination with Edward Cullen. Later she would think about his words.

Tuesday was clinic day and Bella saw that she was rostered to work with Edward. She was both pleased and dismayed. She would be too busy to dwell on her attraction but she would still feel the tension. Shrugging her shoulders, Bella got on with her work.

One of the first patients to be called was Carol Evans, who walked in pushing little Danielle in her pram.

"Hi Carol," said Bella, giving her a hug. "Hello Danielle," she cooed as she leaned over the pram. Straightening, she guided Carol to the chair. "How are you? How's everything going?"

"Pretty well, except I didn't realise I'd be so tired. Danielle wakes every two to three hours and I'm exhausted." The dark circles under her eyes gave testament to her words.

"You poor thing," sympathised Bella. "Is she feeding well? How's the breastfeeding going?"

Carol's eyes watered with both emotion and tiredness. "It's so hard. I didn't realise how hard it is. She seems to want to feed all the time, but then falls asleep for a while, wakes up and we start again. My nipples are raw. I dread her next feed because it hurts so much."

"Has your milk come in yet? I'm going to weigh her but does she seem to be putting on weight? She's only a week old but with the amount you say she drinks she should have put back the weight she lost plus a bit more," said Bella.

"I think so, but I can't be sure." Carol's voice cracked on the last words and she began crying.

Bella pulled up a chair beside her and put her arm around the other woman. "Carol, tell me what's bothering you."

"I...I...don't know. I just feel so...so...overwhelmed by everything," she sobbed. "And I feel horrible because I wanted a baby for so long and I feel like I'm doing everything wrong. I was so happy when she was born, and I love her like mad, but I'm so tired. Dave tries to help but he can't do much and Danielle wants to feed all the time. I feel like a failure and that I don't des...deserve her."

"Oh Carol, what you're feeling is perfectly normal," soothed Bella. Handing her a few tissues, she let Carol calm down before she continued.

"Carol, you had a baby a week ago. Your body is still recovering from its ordeal. You're probably still sore and now you're sore in places you never expected." Carol nodded. "Your hormones are racing all around the place, so you don't know if you're happy or sad most of the time. And on top of this, you're trying to get used to your baby and her needs and she's trying to cope with this new world she's been thrust into. None of this is helped by your lack of sleep which makes everything seem worse. Learning to deal with a newborn is one of a woman's most stressful times in their lives. But Carol, it does get better. The first few weeks are the worst but once you get into a routine, things will seem to fall into place. You're also probably suffering from the 'baby blues', due to those racing hormones I was telling you about."

Carol had stopped crying and was sitting looking at her baby. "When she's asleep I look at her and I fall in love with her all over again but when she's crying I feel like an idiot because I don't know what she wants and I can't seem to get it right."

"They don't come with handbooks, unfortunately. You'll learn to distinguish between her cries eventually, I promise. I know it's hard, but you need to get as much rest as possible. Sleep when she sleeps. Forget the housework, let Dave look after it. Accept your family's help when offered and most importantly talk to Dave when you're feeling overwhelmed. Also, I'm going to give you the number for the baby health clinic who can give you all sorts of advice. They will monitor Danielle to ensure she reaches certain age milestones, see that's she's progressing well and help with any concerns you have. Your paediatrician can help you too." She reached out and took Carol's hand. "Things will get easier but you must talk to someone if you feel you can't cope. We don't want you slip into a depression and if you do, we need to treat it quickly for your sake and your family's. Ok?"

Carol nodded. "Thanks Bella. I just felt that I needed to be happy all the time because I got what I wanted so badly and now..."

"What you're feeling is normal. I would be more worried if you didn't feel overwhelmed."

"I'm glad I'm not the only one," said Carol.

"No, you're certainly not. When Danielle's a little older maybe you could join a playgroup. It would allow you to meet other mother's who are or have been through the same thing. You would certainly learn a few tricks on child rearing and make new friends."

"Yeah, it sounds a good idea. I'm feeling a little better already, but boy, could I do with a few hours sleep."

"Have you thought about expressing your milk? You can get the equipment at any chemist and it would allow Dave to feed Danielle during the night, at least for one feed, allowing you to get a few hours uninterrupted sleep."

Carol looked thoughtfully at Bella. "No, I hadn't thought of that. It's a great idea. I do seem to have a lot of milk. Look my boobs!"

Bella laughed, pleased that Carol's mood was picking up. "If you express often, you can store enough milk to maybe let Dave take every second feed. Breast milk can also be frozen so you can have a supply when needed. The baby clinic can give you instructions on how best to store it and how long you can keep it." At Carol's nod, she suggested she get on with her checks on her and Danielle before she went in to see Edward.

Throughout the rest of the clinic, Edward would ask Bella questions on the various patients before he called them in. A number of times, they would accidentally touch hands as they exchanged patient files, each touch causing a spear of feeling to race through her.

The clinic was just ending and Bella was gathering files together, the door to Edward's room open, when one of the unit's administrators came rushing in.

"Bella! Can I have a word with you please? I need to ask a big favour," she said.

"Sure Rita. What is it?"

"Bella, can you take the antenatal class tonight? It's a new batch of parents and you'll need to hold the class for the whole four weeks."

Bella nodded. "Sure, but what's happened to Margaret?" Margaret Sammutt took the hospital's antenatal classes and had done so for years. Bella had taken over the odd class when she had been sick or on holiday.

"Margaret was in a car accident this morning." Hearing Bella's gasp of shock, she rushed to reassure her. "She's ok except that she got a broken leg and arm and won't be able to work for at least six weeks."

"Poor thing. I'll have to go and see her later." Bella reassured the administrator that the class would run as normal and decided she needed to get a few things prepared. Trying to work out what she needed, she didn't notice Edward behind her until he spoke.

"Bella?" his silky voice seemed to caress her name.

Turning, she was close enough to notice the gold flecks in his eyes. "Ah...y...yes?"

"Can I come to the class tonight?"

"Why?" asked Bella, perplexed. "The doctor's don't usually come." At his slight frown, she continued. "I mean, it's fine if you want to but it's not necessary." She hoped she hadn't offended him with her reply, but he had surprised her with his request. No other doctor had wanted to go to an antenatal class.

"I know it's not necessary, but I'd like to come. I can introduce myself and I can answer any questions they may have that you can't answer."

It all sounded very reasonable but Bella was still surprised. "Ok, if that's what you want. The class starts at 6pm in the teaching room near the admin offices. I'll have to go and make sure it's set up."

Edward nodded. "I'm not sure where that is, but I can walk down with you, if that's ok?"

"Um...sure."

Edward smiled warmly at her, sending the tingles flying again, before gathering his notes and heading back to his office. He would record his findings for Elaine to transcribe and send to the patients and their doctors.

Bella took the opportunity to get something to eat now that she wouldn't be leaving until at least 7.30pm. After eating a hurried sandwich she went across to the teaching room to set up. Getting the key to the store room from one of the secretaries, she pulled out the beanbags and the pamphlets and writing equipment she would need. The projector was set up, with the information on the computer which was connected to it.

She was in the staffroom having a cup of tea when Edward walked in ten minutes before the class. Their eyes met and held for a few charged moments. Bella realised she wasn't just imagining the tension between them, it was real and strong.

Pulling her eyes away from his, Bella stood up and went to wash her cup. She could still feel Edward's eyes on her and forced herself to say something to break the silence.

"Ready to meet the class, Edward?" she asked, her back to him

When he spoke, his voice was directly behind her, close enough to send a shiver through her body. "Yeah, should be fun."

Taking a step to the side she turned and looked at him. His eyes were hooded, assessing. Bella knew she wouldn't have to lean too far to be able to kiss his lips, aching to do it. Instead, she turned from temptation and started towards the door.

"Let's go. I've got everything set up and they should be arriving soon," she said over her shoulder.

The first two couples were already there when Bella and Edward entered the room. Edward had taken off his coat and loosened his tie when Bella told him the classes were very informal with the aim of making everyone comfortable and relaxed.

The others wandered in and soon the five expectant mothers were all there with their birth partners. Three had their husband or the baby's father, while another had her mother and the other her friend.

Bella introduced herself and Edward then got everyone to introduce themselves before giving them a quick rundown on what would be covered over the next four Tuesdays.

"The first two weeks will be mainly on what happens during the labour and birth as well as techniques to help you cope with the pain. We'll also discuss your options for pain relief and decisions you may need to make as well as preparing a birth plan. It's unpleasant, but we'll talk about things that can go wrong and what happens in that event. The second two weeks are about caring for yourselves and your babies, before, during and after the birth. This will also include a tour of the birthing suites so that you see what to expect if you haven't been there already. Please, at any time you have questions don't be afraid to ask them because chances are, someone else here will probably be wondering the same thing. Usually we don't have a doctor in this class so please use this opportunity to ask Dr Cullen anything you're wondering about."

"Are you married Dr Cullen?" piped up one the mothers, a cheeky grin on her face.

Everyone, Bella included, burst out laughing at the surprised look on his face. Realising the joke was on him, Edward laughed along and the ice was broken.

The class began, with all the participants listening intently, asking questions and with a good deal of laughter. The couples and their birth partners got to know each other. Towards the end of the class Bella asked if there were any more questions before they left.

One of the fathers raised his hand. "Um, how long after the baby's born can we...you know...do it?" His wife turned to him and gave him a slap on the arm, making everyone laugh.

"I bet you other men were wondering the same thing, weren't you?" Edward chuckled as they nodded sheepishly. "Bella will cover that in the last session but generally you can resume relations after six weeks, depending on your partner of course. She'll have a six week check up to ensure everything's back to normal then you can go for it."

"We'll probably be too tired to do anything anyway," said the man's wife.

"So you'd better help mom with the babies and the chores, if you know what's good for you," warned Bella teasingly.

"Well if you looked like Dr Cullen, I doubt tiredness would be a problem," teased another woman.

Bella looked at Edward and saw him blush. Edward Cullen was actually blushing at the risqué teasing of a pregnant mother! She couldn't help it, she laughed along with the others even though she was secretly agreeing with the woman.

Taking pity on him, Bella brought the class to a close, assisting in getting the pregnant women's bulky bodies to their feet.

"Oh, I'll be glad when I don't feel like an elephant again," complained one as she got to her feet. "I'll be needing a crane to help me up soon."

Bella commenced gathering the bean bags and putting them in the storeroom, helped by Edward.

"That was fun. I enjoyed that," he said as he carried empty cups to the dishwasher.

"Yeah it was. That's a good group. Some groups can be really reserved and it takes a couple of classes to get them to feel comfortable. There wasn't anything shy about some of them," she laughed.

"No, especially when I'm the butt of their jokes," he chuckled, shaking his head.

Between them, it didn't take long to restore the room to order. Bella locked the door and left the key in the locked box near reception. Edward was the first to speak.

"I don't know about you, but I'm starving. How about we go get some dinner?"

Bella faltered mid-step, her breath trapped in her lungs as she heard his question. Dinner? With Edward? Oh god, I don't know if I can handle being alone with him away from here? But she badly wanted to go anyway.

"Um...sure. What do you suggest?"

He grinned at her assent. "Well, I've got a hankering for a pizza with everything on it. Do you have any recommendations?"

"Yeah, there's a good pizza place in town."

"How about I follow you there?"

"O.. ok. I'll go get my things and I'll meet you in the car park, ok?"

"Sounds good. I'll see you in five minutes," he said. They'd walked back to the maternity unit and Edward turned to go to his office to lock up.

Bella's mind and pulse were in a whirl as she collected her things. Settle down Bella, it's not a date. It's just two colleagues grabbing a bite to eat after work. That's all. Don't read anything else into it.

She told herself this over and over as she waited for him in the car park, but the moment she saw him she felt like a schoolgirl going on her first date with a long time crush. She wished she was wearing something a bit more alluring than her work clothes, before chiding herself.

"Ready?" When she nodded he pointed out his car, a silver Volvo. "Where's your car? So I know which car to follow."

Bella pointed to her red Toyota. "It's not far and traffic's light at this time so you won't lose me."

"I hope not," he murmured before walking to his car.

What did he mean by that? Dismissing it, she got in her car and drove to the pizza place, keeping an eye in the rearview mirror to make sure he was following.

They were directed to a table for two and placed their orders. Bella's heart was racing as she looked at him. In this light, he was even more handsome, his face thrown into shadows in the dim light, his cheekbones and square jaw highlighted.

Edward's eyes roamed over her hair. "Why don't you let your hair down? I'm sure that's probably the first thing you do when you get home, isn't it?"

Bella smiled. "That and kick my shoes off. But I'm not doing that here," she laughed. In truth, she did let her hair down as soon as she left, usually in the car. With a small shrug, she stood up. "I'll be back in a moment."

She felt his eyes on her back the whole way to the ladies' room. As she took the pins out and brushed out her hair, she looked at her face. Turning on the cold water, she dabbed her cheeks with a tissue, trying to cool her heated skin. Taking a deep breath, she left the room and went back to their table.

As she sat, she saw his eyes darken as he looked at her hair, its red highlights visible in the dim light.

"So, how have you found your first week here?" she asked, needing to break the silence.

"I've really enjoyed it. Everyone's been great and welcoming. I'm enjoying the change of pace, I must admit. My old hospital was really hectic all the time and being in such a large city we saw so many different types of people, not all of them good."

"We do have problems, just like any other community, you know?" warned Bella.

"Of course. But I doubt I'll be seeing so much of the dark side of humanity here. It was everyday there. Everyday we'd see a drug-addicted mother, or a pregnant young girl. Then there were the ones that didn't give a damn about their baby or pregnant prostitutes that you knew wouldn't look after their babies properly. I never really got used to these sorts of things, but I had to learn not to let it get to me."

"I know, it's awful isn't it? It just doesn't seem right when there are people who would give anything to have a baby while other's just harm themselves and their innocent babies by their own reckless behaviour," agreed Bella.

"Exactly. The extremes some people will go to in order to have a baby is incredible. I hated seeing a drug addict mother come in, knowing that poor baby would suffer so much during its withdrawal from whatever drug its mother was hooked on. It makes me want to shake them and show them what a precious gift they've been given and how could they harm something so innocent."

Bella looked at him, fascinated by the passion in his words. And the fact that she agreed totally with everything he said.

"Sorry. I'm ranting. Just, some things make me so angry," he apologised.

"No, don't apologise. I agree with everything you said. As I said, we do get our problems here. It's not perfect but hopefully you won't see anything like the number you saw before. I'm glad that you have such strong feelings. It shows that you care about the patients, especially those babies."

Edward nodded. "Yeah, I love babies. I can't wait for Alice to have hers."

It was on the tip of her tongue to ask him if he wanted some of his own, but thought better of it. It would sound like she was offering to have them with him. Not that the prospect was distasteful. Far from it.

"She'll make such a cute mother. And it'll be the best dressed baby on the Olympic Peninsula," she joked.

"On the west coast, you mean!" replied Edward. They were still laughing when their pizzas arrived.

"Mmm, that smell's heavenly," declared Bella, taking in the aroma of her pizza, her eyes closed in pleasure. When she opened her eyes, she caught Edward watching her reaction intently.

Taking a bite of his pizza, Edward groaned in delight. "Wow, that is a really great pizza," he said, eagerly taking another one. "You were right, they make a great pizza here."

After that, they ate their pizzas, with only the occasional word being spoken. Full, Bella pushed the rest away and leaned back in her seat. She had about half her pizza left but saw that Edward only had a couple of pieces.

"Ah...that certainly hit the spot," he said, wiping his mouth. "Thanks for showing me this place, Bella."

"You're welcome. They'll put the rest in a box for us to take with us."

Surprisingly, Bella was feeling relaxed in his presence. Still massively aware of him, but more comfortable, able to converse naturally. She asked him if he'd found a place to live and he told her about the house Esme had found for him.

"Alice and Mom have been busily in cahoots deciding how to decorate the place. Should I be worried?"

Bella chuckled at the mock terror on his face. "No, I know they'll do a great job."

"I know. I'm just waiting for them to tell me I have to move out while they work their magic."

You can move in with me.

Engrossed in their conversation, Bella was surprised when Edward looked at his watch and declared that it was probably time to go. "You must be tired after such a long day."

Truth be told, Bella couldn't remember feeling so energised. It was his presence, his company that was doing it. Nodding her head, she reluctantly agreed. She would be happy to stay here all night talking to him.

Edward insisted on paying their bill despite Bella's protests. "You can buy dinner next time."

Next time. Was he planning on a next time? How soon? Where? Cut it out Bella! Stop acting like a teenager.

Holding their pizza boxes, Edward walked Bella to her car and waited while she unlocked it. Taking her pizza from him, she put it in the car and closed the door.

Edward put his pizza on the roof of her car and stepped closer to her. Bella's heart began racing at his proximity and the look in his eyes. He was looking intently at her lips and when his hand reached up and took hold of a few strands of her hair in his fingers, her breath hitched in her throat.

"I enjoyed dinner," he murmured huskily.

Bella could only nod in reply, her voice having disappeared.

"I'd better go." Looking into her eyes, he lowered his head and gently placed his lips on hers.

Bella thought she would melt in a heap as every nerve in her body seemed to react to his touch. She opened her mouth and he increased the pressure of his kiss. Closing her eyes, she returned the kiss, their lips moving over each other slowly. When she felt the tip of his tongue brush over her lips, she gave a soft moan of pleasure. In need of support, she placed her hands on his shoulders, vaguely aware of his hands on her waist.

She didn't know how long the kiss lasted, but wanted to protest when he lifted his head and stepped back.

"Goodnight Bella. I'll wait while you get in the car," he said, his voice husky with desire.

A desire Bella felt in return. Oh god, that kiss was incredible. "Bye, Edward. Thanks for dinner." She was surprised her voice still worked. Walking around the car, she opened the door.

"See you tomorrow, Bella."

She nodded, still in a daze. He waited while she started the car and drove off. She watched him in the rear view mirror, driving home slowly. Her lips felt swollen and she touched them, still feeling the velvety softness of his.

She couldn't wait for tomorrow.

o-o-o-o-o-o

A/N: I love hearing from you so leave me your reviews :)