Aw, you guys leave such lovely comments =] I'm glad you're still enjoying this fic. I wish I could update more often/leave you teasers for future chapters, but the truth is I've caught up with myself. I used to be about 3 chapters ahead of myself, but alas, I've run out =|

Also hence the lack of regular updates these days =/

Sorry about that :(

But thanks for sticking with me! I still enjoy writing this fic and I'm glad you still enjoy reading it! And were slowly but surely reaching its finale' *cries*

Anyway, never fear, there's still more to come! Now on with the chapter…

Chapter 17:

(2am)

Bella's eyes flickered open to find a cold empty space beside her, and she rose with a start, frantically looking left and right to find him. Which she eventually did, crouched down on the floor several feet away from her.

Edward meanwhile, alerted to Bella's panicked movement, rose from where he'd huddled over the glass. "Hey" he called to her, as he made his way over to the bed, perching himself on the mattress beside her.

"I was worried you'd gone" she sounded so small as she spoke; so helpless and fragile.

"No chance. I made a promise, remember" he reminded her with a sweet smile. And her entire body relaxed back into the bed as his lips caressed her forehead.

Laying back down and placing her head onto the pillow she gazed up at him. "I was just cleaning up" he told her, and she recalled the memory of having previously broken a glass.

"You could've just left that" she spoke weakly.

"It's fine. It's done now" he smiled, taking her hand to play with. Shuffling herself up against the headboard to reach his level, she took note of their joined hands. She lightly brushed the surface of his wound, tracing the gash across his knuckles with her index finger. Her brow furrowed as she did.

"Hey, you think that's bad, you should've seen the wall" he smirked, and her eyes met with his, her lips twitching a little at his comment. "My mom was furious. Given we just sold the house and all. But oh well" he shrugged. "Gota let my frustration out on something".

"You should try a stress ball next time" she smiled, amusement in her eyes, and he nodded back in delight.

"What time is it anyway?" she turned her vision towards the window, the curtains were open a jar, revealing a sheet of darkness outside.

"It's late. Or early, depending on which way you look at it..." there was a glint of humour in his eyes as he spoke. "You should sleep" he told her.

"I won't sleep without you next to me".

He smiled back lightly. "Glad to hear it". And silently hoped that wouldn't be a problem from now on anyway. "Oh" he suddenly remembered, "I hear congratulations are in order?"

She frowned, unsure of what he was talking about. "Your exams. You got into uni" he reminded her.

"Oh. Yeah. Thanks, it still hasn't sunk in yet. Cant believe school's over already".

He nodded back. "Well at least I won't be commuting on my own to uni now. We can take the train together; we'll be like, commuter buddies" he smirked at his suggestion.

But Bella's face remained serene. "Actually, I've already arranged to stay on campus".

"Oh. Oh right". Edward nodded once in understanding, his face still smiling, but not nearly as enthused as he'd previously been.

"I finalised it a couple of weeks ago, when things were bad. I thought it was for the best. There was no way I could stand to be so close to you…living with you, but not actually… being with you…" she studied his thoughtful expression; wondering what he was thinking.

"...But, maybe now things are looking up, we could enquire about getting a double room" his head rose at that, colour in his cheeks returning. "I mean, if you wanted to of course".

As if Edward would ever need to be asked twice! Being permanent roomy's with Bella certainly overshadowed his commuter-buddie idea. But he tried to remain as cool as he possibly could. "Yeah, that sounds like a plan".

"It might be easier for Charlie and Esme' as well. Not having us in their faces all the time. It might help them come to terms with things".

He nodded once again. "Yeah," and suddenly there were two bonus's to that completely awesome plan. "I think you're onto something there Swan".

"Well, I like to think I'm a master of brilliant ideas" she said smartly.

"True that ... And it'd be fun living with you" he smiled, now intrigued by the many possibilties. He moved the quilt to one-side, shuffling over to hover above her body, she slid down the pillow and onto her back on the bed as the gap closed between them. "Although, if I'm honest, I will miss being able to sneak into your room when you're not expecting it" his hand slid beneath the night gown she still had on, to caress her inner thigh. "I guess I'll just have to surprise you in different ways though" his eyes were intense as he looked down at her, and her body squirmed a little, her breath and eyes heavy as he touched her.

"You always surprise me" her voice gushed. And her legs spread apart as his hand moved from her thigh to undo the knot in her gown. She was glad to be released from the restrictive material.

He captured her lips as he bound himself to her. There was no space between them as he rolled them both over and she swallowed him whole. Finding herself straddling him like a horse. His one hand rested on her thigh, while his other one placed itself on her butt cheek, manoeuvring her as she rocked.

As the sweat poured from her pores she fully removed the night gown that surrounded her, tossing it to the floor leaving her naked.

She arched her back as she stretched out, and using any strength he had left, Edward pushed himself upwards, hooking both hands around her backside as he sat up, legs out wide. And all the while he kept her fixed to him, whilst her legs wound around his waist.

She continued to pulsate into him as they kissed, but as their movements became more vigorous and out of control, their mouths broke apart to reach their ultimate climax. They were left exhausted at the finish, both resting their heads on the others shoulder, as they sat together in tranquil silence.

…

"Oh, damit" cursed Bella in a mutter, as she looked at the time displayed on her cell phone, it read 11am. That and the 4 missed calls from her dad told her they'd overslept, big time.

Placing her phone back onto the bedside table she swivelled her body around, seeing Edward lying beside her, soundlessly asleep.

For a moment she simply admired him, that little smile on his face, the rosiness of his cheeks, it almost pained her to deprive him of such peacefulness, but given they'd probably already aroused their parents suspicion enough, it seemed the wiser option to just wake him up, rather than prolong it.

"Edward?" she stroked his arm with the back of her index finger, and he twitched, forehead crumpling as he came around. His hazy eyes were like slits of black as he was dragged from sleep into awareness. "I'm really sorry to wake you, but it's after 11".

"Oh" he hushed, eyes opening wider to reveal his ocean-blue iris'. "Ok ... I'm up" he forced his heavy body upright, running a hand through his hair as he took a second to be still and silent.

"Dad's been phoning me all morning" added Bella, as she climbed out of bed and knelt down beside her suitcase. There was a tinge of dread in her voice as she spoke, and it wasn't hard to tell why.

"They're probably freaking out you know, wondering where we are. The last thing we want is for them to end up strolling up here to try and find us," she went on, while Edward seemed mesmerized as he stared at her naked back, the strands of her dark brown locks sprayed out down her neck and past her shoulder-blades; she looked like a mermaid.

"And what would we even say anyway? Can you imagine their faces, talk about total déjà vu" she continued jabbering on.

Meanwhile, shifting himself out of Bella's side of the bed, Edward came up behind her, crouching down at her back when she wasn't expecting it. She was soon made aware though, and shivered as he gently removed the hair to oneside, before he nuzzled her neck, kissing her skin and quieting her anxious utterances.

She held onto the suitcase for support in front of her, her eyelids fluttering shut at the sensation of his mouth sucking her neck. Before his lips released her, his hands at her waist guiding her around to face him.

He didn't say anything as he placed a light kiss to her knee which was perched upright before him. And then a moment later he'd attacked her lips in a hot and passionate kiss.

She inevitably lost her footing as he leant into her, and she stumbled backwards, not far enough to hurt herself, but she ended up on her backside, with her back pressed into the edge of the suitcase; not that she minded of course. She was far too caught up in their passionate embrace to even take note of anything else around her.

Edward's hands raked her body, his large palms massaging her skin, and knowing he was so close to her centre, she almost couldn't take it. Bella throbbed for him, a warmth sizzling up inside of her; like a brimming fire, but as he pulled away and simply looked at her, she forcibly had to control herself.

"What was that for?" she panted across to him, her body now damp but ready for action. Her mind was practically in hysteria at the fact that he'd stopped mid-way. But she knew it was the right thing to do, they couldnt get carried away, not with their parents waiting for them downstairs.

"Just because…" he shrugged, a light smile on his face, but there was an intensity in his eyes; one he had only for Bella.

From an outsiders perspective, Bella imagined they would've looked quite bizarre sat there, all cooped up on the floor, pressed up against her suitcase. But for Bella, it couldn't have been more romantic. He'd caught her off guard, ravished her like she was the only thing left in the world; she couldn't feel more wanted if she tried.

But then, as per usual, reality kicked in. "… I might not be able to do that again for awhile, depending on how our parents take it" he admitted, and with that, her previous longing for him turned from an ache in her stomach to a churning of uneasiness and sickness.

The colour and exuberance drained from her face, ever so slightly, and as Edward picked up on it, he immediately wished he could take it back.

"But hey, not to worry" he ran a hand up and down her bare thigh. "As if I cant win Charlie over! ... Things will come right in the end Bella. You'll see" he stroked her cheek, pecking her lips one more time before smiling at her.

"Anyway, we best get going. Or they'll by sending out a search party" he said as he steadied her back onto her feet, before standing up and heading off towards the bathroom to change.

After she'd watched him walk away, Bella re-positioned herself back where she'd previously been. Digging into her suitcase whilst desperately trying to cling onto that ever diminishing light at the end of this very long and dark tunnel…

…

"Bellz!" announced Charlie as he noticed his daughter up ahead, bags in hand; but his smile faded a little as Edward came into view behind her; but it was only a glimmer. "Where were you? You missed breakfast" Charlie asked, his eyes moving from Bella to Edward and back again.

"Yeah, sorry, we overslept" she spoke casually as she dumped her suitcase beside him, but on seeing a flicker cross her parents faces, she quickly back peddled, "I mean, not we, we didn't oversleep" she hand gestured between herself and Edward, but that only appeared to make things worse. "I meant, more as in… never mind" she sighed, "Did you sleep well?"

Charlie gave a feeble nod, a thoughtful line across his forehead, but as he grasped his glass of orange juice, taking a sip, the crease seemed to disappear. Esme' meanwhile lightly dabbed her mouth with her napkin before setting it aside.

"If you're hungry, breakfast doesn't close for another 10 minutes" announced Esme', as she briefly eyed her watch.

"Yeah, I think I might grab a light snack before we leave" mused Bella, as she cast an eye towards the breakfast counter that the cooks had left for them.

"Yeah, best get our moneys worth" Edward smirked, rubbing his hands together.

"You mean, our moneys worth" Charlie reminded him, almost jokingly. And Edward grinned back at his step-fathers light banter; surprised that Charlie had even acknowledged him. He'd barely spoken a word to him since he'd arrived.

"Hey, I was thinking of you when I said it" Edward humoured him, before following Bella away.

Standing at the fruit counter, Edward uttered to Bella. "You know, you didn't have to go to such a great length to back-pedal just then" it was the first time since last night that an evident irritation hindered Edward's voice. "You could've just left it. It might be better if they just work it out for themselves anyway" he spoke keeping a straight face, trying to be subtle about it.

"What? No way! I don't want them finding out like that, not here, not a day after their wedding. It wouldn't be fair" she muttered back, annoyed over his sudden lack of sensitivity.

But Edward gave a solemn nod in response, and despite rolling his eyes he knew she was probably right. It just grieved him to keep the true state of their relationship so hidden. Grabbing some fruit in silence, he headed back towards the table to rejoin their parents.

"Hey! Bella, right?" a voice called to her left, and Bella found Jasper walking towards her, she'd almost forgotten about him and was surprisingly thankful for the change in company.

"Hey, Jasper! I was wondering if I'd see you again".

"Yeah, well I'm glad I caught you. I er, wanted to give you something" he turned shy and awkward, and as he ushered Bella to one side, she had a feeling she knew what this was about… at least she hoped anyway.

"Would you, would you mind giving this to your friend for me please? Alice?"

A smile spread across Bella's face, finding him utterly adorable as he sheepishly handed her a small piece of paper with his cell number scrawled onto it. "Of course I will. I'd be happy too."

"Great. Thanks. I mean, she can just text me, or phone me if she wants; whatever's easier. Or, you know she doesn't have to, I don't want it to seem like I'm pressuring her or anything. Anyway it's totally her call".

Bella tried her best not to snigger, amused by his awkwardness. But it seemed the whole dating thing was pretty alien to him; having lived out in the middle of nowhere for so long. He was doing quite well considering, at least he'd been bold enough to make the first move, and Bella was grateful for that, and she knew Alice would be too.

"Thanks, I'll give it to her when I get back, I promise".

"Great, thanks! Well anyway, it was nice meeting you Bella. Safe journey yeah! And maybe, I'll see you around" he spoke as he started to walk away.

"You know what Jasper, I have a feeling you will" Bella smiled back knowingly, and he walked away with his head held up high. It was obvious he felt good about himself, and that in turn made Bella feel good. She was happy she could be the mediator in getting two lovely people on the road to love and happiness. And hopefully it would be a smoother ride than the one she was currently on.

Bella turned around to see her dad's dorky face before her. His smile was so suggestive, like he assumed she'd just pulled or something. And aside from her annoyance, it was all starting to creep her out more than anything.

"Don't bother!" she warned him, pulling a serious face, before turning back towards the food counter to grab some things.

"Alright" Charlie rolled his eyes, letting it go a lot easier than Bella had thought he would. "Well are you kids ready to make a move or what? Lots of packing to be done at home!" teased Charlie, as Bella stuffed the piece of paper with Jaspers details safely into the pocket of her jeans, before grabbing a couple of bananas, an apple and a pack of crackers for the jaunt back home.

"Packing! Great. I can hardly contain myself," Bella spoke in sarcasm as she grinned back at her father. "No, really" her eyes opened wide as she looked at him.

"Oh Bellz, the excitements just oozing from you" Charlie commented back in amusement, as he grabbed his bags and headed for the exit. Bella mimicked his actions and followed along.

"Edward, will you help me with these bags?" Esme' called to her son, despite only having two bags herself.

But Edward doubled back anyway, thinking nothing of it. "Sure" he said as Charlie and Bella headed for the vehicle. "So did you enjoy your first night as a married lady?" he smiled, "And dont go into too many details, its too early to be grossed out by my parents. I dont think my stomach could take it", he smirked, but the response he received was far from expected.

"What are you doing Edward?" her tone was filled with disapproval, warning and concern. He didn't have to guess what his mother was referring too. "Tell me you haven't?" Esme' pleaded with him.

He sighed, glancing up ahead at Bella and her father, who both shared a laugh between them. "Haven't what mom?" he suddenly felt impatient.

"You promised me this was over".

"I did no such thing" he told her. "And it's different this time. We're not just fooling around anymore. This is real for us" she silently shook her head, not knowing what to think. "I'm going to fix this mom, I promise" he looked her directly in the eye; sincere and resolute.

"Oh Edward" she sighed, shaking her head once more. "Just don't mess this up, do you hear me!" she told him fiercely, almost out of character for the gentle mother he was so used too, but there was more fear in her eyes than anger. Before he could answer back, a clueless Charlie re-appeared, beckoning them on.

"You guys coming or what? Unless of course you plan on walking home?" he grinned.

And Edward didn't waste any time as he headed out, leaving his mother and her concerns behind him. Edward had his own worries, he couldn't deal with hers as well…

Upcoming chapters - The big move is upon us! How will the four of them handle living together as a 'proper' family? Charlie finds something unexpected - will it lead to a change of heart? And all is finally revealed. How will Charlie handle Bella's serious relationship? Will he welcome Edward with open arms, or a flying punch? =P