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not beta'd

storyline -Sultry

prompt - grass, pass, ass

Edward's bedroom has the best afternoon light. It fills the room with a buttery brilliance, dust particles twinkling in it like stars.

His fingers trace along the skin of my stomach, making the muscles there quiver with each pass. Even so, I press closer.

"So you don't have a very big family," he concludes.

I shake my head, watching the shadows his plants create across the hardwood floor. "Not really. And we're kind of all spread out, anyway. I only have one cousin. I get along with my Mom, though, and I'm really close to my Dad."

Edward laughs a little. "So different than what I'm used to. I have a huge family. I mean, huge. My entire life it's been… family get togethers and crazy Christmas dinners and… it's always someone's birthday. Always."

"That sounds nice," I say, and I mean it. My childhood was great, but Edward's sounds like it was very warm and crowded, in the best way.

His bed is warm and crowded, too, and we're right in the middle of it, snuggled in with all those blankets and pillows. I teased him when we got here today that he must not like sleeping alone, because there's no way someone could feel lonely surrounded by all that stuff. He didn't disagree. "Maybe you need to stay more often," he'd said.

Movies in his bed led to loving in his bed and then, like always, talking. I love that things never feel rushed with us. We might not be able to spend as much time together during the week as we'd like, but the weekends are ours and we make the most of them.

And each other.

Eventually I asked him about Kate, and why he felt he couldn't speak to her in front of me. He explained that Kate had been crying on the phone about her boyfriend, and that he hadn't really thought twice before stepping outside to console her.

"Does she do that a lot? Call with boy troubles, I mean?" I'd asked. I couldn't imagine calling my cousin Peter to discuss my boyfriends but then again, he's kind of a dolt.

But apparently Edward's family is incredibly tight knit, and his cousins are some of his very best friends. Most of his aunts and uncles live near his parents and grandparents, in and around Seattle. The ones that don't, like Kate and her siblings, live a couple of hours away.

"I'll go back one day," he says. "I love it here but... it's not the same."

Even though we're still new, the thought of him one day leaving to go back home makes my tummy flip.

The pads of his fingertips are rough; they tickle-scratch down my thighs and settle on my ass. He grins up at me, looking like a little kid.

A really naughty little kid.

God, I love him like this. I tell him.

His eyes soften and his smile fades. "Really?"

"Yes."

"Have you been in love?" he asks.

"Have you?"

He squeezes my buns. "Once. In college."

"Once, in college," I say, smiling. "Me too." And then I feel the need to clarify. "I think… that there's a difference between loving and being in love."

"True."

"Like, I love chocolate silk pie but I'm in love with sweet potato."

He snorts and pulls me closer.

"And I've loved other boys but… I'm in love with you."

"So I'm your sweet potato?" he whispers, grinning.

"Yeah," I laugh, kissing his throat. "That would be an awful nickname though."

So I said I wasn't nervous about meeting Edward's Mom and Dad, but now that the moment has come my stomach is in knots. I want desperately for them to like me.

Normally, I'm not too worried about this sort of thing. I like myself, and my boyfriend's parents have always liked me too. But it's different with the Cullens. After all, I have dated both of their sons – even though the two relationships are so completely different and separate by this point that it's almost a non issue.

Almost.

"Stop," Edward says, rubbing my back.

I glance at him. "What?"

"You're over thinking. It'll be fine." He holds the restaurant door open for me.

"Thanks," I murmur.

It's a gorgeous restaurant, Italian food, not too uppity – one that I've heard of but never been to. Edward's parents are already present, and we are led to their table right away. It overlooks the bay. They stand as we approach, and his mother's eyes literally light up when she sees Edward. "Hey, honey."

"Hi Mom."

They hug, and his father looks at me. He smiles this gentle smile, and it reminds me of Edward. So does his height and his grass green eyes. "Hi, Bella; I'm Carlisle. It's nice to meet you."

"Hi, Carlisle." We shake hands; he holds one of mine between both of his.

"I'm Esme. We have heard –" she glances knowingly at Edward – "so much about you."

I go to shake her hand too, but she pulls me into a hug. It's a little unexpected, but nice. She smells fabulous, like expensive perfume.

"Oh, really?" I laugh awkwardly. Part of me doesn't even want to know what they've heard, or from whom.

She winks at me as we sit, and just like that the tension evaporates. Edward might look like his father, but his demeanor reminds me of his mother. They both have the ability to put someone at ease.

thank you so very much for the continued love and messages and reviews and all that good stuff. i love it, i do. you guys are what makes this so fun and worthwhile.

and TT is bawling (of course his dad is watching him where i can still hear the pissed off cries. thanks, babe) and the older child is begging for dinner.

sigh.