Disclaimer: Twilight and characters belong to Stephenie Meyer.

The wind and rain were a torrent of darkness upon the trees. Bella watched the weather through the large window from the comfort of her living room. She stood in her faded flannel pajamas with her bedspread wrapped around her like a multicolored burrito. Only her face was peeking out through all the fabric. The soothing sounds of the storm outside were helping her to think. She desperately wanted to clear her head. She hadn't heard from Edward in two days. She was allowing herself one more day until she could completely freak out. That was the standard, she concluded, three days. She had already called out of work that day and planned on spending her free time exactly like that - wrapped up and cozy in her little apartment.

Alice had called to ask what her lunch plans were, and Bella vacillated between some excuses. She wasn't sure if hiding away was such a good idea but knew she wouldn't be able to put on a plastic smile to placate Alice either. Finally, Bella just told her that she couldn't go.

She had been sure Edward was interested in her. He had seemed curious about that classmate who approached her at the bar, but now she was nervous that it might have made her seem not interested in Edward since she had been talking to another guy. Should she have said something like "I don't want him" or "You're the only one I want"? No, she decided. It would have made her seem deranged and she did nothing wrong. Yet, he left with Jane, his ex, and hasn't called her like he said he would. He had asked. She had told him yes. Then she wondered about her tone when she told him yes. Maybe because of the whole him leaving with Jane thing had knocked her off balance, her yes sounded more like a no. Maybe, she thought, she should have gone to lunch with Alice. She was losing it.

Edward had spent the last two days thinking about Bella's panties. How cute they were - all white cotton with little tiny flowers. He had made fun of them, but it was the furthest from the truth. He had much preferred finding her in them to those predictable lacy things. He thought about them between each question on his biology test that he had stayed up all night studying for – while also thinking about her panties. While helping Jasper and Emmett put together some living room shelving unit. While jerking off in the shower. While he went for his morning run. He was losing it.

Yet, he couldn't bring himself to call her. He didn't want to seem too desperate. She hadn't called him and he had been the last to call her. He had even shown up at her door, twice. So what if she wasn't home the first time? He had told her via voicemail that he had been there. He needed a plan.

On the third day, if Bella was being honest with herself, she knew she was eager to get to school for the chance she would see Edward Cullen. She switched her route so that she passed near the area she had spotted him before. Unfortunately, she didn't see him and found herself sulking in her hard metal desk all through class.

Edward had called to beg his parents for a favor. It took him almost an hour to convince them that he was responsible and that they could trust him. Once he got the response he was looking for, he grabbed his jacket on the way out the door. Of course Bella's phone went straight to voicemail when he finally decided to call her. So, he tried the next best thing. He called Alice. She let him know where he could find Bella and find her he did. He waited for her outside of class.

All her sulking left a frown on Bella's face when she left class, but it turned to shock when she found Edward leaning against the cold cement wall. Her face flushed and her bag almost slid off her shoulder. She caught it by the strap in time.

"Hi," she greeted him first.

"I want to take you somewhere. Will you go with me, my pretty little thing?" he asked.

"Where? Now?" Bella wanted to go with him now and it didn't matter where, but she did have another class and those questions just seemed like an appropriate reply. She'd skip her next class regardless of the answer.

"This weekend and it's a surprise." He grabbed the bag from her and threw it over his own shoulder. He wrapped his other arm around her and escorted her down the hall. "Where are you headed?"

Bella wanted to lie and tell him she was free the rest of the day, but she was a terrible liar… and just felt wrong lying to him. "Well, I've got another class," she sighed and continued, "It's a dozer… two hours of monotone rambling."

"Can I walk you?" he asked.

Bella let him know which way she was headed and he walked her all the way, keeping his arm secured around her. A million questions juggled around in her head, but the walk remained quiet between them.

When they reached her destination, he handed back her bag.

"You never answered my question." Edward was hoping she would have asked more about his surprise.

"I'm free this weekend," Bella replied. She looked up at him with shy brown eyes. He watched her drop her eyes as she mumbled, "You haven't called."

Edward ran his hand through his hair. He was elated that she seemed displeased about that, but at the same time it made him feel like shit. "Yeah, sorry. I've been a bit busy."

"How is Jane?" Bella cringed internally. She hadn't meant to ask that question. She wanted to face palm, but instead she just let her hair fall down around her face.

"Um, I haven't seen her since I dropped her off the other night. She was really wasted though. I had to pretty much carry her up three flights of stairs. It would have been funny to watch her try to climb them herself, but there was the fear of her falling down three flights of stairs." Edward chuckled a bit, but then felt like shit again for laughing at Jane's expense. He was sure it made him seem like an ass.

Bella just nodded and hid her smile. With a straight face, Bella made eye contact again. "So, I should go," she said, pointing to the door behind her. "Will you be picking me up this weekend… or like do I have to meet you somewhere?"

Edward was relieved she still wanted to go with him. He gave her a few details and made plans to call her. Then leaned in and kissed her chastely on her soft lips. "See you soon, Bella," he practically whispered and watched as she entered her class.

Edward picked Bella up at work on Friday. She had packed ahead of time and brought her bag with her to work so that she'd be ready when he arrived. He had called the day before to hash out the schedule, and Bella was stunned to learn it was a full weekend getaway. When she mentioned her plans to Alice and Rosalie, they got all giddy and made sure to tease her about using protection. She asked them if they knew anything, like where she was actually going, and they were both clueless. She had hoped they heard something from Jasper or Emmett.

The drive was long and Bella found herself drifting off in the passenger seat. Edward kept the radio low as she napped, glancing over every once and awhile to watch her sleep. When the car pulled onto the gravel driveway, Bella woke from the vibrations and adjustment of speed. She glanced at the clock on the car's dashboard and sighed.

"Sorry for sleeping for so long. I am a terrible travel companion," she apologized.

Edward smiled and shook his head. "Don't worry about it. Plus now that you had a nap you'll be well rested." Bella blushed and distracted herself by taking in her surroundings.

They were parked in front of a beautiful, old cabin. Tall trees walled them in from nothing and everything, except the road that led them there. The air smelled clean but with a hint of salt.

"Are we near the ocean?" Bella asked.

"Yep." Edward smiled again and opened his door. He walked around while Bella gathered the things stored by her feet and he opened her door as well. He left her there to admire the cabin while he gathered their bags from the back seat. She was clutching her purse, book, and pillow as he led her in. He had ruffled around in the bushes first, before he jumped out holding a key and yelling, "Ah Hah!"

"This is my parents' cabin. They lease it out every so often, but no one is staying here for at least another month. I had to repeat over and over again that I was not having a party before they finally believed me. I told them I needed to get away to study. It took a lot of convincing before they told me where the hidden key was." Edward chuckled again.

Bella was still admiring the bright wood furniture and floor length windows that revealed that they were in fact very close to the ocean.

"It's very nice," she stated. Her eyes were suddenly on his.

Then her lips were on his. The items she had in her hands fell to the floor so that she could use them to pull him close. He kissed her back, and she was pure warmth and melting sweetness.

"Christ, have mercy," he whispered.

Bella let out a soft gasp when he touched her cheek with his cold hand, and Edward used this opportunity to access her mouth with his tongue. Kissing her left tingles throughout his body and he quickly gathered her up. Bella responded by locking her ankles together behind his back. He held her against him as he walked them towards the master bedroom. He wasn't as gentle as he meant to be when he dropped her on the bed, and she bounced once. Bella laughed.

Edward stripped off his sweater and shirt at the same time and made work on his jeans. Bella was slower because of her position, but managed to remove her shirt and shimmy her jeans down before Edward crawled up over her. This was going better than he had imagined. He had hoped that he would get to do this again with her but didn't think it would happen right away. He had planned on working for it. This was better.

Bella didn't know what had gotten into her, but she wanted him. She wanted to be close to him again. She wanted him more than she was nervous, which was saying a lot. She was pretty nervous. Edward returned to kissing her and while touching and caressing, they had somehow moved the comforter down to cover themselves from the chill of the room. The pillows were cool from the temperature and felt nice on their flushed faces.

When their undergarments were removed, Edward kissed both her nipples, admiring that were a rosy pink, the same as her lips.

"Bella, I have to leave to go get a condom from my bag." This was also said out loud so she could state any objections, if she had any.

Before Edward could leave, Bella wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered, "I'm on the pill."

They both stopped talking and resumed kissing. Edward spread her legs with his own and aligned himself. He was still afraid of hurting her and decided that this time he wouldn't rush it. Instead of doing what he really wanted to do at that moment, he kissed down her body instead. Once Bella realized what he was doing she began to squirm. This was too much, too embarrassing for her.

Edward felt her movements and placed his hand on her stomach to calm her. He looked up to find her covering her face with her hands. "Bella, relax. It's ok." He kissed her creamy thigh while still looking at her. She peeked down at him through her fingers.

"You are so beautiful," he said and then kissed her where it mattered.

Soon her hands were no longer on her face, but fisted in the sheets above her. She still partially hid her face in the crook of her arm, but that was mainly to muffle the sounds that escaped her lips. Edward loved the sounds, but they were making things difficult for him on his end. He desperately wanted to be inside her.

When he felt her shudder, he crawled back up and buried his face in her hair and neck. Bella draped her leg over his thigh and felt him slide his tip up and down. She was so sensitive that she didn't know if it felt good or if she wanted to tell him to stop. She definitely wasn't going to tell him to stop though. It felt so wet down there. She didn't know if that was normal, and her nerves were kicking in again. They disappeared when she felt him enter her.

Everything disappeared. She didn't remember it feeling so good last time. She gasped and clung to his back as he entered inch by inch. His face was still hidden in her neck, but she felt his heavy breathing and sometimes his eyelashes on her cheek. When he began rocking his hips she felt his lips and teeth on her ear. Her body was on overload. Nothing was supposed to be this good.

Edward started slow, but he couldn't control his primitive instincts. He left his hiding place and lifted up so he could see her face. This made her shy and she closed her eyes. He kissed her neck and then used his arms to hold himself up. Bella copied his movements and opened her legs wide. She wanted more and more. When her breathing became heavy and her moans loud Edward came to a finish. He rolled over slightly, pulling her close with one arm and with the other he sought out the blanket by their knees that got kicked off half way through. He just wanted to lay there forever in this post-coital bliss.

He was too happy, so when Bella moved to get up, he trapped her there. She giggled and tried again, but he held her tight. She went to tell him to let her up, but he lightly covered her mouth with his hand and shushed her. She laughed again and removed his hand, but before she could finish the first word, he covered it again. This made her laugh even harder and she whined his name into his hand.

"Ok, Ok… ruin the mood…" Edward teased and released her from his grasp.

Bella had taken health classes and knew it was a good idea to use the bathroom afterwards. She cleaned herself up a bit too and then joined him back in bed. He immediately pulled her back into his arms.

"You hungry?" he asked into her hair.

"A little," she replied.

"What are you making me?" he asked with a serious tone, but Bella snapped her head towards him so fast that he couldn't help but let out a laugh.

"I'm kidding!" he exclaimed while laughing.

Bella huffed and crossed her arms over her chest, well, as best as she could in the position she was in. This only brought Bella's breasts to Edward's attention again.

"I'll order a pizza. There is no food here. I know there is one place that still makes the trip out here. We won't starve." He kissed her head and lightly ran his fingertips over her left breast.

Edward left to grab the menu from the kitchen drawer, along with his cell phone, but returned straight away. When the pizza arrived he only threw on his jeans to answer the door. He placed the box on the bed, removed his jeans, and jumped under the covers. That is where they stayed the rest of the evening.

A/N: I am really sorry about the delay. It was just a crazy couple of weeks. I want to thank all my readers and followers!

We Both Go Down Together by The Decemberists – one of the songs on the playlist for this story.

I also had major problems trying to spit this chapter out. I even canceled on my friends Sat. night to sit at home and stare at the monitor. The first line I ripped off from The Highwayman poem… for some reason it was stuck in my head…

Thank you Jessica for everything! I had the pleasure of spending some time with her up in Jersey. It was short but sweet.