A/N Happy Saturday! I wanted to apologize for not getting a chapter up yesterday. I worked on one and finished it late last night, but I was so tired I didn't want to post it until I got the chance to reread it and proof it. I'm glad I did because I made several corrections and additions this morning. As always, thank you so much to everyone who is following my story! You're the reason I stay so motivated to finish it! I'll leave you with one final thought before you begin... this weekend is going to be busy for me and I'm not sure when I'll be able to update again, if at all. I'm participating in a walk/run event to raise money for ovarian cancer tomorrow and then I'll be spending time with my extended family. I'll do my best, but no promises! Here you go... Please enjoy and send me your thoughts!

Chapter 38 – The Talk

Bella wasn't sure how long she'd been asleep, but as she began waking up, she could hear Edward talking to someone. She stayed perfectly still at first, not wanting to interrupt in the middle of a conversation. Plus, she wasn't sure who he was talking to or what they were talking about. She did feel his finger absently playing with the ring on hers as he began to speak.

"Yes, this was my mother's ring. I couldn't see the possibility of falling in love two years ago because my grief was too fresh; too new. I realize now that you were right to tell me to keep her jewelry. I gave Bella this ring as a promise to her – a promise to love her, to take care of her, to cherish her, but most importantly, a promise that I will ask her to be my wife one day. I love her with all my heart and soul and if she'll have me, I will spend the rest of my life with her."

As soon as Bella had heard her name, she opened her eyes and took a quick inventory of the room. They appeared to be in the den and she was still on his lap where she had fallen asleep. Edward hadn't noticed she was awake yet and was looking at Esme as he spoke. Her heart almost exploded to hear him tell someone else about the promise he had made to her; it made it that much more real and concrete. Edward loved her and would one day marry her.

Without a second thought, Bella sat up and threw her arms around Edward's neck, squeezing him tightly. He held her close in response and whispered, "I love you, my Bella. You are my life, my future, and my forever."

"I love you, too, Edward. Always." Always and Forever: Bella had no doubt in her mind that that one simple phrase would describe the relationship they had until the end of time.

When Esme cleared her throat it brought Bella back to the present and she looked up a little sheepishly. "I'm so sorry I freaked out before; I don't even really know why."

Edward hugged her tighter to him as Esme responded, "Bella, dear, you have absolutely nothing to apologize for, okay?" She waited until Bella nodded in agreement before she continued. "Honey, Edward and I will fill you in on what you missed but…" she paused and looked at Edward as if to ask with her eyes permission for something. That's when Edward leaned in and kissed her forehead before taking a deep breath.

"Bella, first of all, I want to apologize to you," Edward told her after releasing the breath. When she started to protest he quickly continued. "Just hear me out for a minute, please?" Silently she nodded, so he went on. "Love, the reason I'm apologizing is for not thinking about the possible repercussions of our physical relationship."

His words were simple enough, but then Bella's eyes grew wide and shot over to Esme. She felt the heat automatically rising in her face and knew she was blushing like crazy. Could he really be talking about this right in front of his mother? She felt like she was going to die of embarrassment. Edward, being so perceptive of what she was feeling, was quick to offer reassurance, gently stroking her cheek with his thumb. "Baby, it's okay. While you were sleeping, my mom and I talked about where things stood with us. That's actually what we wanted to talk to you about. I felt that you should be involved in this part of the conversation."

Bella looked into Edward's eyes and saw nothing but love shining back at her. Then she looked at Esme. There was no anger, no shock, no disgust on her face; she simply looked concerned as she smiled back at Bella. Taking a deep breath she finally spoke. "Okay, what do you want to talk about?"

…..

When Bella apologized for freaking out before, he felt as if he'd been stabbed in the heart. When she admitted she didn't even know why, it felt as if someone had actually ripped it out of his chest. He hugged her tighter to his chest and was about to tell her she didn't have anything to apologize for when his mom spoke up, taking the words right out of his mouth.

"Bella, dear, you have absolutely nothing to apologize for, okay?" Edward watched as his mom waited until Bella nodded in agreement before continuing. "Honey, Edward and I will fill you in on what you missed but…" She looked at Edward now, an unspoken question in her eyes and he knew it was time for him to man up.

He leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead before taking a deep breath and releasing it. "Bella, first of all, I want to apologize to you," he told her. When she started to protest so he hurried on. "Just hear me out for a minute, please?" He needed her to listen and let him apologize because after the talk with his mother, he felt extremely guilty. Silently she nodded for him to continue so he did. "Love, the reason I'm apologizing is for not thinking about the possible repercussions of our physical relationship."

Bella looked at him and he watched her eyes grew wide. Then she shot a panicked look over at Esme. She was obviously embarrassed by what he said in front of his mother. He could tell because her face suddenly flushed a beautiful shade of red. Gently, he brought his thumb to her cheek and started rubbing soothing circles there.

"Baby, it's okay. While you were sleeping, my mom and I talked about where things stood with us. That's actually what we wanted to talk to you about. I felt that you should be involved in this part of the conversation."

She looked at Edward for a moment and then over at his mother. She must have seen the reassurance she was looking for in their faces because she took a deep breath and finally said, "Okay, what do you want to talk about?"

Edward immediately relaxed once it seemed Bella was okay with having this discussion. He looked at his mom, who nodded for him to begin, and then he looked at Bella once more. With one more calming breath, he began the much-needed conversation.

"Bella, it was completely irresponsible of me to not even ask if you were taking some sort of birth control. Seeing how it was a first for both of us, I'm willing to bet the answer is no though. Am I right?" He looked at Bella questioningly and was somewhat relieved when she smiled at him.

"Edward, don't you think I would have said something that first night in Port Townsend at the Bed and Breakfast?" she asked him.

He wasn't sure at all how to respond to her question. If he were being honest, protection in any form was the last thing on his mind when they were together. All he knew was that he couldn't get enough of the woman sitting in his lap right now. He felt so much love and need when it came to thinking about Bella and being intimate with her that all other coherent thoughts flew right out the window.

He chuckled to himself realizing that the old statement was true: there's only enough blood flow to reach one head at a time. As if to second the thought, he felt his dick twitch underneath Bella right then and he was barely able to stifle the moan on his lips. Just thinking about intimacy with Bella made him hard.

…..

Edward was absolutely adorable. As far as birth control was concerned, Bella was taken care of and had been for over a year. It wasn't because he had ever been sexually intimate with another person or even come close for that matter. It was because of her damn periods. Every time, just before she would get her monthly visit from Aunt Flo, she would cramp up so bad it felt like she was being gutted. The pain was so debilitating that, for three days, she was unable to even get out of bed.

Her mother always took care of her when it happened. She was there to comfort her and be there for her. She was there to wait on her hand and foot because Bella couldn't do anything for herself.

Finally, after about a year of dealing with the problem of her period, her mother decided it was time to actually deal with the issue at hand. She was taken to see a GYN who immediately understood the issue. First, they tried putting her on the pill, and it helped a little, but the problem was it was hard for a fifteen year-old girl to remember to take a pill at the same time every day with out fail.

After a few months, the GYN decided to switch her to the patch, thinking that maybe only having to remember to change it once a week would be easier. She was on the patch for about six months but then developed some sort of allergy to it and found that every time she went to change it, the site where the old was had been was red and irritated.

As a last option, she was put on the shot. It had actually been a godsend, because about six months after being put on it, Bella's periods stopped completely. She couldn't have been more excited at never having to deal with it again, or at least not until she stopped the injections.

The thought about using a condom during sex never even crossed her mind because she knew that she wouldn't get pregnant. She also knew that Edward was a virgin like she was, so there was no need to worry about getting an STD – something the shot didn't protect against.

The reaction Edward had though when she told him she would have said something in Port Townsend if it were an issue was absolutely priceless. "Well… um… wait… What are you saying Bella?" He appeared to be too dumbfounded to really form a coherent thought.

"Babe, I don't want to get into details, but I used to have really bad PMS." Edward gave her a confused look so she continued. "The doctors tried everything they could think of from the pill to the patch. Their last option was a birth control shot called Depo-Provera. Every twelve weeks I get an injection in my backside, which by the way, totally sucks. My doctor in Phoenix told me that it's a form of contraceptive that's just as effective if not more so than the pill, especially since I don't have to remember to take it every day."

Bella turned to Esme then and added, "Actually, I've been meaning to ask you if you would mind helping me find a doctor that would be willing to give me my shots. I'm due for my next one in two weeks." She smiled at Edward's mom and then went on to say, "My dad hasn't been around a teenage girl since he was a teenager himself and if I asked him for help I think he'd probably just pass out. I can't say that I really blame him, but still. I thought it would just be easier to ask you."

Without missing a beat, Esme automatically smiled at her. "Of course sweetie. I'd be more than happy to help you." She paused for a moment and then continued, "You know, Carlisle could get the shot from work and give it to you here if you'd be comfortable with that. It might be easier than trying to get your records from Phoenix transferred to another doctor in town. Plus it would save you from having to explain every little detail of your medical history." Esme had a point and Bella nodded in agreement. It would definitely be easier. Plus, Bella already felt comfortable with Carlisle.

Then Esme turned her gaze to Edward. "Son, would you be okay with your father giving Bella her birth control shot?" she asked in a kind voice.

Edward looked confused for a minute and Bella wondered why he might not be okay with Carlisle giving her the shot. Then she remembered what she had said about where she would be getting it and his anxiety suddenly made sense. He was worried because Carlisle would have to give her the injection in her butt.

"Oh, um…" Bella couldn't help but smile at how inarticulate he was being. It seemed as if he was having some difficulty finding the right words to express his concern. Finally, he took a few deep breaths and started over. "Bella, where did you say you got this injection?"

Before she had a chance to answer him, Esme spoke up, probably having seen their shared look of embarrassment. "Well, I may be wrong, but I don't think you'll need to worry about the issue I'm assuming is on your mind right now. I've never actually given the shot myself, but I think I read in one of my medical journals that it can be given in the buttocks or in the arm."

Bella breathed a huge sigh of relief at the same time as Edward but she spoke up before he could say anything. "Thank you, Esme. You've been so kind to me since the moment we first met. I would appreciate it if you would check with Carlisle about the shot." She smiled a genuine smile at Esme before continuing. "Of course I would prefer to receive it in my arm unless someone I don't know gives it. I think any other way would just be too awkward. Not just for me, but for Carlisle and Edward as well. I know he's a professional and all, but still."

Esme seemed to agree with her. "Yes, of course. When Carlisle gets back from your house…" Her voice trailed off as she realized something and that completely confused Bella. She honestly couldn't remember anything from last night other than the fact that someone had broken into her house.

Looking completely uncomfortable, Esme spoke again. "Look, why don't you kids go upstairs and grab a shower." She glanced at the clock and then to them. "When you're both finished we can talk about what happened last night."

Without giving her a chance to object, Edward stood with her securely enfolded in his arms. He shifted once to get a better grip on her and then said, "Come on, beautiful. I'm sure you could also use something to eat; you're probably starving." He told Esme that they would be back and then carried her up the stairs and to his room.

…..

Edward didn't want to admit it, but all the talk about contraceptives and sex made him extremely horny. It didn't help that Bella had been sitting on his lap so close to him either. When his mother had spoken about Carlisle coming back from Bella's house, he automatically tensed, but Esme let her words die out. Then she suggested that he and Bella shower before talking about what happened last night and he could feel himself start to stiffen at the thought of Bella in his shower.

Without giving Bella a chance to say anything, he stood with her still wrapped in his arms. Shifting slightly to better hide his growing erection he spoke to Bella. "Come on, beautiful. I'm sure you could also use something to eat; you're probably starving." He told his mom they'd be down when they were ready, and then he hauled her up to his room.

Once they were in his room, he set Bella down on the bed and went back to lock the door. When he turned around he knew his eyes were dark with desire. Right then he wanted nothing more than to make love to his beautiful girlfriend. The rest of the world ceased to exist completely.

Bella must have seen the desire in his eyes because the moment he reached the bed, she threw herself into his arms and kissed him hard. He instantly responded to her by opening his mouth and allowing her access to his. He let out the moan he had been holding in the moment their tongues met.

Frantically he pulled at the hem of her t-shirt until it came free from her, breaking the kiss only for the briefest of seconds. As he was pulling her shirt off of her, her hands found the way to the button of his jeans and she made quick work of getting them off of him. He moaned and thrust into her as she palmed his throbbing erection.

Shower be damned, he was going to take her now. He pushed her back on the bed and pulled his boxers off of her. Only taking a second to toss them aside, he quickly grabbed her ankles and pulled her legs where he wanted them, up to his shoulders. Without a second thought he was positioned at her entrance and then was pumping into her with short tentative stokes at first. When he knew he wouldn't hurt her, he began pumping faster and deeper until he was slamming into her fast and furiously.

"Oh god Bella… I just couldn't take it anymore," he told her, never slowing his thrusts. "I needed to be inside you, to feel your walls swallow my entire cock. You feel so effing perfect around me; so tight." His thumb sought out her clit and she bucked at the first contact, bringing herself impossibly closer to him. The sensation was incredible and he knew he was about to lose it.

Not wanting to be the only one to reach climax, he started worrying quick, rough circles around her clit. "Bella, baby, look at me," he told her, waiting until she was able to open her eyes and meet his. "It's okay love. Let go. I need to feel you come and I'm so close. Will you come with me?" he asked her.

It was clear to him that she was as close as he was when she started gasping for air. "Edward… Oh. My. God!" she nearly screamed. "Yes! Right. Fucking. There!"

That was when he felt her walls tighten around him. She gave in to her orgasm, allowing it to take control of her body as she shuddered and writhed beneath him. He lost it immediately and released his load into her. With a few last thrusts as deep as he could go, he finally collapsed beside her on the bed. "Bella, I know I've said it before, but you are absolutely amazing!"