Hello Readers! Here is a little New Year's Gift for you all. Because we all need an Edward and Bella fix, right?

I had to divide Chapter 4 into sections because it was getting too long. So here is part 1. More to come soon, I promise.

I hope you enjoy it and I would appreciate reviews to let me know whether you like this story. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far, I appreciate your support. You all make me smile!

Chapter 4 … Part 1

Present Day…Suburbs of Seattle WA

Edward's POV

As I pulled away from the house, my heart was breaking. But at the same time, knew I was doing the right thing. Bella had put so much time and effort into that house. She raised our daughter there. She made us a family there. She was the one who deserved to have it. She was right, of course. It was my home too, and I did love that house, but I had been working so much of the time that I wasn't there as much as she was. It meant a lot to me, but it meant more to her.

We bought the house when 'Nes turned five. I still remember the look on Bella's face when the realtor pulled up in the driveway for the first time. She didn't stop smiling the whole time we were taking the tour. She reminded me of a little girl in a fairy tale.

"It's so expensive, though. How can we afford it without me working? Maybe I need to get a job and send 'Nes to daycare after all."

"I will earn enough with the promotion at Boeing. We're paying so much in rent right now and when we put that toward our mortgage instead…it'll be a piece of cake." I reassured her.

Her face stared out at the lake and then she looked into my eyes. "Are you sure?"

I put my arm around her tightly and nodded, "I'm sure. Unless you would rather keep looking at other homes…?" I teased.

She stood up on her tiptoes and kissed me. "No, this is the one I want."

"Me too."

Bella and 'Nes spent that whole summer decorating the house and playing by the water together. There were so many days when I would come home from work to find them cuddled on the couch, hair damp from swimming and smelling of sunscreen and fresh air…

I pulled into the driveway at my parent's house, accepting this new situation with some sense of dread. I loved Bella more than anything and I didn't want to lose her. I knew I should have quit my demanding job and spent more time with my family years ago. But there was the house to pay for, and then college tuition for 'Nes…and it never seemed the right time. Until now.

I walked into the living room and placed two boxes at the end of the hallway. "Are you alright, honey? You look so sad." Mom looked up from her newspaper, peering over the top of her reading glasses.

"I'm fine, Mom."

"How'd it go with Bella?" She put the newspaper down on the coffee table and walked over to the bar where I was pouring myself a drink.

I nodded, "It went okay. She was crying when I left but she didn't ask me to stay…" I took a long sip of my drink.

She put her hand on mine in an attempt to comfort me. "You don't think she's seeing someone else do you, Son?"

I rolled my eyes, "Of course not, Mom. She'd never do that." At least I hope not, because that would be out of character for Bella.

We sat in the living room together and talked for a while until Dad got home for dinner. He joined me at the bar for another drink while Mom put the food on the table. "Are you going to let her stay at the house indefinitely?" Dad questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes, she has as much right to be there as I do."

He nodded, "And do you plan to contact a lawyer to make any of this legal?"

He was beginning to irritate me. "I don't need a lawyer, Dad. Bella is my wife and I have no plans to divorce her. Hell, we've only been separated four days!"

"I just want to be sure you're looking out for your interests. You've worked too hard for too many years to give it all away without a fight."

I slammed my glass down on the bar, "The only fighting I'm going to do is to win Bella back. I don't care if she takes everything we own! She is all that's important to me."

"Calm down, Son. There's no need to be so defensive."

Thankfully he changed the subject and we began talking about renovations for his office, which carried us through dinner. After dinner, I sat on the deck, watching the water and dreaming of happier days. Bella and I had always had such a strong connection. From our very first date I knew I was in love with her. I smiled to myself remembering that night.

August 1987…Forks, WA

Edward's POV

The week before our first date went by way too slowly for my liking. I was looking forward to my date with Bella Friday night. I couldn't wait to take her out…I wanted to kiss her again. I had barely seen her all week because Coach had the team out practicing late every night. We needed more practice with me as quarterback so we all worked hard and hopefully would win our game the following weekend.

When Friday night finally rolled around, I rushed home after practice to shower, so I could pick Bella up before nine. I knocked on her door and was surprised when Coach answered. "Evening, Edward."

"Evening…Coach Swan…" I stammered.

"C'mon in. Bells will be down soon. She's upstairs with Alice…finishing off a can of hairspray." He smiled and I chuckled nervously. Even though I had had lots of girlfriends, this was the first time I ever had to meet a parent before a date. I didn't know what to say to him. Thankfully he did the talking…"Don't be out too late, now. Tomorrow is another big game and I don't want either of you too tired."

"I won't, Coach. We're going to a movie and then have a bite to eat. I'll have her home around midnight."

He nodded his head in agreement just as Bella came down the stairs. She looked so cute in tight stonewashed jeans, black high heels, and a pink half-shirt. "Don't blame her for the way she looks Coach Swan. I did her clothes, hair and make-up." Alice beamed.

Coach swallowed hard. "That's quite a look, Bells." Bella said something about parents not understanding fashion and he agreed that he simply didn't understand.

"You look beautiful." I blurted then noticed Coach's eyes roll and instantly regretted my choice of words. I had so much respect for Coach and I didn't want to offend him. But at the same time, I was totally crazy about his daughter. What I felt for Bella was different than anything I'd ever experienced before. I felt like I could be myself around her, which wasn't common for me at all. I hoped she also felt as comfortable around me.

"I'm going home now. You guys have fun." Alice chirped as we walked out onto the porch.

"Not too late, you two," Coach warned once again. I promised we wouldn't be and took her hand as I walked her to my car.

As soon as Coach closed the door Alice's smile turned sly. "Have fun Bella," she quipped, "and don't do anything I wouldn't do." She winked and gave Bella a hug before getting in her own car and driving off.

Bella blushed and I smirked sideways as I opened my car door for her. "Thank God she's gone," Bella said, taking down her side mirror and wiping blue make-up from her eyes with a Kleenex. "She wouldn't listen when I told her no more eye-shadow."

"You look beautiful," I repeated.

She blushed adorably which made my heart beat faster. "Thank you, Edward."

I reached and held her hand in mine as I drove through the quiet Forks streets. Her hand felt so warm and smooth, I didn't want to let it go when we got to the theater. We arrived just in time for the late showing of The Princess Bride and conveniently found a seat near the back of the theater. I took her hand once again in the darkness and whispered, "I've been dying to kiss you all week."

Even in the dark I could see her blush, "What are you waiting for?" She asked, her eyes wide in anticipation.

I leaned over to her seat and we instantly joined our lips in a desperate kiss. I placed my hand on her shoulder and noticed her sleeve was falling down, leaving skin exposed there. I began to stroke the top of her shoulder and heard a quiet whimper escape her lips. That was enough to give me a hard-on so I suddenly stopped kissing her, not wanting her to notice what she was doing to me. We watched the movie together, but every so often I would lean over and kiss her softly but kept holding her hand, carefully avoiding that bare shoulder. The movie was funny and sweet and I walked her out of the theater and back to my car when it was done, holding her close in the dark.

"What do you say we hit the drive-thru and then go find someplace to…talk?" I suggested. She smiled and agreed, continuing that beautiful blush. At the window we both ordered burgers, fries and Coke and I headed out to the state park road.

The road was deserted, and I parked my car way off to the side, turning the engine off so we could talk while we ate our food. The second I turned to talk to her, her lips were suddenly on mine. I tasted the salt from her fries on her mouth mixed with her own sweet flavor and instantly became hard again.

"Edward," she gasped, pulling her mouth away from mine for a moment. "Why did you stop kissing me in the theater?"

I felt myself blushing now and answered, "Bella that shirt you're wearing has your whole shoulder bare and you felt too good to me…"

"It's totally okay with me if you touch me there," she commented, continuing to press her lips into mine.

Who was I to argue with a beautiful female?

I joined her in the incredible kiss she was giving me and shamelessly ran my fingers over her bare shoulder. I felt her move closer, coming over the console of the car and before I knew it she was sitting in my lap. I reached my left hand down and slid the seat as far back as it would go and then returned my hand to her beautiful shoulder. The kiss was becoming more intense and the windows were steaming up.

I grinned widely at her. "Bella, don't get me wrong, I love the way this is going. But I didn't expect to go this far on our first date."

Her face registered surprise, "I've never made out like this before. It's something you're doing to me, I can't touch or kiss you enough…" She was embarrassed.

I ran my thumbs along her cheeks and kissed her mouth once. "It's the same for me. I've kissed a lot of girls and made out with plenty, but it's different with you. I don't want to push this though. I mean, you're not even my girlfriend…"

Her eyes looked down and she bit her lower lip, "I'm sorry. I know I told you I'd think about it but…"

I could see the desire fade from her face as she spoke. The lights from the dashboard illuminated her beautiful face and my heart skipped a beat. "Bella. I'm crazy about you. I want you to be my girlfriend. I promise I would never hurt you like Newton did." I knew I told her I'd wait but I wanted her to be mine.

She just stared into my eyes and nodded, then smiled nervously, "I'd like that, Edward." Then she pressed her lips back into mine. I was lost in the intensity of our kiss and the feeling of her sitting in my lap in the driver's seat made my hard-on return. "Recline your seat back so I can reach you better," She asked. I did as she requested, and before I knew it, her hips were against mine again. She lay completely on top of my in my seat and I found myself gripping my hands into her butt, holding her closer to me. I wondered if things were moving too fast, but I couldn't help myself.

My hands moved to her waist and when I felt the warm smooth skin there I couldn't help but explore her. My fingers slid up her back and then around to her rib cage as she plunged her tongue into my mouth. I curved my hands up toward her bra and suddenly realized this was too much.

I tore my lips away from her mouth and gasped, "Bella, we need to slow down." I looked deep into her chocolate eyes and saw the same intensity I was feeling. "Let's talk for a minute." I sat the seat upright and held her still on my lap. "This isn't why I asked you out. I want to get to know you."

"I want to get to know you too Edward but I can't keep my hands … and lips off you."

"I don't want to lose control like this. You're too important to me..." If I was being truly honest, I would have saidI was falling in love with her. But I realized I couldn't voice it yet since this was only our first date. Instead I asked, "By the way, did you just agree to be my girlfriend?"

"Yes, I did. That's what you wanted, right? Now will you kiss me?" She teased, leaning closer to my lips.

"In a minute I will, okay? I want to ask you something. Have you … uhh … I mean … have you ever…" I couldn't bring myself to say the words.

"I never went all the way with Mike. I never did more than kiss him. He tried many times to get into my pants but I always stopped him."

"I'd never try to push you to do anything like that, Bella."

"Well damn!" she joked, smirking.

I laughed at her and rubbed her back with my hand. "I've never gone all the way either, and I totally want you but I wanna take it slow."

"I'm actually surprised at how much I want you. In the year I went out with Mike I never felt like this."

"Must be he didn't know what he was doing." I teased.

"Must be…" She pressed herself into me again and I leaned the seat back once again and resumed making out with my girlfriend, which felt like heaven.

I realize that this part of the chapter is all Edward's POV, but I promise there will be some of Bella's POV in the next part. Stay tuned, more to come.

UP NEXT: Present Day family dinner for Edward, see what that brings. Also, 1987's Bella's POV of their first date...Here's just a tiny teaser for you of her POV of that night:

... My tongue mingled with his as we kissed with wet mouths. I lay on top of him and ran my hands through his hair as he ran his hands up and down my back. His hands inched inside my shirt and up my back, then forward to my ribs and...

That's all for now. Look for an update soon!