Rating/Warning(s)/Note(s): T, Shadows
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Prompt: Television

It was only seconds later that Edward stopped kissing me, although the clock said an hour had passed. "Marta will be on her way soon," he whispered as he untangled our limbs. "Why don't we go and see about ordering you three some food? I'm sure you must be hungry."

I lifted and eyebrow and ran my hand down his chest. His stomach muscles clenched under his tight t-shirt as he yanked my hand away and placed a kiss on the knuckles. "Behave. It's going to be a while before I trust my control enough for that. We're pushing it as it is. Come on, out of bed," he said, pulling on my hand. I had to follow, he was much stronger than me, after all, but that doesn't mean I didn't complain about it.

Edward became a whirlwind of activity in the kitchen, pulling out food and preparing it faster than my eyes could comprehend. From the ingredients he wasn't working with it appeared he was making some kind of pasta. "You know how to cook? Don't you have to be able to taste food to cook it?"

He grinned, his fingers flying as onions were almost instantly diced. "Food Network is a great source. Alice and I watched it, with her looking for what you did and didn't like, then made up grocery lists," he said, finely chopping some garlic and celery before pulling a wok out from under the counter. "You'll find the pantry and fridge fully stocked. If we missed anything, just order it and it'll be delivered."

As the wok heated with oil he pulled out a rice cooker and started the largest batch of rice it could hold. An package holding ten chicken breasts were then cut into perfect one-inch cubes and placed into a very large bag with some marinade he whipped up.

"Just how many are you planning to feed?" I finally asked. There was enough food there to keep Charlie and me fed for a month.

"Just Marta, Jacob and you," he said. "Jacob eats quite a bit. I think Billy was secretly glad he was moving east with us. His grocery bill couldn't handle much more."

"I'll have you know I brought lots of venison home," Jacob said from the doorway as he and Marta came in.

"And how often was it missing a haunch?" Edward asked as they knocked shoulders in greeting.

"Only when I was hungry," Jacob replied, giving Marta a wink.

The oil sizzled as Edward began adding ingredients for the stir fry, filling the air with a delicious aroma. Edward instructed Jacob in what to do to make dinner while I admired Marta's ring until he asked if we wanted to eat at the table or in front of the television.

"TV," Jacob said. "That way we can watch a movie." I could see a tradition in the making.

Just as we were finished eating the rest of the vampires showed up. Esme grabbed the dishes, all but begging to be allowed to wash them while Alice directed Emmett in where to move the couches.

"You know, we could just watch this in the theater downstairs in the big house," he grumbled as he balanced a sofa on one hand.

"But this way we can all sit together close, like a family," Esme said, surprising me. Looking over I could hear the dishwasher start and see the pots and pans dripping dry on a cloth on the counter. "I guess I should have dried them, but wanted to hurry over." I could hear chagrin in her voice.

"How?" I started, but Esme shook her head.

"I knew I would be faster. This way we get to relax and have fun together," she said, pulling me down beside her. Edward sat on my other side while Carlisle sat at Esme's feet. Marta and Jacob were curled around each other on a second sofa, while Alice, Jasper, Rosalie and Emmett were mirroring our positions on a third.

I blinked awake a couple hours later when Edward lifted me from the couch. There was a blanket wrapped around me, and glancing forward I noticed Jacob carrying Marta up the stairs, without a blanket. "When did I fall asleep?" I asked groggily.

"After about five minutes, and three minutes before Marta did," he whispered to me as he pushed open the door to my room. "It's been a really long day, and tomorrow will be a busy day. Should I send one the girls in to help you change?"

"I'm here," Esme said from the doorway. "Alice is helping Marta." I felt like a rag doll as she quickly helped me strip from my clothes and handed me my pajamas. At least those I was able to pull on myself.

"I feel like I'm twelve again," I said with a laugh as she tucked me into bed.

Esme chuckled as well. "Well, we are fictional characters, is that enough of a bedtime story for you?"

I reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze. "Thank you, Esme, for everything."

She sat on the edge of my bed, retaining hold of my hand. "It's you we have to thank, Bella. None of us know what you will do, only that you will somehow save us. You are so brave."

"I try not to think about it," I said. "I love you all, so I know I'll do anything, and it might be nothing."

"If it keeps us together, it won't be nothing, dear." Her free hand stroked my hair, making me miss my mother. "Edward wants to come so I'll say goodnight." With a kiss to my forehead she was gone and Edward was settling in next to me.

We lay in silence for a little while before he began to fidget. By now I knew this meant he was worried about what I was thinking. "She really wonderful, isn't she?" I asked.

He relaxed beside me. "She is. She makes Carlisle very happy, and loves to mother us all." We were quiet for a few more minutes, each caught up in our thoughts. "You're not sleeping, is there something you want to ask?"

"It's just, earlier…" my face heated at what he'd said about control before dinner.

"What?" he asked, but I shook my head. "Bella, ask me, please."

"You said something about control, and I was wondering if, maybe, someday…"

He chuckled. "Yes, Bella, someday. But it's taken me almost twenty months to get to where I can kiss you like that without fear of getting carried away, so don't hold your breath."

"At least not until I'm a vampire, too," I promised, talking around a huge yawn.

I felt his chest shake with his laugh. "Sleep, Bella," he said, placing a kiss on my forehead. "Dream of one day."

When my oldest boy finally flew the nest my grocery bill dropped $600/month. I'm not even kidding. He was 5'11" and about 125 pounds, too. I couldn't keep that child fed, so I really understand the wolf pack eating a ton.