True Love Way

Chapter 31

"This is really great of you, man. I can't believe you kept all of your college books. My cousin is so happy about this. She was pissed to find out I sold all of mine off the day after graduation."

I considered Ben to be slightly more than a co-worker but not my closest of friends. That forever belonged to my siblings and Bella. Still, when he mentioned that his cousin was going into the paramedic course I'd taken, I was anxious to help.

"Well, I can't guarantee they're all up to date. She may have to replace a lot of them. There may be a few that will help her out, though."

"Yeah, you were college in the Stone Ages, right, old man?" Ben was only a few years younger than me but always teased that I was dog years ahead of him.

"Hey, just pull up in front there. The super lets us use this spot as a loading zone. Ten minute limit. That should be enough time."

"Yep. I've still gotta grab a burger on my way back." Ben took his dinner break when my shift ended so he could come home with me to collect my books.

"I'm glad to get rid of them," I told him as we climbed the stairs. "Now that Bella's living here, we need the space. Especially when Don gets bigger."

"I don't hear him yet." Ben tilted his head upwards. "Where is this infamous howl I've heard so much about?"

I huffed at him. "He's not a demon doggy. He only does that when he's alone."

"Aw, you got yourself a needy one, didn't you? Are you regretting it yet?"

"Nah. He's great company for Bella. My brother-in-law is crazy about him, too. I'm sure a few of my neighbours aren't so enamored by him. I should probably be looking for a house."

"My sister's in real estate," he sang out. "If you need hooked up…"

"Great. Yeah, thanks. I'll keep that in mind. This is us here." I unlocked the deadbolt and inched the door open. Don had a tendency to come tearing at me the moment I appeared. Someday, he was likely to push me back so far I'd end up at the bottom of the stairs. Today, however, there was no greeting.

I shrugged and led Ben into the apartment as I called out to Bella.

"Hey! No fair, you're early!" she responded from the kitchen. "I was supposed to be sitting on the couch waiting for you, but my pies were ready. I didn't want them to burn. How did you get home so – OH! Oh my god!"

"Bella… I, uh…" I stammered and gawked. Gawked and stammered. My girlfriend was wearing an apron and nothing but. Well, she had shoes on. High, black ones that made her legs look a mile long. Her arms were folded across her breasts until she turned around to pull the bib of the apron up. That didn't help her situation. Her bare, white bottom was now on display. "This is Ben."

"Hi." He waved to Bella's bottom, trying very hard not to laugh. I elbowed him just in case it slipped out.

"Hi," Bella squeaked out as she tied up the strings of the apron, covering most of her endowment in the front. "Oh god, I'm so embarrassed!"

"Don't be," Ben assured her calmly. "If you only knew how many times this exact thing has happened to me. My apron is substantially smaller than yours, though."

She laughed nervously. It was high pitched and loud. Her cheek was twitching, and she was squirming in her heels as though she was in dire need of a toilet.

"I'm sorry. I should have called –"

"I'll just go. You can bring the books tomorrow?"

"Sure, yeah."

"Looks like you'll be busy."

I tittered, rubbing the back of my neck as I held the door open for him. "Sorry," I mouthed.

Outside the apartment, his eyes widened, as did his grin. "You lucky dog!"

"Shut up," I warned under my breath.

"Bye, Bella! Nice to meet you." He stood there grinning at me like an idiot. A twelve-year-old idiot who'd just seen his first set of breasts.

"Yeah, uh, you too."

"I have to go now," I said calmly. "Goodnight, Ben. Enjoy your dinner."

"I'm in the mood for pie now," he quipped as he jogged towards the stairs. "Really could do with some pie."

Sheepishly, I turned around after closing the door. Bella stood there with her hands over her face. What was the appropriate thing to do when one brings a friend home, unannounced, and surprises a naked girlfriend? I felt I should run out and buy some flowers. And an 'I'm Sorry' balloon. Maybe I should just fall onto my knees and beg her forgiveness. I only had seconds to decide. It already felt like we'd been standing there in silence for hours.

"Why are you naked?"

Fuck. That wasn't on my list of things to say or do, yet there it was.

"I mean, I'm not complaining. I rather like you naked. I like you clothed as well, but I think this is my favourite form. I wasn't expecting it. If it helps, Ben won't say anything. He's cool. Would you feel better if I was naked too?"

A snort and finally a laugh came from behind Bella's hands. "Shut up."

"Is it only pies you get naked to bake, or cookies, too?"

"Shut up!" She was laughing harder, though clearly still embarrassed.

"I'm so glad to see that you at least put an apron on around the hot oven. Safety first." I'd been gradually moving towards her as I teased, since she wasn't moving at all. Now I was in front of her, inhaling the scent of Bella mixed with a subtle hint of spice and peaches. "Peach, right?"

She nodded. Her hair was loose for a change, and she'd obviously spent time making it look nice. Large, silky curls framed her hidden face. Gently, I took hold of her wrists and pulled them down.

"Bella," I said softly. "I'm so sorry. I don't know what you had planned –"

"Uh… not a peep show for two," she quipped.

"I know, I know. I should have called. I'll call next time." I lifted her chin to look at me. "There won't be a next time, will there?"

Finally, I was graced with her smile. "You know what I'm sorry about?"

"I can't imagine."

"I'm sorry I made Don Everly go to bed early. He would have given me warning. And I'm really sorry this didn't happen a couple of weeks ago before I had ever-shrinking-boobs. I was hot then."

I returned her smile, stroking her cheek. "You're hot now."

"But hotter then."

"Uh-uh." I leaned down to kiss her.

"Uh-huh," she countered in between kisses.

"They're not shrinking. They're returning to normal."

"They are shrinking. They're smaller than they were before I was pregnant."

"No they're not."

She pulled away from our kissing argument over her boobs. "Edward, please. I think I know my own body."

"Bella, please. I think I've spent enough time studying them that I know what I'm talking about."

"Yeah?" She grinned up at me innocently. "You studied them?"

"Avidly. More than any school subject. If there was an exam on Bella Swan's breasts, I would have aced it."

"You never saw my breasts," she whispered.

The corner of my mouth lifted. "In my dreams I did. My imagination was quite accurate from my intensive study of them through fabric." I lifted a hand to one breast, cupping it over the apron bib while the other untied the string behind her neck. "My friend is gone now. Can I please have you return to how you came out of the kitchen?"

She sucked in her bottom lip, grinning seductively. "We'll do better than that." She stepped back and untied the string at her waist as the one I'd undone dropped down. The apron fell at her feet and she was gloriously naked, but for her heels.

I licked my lips in appreciation. "I was wrong. You are so much better than in my imagination. You're beautiful. Every part of you – beautiful."

"Even my scars?" she asked softly.

"What scars?"

She smiled shyly at the hoarseness in my voice. It was practically a growl. "I liked your idea."

"What idea?"

"Of you being naked, too. Strip for me, Edward."

It was my turn to laugh nervously high and loud. "Uh… no."

My wonderfully naked girlfriend tilted her head and clicked one of her shoes against the wood floor. "Edward… will you please strip for me?"

I rolled my eyes, stuffing my hands in my pockets. She pulled them out. "Don't make me do this," I pleaded with a chuckle.

"Oh, you'll do it," she purred into my ear as she pressed against my chest. And lower. "Strip. I can feel you in there. I want to see every inch of you."

"Jesus Christ, Bella…" I groaned as she flicked open the clasp on my belt.

"Strip for me, Mr. Paramedic. I'm in need of care." She played the perfect little sex kitten. It was hopeless for me. "You're the only one who can fix me up. And afterwards… I'll reward you for your heroism."

"Yeah?" My thirteen-year-old voice reappeared. "With what? Pie?" There. It was little more masculine. And corny.

She snickered sexily as she pushed on my chest, urging me further into the living room. "If you're good, you can have some pie."

"Oh, I'm good." Fuck, I wanted pie.

"That's what I'm counting on." Bella took a seat on the couch, crossing her long legs and swinging her foot. The movement made her breasts jiggle. My eyes flew between milky thighs, tight calves, sexy ankles and my dream tits.

I muttered some obscenities as I chuckled. This woman was much more than I'd anticipated. I wanted her to know that whatever she threw at me, I would match. I could keep up with her and her… needs.

"Do I get music at least?" I ran a hand through my hair, unsure of how to begin this impromptu performance.

"Sure thing, sweetie. Whatever you need." She reached across the couch for the stereo remote on the side table, giving her ass a little shake for me as she did. My erection was pressing hard against my zipper. If I didn't begin this show soon, it would start without me.

As the radio broke through the silence in the room, I stood in front of Bella. A little awkward and shy, and a whole lot turned on. "You're gonna laugh." I made one last attempt to get out of this, but I already knew it was pointless.

"You've always been able to make me laugh. That's one of the million things I love about you. Now have some fun. And entice me, my paramedic man." She growled playfully as her leg started swinging again.

I took two large steps backwards. "Okay. Rules first: no touching."

Her mouth gaped open in disgust. "What?"

"Uh-uh. You asked for a show. If you want more than that, well that's extra."

"Extra what?" she asked with a bemused chortle.

"Pie, of course." I winked as my fingers moved to the top button of my shirt. I released it but didn't let it pop open for a moment, egging her on. She made an impatient gesture with her hand that made me want to slow it down even more. Her nipples were dancing for me as she moved. I gave her a tiny break by rapidly undoing the next three, but I paused at the last one.

"Move a little," she called out. "I've seen you undress. I want a show."

"This music isn't doing it for me." It was a pop song. One of those Disney stars or something. Taylor Swift, maybe?

"You don't like Miley?"

Ah. Miley. "I like her no more than her daddy. Can you find something better? I don't relate to whiny teenaged girls."

I paused the show while she flipped through stations. Nothing was grabbing me – "Wait! Go back!" A familiar beat of an old song pulled out for parties caught my attention. "Yeah, that's it!" I smiled wickedly and began grinding my hips to the beat. Bella threw back her head and laughed, clapping her hands.

My shirt hung open, and the natural progression would have been to remove it and then my t-shirt, but I went straight for the pants. I pulled the belt out in one smooth movement, shimmying with it behind my butt before I inched my hips to turn around. Back facing her, I let my pants drop ever so slightly, shaking my booty as I jutted it out for her.

"Wild thang!" she sang along, really getting into it.

I was feeling the beat along with her excitement over such a ridiculous thing so I dropped the pants and kicked them aside. I heard her shoe drop and her sexy leg stretched out to engage flesh.

"No touching," I reminded her.

"I'm helping." I caught her innocent looking smile over my shoulder, but the rest of her looked anything but. Good god, she was sexy.

Her foot ran up the back of my leg as I continued shaking my hips for her. I let out a deep chuckle when her toes tugged on the waistband of my boxers. "That's what you meant by help."

"Shhh. Less talk, more action."

I called out the last 'wild thang' of the chorus, bumping and grinding for her as it went into the next verse. Her toes had managed to reveal a couple of inches of crack for sure, and much to my surprise, enough cheek for her to get a grip of that as well.

I yelped as she pinched. Tone Loc was singing about the girl's mother doing the wild thing, Bella was laughing hysterically, and even Don Everly got into the action. Not only was he awake, but he was anxiously jumping against the side of his crate, his own yelp louder than mine as he tried to get our attention.

Bella and I halted and looked at each other as the howl began. It hit us both at the same time:

"Emmett!"

"Jesus, he wasn't kidding about him liking the old shit."

"I'm gonna kill him for teaching our dog that."

"Especially right now." Bella's face was frozen in a look that was half embarrassment and half amusement. The latter won out, and she let loose, bending at the waist to laugh while she gripped her stomach.

"I guess the show's over," I said with my own laugh. "Jesus, Don. Chill out! I'm coming to let you out."

He flew from the crate the moment I unlatched it, whisking by me to do laps excitedly around the couch. Pulling my boxers back up to my waist, I plunked myself down next to Bella to watch the insane puppy get down with some hip-hop.

"This show is better," I commented, lacing my fingers through hers.

"Nuh-uh. Yours was much better. I'm just sorry you didn't get to finish."

So were my engorged nuts. "We'll try this again the next time Emmett borrows him. Maybe he'll take him overnight sometime."

Bella hummed. "Hope it'll be soon. I got my clearance today."

I glanced at her, hope springing back into my heart and my balls. Mostly my balls. "Everything's good?"

"Great." She smiled at me shyly. "We can go at it any time."

"It's about time," I quipped.

"No shit. You're not gonna do the whole courting thing and make me wait a ridiculous amount of time until its proper for us to bump uglies are you?"

I scratched at my chin, giving the appearance of debating that. "Seeing as we live together, I think we're past courting. I mean, you're sitting on our couch naked. My friend met your tits moments ago. I think we're at the go-at- it stage already."

Hastily, Bella stood only to turn around and sit on my lap, facing me. Her legs were bent as she straddled me, and she lifted to give me the sexiest, fucking hottest kiss ever to happen on this couch. Or any couch. My hands were kneading her rounded cheeks, my erection practically jumping at her to make contact. Even through the fabric of my shorts, it begged for contact.

"We've only got one problem."

I sobbed dramatically, throwing my head back against the cushions. "We've had enough problems," I whined. "It's time for smexing!"

"Smexing?" She leaned over me to arch a critical eyebrow.

I sighed. "Okay. No lady bits, smexing… what else was I forbidden to say?"

"Never mind. The problem is, my birth control won't be reliable just yet."

"That's not a problem," I said with a sigh of relief.

"It is though. When we finally take the plunge, I want us to feel each other. And I want spontaneous fucking."

I almost choked on my laugh and excitement over her statement.

"I want to be able to fuck you right here like this. Or when I'm in the kitchen and the urge overtakes you, boom… right there, baby."

"What about the bed? Will there be any sex in our bed?"

"Oh my god," Bella emoted with a heavy exhale and she rolled her eyes back. "So, so much."

"So, let's say we're spooning…"

"Oh yeah. Yeah. Definitely when we're spooning." She squirmed on my lap, drawing a deep groan from my loin straight up. "And when you're fucking me like that, I want you to growl, just like that."

"That was… I believe… a groan. Not a growl." I was having trouble speaking as she rubbed her bare flesh against me. "How long?"

"Until my next natural period."

"And then I can have you?"

"Well, after my period."

"Not…?"

"No. I want the first time to be –" Her eyes rolled back again as she gripped my shoulders and pressed against my erection with steady pressure. "Oh god, you're gonna make me come just talking about it."

I was at a loss for words. And air. All I could manage was a sad little whimpering laugh. She wasn't alone with that.

~ 0 ~

I'd been with three women in my life, sexually. Any time I'd been given head, it felt almost dirty. There was no way to describe it as alternate love-making. It was a blow job. A woman, on her knees, sucking. It was fast and hard and really fucking great, but there was nothing tender about it. I never knew it could be tender until Bella's lips enveloped my hardened flesh. I never thought it would feel like the most loving act in the world until Bella licked me from balls to tip and pumped me with both hands until I came on them. I never thought I think the woman placing a kiss on the tip of my penis afterwards would be the sweetest display of affection I'd ever felt in a sexual situation, until Bella showed me the light later that night.

"Are you okay?" she asked with the gentlest hint of sarcasm in her voice. I believe I had squealed when I'd exploded on her. And then collapsed back on the bed, panting so heavily she'd actually reached for my inhaler.

"Fuck, I love you."

"Aw, sweet talk from my man!" she teased.

"I do," I vowed seriously. "I fucking love you, Bella. I love you inside and out. I love your wit. Your cookies. Your ability to soothe me no matter how fucked up I am. I love how you've never, ever… even once, treated me like I wasn't worth your time."

"Ohhh, shhh!" She crawled up the bed to sit near my chest, placing tiny kisses on my lips and jaw. "You're going to make me cry."

"A good cry?"

"The best cry," she whispered. "I love you so much. For all the same reasons. I've never known anyone like you, probably because there is no one like you. I would have spent my life alone if I couldn't have you because no one – I mean no one – ever got to me the way you did. The way you do. I love how you fall down a lot."

I laughed at her profession.

"And I love how you laugh so easily. I love how much you adore your family and how you've always made me feel part of it. I love your beautiful eyes and how they look at me. I love how you always knows just what I need and you're there when I least expect it. I even love the way you won't touch a door in a public washroom and how you fart when you're just about to wake up."

I made a goofy sex god face. "Yeah, I'm a winner."

"You're my winner. Always. Edward…?"

"Hmmm?" I had my eyes closed, perching on the edge of that wonderful sleep one only gets after having a mind-blowing orgasm. In the back of my head, I realized I'd been selfish. I hadn't returned the favour. But then, she'd had several prior to this, my first one at her hand. And mouth. A crooked grin arose as I let out a sleepy chuckle over my silent wit.

"Marry me."

"Do you have a ring?"

"Do you want a ring?"

I snorted. "Come on. I'm not easy. If you want this, you gotta put a ring on it, baby."

She stretched out beside me, her hand grazing across my chest. It always made me shiver when she did that. And that always made her laugh. "You just want me for my fortune."

"And you just want me for my mammoth dick."

"Hmm. Well, that's a definite bonus."

"You know what I do want you for? Pie. I want an extra serving tomorrow."

"You've got it, sweetie." She placed a kiss on my forehead before settling into a new position. I fell asleep with her breast pressed against my cheek and her fingers massaging my scalp. And it was the most incredible sleep I'd ever had without medicinal aid.

~ 0 ~

"I may have a real estate agent if any of you are interested," I announced over dinner. Jasper and Alice had come up for a few days to scout their options, and Rose and Emmett were hosting us all. "You know Ben?" My sister and brother-in-law nodded, but I expanded for the folks from Seattle. "He's a friend of mine. A co-worker. Anyway, his sister is willing to work with us – she's done residential and commercial real estate."

"Commercial?" Rosalie asked with interest as she spooned another fluffy cloud of mashed potatoes onto her plate. She held the spoon towards me, and I lifted my plate to accept seconds myself. I required more calories these days with the workouts Bella was giving me.

"Did you have a location in mind?" Bella inquired.

We both knew this was of interest to Rose because of the proposal she and Emmett had made when we'd first returned from Phoenix. They wanted to open and fund a clinic for struggling parents and would-be parents. A fertility clinic, but more. It would subsidize the costs involved with in vitro if a couple couldn't afford it. It would also help arrange surrogates or private adoptions, and offer counselling for all. They dreamed of a place that would just help people make their dream of a family come true.

"I'd like it as close to the hospital as possible so I don't have far to travel back and forth once I go back to work – if it can even happen by then. I'm rushing things a bit, aren't I?"

"Baby, we've been rushing it since Bella came back to us. We rushed into loving her again. We rushed into taking Nathan. And even though he doesn't think so, we rushed Ed into being tolerant of people under the age of twenty-one." Emmett smirked at me, winked at Bella, and held onto his wife's hand. "Full steam ahead on this project, as far as I'm concerned."

"Um, just so we're clear," I interjected. "I'm adequately tolerant… at times… of those under the age of two. Not twenty-one. Teenagers annoy me, and in between, they just baffle me."

"Ready for diapers?" Alice chirped.

"Uh… no. Pass the carrots, please? Emily, want to have a race with me? Take this." I handed her one steamed baby carrot and took another for myself. "Ready? Nibble." It was a game my dad used to play with me when I refused to eat my veggies. I was a picky eater in those early years, so if it worked on me, it had to work for Emily. Since she insisted that she was to be seated next to me, I figured I may as well make the best of it.

"Are you really considering moving here?" Bella asked Alice and Jasper while I was amusing their daughter.

Alice beamed with delight. "I love Seattle, but honestly, we miss you guys so much. We're dying to be with family again. I think this is the right time to make our move. Start fresh. Like my big brother said, full steam ahead!"

"My law firm is thinking of expanding," Jasper announced quietly. "I would be senior man here, if they can make it happen."

"Oh my god, Jazz!" Rosalie jumped from her seat and rushed over to throw her arms around him.

We all extended our congratulations and praise. My brother had done a wonderful job with building his career, but it was no surprise with his determination.

"We always knew your capacity for BS would pay off big." Rosalie ruffled her twin's hair, smiling down at him. "I am so proud of you."

"You know it when she hauls ass away from food that quickly," I quipped. Looking up, I saw reproachful gazes for cursing. "Sorry. I forgot myself."

I focused my attention on Emily again, passing her another carrot. She was staring at me, like she always did, with a look of wonder and amusement. For some reason, I was very entertaining to her. The more time I spent with her, the more I began to see her with an actual personality. She was smart, but playful. She had Jasper's eyes and the habit of giving these smoldering looks with one eye slightly droopy and the other eyebrow raised. But she had her mother's mouth, with pursed lips that could smirk at the same time. Combine those with the chubbiest, most pinchable cheeks ever, and she really was quite adorable. I often wondered if Bella's toes ever wanted to have a go at those cheeks. There was plenty to grab. I somehow doubted Alice would find it appropriate. Actually, since Bella had pinched my cheeks, the rear ones, I began to look at her pinching as something entirely different. It really turned me on. Every time she locked onto my leg or foot with her toes in bed, I was instantly aroused. Just thinking about it…

Definitely not appropriate for the table.

I cleared my throat and excused myself to check on Don. I let myself out the back door into the yard, where he was chasing around a ball. He brought it over to me as soon as he spotted me. He was growing so fast. It seemed like only yesterday he couldn't hold onto a tennis ball. Now he was not only big enough to grasp it in his mouth, he was an expert at it.

"You're chewing up Nathan's ball pretty good, you know." I squatted down to give him a rub down. He gave me a lick down.

Wiping doggy drool from my cheek, I peered through the glass doors at my family. They were all very involved in the conversation taking place, presumably still about the new opportunities they'd been gifted.

Bella stood abruptly and left the room, only to return moments later with Nathan. He was growing just as quickly as Don. Now two and half months old, he didn't seem quite so fragile. I smiled at them when Bella took his little hand and waved at me. She carried him over to the table and after a moment with my sister, Rose kissed Nathan's cheek and then Bella's before they headed my way. Opening the door for them, I waved my fingers in front of my nephew and he reached out to grab them. This was our game. He always caught me.

"Apparently, one of the houses across the street is about to be put on the market. They just ran over to see if they'll let Alice and Jasper have a look and maybe first bid before they do."

"Cool. They wanted to be closer."

Bella hummed. "May be a little too close?"

I nodded with a chuckle as I gave up trying to hold Don Everly back from his target. He licked Bella's legs and nudged at her. I got the tail whip. And he still didn't have what he really wanted.

If it was possible for an infant, he'd gained a best friend in Don. As excitable as our puppy was, he was always careful around Nathan. He'd sniff at him adoringly, pressing his nose against bare skin, making Nathan squirm with delight. Don had been quite easy going with not licking him. He'd learned after I'd stopped him only a few times not to try. Maybe Nathan didn't mind, but until he could speak for himself on the matter, I would keep the slobbering away on his behalf.

Bella sat on the ground, holding Nathan on her lap as he rested against her chest. Don spread out in front of them with his chin on Bella's knee, keeping a close eye on the baby boy between them. The ball was forgotten. Nathan reached out to touch him, only getting his ear. It must have tickled, because Don flicked it, and Nathan went at it again with a look of great concentration.

"God, I hope he never nips at his fingers," Bella said quietly. She kept one hand firmly around Nathan's belly while the other one was ready to take the bite herself if the issue arose. "These little fingers are too precious to end up as puppy food."

I sat beside Don, opposite Bella and the baby. "This look suits you, you know."

A look of panic spread across her face.

"I don't just mean Nathan. I mean, the whole scenario here. The family deal. The backyard and the dog. The visiting children running around. An overzealous sister-in-law… you know, the whole package."

She relaxed and smiled. "The gorgeous husband?"

"Is there a ring on it?" I waved my hand at her, as had become our running joke.

"Oh my god, I just realized that I've given everyone in the family the choice of their dream gift, but I haven't offered you yours. What would it be anyway? A house with a yard? What's your dream?"

"I've already got it." I beamed with pride.

Bella smiled at me. "Your career. I'm so proud of you every day, you know."

I shook my head. "Not my career, silly girl. You. That's my dream. I have all that I want."

She snickered naughtily. "Well, maybe a little smexing to top it off."

"Why can you use that word?"

"Because I'm being silly in front of innocent ears, of course. Otherwise, I'd say the only thing missing is a really good effing with no holding back. Rinse and repeat."

My cheeks heated up, and my groin tingled in approval. It was frustrating being this patient, but worth it. Bella's uterus was proving stubborn and hadn't ovulated yet. In any other circumstance, I'd be a nervous wreck fearing that she was pregnant. But alas, penis had never met vagina, even sheathed. It was just as stubborn as the person who possessed the uncooperative uterus.

"We should house shop," she said determinedly.

"If that's what you want, sure."

"Don Everly deserves more outdoor time. He loves it here."

"And it has nothing to do with Emmett giving him treats every time he turns around."

"Nope!" Bella laughed with me and gave our dog a loving stroke.

"I think I'm going to put off school and see what I can do to help Rose and Em get this endeavour under way."

"Great! I think you'd make a valuable contribution having first-hand knowledge of the theme."

"Maybe work on another book in between. Though, that means looking for a new artist to collaborate with, and I don't know if I'm ready for that. If nothing else, I'd like to do one for Nathan and Emily. Something that's just theirs."

"Just theirs? What about Don? Will he be in it too?"

"Of course he will. I'd never leave out my little boy."

I'd avoided any talk of Bella's future plans, not wanting to seem like I was pushing her. I simply wanted her to take her time to heal, adjust, and decide how she wanted to proceed. It was good to hear her talking about her plans. I knew she'd been having regular talks with Aro. The combination of that and being content to run around our place in her bare feet and take Don for long walks made me feel like Aro was right once again. She just needed time.

"How many bedrooms?"

"Huh?"

"Our house. How many bedrooms do you want it to have?"

"One."

She smiled broadly. "Good answer."

A/N ~ Did ya think I abandoned you? Tell the truth now. ;)

I seriously have to thank Shug, and send her a zillion cyber brownies or something. It's only due to her diligence that I'm updating a day (and a couple of weeks :p) late. Between my support team of her and msj, and the few very special readers who not only noticed the lack of updates, but took a moment to check in with me... well, you keep me inspired. I'm thankful to all of you.

Thanks for your patience as my normally clockwork updates are now screwy. Was this one worth the wait? *bites nails* Hope you stick with me 'til the end. XX ~ SR