The incident with Jane made one thing very clear indeed: I was going to need to be changed far sooner than we had planned. It embarrasses me a little to say that the first thought I had was 'will we have time to do more than kiss?' I know, I ought to have been agonising over Charlie or Renee or Jake. I ought to have worried how the Cullens (which would hopefully include me soon) were going to cover up my disappearance. But I didn't think about those things, not at first, anyway. I thought about sex and Edward's agreement to try. After all the effort it took to persuade him, we were simply going to run out of time and I was going to die a virgin.

So, I took Edward's hand and led him into our room and said "look, we probably only have a few days left. We don't have time to be coy, you've got to show me your script."

"It's not quite finished,Bella. You can't possibly read it yet."

"Come on, Edward, please! I just want to see what you've got so far. Please," I tried to repeat the leaning in close trick that had worked before.

Edward sighed, "but, it's not . . ."

"Didn't you write it for me? I want my present. Please!"

He groaned, "alright, but, be gentle."

I laughed and took the envelope eagerly. I'd been waiting to read this for weeks, afraid Edward would never write it. Somehow it was just like Edward to finally hand it over when we were staying in a cabin with all his siblings and a vampire psychopath who thought it was funny to make Edward writhe in pain.

It was a nice envelope, rich, thick paper. I suppose I shouldn't have expected anything else. On the outside he'd written, 'Bella, only, Bella'. That was rather sweet.

Before I had a chance to open it Edward snatched it back.

"It's not finished," he said, "and it's not what I meant to write and you said in the car that you wouldn't read it if I didn't want you to."

How I wished I could read faster.

"Calm down, Edward, are you embarrassed? What kind of a relationship do we have if you're too embarrassed to talk to me about sex?"

He winced, "I love and trust you" he said, "it's just not ready for you to read it yet."

"When will it be ready?"

"I'm sorry," he said, "I thought I could let you read it. But, I can't. It's obscene. I tried - extremely hard, I swear to you - to write something proper. But, every time it came out wrong. What I wrote, it's really bossy and demanding and offensive. I cannot subject you to such stuff."

Surely he knew that 'obscene' was exactly what I wanted!

"Edward!"

"I'm sorry, I know that was impolite. But, letting you read it would be worse. It's rude. I just couldn't find a decent way to write it."

"Perhaps you could find a decent way to hand it over. It does have my name on the envelope."

He sighed. Closed his eyes and held out the envelope again. I took it more gingerly this time. Edward was trying really hard. He clenched his teeth and screwed his hands into fists. I slid the paper from the envelope. It was covered in his beautiful handwriting.

Before I'd had time to do more than unfold the paper, Edward groaned. "This is excruciating, what do you think? Are you mad at me? I know it'sindecent . . . I am sorry . . . please tell me what you think!"

"Slow human, remember. I haven't read it yet, Edward. I need a minute or so."

He whimpered, "of course, sorry."

I picked up the paper again.

'A warm room, a bed covered in cushions and blankets. Edward -'

He wrote about himself in the third person.

"What are you thinking? Why did you smile?"

"Ssh!"

'Edward kisses Bella on the left side of her neck, his mouth lingers there. With his right hand, he strokes her side slowly. Then he lifts his head and turns to the bottom of her throat. His hands start at her waist and move up towards her chest. He slides his hand along her side and caresses her breast.'

"Well? Why are you so quiet? Bella, what do you think?"

"The first line is great."

He looked panicked.

"I haven't read the rest, yet. I really need time, please try to be patient."

He nodded, "I am trying. It's very hard!"

Hmm . . . yes, very trying. I picked it up again.

'Edward kisses Bella from her cheek, down her neck, along her collar bone. He licks her nipples.' Wow! I'd been expecting something chaste, turns out Edward wasn't kidding about giving this a try.

"You gasped," he said, "what is it? Are you shocked? I tried several times, but . . ."

"Still not finished, patience."

He rubbed his hands through his hair and started pacing, "at least tell me why you gasped, it it very bad? What bit are you reading? I am begging you, at least tell me why you're gasping."

"You wrote the thing! Listen, so far, the script is great. But the interruptions are driving me crazy. SSH!"

'He licks her nipples. Then . . .'

"What are you thinking now?"

"I'm thinking, if you keep interrupting like this, I'm going to hit you."

"You can't do that," he replied sulkily, "you would break your wrist."

"And that would serve you right. Now, if you would demonstrate some of your fabled restraint, I could read this."

'Then he draws a line of kisses down Bella's side all the way to . . .'

"You gasped again! What are you reading now?"

Scowling, I reached over and tried to smack the back of his head. Edward stepped out of the way easily, mumbling "sorry."

"I can't clip you round the ear if you won't hold still."

He rolled his eyes at me, "you can't do it at all. You'd hurt yourself."

Emmett's voice drifted through from the lounge, "do you need a hand, Bella?"

Edward growled low.

"Don't tempt me." I looked at Edward, fiddling with the hem of his shirt, he had his hangdog expression again. He didn't need me to hit him to feel bad, he was miserable that I'd tried.

"I am sorry," he said, "I just want to know what you're thinking."

"You never know what I'm thinking," I reminded him. "But you're not stopping. Do you need to step outside?"

"No! Please, Emmett and Rose are out there! I don't want them to talk to me right now! Anything but that!"

"Fine, go and stand over there," I pointed at the furthest corner of the room, "face the wall and don't speak."

Edward grimaced slightly, he didn't like being in trouble and facing the corner felt like a punishment, but he did as I asked and stood smartly in the corner.

It actually worked. Once he was standing in the corner, Edward calmed down and stopped interrupting, allowing me to finally finish reading without interruption.

'He draws a line of kisses all the way to her thighs. Using the index fingers of both hands, he circles the inside of her thighs. Edward's hands rest on the top of Bella's legs, as he kisses her and uses his tongue to draw lines and whorls around her centre. Bella reaches down and twists her fingers into Edward's hair.'

I could feel my fave glowing and my head spinning. This was better than I had hoped for, a lot better. The last line surprised me, I realised it was the first time I'd read any instructions for me. Up to that point, I had been completely still it seemed, which was hardly my idea of fun! Nor was it really the point of the script. I needed to script my own movements too, so that I wouldn't surprise Edward.

He still hadn't moved, the corner was obviously a good way to quiet him. Perhaps he was like a budgie, maybe next time I should just drape a cloth over his head.

Of course, at that moment there was a knock on the door.

Hurriedly, I pushed the paper back into its envelope and turned it over, then called - in the most calm voice I could summon - "come in!"

Alice walked in and giggled, "way to go, Romeo," she said, "only you could come in here to share a raunchy story and get yourself sent to the corner!"

Argh! "Edward, I am so sorry! I completely forgot! Please come out of the corner. I shouldn't have let Alice in here with you still stood there, I'm sorry."

He came over a little more slowly, refusing to look at Alice.

"It's not the first time that I've seen Edward in trouble," Alice said.

"Please go away," he said.

She giggled again. "I'll leave in a minute, Eddie. I just want to give Bella a little present."

Edward glared at his shoes. "Sometimes," he said through clenched teeth, "I really hate you, Alice."

"Edward!" I said, slightly shocked, all she'd done was walk into the room, "that's very rude. You should apologise."

"Fine," he said, just as irritably, "I'm sorry that I hate you, Alice."

Alice just giggled at him.

But I was pretty annoyed. Why was Edward acting like a stroppy child? "Do you want to be pleasant, or do you want to go back to your corner?"

I don't think it's possible to storm into a corner, but Edward gave it a very good try.

"He's just anxious," Alice said, "it's really sweet."

"Hmm" I said. Somehow the sweetness of stomping whining and hating had passed me by.

"Anyway, I won't spend ages teasing you, I'll just give this to you straight away," she giggled again. Of course she'd heard everything that had been happening in the room. Equally of course, she found it funny.

She gave me a blue pencil. I couldn't help laughing.

"Actually," I said, "that's exactly what I need right now."

Alice gave a pretty little half shrug "I know," she said, "good luck, Bella!"

"I don't need luck," I said, "this is great."

"Hmm," Alice replied, "if you consider sending Edward to the corner twice before you've even tried to discuss making changes great."

She decided to leave us alone then. Well, as alone as anyone can be in a houseful of nosy vampires.

'Bella strokes the right side of Edward's cheek, down across his jaw [. . .] Bella takes hold of Edward's wrists and guides his hands towards her breasts, showing him how to cup them [. . .] Bella wraps her legs around Edward's waist, holding him in place.'

"I've finished," I said.

Edward span round on the spot, "what do you think?" he asked quickly, then, more cautiously, "am I allowed out of the corner now?"

"Of course, I'm sorry about that, but, I really needed you to be quiet."

He sighed "I know, it's just excruciating, waiting to hear your opinion. So, tell me, is it OK?"

"Edward, it's amazing. Are you really happy to go ahead with it?"

"Happy?" he said, "I think eager might be a better term." He smirked at me, "you don't object? You did say that you wanted editing rights."

"I did make a couple of additions," I said.

Whether the whole corner-time had given him a new incentive, or he was just happier now that he knew I liked the script, Edward was a great deal calmer now. He lay next to me on the bed, his head pushed up against my lap.

He reached his hand up to take the paper from me.

I hesitated wondering what he would think of my additions. Was I being too forward?

Edward laughed, "see," he said, "it's not easy, is it?"

I stuck my tongue out and handed the paper over, a second's hesitation was nothing like the fuss he'd made.

He was right, though, waiting for him to read my notes was excruciating. I watched his eyes widened and I watched him smirk and I really wanted to know what he was thinking. There was a minute or so of silence as Edward re-read my comments. Then he looked up.

"Are you sure?" he said.

"Of what?"

"Can you stick to the script? I don't know if I can cope with surprises. Not these kinds of surprises, anyway."

"Would it be possible for you to stop thinking of me as a raging soup of teenage hormones desperate to grope you?" I asked.

Edward coughed, "I was actually thinking about how accurate your memory is, but, yes, I will try to stop myself getting too hung up on that delightful image."

"I think I can remember three actions, thank you, Edward. I may be a mere human with a terribly fallible memory, but even I can recall three things and do them in order."

He waited politely for me to finish my rant.

"I can dress myself, Edward. I can cope in normal society. I know my social security number. I can remember three things!"

When he was sure that I had finished, Edward said quietly, "there are four actions for you in the script, Bella."

I groaned.

"Sorry," Edward said meekly.

"Because I can't actually remember four things?"

He grinned, "we can just pare the script down," he said, "I'm a bit scared about the holding down part, anyway. What if I need to move away quickly?"

"Why would you want to do that?"

He frowned, "because I could be overcome by the urge to kill you."

I sighed, "shall we take a break, get me something to eat, and come back refreshed?"

Edward would never argue with me needing to eat and drink, "of course, Bella," he said, holding open the door.