A/N: Thanks to all who reviewed/favorited/followed! All mistakes are mine. I hope ya'll like this chapter! Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

"You gotta move it slowly, take and eat my body like its holy. I've been waiting for you for this whole week. I've been praying for you, you're my Sunday candy." – Chance the Rapper

Chapter 22

EPOV

May 2009

Two weeks. It's been two weeks since I've seen my girl for more than just enough time to give her a hug. I've been off playing football for the national playoffs. We would leave during the school week, play on Friday, then come back home for only a couple days. It takes the entire weekend to drive back home because we've been playing teams from out in the middle of nowhere, United States. We've gone to Texas and Georgia for our past two games and we slaughtered both of them. All of our hard work from the season is finally paying off. We are this close to winning the national championship and I am also this close to being rid of football for a little while. It's so close I can almost taste it.

The bus finally pulls into the high school parking lot. There is a crowd of people and reporters standing around waiting for the bus to pull up. Everyone stands us and is anxious to get off this stupid bus that we've been on for twelve hours. We all start to get our stuff and get off when coach stops us.

"I do not want any of you talking to the reporters or any news people. I want you all to stay focused on the game next week. I will handle all press business until we win ourselves the national championships on Friday!" The entire bus yells in agreement. "Until then, rest up. We practice tomorrow at 8:00 a.m." We all collectively groan and coach just smirks at us. "Good job, boys. See you tomorrow, bright and early!" And with that we all rush off the bus and to the awaiting crowd.

The first thing I do when I step out of the charter bus is find my parents. Although they came to both games, I was unable to talk to them because of coach. There were news reporters everywhere and he didn't want us to say anything to them, so he removed us from the football field as soon as the clock on the scoreboard went off, not even giving us time to celebrate the win. As soon as I see them, I rush over to them. I hug them and kiss my mom on the cheek.

"We are so proud of you, Edward." My mom says sweetly.

Dad smiles at me and pats my back. "You were amazing out there, son. You've worked extremely hard this year and now it's all paying off."

"I know. I am so close to finishing this season. I want to do it the right way. The only way that's going to be is if we win this national championship." I smirk as I hear the whoops and hollers from around me.

My parents laugh. They help me carry my luggage to my Volvo. "Can I bring Bella over for dinner tonight? I haven't seen her in a while and I miss her." I look to them hopefully. The only thing I want to do right now is bury myself in her presence.

"Of course you can, sweetie. I want to see her too."

I hug my mom once more because she sounds so sincere in her words. "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you! I'm going to go get her right now."

"Be safe!" Dad yells as I fly out of the parking lot in my car. I speed all the way to her house, my stomach getting more and more butterflies with every mile. When I pull in her driveway, the first thing I notice is that her house looks deserted. The police cruiser is nowhere to be seen. All the lights in the house are off. It's only 4:30 on a Sunday evening, so I don't know where else they could be.

Despite the aroma of a ghost house, I get out of my car and knock on the front door. It's a minute before anyone answers, but as soon as she pulls open the door, I envelope her in my arms. "I've missed you so much, baby."

I feel Bella stiffen at the initial contact, but relaxes and hugs me back when she realizes it's me.

"Edward." It's all she says, but it's enough for me.

I pull back just far enough so I can attach my lips to hers. My hands cradle her face as I kiss her. I pour so much emotion into this kiss that I am shocked when she kisses me back in the same way.

When I need to breathe, I pull back and rest my forehead on hers. "I've missed you so much."

She giggles. "You said that already."

"I know, but it's true."

She giggles again. "I missed you too, Edward."

I smile and lean back from her. I take in the surroundings of her house and note that it looks like no one is home.

Bella must have read my mind because the next things she says is, "They left for vacation a couple hours ago. I'm by myself until June 14." A sad smile crosses her face and she shrugs like it's no big deal.

"What do you mean 'you're by yourself until June 14'? That's three weeks by yourself!" I yell.

She flinches slightly at my yelling and I immediately feel bad. "Shit, Bella. I didn't mean to yell." I try to cup her face once more, but she swats my hand away. "Bella…"

"Don't." She starts to walk away from me, but I grab her hand. She doesn't turn to face me, but she does stop walking. "They do this all the time, Edward. This is nothing new to me." She whispers so low that I can barely hear it.

I don't know how to respond to that. I knew her foster parents didn't really care about her, but leaving her alone for three weeks? That shit is unreal.

"Bella…"

"I said don't." She finally turns around to face me. "Just don't worry about me, okay?"

I narrow my eyes at her. How can I not worry about her? I'm fucking in love with her, not that she knows that yet, but still.

Trying to change the subject, she quickly asks, "How was the game? I heard you guys won, but nothing more than that."

I sigh and pull her to me once more. This time she lets me do it. I lightly press my lips to the top of her head and say, "It was fine. We smoked both teams. It wasn't really a challenge. I wish you could have been there. I missed seeing you in the stands." I start to rub soothing circles across her back, trying to get her to relax into me. It takes a few minutes for her to respond to my touch, but eventually, she melts in my arms.

"I missed seeing you play. I wish I could be there for your last game, too, but I can't."

"Why can't you?" I ask, a plan forming in my head.

Bella looks at me curiously. "Because I have no way of getting there." She says in a duh voice.

"You said it yourself, Phil and Renee are gone until mid-June. The championship game is on Friday. Bella you can totally come to my game now!"

She looks at me disbelievingly. "Edward, that may be true, but I don't have a way to get down there. I don't have money to stay in a hotel. I can't drive. It's just not possible. I'm sorry." She looks down at the ground. She sounds so dejected.

"Bella, yes you can. My parents are driving down there. You can just ride with them. As for the hotel, you know you don't have to pay for anything. You can stay with me." I freeze, not realizing what I said until it was already out of my mouth. I quickly rephrase my statement to make sure she doesn't feel uncomfortable. "Well, that is only if you want to. I don't want to just assume that you'd sleep with me." I feel the heat rush to my face. Shit, that didn't come out right either. "Not sleep with me like sex, I mean –"

I'm interrupted by Bella's giggles. "I know what you meant, Edward. I just –. I just don't know… I don't want to impose on your family. I mean they're going to see you play football not taking some girl up there to sleep with you." Her voice is so low at the very end that I don't think I was supposed to hear it. She looks back down at the floor.

I grab Bella's chin and force her to look me in the eyes. "Bella, you are not just some girl. You are my girl. You're not going up there so you can sleep with me." I give her a pointed look. "You're going up there because I want you to be at the game. I need you to be at that game, Bella." I lean in close to her, like I'm going to kiss her, but I stop right before my lips touch hers. "Please Bella?" I beg.
I pull away just far enough so I can see her eyes. We stare at each other for a few minutes before she finally concedes. "Okay. I'll go."

I smile and press my lips to her once more. We kiss until neither one of us can breathe. When we pull back, I rest my forehead against hers. "Come home with me."

"Okay."

We get in my car and drive to my house after that. As soon as we walk in the door, my mom engulfs Bella in a hug. When she doesn't let go of Bella for five minutes, I decide now is the time to rescue my girlfriend from my over affectionate mother. "Ma, don't crush my girl, please. I need her."

Mom eventually pulls away from Bella. She turns to me and says, "It's your fault." She presses a finger against my chest. "You don't bring her over as often as you should. I thought I taught you how to share better than that."

I roll my eyes at her antics and change the subject. "Are we going to eat or not? I'm starving."

Mom childishly sticks her tongue out at me for changing the subject, but answers me anyway. "Your father should be getting it out of the oven right now."

"Good. Let's go eat then." I take Bella's hand and lead her over to the kitchen table. Exactly as my mother predicted, Dad was putting the food, fresh out of the oven, on to the table. When he sees Bella, a huge grin comes across his face. He moves over to us and hugs Bella too.

"It's nice to see you again, Bella."

Bella smiles and hugs him back in return. We all take our places at the table, Bella beside me, and being to eat. Everyone makes small talk until I mention the game.

"So, uh, Mom, Dad, can Bella ride up with you to UDUB for the game? Her foster parents are out of town for the next few weeks, so they can't take her. Not that they would anyway." I say the last part too low for anyone else to hear. "I really want her to come, please." I give them my best puppy dog face.

My mom raises her eyebrow. "Your foster parents just left you at home, Bella?"

I feel Bella stiffen. Oh shit. Not the part of my question I wanted them to pick up on.

Bella slowly nods her head, unable to form any other kind of response.

"So you are in your house all alone for the next few weeks?" My mom presses.

Bella nods her head once again. She slowly starts to hang her head in shame. I put my hand on her thigh and gently squeeze. She doesn't acknowledge my touch. I glare at my mom. What the fuck was she doing? Trying to make Bella feel like shit? Cause it's working.

My mom continues, "Well, I won't stand for that. You will be staying with us until they get home." Mine and Bella's head snap up at the same time. "No one should be alone for that long. You can bring your stuff over tomorrow, but for tonight, I am sure Edward can give you some clothes to sleep in."

I turn to look at Bella who seems frozen in her spot. I begin rubbing circles on her back so she will calm down. "What my mom means is you can stay here if you want to. No one is forcing you to do anything."

"No, I am forcing her to stay here, Edward. A girl her age doesn't need to be home alone for weeks at a time."

I turn to look at Bella who now looks like she is about to cry. Before I have a chance to talk to her, she whispers, "Okay, I'll stay here."

Completely floored that she just agreed to this, a shit eating grin appears on my face. "Really?"

Bella nods her head.

I can't help but pick her up out of her seat and kiss her. It's not until I hear someone clear their throat that I remember that we are still at the kitchen table with my parents. I quickly set Bella down on her feet and we finish our food quickly. We are both eager to settle in for the night.

When Mom gets finished eating, she stands up and says, "I'll go get the spare bedroom ready for you, Bella."

My heart sinks at her words. I wanted Bella to stay in my room. I start to pout and Bella giggles.

Bella and I finish eating our food and head up to my room. I give her a t-shirt and some of my boxers for her to sleep in.

We stay in my room for a while after dinner to just talk. We talk about mindless things for hours until I finally build up the courage to ask her why she looked like she was about to cry at the table earlier.

Her response nearly killed me inside. "I felt like I was going to cry. I could feel tears stinging the back of my eyes, but I held them back."

"Why did you feel like you were going to cry though?"

She looks away as she answers. "Because it was the first time in my life that someone thought about my needs…"

I remain silent. I can't imagine how hard it must have been to tell me that right now. I don't know how to respond. I've never felt so wanted in my entire life and now… I feel like I have everything in the world."

"You are wanted more than you know, Bella." I love you. I want to say it so badly, but I bite my tongue. It's not the right time.

"Will you just hold me, Edward?" She asks quietly.

"Of course."

We stay like that for a few more hours. Not saying anything, just being content with holding on to one another. Around midnight, my dad comes in my room and says it's time for Bella to go to the spare bedroom. I nod my head and Bella and I get out of bed.

I walk her to her room and kiss her lightly on the forehead. We say our goodbyes for the night and I leave her for the night. I get back to my room and try to go to sleep, but it doesn't work.

About three o'clock in the morning, I wake when I hear my door open and shut. I turn on my bedside lamp and find Bella standing in my doorway in my room.

"Are you okay, Bella?" I ask tentatively. I don't know if she's still overwhelmed from earlier or not, but I decide to act as if she is.

"Yeah, I just can't sleep. Strange house and all." She smiles softly at me.

I move the covers away and motion for Bella to climb in. She eagerly rushes to my side and gets under the covers. I pull her to my chest and wrap my arms around her. She puts her head on my chest and within minutes I hear her breathing even out. I find myself falling asleep not long after.

If my parents knew about Bella and me sleeping together, they didn't mention it. Every night, Bella would come to my room around two or three o'clock in the morning to sleep. Mom and Dad never mentioned anything about it and for that I am grateful. I like the feeling of completeness that Bella gives me when she is safe and sound in my arms at night. I want to keep this feeling for the rest of my life.

The next couple of days pass by way too quickly and before I know it, I am leaving Bella for football.

On Wednesday morning, I get on the bus that is taking the football team to the University of Washington, or UDUB for short. It's only going to take us about four hours to get from Forks to the school, but we're leaving two days early to get our heads focused for Friday's game. That's two days without my Bella. That's two days that Bella is home alone with my parents. I cringe at the thought of that. There's sixteen years' worth of embarrassing moments that my parents can tell her while I'm gone.

I kiss Bella goodbye and get on the bus to leave. I take a nap the entire bus ride there.

Coach gives us our room assignments when we get to the hotel. I'm with Emmett.

We spend the next two days practicing lightly and going over plays. Everyone is just anxious to play. We're all ready to win this championship.

The morning of the game, my mom calls me to tell me that they have arrived and checked into the hotel safely. Turns out, they are only two floors above Emmett and me. I don't get a chance to see Bella when they arrive because Coach has been riding everyone's asses about staying focused.

Before I know it, I'm lacing up my cleats and putting on my jersey for the last time of the season. When we walk into the stadium, I ignore the screaming crowd around us. I only focus on my team and this game. This game determines who wins nationals this year. This game determines whether or not Emmett gets to go to college. This game holds so much power for just a short amount of time. This game is it.

Our warm up goes by quickly and soon enough, the game is about to start. The national anthem is sung and we all take our places on the field.

The game is brutal. It is by far the hardest team we have played this season. At half time, the score is 14 to 17 and we are losing. We walk into the locker room with our heads down and hearts broken. Everyone looks like they are all out of fight. Instead of Coach picking us up and lifting our spirits an encouraging us, Emmett beats him to it.

"Would you guys cheer the fuck up? We are only down by three and we have an entire half left. We made it all the way to the national championship football game, guys. Now is not the time to sit around and pout about being down by a few points. All we have to do is score one touchdown and hold them for the rest of the game. We have worked our asses off all year for this! I am not going down without a fucking fight! My future is riding on this guys. Our entire town is counting on us to win. We can't them down. So pick your heads out of your asses and let's go play some football!" And with that, we rush onto the field a new team. Everyone seems to be reenergized or something because as soon as the game starts again, we score a touchdown in the first thirty seconds.

Our defense becomes unbreakable and our offense becomes unstoppable. This is the team that I know. This is the team that has fought tooth and nail for this championship for an entire year. This is my team.

With one 1:44 on the clock, it starts to rain like crazy, but that doesn't stop the game. The other team, Alabama's Hatton High, fumbles the ball and Seth picks it up right before it touches the ground. He quickly runs it to the other side of the field. He stealthily dodges all Hatton's attempts at tackling him and literally slides in for the final touch down. The buzzer goes off.

We did it! We won! Forks High School just won the national football championship. Cheers erupt from the stands I see people hop the rails and run onto the field. I instantly search for Bella. It's not long before I find her and run up to her.

"You were amazing, Edward! You did it."

The smile on her face is contagious and I find myself wanting to kiss her, so I do. When I pull back, a surge of emotions fill me. This is it. The words are out of my mouth before I have a chance to overthink them.

"I love you, Bella. I love you so much." She looks like she wants to say something, but I stop her. "You don't have to say anything back. I don't expect you to. I just wanted you to know how I feel about you." She searches my eyes for something and I guess she finds it because the next thing I know, she is smashing her lips on mine. All our emotions and unspoken words are forced into this kiss.

We pull apart when Emmett runs over to us screaming, "I'm going to college! I'm going to college!" The giant beast of a man standing before us is jumping up and down clapping his hands in excitement like a five-year-old girl would.

I finally remember what he is talking about and congratulate him. "The UDUB coach gave you the scholarship?"

"Yeah. It is a full ride for all four years." His grin is contagious and I find myself smiling just as big right back at him.

"Emmett that's amazing!" It's Bella who beats me to the line. She lets go of me and eagerly throws her arms around Emmett.

"Thanks, little one. I'm so excited. I never thought it would actually happen, but now it is. Everything is just falling into place now. Even my Rosie is coming to UDUB. She got offered a cheerleading scholarship here a couple months ago. It's all working out and I couldn't be happier."

"That's great, Em. I'm so happy for you. You deserve this so much. Good luck in everything."

Bella lets go of Emmett so I can hug him. "I, uh, probably won't be back to our room tonight man. Rosalie wants to show me how proud she is of me tonight. If you know what I mean." He wiggles his eyebrows and I can't help but laugh.

"I so did not need to know that, Em."

"Of course you did, so now the room is all yours for the night." He looks suggestively between Bella and me. I try to laugh it off, hoping Bella doesn't pick up on his innuendos. Thankfully, she doesn't.

I talk to a few reporters and other fans from the crowd. Bella's hand stays firmly in mine the entire time. When everyone leaves the stadium and all the excitement dies down, Bella and I meet up with my parents after I change out of my football uniform.

Everywhere we go, people recognize me and congratulate me on the game. It feels like it takes forever for us to find someplace to eat, eat, and then make it back to the hotel. The entire time we are out, Bella and I are always touching. It feels so intimate and so amazing at the same time. It takes everything in me not to touch her like I want to touch her.

When we get back to the hotel and get on the elevator, my dad slips something in my hand. I glance down and find a couple of condom wrappers and a note in my hand. I look at my dad but he's looking away; I can still see the smirk on his face.

I quickly put the condoms in my back pocket before Bella has a chance to notice them and pull out the note.

I want grandbabies, just not while you're still in high school. We love you. Be safe. Goodnight.

Love,

Mom and Dad

I smile and roll my eyes. I love my parents.

When we get to my floor, I grab Bella's hand and pull her out of the elevator with me.

"What are you doing?"

"I thought you might be more comfortable in the same room as me tonight. Em isn't going to be back so it'll be just us. You can have his bed and I'll be in the other or you can have my bed or we can be in the same bed." I take a deep breath to try and stop my babbling.

I turn to look at Bella to find her with her hand covering her mouth, trying to hold in her laughter. "Why, Edward Cullen, are you asking me to sleep with you tonight?"

I feel the heat rush to my cheeks. "Maybe. Do you want to sleep with me tonight? I mean just sleep, like we've been doing this entire week?" I've never felt this nervous talking to her before. She probably thinks I'm a babbling idiot right now that is until her face breaks out in a huge grin.

"I would love to." She giggles and I lean in to kiss her. It's sweet and chaste and I immediately want more, but I don't push.

When we get back to the room, I start to ask her if she wants to take the first shower or if she wants me to, but I never get the chance. As soon as the door closes, Bella's lips are on mine. Guess I'm not the only one who wasn't satisfied with the kiss in the hallway.

I react instantly. I turn her around and press her against the door. Her hands go to my hair and I moan at the feeling of her tugging at the ends.

"You fuck up my control, Bella." I whisper against her neck. I press my hips against hers firmly so she can feel what she's doing to me.

Her response is instant. "So stop holding back," she says boldly. She bucks her hips back at me in a way that makes me moan very loudly.

I move my hands down from her face to her breasts. I firmly cup them and she arches her back into my hand, begging me to touch her. My hands drift lower to the buttons of her pants, wanting to undo them, but pause when the reality of what we're doing hits me.

"Bella, are you sure you want to do this?" I ask tentatively.

She doesn't hesitate. "I've never been surer of anything in my life. I want to be with you. I want to tie myself to you in as many ways humanely possible, Edward. I want you." She pauses for a moment then starts again. "You asked me once, what I would wish for if I had one wish. I want to be loved, Edward. My wish would be to be loved by someone for the first time in my life. Love me, Edward." She whispers the last part so low I don't know if I'm supposed to hear it.

Not needing any other reassurance, I quickly yank both of our shirts off. I pick her up by the hips. Instinctively, her legs wrap around me. I continue my assault on her lips and walk us to the bed to gently lay us down on it. I take her bra off and immediately attach my lips to her breasts. Her moans get louder and louder as I move lower down her body. I come up between every kiss and say, "You. Deserve. To. Be. Loved. I. Love. You. So. Much. Bella." Her only response was a moan.

When I get to her jeans, I swiftly unbutton them and pull them off of her legs. Her panties follow soon after. I kiss my way up her leg and am almost to the apex of her thighs when Bella breathes out, "Edward."

I immediately stop my actions. Maybe she isn't ready for this after all. I make my way up her body to find a sexy smirk on her face. I look at her, confused as hell.

"You have on too much clothes, Edward." I can't help the chuckle that escapes me. I lean down to kiss her forehead. Her fingers go straight to the waistband of my sweatpants and pull them down. My boxers follow soon after.

My hands start to drift down to the apex of her thighs. I start rubbing circles around her clit. I start thrusting two fingers inside of her, trying to stretch her for what is about to come next. It doesn't take long for her to reach her climax.

After she comes back down from her high, I place myself at her entrance and look directly in to her eyes. "Are you ready?"

For the first time tonight, she looks scared. "Is it going to hurt, Edward?"

"Only for a second, then I'll make it go away, Bella. I promise." She nods her head and softly press my lips against hers as I push in. I feel her stiffen at the initial tear, but it doesn't take long for her to start moving her hips with mine, desperate for some friction.

We move in tandem during our love making. Every time I move, she moves. I feel so close to my climax, but I hold it back and make sure that she is close too.

"Are you close, baby?"

She moans. "I need more, Edward. I'm almost there."

I reach my hand in between us and start rubbing her clit at the same pace that I am thrusting into her. Seconds later, I feel her climax which triggers my own climax.

I stay on top of her for a few more seconds and then pull out. I roll over to my side so I can face her. She looks so beautiful right now. "You're glowing, baby."

She smiles and blushes at my words. "That was amazing, Edward. When can we do it again?"

My dick hardens immediately and I pull her on top of me. She's already wet and ready for me. She giggles and we start all over again. We make love all night and then I fall asleep, holding the girl that I love, in my arms.

A/N: So, what do ya'll think? Was it good? Was it bad? Let me know what you think in a review! See you next week!