Author's Note:

As always, thank you thank you thank you for reading and all the reviews!

It seems like you're all pretty relieved that B&E are making progress, but really, we all knew they couldn't hold out forever. There's still a few hurdles, though, so let's see where they go from here!

Also, we all agree that Edward needs to tell the truth about Tanya, and I promise, it will come out eventually!

I still don't own any of the things…

Chapter 13

BPOV

I awoke Saturday morning cocooned in warmth. It took me a minute to wake up enough to figure out why I was so warm and could hardly move. It took Edward moaning softly and shifting behind me to remember. I'd slept better than I had in years, and I knew it was because of the warm, hard body curled around me. I smiled sleepily as I realized exactly how hard the man was. I couldn't resist wiggling my rear end against him and I laughed softly when I got the reaction I wanted as his hand clamped onto my hip.

"Mmmm," he moaned. "You better be still, woman, or there will be consequences."

"That sounds promising," I purred as Edward buried his face in my neck and pressed his hips into me a little harder. I gave another wiggle of my ass for good measure before I rolled away and hopped out of bed.

"Too bad it'll have to wait. Right now, I'm hungry, so come on," I giggled at his groan of frustration as I sauntered to the bathroom.

"You're evil, woman," I heard him mutter as I closed the door and turned to brush my teeth. I felt a little guilty for teasing him, but I figured it was fair since I was just as frustrated as he was. As much as I'd love to stay in bed enjoying each other all day long, Edward and I needed to talk before we took that next step. With that reminder to myself, I finished up in the bathroom and emerged to find the bed empty.

I followed the scent of coffee down the stairs and found Edward in the kitchen raiding the refrigerator. I watched for a moment, marveling at the fact he was in my house and had been in my bed all night. I knew we didn't have an easy road in front of us, but I couldn't let him go now. Maybe it was pathetic, but I'd take what I could get at this point. My feelings for him had grown quickly, but I'd never felt anything like what I felt for Edward Cullen. I just hoped he was on the same page. I supposed I'd find out shortly, but first, I hadn't been lying about being hungry, so I stepped up behind Edward, making my presence known.

"What's for breakfast," I asked, peering around him to see what he'd pulled from the refrigerator.

"Well, you've got all the basics for a decent omelet, if that's okay?"

"Yep, sounds good to me," I said as I grabbed a knife and started chopping a bell pepper while Edward was assembling the other ingredients. We worked in relative silence, both seemingly lost in our own thoughts, until the omelets were ready. Edward carried our plates to the table while I refilled our coffee. Once we sat down, my nerves set in. It was time to talk, but I wasn't sure where to start so I focused on my food for a minute. It seemed Edward was nervous as well, but jumped in before I did.

"So…Bella, I know we need to talk about what we're doing here, but I think the first thing I need to say is just that I'll totally understand if you change your mind. I meant it when I said I never intended to put you in a difficult position, and as much as I want to be with you, I won't stand in your way if you walk away from me and whatever this is," he said and would have kept rambling if I hadn't stopped him.

"Edward, stop," I said, reaching for his hand across the corner of the table. "I appreciate you saying that, but as wrong as it may be, I want you. I have feelings for you and have for a while. I never planned to act on them due to the circumstances, but I can't go back now. I don't want to go back. It may not be ideal, but I'm in this, whatever this is, if you are. So, if you're in, then I figure we need to set some ground rules so to speak, but please don't worry that I want out. Now, first things first. Are you in?"

I watched a myriad of emotions flicker through his eyes, but he didn't hesitate before he gripped my hand and said, "I'm in."

I couldn't help feeling a little relief at that. Despite his worry that I wanted out, I had been afraid he wanted the same thing. We agreed to finish our breakfast then talk, giving us a few minutes to sort out our thoughts. Once we'd carried our plates to the sink and topped off our coffee, we settled on the sofa facing each other from each end. After a moment of awkward silence, we both laughed softly.

"I have no idea how to start this," Edward said.

"Yeah, same. Even taking time to think about what needs to be said, it's not every day I sit down to hash out the terms of…what is this? An affair?" I asked, hating the connotation of that word. I saw Edward cringe as well.

"I hate that word," he said softly. "Maybe the term is technically accurate, but this doesn't feel like that to me. I wish so much that this conversation wasn't necessary. I wish that we could just have a normal relationship that could progress naturally without having to set up rules. That's the biggest reason I never intended to drag you into this mess." His eyes flashed, in anger or pain, I wasn't sure.

"I don't like that word either, so let's just take it off the table right now. We can come back to defining this if needed, but to ease your mind a little, I think we'd be having this conversation no matter what," I said as Edward furrowed his brow in confusion. "I mean I think we'd need to set a few rules even if this were a 'normal' relationship. For example, even without the added complications, I don't think we'd want to tell Maggie we were dating until it was serious. I mean, if she didn't already know me, I'm guessing you wouldn't introduce me to her on our first date, right?"

"Yeah, you are right," he agreed. "That makes sense. So, this relationship will just have a few more rules than a more typical situation." I nodded in agreement before he continued. "So, back to the definition thing, it may be weird that I have this need to name it, but I vote for relationship, because that's what this is to me. It's not casual for me."

"It's not casual for me, either. If what I feel for you was just about sex or physical attraction, this wouldn't be happening," I said with conviction.

"Exactly," he agreed. "Bella, please believe me when I say that I've never even looked at another woman since I made a commitment to Tanya. There have been opportunities, before and after the accident, but regardless of how unhappy I was in my marriage, I was never even remotely tempted. I don't take this lightly, and I also want you to know that that you're it. I mean, I wouldn't do this if it weren't you, and I would never do this to you. I don't want you to think I would do what Jacob did." The earnest expression on his face nearly broke my heart.

"Oh, Edward, I know that. Trust me, you are nothing like Jake," I said and reached for his hand, linking our fingers. He released a breath, sounding somewhat relieved.

"Okay, so, moving on, as much as I want it to not be true, I am technically married, so it kind of goes without saying that we can't tell anybody about…," he trailed off, his face pained. "Fuck, Bella, just saying that makes me sick. I'm such an asshole to even think about asking you to do this, like you're some kind of dirty little secret. You deserve so much better than that, baby, you deserve better than me."

Edward pulled his hand away from mine and threw his head back onto the cushion, covering his face with his hands. I tried to pull his hands away, so he'd look at me, but he resisted, shaking his head.

"Edward, listen to me," I said, but he cut me off before I could continue.

"I can't, Bella, I can't do this to you. I care about you too much to treat like some sort of whore," he said, his voice breaking at the end.

"Hey," I said sharply, causing him to look at me in alarm. "Do you think I'm a whore?"

"Of course not, Bella, but-," he started to say before I interrupted.

"I know you don't, Edward, and that's my point," I said, speaking softer now that I had his attention. "You don't see me as a whore, and I know you would never treat me in a way that made me feel like one, so please just let that thought go." I paused for a moment to gather my next words. Edward still looked apprehensive, so I decided to just lay my thoughts out and let him decide if we moved forward or not.

"Look," I began, "I know this situation is complicated, but maybe we're making it too hard. Yes, it absolutely sucks that we have to keep us a secret, but the only thing that really changes is what we do when we're alone. We're friends, Edward, and I don't want to lose that no matter what happens with us in the future, but I want to be with you. I want to explore these feelings I have for you. So, the way I see it, we carry on the way we have been, but we carve out time to be alone. I know it won't be easy, but I think it could be worth it, and I want to find out. We can figure out the rest as we go." I stopped and waited for Edward to say something, but he just sat silently for a minute, his green eyes locked on mine. Finally, before my nerves could take complete control, he spoke.

"Bella," he breathed as he took my hand again. "I want nothing more than to be with you. Maybe you're right that we are complicating it more than it needs to be, and we should just let things take their course. I'm just so afraid that you'll regret this." I shook my head and started to reassure him I wouldn't, but he continued before I could speak. "No, don't say you won't. You might, hell, we both might at some point. Neither of us can know for sure. But what I do know is that I'm too weak to fight this anymore. There are hurdles, but for now, I just want to be with you in whatever way I can." With that, he hauled me onto his lap and laid his lips on mine. This, I thought, this right here was worth fighting for. What I felt when I was near him, in his arms, was worth any pain I may face in the future.

We kissed and cuddled on the couch for another hour, but eventually Edward had to leave to pick up Maggie from his parent's house. Edward had told me that Maggie had been asking about me this past week, and I felt bad that by avoiding Edward, I'd inadvertently avoided her as well.

Sunday evening, I went to Edward's and had dinner and watched a movie with him and Maggie. After she went to bed, we had a little adult time on the sofa, kissing and talking about the upcoming week. Edward and I had both been a little nervous about how to act around Maggie, but it had gone well, and the evening had been a good test for when we were eventually around the rest of our friends and family. We'd basically just carried on like we had before when we were only friends, but we took the opportunities we could, to steal a kiss or tender touch. It was difficult to part at the end of the night, but we both had to work the next day, and I wouldn't stay over with Maggie at home anyway.

The days that followed were interesting, to say the least. Angela had practically pounced on me first thing Monday morning. She'd sensed the improvement in my mood over the previous week and wanted to know what had caused it. I'd nearly caved and told her everything but had decided against it. I trusted her, but I wasn't quite ready to share. I made plans for a manicure with Rose later in the week and lunch and a visit to Tanya on Thursday with Alice. I didn't want to go, of course, but felt like it was especially important to act as naturally as possible. Acting normally was what actually made the week so different, though. Edward and I were in regular contact and met for lunch on Wednesday. I wanted nothing more than to shut out the world and be with him every second I could, but doing things with Rose, Alice, and Angela was normal. If I'd stopped doing all the things I usually would, it would have been obvious that something was up. Edward and I agreed that it would take a little time to get used to our new normal, so we just carried on. He kept his regular routine with Maggie and work and we talked and planned time together when we could.

Thursday, I was supposed to have lunch with Alice, but she got tied up and couldn't make it. I decided it was probably for the best since we were visiting Tanya that afternoon and having to put up the façade for Alice twice in one day would have been difficult. I met Alice at Ridgemont after work and was relieved to find her acting like her usual chipper self. I hadn't been sure what to expect after finding out she'd lied to Edward the week before about me having a date, but she chattered away at Tanya and me about her shop and other various things just like she usually did.

I tuned her out for the most part, lost in my own little world. I looked over at Tanya and felt the same sadness I usually felt when I came here. Even though she and I had never been as close as she and Alice, I'd still considered her a friend, and I wouldn't wish this situation on my worst enemy. I'd expected to feel a great deal of guilt coming here, sitting in a room with the shell of Edward's wife, but I didn't really. Yes, she was Edward's wife, but their marriage was literally nothing more than a piece of paper. I'm sure a lot of women in my situation used that same justification for entering into a relationship with a married man, but I figured it was a safe bet that those men didn't have wives who had been in a coma for nearly seven years. Rationally I knew that the state of Tanya's consciousness didn't entirely excuse what Edward and I were doing, but I also knew without a doubt that neither he nor I would ever do this if Tanya were awake. Regardless of how we felt about each other, or how miserable he may have been in the marriage, cheating would never have crossed his mind, even in retaliation for Tanya's own affair.

Still listening with half an ear to Alice ramble on about the newest fashion trends, my thoughts turned to Edward himself. The last few weeks with Edward, even when we were truly only friends, had been the best of my life. Edward and I connected on a level I'd never known before, and I knew he was it for me. We hadn't said the words to each other yet, but I was fairly certain we were on the same page, even though we'd just started to explore this new aspect of our relationship. I must have sighed or had a look on my face or something, because I was suddenly pulled from my reverie by Alice saying my name.

"Alright, Bella, what's up with you?" she asked. I looked up at her warily, expecting her to be angry or accusatory, but the look on her face was neither.

"What do you mean? Nothing's up," I replied lamely. What was I supposed to say?

"Whatever," she grinned. "I know you. You're happy."

"Yeah, of course. I'm always happy," I said, furrowing my brow in confusion.

"No, not really," Alice said. "You're content, but I haven't seen you truly happy in years. And I'm not just talking about during or since the divorce. You weren't happy with Jake for a long time, whether you want to admit it or not."

I was somewhat stunned by her observation, but I shouldn't have been. This was my friend Alice. The friend she'd been when we were kids and young teens, before she'd become as self-involved as she is now. Before Tanya.

I sighed. "Well, you are right about that. I admitted that to myself a long time ago. I loved Jake, but it was forced. I loved him as a friend, but I wasn't in love with him."

"Glad you finally see that, but seriously, what brought this on? If I didn't know better, I'd say you got laid," Alice laughed.

Damn. That's exactly what I didn't want her to think, but I knew there was no getting her off this track now that she was on it, so I decided maybe giving her what she wanted was the best course. "Well, no, I didn't get laid…yet," I said with a smirk.

"What?!" she squealed. "Oh my god! My girl's got her groove back. Almost anyway. I need details!"

I laughed. Details are exactly what she wasn't going to get, but I could give her something. Hopefully it would shut her up for a while. "Well, there's really not much to tell. I met someone. I like him and we're going to see where it goes." I shrugged as if it weren't that big of a deal, when really my heart was hammering in my chest. I knew Alice could be like a dog with a bone, but obviously I couldn't tell her more than that.

"Okaaay," she said drawing it out. I knew I couldn't get off that easily. "That tells me nothing. Who is he? How many times have you gone out? Where did you meet him?"

"Alice, take a breath," I said. "It's very new and I don't really want to share details yet. Things get complicated when friends and family get involved. We're not there yet."

"And you telling me his name or where you met would mean I'm involved?" she asked, sounding hurt, but luckily her tone lacked suspicion. She was more focused on me not telling her what she wanted to know than trying to figure out who the mystery man was.

"Alice, you know damn well if I tell you his name that you won't let it go at that. I want to get to know him, I don't need you to go cyber stalk him!" I said in exasperation.

Alice at least had the grace to look embarrassed, knowing I'd hit the nail on the head. I could tell she was not happy, though, when she crossed her arms and mumbled, "Fine."

I figured it was a good time to call it a day at that, so I unfolded myself from the chair I was sitting in and grabbed my bag. "Well, Ali, I've got to head out. See you soon, okay?" I asked.

Alice merely nodded. I rolled my eyes as I left the room. I felt bad that I was lying to my friend, but I still didn't appreciate her pouting like a child when she didn't get her way.

Later that night, I was curled up in bed, talking to Edward on the phone after Maggie was out for the night. We talked about our days, and I told him about my afternoon with Alice, including the conversation I'd wound up having with her.

"So, apparently, I look happy," I said.

"Do you? I hope I have a little something to do with that," Edward said in a smooth voice.

"Actually, you have everything to do with that," I said, smiling even though he couldn't see me.

"Good to know, because the feeling is mutual," he said, making me swoon a little. "And apparently, I have the look as well. Emmett asked me today if I'd gotten laid or something."

"Oh my god, Alice said the same thing to me," I laughed.

"Oh wow, what did you tell her?" Edward asked.

"I told her not yet," I said, then paused when I heard him choke on the other end of the line.

"Oh…um…what did she say?" he stammered.

"It's Alice. What do you think she said? She squealed like a banshee and demanded details," I laughed. "Obviously, I didn't give her much, but I did tell her I'd met someone and wanted some time to see where it went. I thought if nothing else, she'll lay off the matchmaking this way, but she was pissed that I didn't give her anything. It sucks, though, not being able to talk to her or anyone. I hate lying."

"I know, baby, I hate it too. I wish it didn't have to be like this," he sighed and paused for a second. "Bella, if you don't want to do this…"

"Stop right there. We've been over this. Yes, it sucks, but I'm willing to do what I have to do to be with you."

"Okay," he said, sounding relieved. "I promise it won't be like this forever, but if you change your mind, you can tell me. You know that right?"

"Same goes for you. But I can tell you that as of now, I have zero intention of changing my mind."

"Good. Now, how would you feel about going on a date tomorrow night? Maggie is sleeping over at a friend's house," Edward said.

"I'd love that. Where do you want to meet?" I asked. We'd already talked about going out together and decided it was the same as going out as friends, we'd just be careful to keep any PDA in check on the off chance we ran into someone we knew.

"No meeting, I'm going to pick you up. That's generally how dates work, Bella," he said sarcastically.

"Okay, smartass," I snarked. "What time and where are we going?"

Edward answered and we talked a little longer before we were both struggling to keep our eyes open. After we said goodnight and Edward wished me sweet dreams, I drifted off to sleep and dreamed of him. Sweet dreams, indeed.

Author's Note:

Well, there you have it. They are moving forward. Maybe not the best way to do it, but they haven't really thought about the long term yet.

Next chapter up soon!

Let me know what you think!