A/N: Man, you all know how to make a girl feel loved! The comments have been so kind and supportive, it's made my heart grow! It almost pains me to say we're past the halfway point (but don't worry, we still have a lot with these lovebirds). Fair warning: the Italicized portion is not beta'd, as that was a last minute addition after seeing how many of you wanted more of the first date. If you want to see some spoilers, teasers, as well as information on upcoming stories, stop by my FB group hmerdan's Fiction Spot. Some people have had trouble finding it, so feel free to message me here or on any of the plethora of groups I'm posting chapter updates. As always, thanks to my beta kneon for everything.

After an amazing first date, I woke up on Sunday with an extra bounce in my step. I grinned like a fool in the shower as I thought about the mind-melting kiss we shared, while my body reacted to the memory of how right she felt in my arms.

"There's no way that's true!" Bella laughed, the sound filling the confines of my SUV. The conversation had been flowing all night through dinner until Bella noticed the telltale signs that the staff were waiting to close up for the night. We continued through the entire ride home, and parked in front of her building, sharing embarrassing childhood stories.

"I swear to God!" I crossed my heart in emphasis. "Mom wasn't happy when Em's hammer took out a window. And the look on her face when she saw we used her Egyptian cotton sheets for our tent?" I shook my head with a chuckle. "I'm lucky to be alive today."

"Who would have thought you were such a troublemaker?" She grinned playfully before turning to look at the dashboard. "Oh, shit! Is that the time?"

I looked down and saw why she was so shocked. It was almost eleven. We'd been sitting out here for over half an hour! "I had no idea it was so late."

"I should really get upstairs," she sighed, regret clear on her face. "I have to be at Bites in eight hours."

"I should let you go," I answered regretfully. "Hold on!" I jumped out of the car, and jogged to her side and opened the door, offering my hand.

"Such a gentleman," Bella giggled, accepting my hand, and carefully stepped out. She looked up at me, her eyes sparkling with glee. "I had an amazing time tonight, Edward. Thank you for tonight."

"Thank you for saying yes," I smiled at her. "There's no one else I'd want to go with."

She dropped my hands and brought hers behind my neck, so I slipped my hands around her waist. There were no words to describe how perfect she felt in my arms. "I hope it's just the first of many." Her words hung in the air, a promise of endless moments together.

"More than either of us can count if I have my way," I chuckled, looking deep into her mocha eyes. The air was electric between us as we stared at each other in comfortable silence until I made my move and brought my mouth to hers. Our lips met in a soft embrace, igniting the flame that's been flickering between us for months. Time stood still as we both lost ourselves in each other. In a silent promise of the depth of our feelings and everything to come.

We already made plans for lunch on Tuesday, as well as dinner next weekend. Hell, I was even whistling as I left my bedroom and walked down the hall until the smell of something burning distracted me. Following the sound of the smoke detector, I took the stairs two at a time down to the kitchen, where I found Ness with her eyes glazed over in her own world.

Hitting the smoke detector button, I called out, "Vanessa!" and shut off the stove, making her jump.

"Oh!" She threw the pan with the burnt onions into the sink. "Sorry, Dad. I was trying to make breakfast…" She climbed up on a stool and put her head on her folded arms. "I just got distracted."

"Why don't you let me make breakfast and you can tell me what's wrong?" I suggested, grabbing the bowl with the eggs she'd already scrambled.

"I already added salt to those," she muttered. "It's nothing, Dad. Just got a lot on my mind."

"It might help to share," I suggested while heating a clean pan on the stove.

"I don't know…" she faltered. "It's about Mom."

I'm glad I was facing away dealing with the eggs when she said this, so she didn't see my jaw tighten. "Ness, you can talk to me about anything. Even if it has to do with your mom."

Nessa sighed and spun around on the stool - a move she'd done since childhood when she was upset. "Well, I called to tell her about prom and we talked about what she was planning while I was up there," she started. "We were talking about the game last night, and Mom said…" she trailed off into an incoherent mumble.

"What did your mom say?"

"She said Jake and I should take a break," she answered just above a whisper. "She said I'm being unfair to keep him tied up while I'm gone for so long, and it's unfair to me, too. I don't feel like it's unfair to me. I don't want someone else. But what if it's unfair to him? What if he wants to date someone else while I'm gone?"

Fucking Tanya, filling our daughter with doubt. All I wanted to do was rip her a new one, but I had to make sure Nessa was okay first. I took a deep breath and separated the scrambled eggs between two plates before turning to my daughter and placing her breakfast in front of her. "Okay, first question. Has Jacob ever made you feel like it would be a burden to stay together while you're in Alaska?"

"Never," Ness shook her head. "He said he was hoping to get some extra shifts at the shop or the restaurant while I was gone, so we could spend as much time together in August as possible. He also told me he'll miss me."

"So, he's never made you feel like it's a burden and you don't feel like it's a burden. So, it sounds like you have nothing to worry about," I stated, but Nessa still looked unsure. "But you could always talk to Jacob. See what he says. I hate to admit it, but that boy's crazy about you, Ness."

"And I can just… ask him?"

"If I learned one thing in marriage counseling, it's the importance of communication," I explained.

"Dad, you're divorced."

"I also learned that some people are better apart," I shrugged. "Your mom and I work better as co-parents when we're not around each other all the time." Even if I was ready to rip her apart.

"That's for sure," Nessa snorted, giving me her first smile of the day.

"Jacob's working the dinner shift, right?" I asked, getting a nod from Ness. "Why don't you see if he's free to meet up before he goes to work, so you two can talk? Let him know what your mom said. Tell him how you feel. Whatever happens, happens."

"Thanks, Dad," she grinned at me and began shoveling her eggs into her mouth. Once she was done, she ran upstairs to grab her phone and came back down while I was loading the dishwasher. "Jake's on his way over now. We're gonna head to Starbucks for a bit."

"Sounds good," I agreed. "Need any cash?"

"Umm… I could use money for drinks," she asked. "Jake paid for everything yesterday, so I want to treat him today."

"No problem." I took out my phone and sent her money to add to her Starbucks app. Since I found out my little girl was drinking coffee, I also found out she was an avid collector of stars.

"Thanks, got it!" she confirmed and pocketed her phone. "I was thinking… When I get back from Anchorage, I want to look for a part-time job. It'd be nice to earn my own money."

"If you're sure." I gave her an encouraging smile. "As long as it doesn't interfere with your studies."

"Lots of people my age have a job! Jake has two!" she insisted, as a knock sounded from the door. "That's Jake!" she squealed and ran to open it, jumping into his arms.

"Hey, Nessie," he smiled, tightly squeezing her. I cleared my throat behind her, causing him to place her back on the floor. "Hi, Mr. Cullen. Thanks again for those tickets. The game was awesome yesterday!"

"I'm glad you had fun," I smiled at him. The boy was really growing on me. "And thank you for telling me about Amaavasya. Bella and I had a wonderful time."

"I know," he snorted. "She came home looking all dazed and dreamy." I couldn't help but grin at his description, knowing I felt the same way this morning. "Anyway, we won't be gone long. I start at Bites at four."

"Sounds good," I nodded. "See you when you get back, Ness."

"Bye, Dad!" She waved as she bounded out the front door with Jacob.

Once his Volkswagen had pulled away from the house, I pulled my phone from my pocket and called the familiar Alaska number.

"Edward! Is everything okay?" Tanya asked without saying hello.

"Hello to you, too," I replied tersely. "Is there a reason you would expect her to not be okay?"

"You don't normally call me," she pointed out.

"Well, she's physically fine," I finally answered. "Although she thinks she needs to break up with her boyfriend. Now, where do you think she got that idea?"

"I didn't say she needed to break up with her boyfriend. I merely pointed out that it would be difficult being apart for so long. Teenage boys aren't known for patience."

"You're unbelievable." I let out a humorless laugh. "They already deal with a separation most of the time between here and Forks. If there were ever a teenage couple that could handle the distance, it's them. Our daughter doesn't need you filling her head with your BS."

"I just think there's someone better for her out there," Tanya insisted.

"You mean out there in Anchorage? How many times have you brought up Laurent?" Tanya was noticeably silent on the other end, so I continued. "Let me get this straight. You think our daughter should dump a boy she's in love with, so she can date your girlfriend's nephew for, what, a month before he goes back to his boarding school that I'm sure is way further from Seattle than Forks is."

"I didn't know Vanessa was in love," she answered in a small voice. "Edward, I'm missing out on our daughter's first love."

"Well, attempting to sabotage it isn't the way to go," I sighed. "So, instead of pushing Laurent, maybe you could actually try to connect with her about Jacob, so you'll be involved, too."

"It's just so hard when I'm so far away…" Tanya moaned. "Sometimes I wish I'd fought harder to get primary custody."

"And then she'd be miserable, and you wouldn't have been able to build your career to the level you have," I pointed out. "Instead of regretting the past, focus on the future. Oh, and Tanya?"

"Yes?"

I hated threatening Tanya, but sometimes she needed a reminder. "If I see our daughter crying after talking to you again, I'm reminding her that visits are optional."

"Fine, Edward," Tanya agreed sorrowfully. "Is Vanessa there? I should fix this."

"I already did some damage control and suggested she talk to Jacob about it," I explained. "They're at Starbucks now, but I can have her call when she gets back."

"Thank you, Edward. I know it's more than I deserve."

"I'm doing this for Nessa. She deserves a supportive mother."

"I know, I know… I'll talk to her, I promise."

Once we get off the phone, I grabbed my running shoes from the front hall, needing to work off this energy.

"I'm glad she apologized," Bella sighed as we walked through Pike Place during our standing Tuesday lunch date. The only difference was we were walking hand-in-hand and sharing affection freely instead of bottling everything inside. "Jake was pissed when Nessa told him what her mom said."

"I would be, too," I scoffed. "Hell, I was pissed. I know she's not being malicious, but… shit, I don't get what's running through her head sometimes."

"Desperation?" Bella shrugged. "Either way, it sounds like you handled it perfectly. You're really an amazing dad."

"I'm just trying my best. Ness is a good kid, she makes it easy."

"She's a good kid because you're a good dad," Bella added sternly. "You give her a loving home and no reason to rebel."

I felt my face heat at Bella's kind words. "I don't want to spend our entire lunch talking about my ex-wife. You said you were going to show me the best chowder in Seattle."

"Patience, Cullen," she teased me with a grin.

"You know, I've had some pretty good chowder in my time," I replied in a singsong voice.

"Would I steer you wrong?" she asked in mock offense. "Here we are!"

I felt my mouth watering as I read over the menu. "How do you pick just one?"

"I don't," she admitted with a grin. "I usually get the sampler. Then I only have to pick four."

"That's what we're getting, right?" I asked hopefully. "There's no way I'm narrowing it down."

"We're getting the eight-cup sampler! You need to try it all," she ordered. She was the expert. Who was I to judge?

She placed our order and insisted on paying before we took a seat at one of the small tables in the shop. "So, how bad was your family on Sunday?"

"They were pretty bad," I laughed. During dinner on Saturday, I had predicted that my family would interrogate me at dinner the next day, and they did not disappoint. "My sisters wanted every detail of the night, my brothers were teasing me the whole time, and my mom kept asking when she'll meet you."

"And what did you tell them?"

"Well, I told my sisters I had an amazing time with an amazing woman." I gave her a wink, causing Bella to blush a beautiful rose color. "And I promised my mom to ask you about coming to dinner. We're having a going away dinner for Ness the Sunday before she goes to Alaska. I know she wants to invite Jacob, but I would love it if you would come, too."

"Are you sure?" She gave me a nervous look. "I'd love to meet your family, but I don't want to rush you."

"Bella, we may have only gone on one date, but we've been getting to know each other for months. I'd love it if you came to dinner. Plus, there'll be less pressure with everyone focused on Nessa."

"In that case, I'd love to go," she agreed. "Can I bring anything?"

"If you ask my mom, she'll say no. But if you bring something, she'll appreciate it. My siblings and I are only just learning we need to surprise her with dishes."

"In that case, I'm sure I can whip something up."

Our order was called from the counter, so I went up and grabbed our sampler tray, taking a deep breath of the soups before joining Bella. "Okay, I'll concede. They smell delicious."

"Just wait until you try them." She pulled the lids off of all the cups before grabbing her first selection as I chose mine - the seafood bisque. I knew she wouldn't lead me wrong, but I was more interested in the deep moan she let out from her taste of smoked salmon chowder. "I love chowder," she sighed, taking another spoonful before trading with me. "So, what are your plans while Ness is away?"

"Well, I'm not sure." Clearing my throat, I tried to hide how she affected me. "I usually just work non-stop while she's gone, but I'm hoping that won't be the case this year." I gave Bella a smile while I gathered my confidence to ask my next question. "Actually, I was thinking of getting away for a couple of days, and thought maybe you'd like to go with me." She paused with her eyes wide and the spoon hanging from her mouth. "I mean, I don't get a lot of time to go away, and I'd love to spend that time with you?"

"Really?" There was a hint of a smile on her face that I took as a good sign. "It's not easy for me to get weekends off. Aro really likes to have me for brunch service."

"Once the class is over, you'll be off Tuesdays and Wednesdays, right?" She nodded in confirmation. "That works for me. I can take any day off I want. I am one of the owners of the company. So, I was just thinking of Snoqualmie or Leavenworth, maybe Vancouver? What do you think?"

"I think Aro and his wife have said good things about Salish Resort up in Snoqualmie," she answered with a shy smile.

"Great, we can look at booking there." I couldn't help but smile brightly while we discussed dates that would work for both of us, deciding on the week after the Fourth. Since she'd be expected to work the holiday itself, she could get an extra day off the week after, giving us three days of rest and relaxation. I made a note to book the stay as soon as I was back in my office while we finished our soup and Bella discussed activities she wanted to do while we were away.

Once we finished eating and got rid of our trash, Bella grabbed my hand automatically once again. "You know what I could go for? Ice cream," she stated. "Shug's is just on the other side of the building."

"Then what are we waiting for?" I grinned, enjoying any time with my girl I could get. "I'll probably need to get something to go. Do you want me to walk you back to your car before I head to the office?"

She shook her head. "I usually take the bus when I come down here. Parking's a bitch."

"Very true," I agreed. "Part of the appeal for my gym membership was the discounted parking I could add to it."

"Doesn't your office have parking?"

"Marcus Platt was an amazing grandfather and brilliant architect, but didn't think about how parking would become a hot commodity in this city," I laughed. "So, can I at least walk you to your bus?"

"I'd like that," she smiled and led me into the small ice cream shop. "If you weren't going back to work, I'd tell you to get one of the ice cream cocktails. The Invierno Shake is to die for!"

"We're definitely coming back for one of those," I agreed. "Would you think I'm horribly boring if I got a strawberry milkshake?"

"No, that's a classic," she grinned. "Since we're walking, I'm getting a salted caramel one."

While we waited in line, I couldn't help but notice a sign about their ice cream cart for parties. "You know, Ness loves ice cream and her sweet sixteen's coming up in September. Maybe I should look at getting one of their carts for her party."

"I bet she'd love that!" Bella agreed as we stepped forward to the counter where a young man in his twenties was taking orders.

"Welcome to Shug, shug," he greeted us, looking directly at Bella.

I rolled my eyes and cleared my throat. "Can we get one salted caramel shake and one strawberry to go?" I asked, the annoyance clear in my voice. "And do you have any info on party rentals? I'm thinking of getting a cart for my daughter's birthday."

"Sweet!" he grinned, punching in our order, and turned back to Bella. "When's your birthday?"

I was about to lose my temper at his unprofessional attitude when Bella let out a loud laugh. "Oh, Riley, is it? I'm not his daughter." She leaned in close and put her hand around her mouth like she was sharing a secret. "If I was, then the things I want to do to this man would be highly inappropriate."

I felt my face heat with a blush as Bella leaned back, giving the cashier a conspiratorial wink. He looked at me in shock, but I managed to just give him a cocky shrug. "R-r-ri-right," he stammered out. "So, two shakes. Your total's nineteen-eighty-two." I handed him a twenty and pocketed the change, my smirk not leaving my face. "Let me grab you a card."

As he walked off muttering to himself, I finally let out my laugh. "Oh, Bella. What am I going to do with you?" I leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her lips.

She looked up at me as we pulled apart. "I guess you'll have to wait and find out."

"Here are your shakes," the cashier muttered, passing us our cups and a business card. "All our rental info's on the website listed there."

"Thank you," I replied graciously, pocketing the card.

"Have a good day!" He sighed as we left the restaurant with our drinks in hand.

"So, what do you have planned for the rest of the afternoon?" I asked, before taking a sip of my dessert.

"Oh, a very exciting afternoon!" she enthused. "I'm going to do a load of laundry and make the guest room up before Jake gets here tomorrow morning."

"Non-stop fun," I laughed. "Want to trade? I have a meeting with my senior team to prepare for intern training on the seventeenth."

"I'll take laundry and Netflix. Maybe I'll research hiking boots, too," she grinned. "We're not too far from your office, are we?"

"No, you're right on the way," I assured her. "We're at Fifth and University."

"Okay, good," she nodded, then looked quizzical. "Wait, are you in the weird swoopy building?"

"Some people call it the Beaver Building, but yes, it's one of my grandfather's shining accomplishments," I laughed. "He built it four years before I was born. It was his first skyscraper, so naturally, he had to move his office into it."

"Where was it before?"

"Closer to Swedish Hospital. He actually sold it to them as medical office space." As we crossed the street, I couldn't believe my eyes at what a small world it was. Coming out of the Ross Dress for Less right by Bella's bus stop were Alice and Rosalie with two large bags each. "Well, this should be fun," I muttered.

"What's wrong?" Bella asked, her voice full of concern.

"Nothing, per se. But my sister and sister-in-law just came out of the Ross on the corner." I tried to subtly point to where they were standing going through their bags. "I was hoping I'd get more time to warn you about my family before you meet them."

Bella rolled her eyes. "I'm sure it'll be fine. If you can survive Charlie, anything's possible."

Once the two had finished adjusting their purchases, Alice looked up and caught sight of us right away, nudging Rosalie to point us out. The mischievous grins on both their faces only meant one thing - I was in trouble.

"Edward!" Alice greeted. "I didn't expect to see you."

"Well, we just finished lunch and I'm heading to the office," I explained. "Bella, these are my sisters, Alice and Rosalie. This is Bella."

"Bella, it's great to finally meet you," Rosalie smiled, giving me an evil glint as she shook hands with Bella. "Edward's been talking about you non-stop."

"He's told me all about you two as well," Bella chuckled.

"Are you coming to our family's dinner next week?" Alice asked, bouncing on her toes.

"I'm planning on it," Bella nodded. "I just need to figure out what to bring."

"I'd say you don't have to bring anything, but you're a chef," Rosalie laughed. "I think we're just planning to make Nessa's favorites."

"I'll give you some ideas," I promised. "Anyway, looks like you ladies were busy." I nodded toward their bags.

"All work-related," Alice promised. "I needed some pieces for the model home in North Bend, and Rosalie offered to help."

"I didn't think decor was a legal issue," I laughed.

"No, but I needed to get out of the office. You know how that is," she retorted with a wink. "Anyway, we should head back and unload this. See you there!" As she and Alice turned, they cackled as they walked away.

"I'm sorry about those two," I said contritely. "They've been bugging me to date since my divorce."

"Please, I love to see it," Bella smiled. "I'm sure Leah and Seth will give you just as much of a hard time whenever they meet you as someone other than a coffee shop customer."

"And I welcome it with open arms," I laughed.