Chapter 15

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Chapter 15

"Son of a bitch!" Edward hissed as he bumped his elbow for the umpteenth time since he'd been home.

"Problems, Eddie?" Seth asked from his usual perch in the corner.

Edward grunted as he dropped the heavy piece of furniture on the ground with a loud thump. "Can't you use any of that angel mumbo jumbo stuff and like transport her things from down the hall into here so I don't have to do it myself?" he snapped, glaring at the angel; the one that was currently shaking the windows with his loud, and Edward felt, obnoxious laugh.

"Edward, do I look like the type of being that can transport things? I'm an angel, not a magician you know. Besides, why didn't you ask Emmett or Jasper to help you?" Seth asked, though he was sure he knew the answer.

"You really think I want my brother and best friend knowing that Isabella's things were in the room down the hall? Emmett and I just got to the point we are now. If I told him that, he'd kick my ass from here all the way to Lake Michigan. Not to mention Jasper, who'd gladly hold my head underwater. Those two are almost worse than you when it comes to her," Edward sighed.

The angel let go another booming laugh at that comment, not disagreeing in the least. "Can you blame us?"

"Hell no, I can't," Edward admitted with a smile. In this case, Edward couldn't even argue with the annoying angel. "She's...Isabella."

Seth felt his heart grow with love for his two humans. Watching their love affair, which was what it certainly was, was an incredible thing to witness. Day in and day out Edward and Isabella continued to amaze him and the others of his kind with their love for each other. It was true, it was honest, and it was the purest form of expression he'd ever seen...and he'd seen a lot in his time.

The angel had given Edward some leeway on discussing his past after the dinner with the Swans last week. The realization about not having children had really hit Edward hard, more so than he had expected, actually. Between feeling like he'd deprived Isabella and disappointed Charlie and Renée, it took quite a bit of angelic prodding to get him to come out of his funk. Edward had done a decent job of putting it behind him, but Seth wasn't fool enough to believe the subject had been dealt with completely. It was a big thing to overcome and in all honesty was the only thing Seth didn't quite know how to answer.

Well, he couldn't answer the when he was going to die question either, but Edward had known that from the get go.

No, the question of what to do about giving or not giving Isabella the chance to be a mother was something only Edward could answer. Seth had never been in his position. He'd become an angel long before he had to deal with such matters so he couldn't even begin to understand the dilemma that plagued his young friend at the moment. To come to the realization that your own fears and mistakes could cost the woman you loved more than anything what could be her only chance at being a mother had to be a hell of a blow.

For the immediate future it seemed as if Edward had other things on his mind, so until he was ready to talk about it again, Seth would leave the topic be. Besides, there were other matters that needed attending to.

Edward stood in the center of the room and looked around, pretty much at a complete loss. When he'd first gotten his idea it had seemed like a good one, now he wasn't so sure. "I don't know where to start," he said out loud, though he hadn't meant to.

"Boy, you make everything so damn complicated! Have you always had the annoying tendency of over-thinking every move you make?" Seth sarcastically asked.

Edward snorted. "You know perfectly well what that answer is; you've been watching me almost my whole life."

"I know. I just wanted to see what you'd say. Really, Eddie, you make things too easy sometimes." The angel snickered.

"Are you going to keep making fun of me or are you going to help? I mean, fuck, what the hell good is having your very own pain in the ass angel if he's not even going to help you, huh? I don't have all day, you know. Isabella is going to notice I've left the office. Shit, I just wanted to do something to...I don't know, show her I want her with me, always. To show her that I never should have let her leave our room in the first place. I just want her to know how fucking much I love her..." Edward huffed and then said, "Hell, love doesn't even describe it. I just...want her to never question...or ever forget."

A mighty sigh filled the room and again, the windows shook. "Edward Anthony, after the past few weeks you can't possibly believe Isabella doesn't know how much you love her?" Seth questioned. "Really, my friend, you might be clueless at times, but you're not stupid."

"As selfish as this is going to sound, and we both know I can be really fucking selfish, when my time comes," Edward said as he swallowed painfully, "I don't want her to forget me. I mean, I don't want her to be sad, of course, but...fuck..."

Seth rolled his ice blue eyes heavenward and muttered under his breath, "Give me strength, please." He looked at Edward, who was still standing in the middle of the room looking completely lost and said, "Boy, if it didn't go against my nature, and it wouldn't upset the lovely Isabella so damn much, I swear I would knock you into next week. Do you think you could possibly be any more dramatic? Edward, we've already talked about this. Isabella is going to go on, exactly like her grandmother has. A love like the two of you share can't ever be duplicated and she won't ever love anyone else the way she does you but, she is a strong, loving, and vivacious person. Do you really want to picture her whiling away her days, staring aimlessly out the windows of the house she refuses to leave or would you rather she use her memories of you to help her through the day? She has so much to give, Edward, and it would be a crying shame if she curled up, afraid to go on instead of living."

"No. I want her to be happy. You will always take care of her, right? You'll keep watching over her?" Edward asked and at that, Seth smiled hugely.

Finally!

It had only taken the man weeks to ask this question. "Edward, let me tell you this one thing and then I'll see what kind of magic I can come up with to help you with your surprise for your wife. Good job on that by the way, she'll love it and I can promise it will only solidify things between the two of you. Now, back to your preceding question. Edward, whenever the time comes for you to leave this Earth, I promise you...Isabella, Emmett, Rosalie, Charlie, Renée, Jasper, Nonna, Carlisle, Esme, and anyone and anything else that is important to you, is important to me and my kind. It's all part of the same package, and we never lose a package. Long after you are gone, we'll still be watching over all of them, rest assured."

"Good...that's good to know," Edward said, somewhat absentmindedly. It wasn't that he didn't hear what the angel said, because he most certainly did. It wasn't that he didn't appreciate the assurance, because again, he most certainly did.

He was just really nervous about how his gesture would be received. He thought he was doing a good thing, and he knew it was the right thing. Maybe he should have asked her first instead of trying to surprise her? God, he was so bad at this. Granted, he thought he'd done fairly decent at doing sweet things for her the past few weeks, but this, this was on a whole other level.

Well, at least he'd told him once, Seth thought resignedly. He'd have to remind Edward again later, he was sure, but he did understand his assignment's present preoccupation. "Okay, my young friend. Let's see what I can do with this mess you've created before your lovely wife comes home and ruins her own surprise."

Seth did indeed use his otherworldly abilities, mostly his ability to move really fast and the fact he was really strong, to get things in order for his two humans in no time. Edward had given a lot of thought on how he wanted to change things and after much consideration, decided on a whole new bed, new bedding, and then adding some of Isabella's things to the room to make it completely 'theirs' again. He still wasn't sure of making the changes without asking her first, but he wanted so very badly to surprise her.

The new room was just the first of many surprises, and he hoped that she didn't get upset with him right off the bat. It would make the rest of his surprises, and the weekend he had planned a bit on the uncomfortable side.

Seth finally stopped moving so he could appreciate his handiwork and gave Edward a bright, beaming, and Edward noted, very self-satisfied smile once he was done. However much he wanted to make a smart ass comment, Edward held his tongue, mostly because he knew he never would have gotten everything done on his own.

"Thank you," Edward said graciously and with much feeling.

He really wanted Isabella to be happy about this.

"Eddie, stop all that over-analyzing business right now. She's going to love it; you know it and I know it. You're welcome by the way," the angel answered back.

"You really think she'll like it?" Edward asked...for the fifty-seventh time...at least.

Seth rolled his ice blue eyes but still answered as patiently as he had the fifty-six times before. "Yes, Edward, I do. Now, do you need any last minute advice? You have her present?"

Edward huffed, feeling like a child being talked to by a parent, but he supposed he needed it. "No, I think I can manage to stumble through this all on my own. No watching though..." Edward sternly said.

The angel had to laugh at that one. However, he would respect the request. He knew how important this was, for both of them, in order to truly be able to move forward. Discussing Edward's past was still so very important, but this step right here, was the last missing piece.

"Fine, fine, spoil all my fun," Seth needled but then floated and stopped in front of Edward. "I'm very proud of you, you know that, right? None of this has been easy and you've really done exceptionally well at handling everything, even if you are prone to dramatics every now and then." Edward rolled his eyes but he couldn't disagree.

"It hasn't been easy. If I haven't said it already, and I know I haven't, thank you. I don't know what I did to deserve the chance to fix the mess I made of things, but I do know how lucky I am. I also know I wouldn't have been able to do any of this without your help," Edward said, a bit shocked at how easy it was to say all that.

The angel pissed him off to no end more times than he could count, but he most definitely knew how much Seth had done for him...and for Isabella.

Seth was taken by surprise by the unexpected and heartfelt words. Curtailing his immediate response of 'eh, it's just my job,' especially because this assignment was never just part of his job, he answered back in the same tone. "Edward, you have no idea how much pleasure it truly gives me to watch you and Isabella. We still have much work to do together, my friend, but I fully believe you can do what you need to do for yourself, for her, and for your family."

Noting that he was about to get a bit overwhelmed, as Edward had a tendency to do, and because Seth didn't want to do anything that would take away from the lovely Isabella's much deserved surprise, he decided to lighten things up a bit. "I'll give you your space for the rest of the day, Edward, but tomorrow, no such luck, got me? This weekend is going to be quite the minefield for you to have to navigate and if you have any hope of making it to other side, you're going to have to listen to me. No arguments either," Seth said sternly.

Okay, maybe not lightening things up, but a change of topic at least.

"Fucking great," Edward muttered, but he knew what needed to be done this weekend anyway.

They both heard the front door open and close so Seth took that as his clue to leave. "Relax, Eddie, what's the worst she could do?" he said evilly and then was gone.

"Damn angel," Edward muttered in extreme annoyance.

As he heard his wife move around downstairs, he paced around the room nervously. Holy hell, if she didn't like this...he just hoped it accomplished what he'd wanted it to.

"Fuck!" he hissed when he bumped his knee into the end of the new bed.

He heard Isabella gasp and quickly looked up, mortified when he saw the tears in her eyes, even more so when he heard the anguished, "Edward, what have you done?" escape from her lips.

"You hate it, don't you? I fucking knew it. Beautiful, I'm so sorry, we can change it back," he said so fast he tripped over his words in a frantic attempt to make things better. "Isabella, I'm..." he started to say but was interrupted.

"Stop...just stop," she told him forcefully.

How did he...he was...she swore one day he'd...Isabella thought.

She stared at him, so blown away by what he'd done. Just when she thought she couldn't possibly love him anymore, he did something totally unexpected. His green eyes stared anxiously back at hers and it wasn't until she saw them cloud over in disappointment and pain that she snapped out of the trance she was in.

Before she knew what she was doing she flung herself into his arms, heedless of the fact that she was still dressed in her work clothes or that she had taken her husband completely by surprise. Luckily for her, he caught her with no problem and immediately wrapped his arms around her, holding her flush against his body. Never in her life had she been so grateful that she'd decided to wear dress pants, especially when she wrapped her legs around his waist.

"I love you...I love you...I love you," she said between kisses all over his face.

Edward felt his heart start beating again when he heard her words. "Oh, thank God," he breathed out and then covered her mouth with his. He plunged his tongue in her mouth, needing so badly to kiss her. Their tongues tangled in their frenzy, each seemingly as desperate as the other.

Isabella was lost in a haze of a lust so pervasive she could barely see straight, but she knew what she wanted.

Edward. Naked. In their new bed.

Now.

She fumbled with the bottom of his t-shirt and then gripped it in her hands and pushed it up over his head, groaning when she had to lift her lips from his. As soon as he was freed from his shirt, she immediately resumed her assault on his lips. She sucked his bottom one into her mouth, running her tongue along the inside of it. Her hands slid into his hair, and she twisted it between her fingers. She pressed her body against his, trying to get as close to him as she possibly could.

"Edward...need you...bed...please," she panted almost incoherently but Edward knew exactly what she meant.

He walked them to the bed, chuckling darkly when he felt her hands between their bodies as she hastily unbuttoned her dress shirt. He heard her heels hit the floor as she kicked them off and he growled in extreme pleasure when he felt her scantily clad chest press against his when she threw her shirt to the side. She managed to snake a hand downward and undid the button on his jeans and pushed the zipper down as far as she could given their positions. When she slipped her hand beneath the elastic waistband of his boxers, Edward stopped.

"Shit...Beautiful," he moaned as her fingers wrapped around his length.

They fell onto the new comforter atop their new bed, paying no attention to anything besides each other and their desperate need. Edward managed to pull himself away so that he could stand up. He pushed his jeans and boxers down his legs and when he was gloriously naked, Isabella licked her lips as she brazenly drank him in from head to foot.

Lord have mercy she loved him.

So damn much.

It was that all-consuming, can't breathe without you kind of love, too. It was achingly sweet sometimes, but there were others, like now, when her love for him tipped more toward the fierce, possessive, almost uncontrollable kind. For so long she wanted to love him freely, to show him how much she wanted him, needed him.

She had always wanted to share those secret looks that only lovers exchange. She wanted to have their own special language, like her parents did, when only they knew what they were the other was talking about. She wanted to be free enough to touch him a certain way and know that he would understand what she was trying to say, even when she didn't say a word.

She wanted to be so connected to him that all it would take was one look into her eyes and he would see...everything.

The way she was sure he could right now judging from the way his eyes bore into hers.

"Isabella," he said huskily, his nostrils flaring as he continued to stare at her. He crawled on the bed and wordlessly undid her pants, trying to be as gentle as he could considering his present state. In no time he'd divested her of her pants, leaving her in her cream-colored lace bra and panties.

"So fucking perfect," Edward whispered.

"Edward, please. I need you now," Isabella practically cried out to him, her body vibrating because she ached for him so much.

Hearing her plea snapped him out of his reverent musings and he quickly complied with her wish, needing her with the same ferocity. He pulled her panties down, resisting the urge to rip them off her. He flicked the front clasp on her bra and watched, mesmerized, as her breasts spilled out.

"Edward," Isabella breathed out, her chest heaving as she waited for him to fill her.

"Shh, my love," Edward whispered against her lips as he entered her, wasting no time to feel her completely surround him.

Her body felt like it was on fire. With each thrust, she felt like she was spiraling out of control. She clawed at his back; she nipped at his lips, his jaw, and neck. She pressed her feet against his ass, trying to drive him faster, deeper.

"Make me...I need...oh please," she cried, not even knowing what she was trying to convey to him.

"I've got you, Beautiful. Let it go, baby, it's okay," Edward panted in her ear, feeling her shake beneath him.

Isabella stared up into his eyes, looking straight into his soul and that was all it took before she was gone, exploding in the most intense orgasm she'd ever experienced.

"Oh...fuck," Edward groaned loudly as he came right after.

He tried to keep from collapsing, but couldn't stop himself from letting the weight of his body fall onto hers. Well that was most definitely unexpected, he thought with a chuckle.

"Guess that means you liked your surprise?" Edward asked with a cocky as hell smirk when he lifted his head up.

Isabella blew her hair out of her face and rolled her gorgeous brown eyes at her even more gorgeous husband. "Did you really just ask me that? Perhaps you need another demonstration?" she taunted as she lifted her hips and wantonly ground her center against his still semi-hard erection.

"Evil, evil woman you are," Edward growled and then kissed her deeply.

When they were both breathless and had to pull apart, Isabella lifted her small hands and laid them on her husband's stubbled cheeks and said, "Thank you. It was a wonderful surprise, but next time, please at least make something up instead of just disappearing, okay? I was worried when no one knew where you were."

"I'm sorry, Beautiful. I told you I have no idea what I'm doing here. I didn't mean to make you worry," he told her softly and rubbed his nose against hers.

Edward picked up his head and narrowed his eyes when he heard her giggle at him, even though the sound was music to his ears. "Oh, I think you know perfectly well what you're doing, husband of mine. This," she said with a catch in her throat, "is beyond perfect."

She looked through glassy eyes around their newly-decorated room and then back at him. "It's all so beautiful, Edward. How did you manage to get it all done in such a short time?"

He chuckled, thinking if she only knew. "It wasn't that hard. You really like it?" he questioned earnestly.

He shifted their bodies, though he didn't really want to, and pulled her against him. "I love it, Edward. Really. Can I ask you something?" she whispered quietly. When he told her yes, she asked simply, "Why?"

Edward sighed, having a feeling she would ask this very question. He knew the answer though, having already given it to the annoying angel person. "I never should have let you leave in first place, Isabella. I know it's my own damn fault you did and I'm the one that drove you away, but you need to know I wanted so fucking badly every night to beg you to come back, I just didn't know how or why you would. I have always and do always want you with me. I'm just sorry it took me this long to make you see that."

"I'll always be with you, sweetheart. And, just so you know, with as beautiful as this room is, I might never leave," she told him with a smirk.

"I think that can be arranged, Mrs. Cullen," Edward growled playfully at her and then laughed softly when she tried to hide a yawn behind her tangled mess of curls.

He settled them against the pillows and wrapped his arms snugly around her. "How about we take a nap and then we'll discuss the rest of my plans for you?"

"Edward, this is more than enough," Isabella huffed at him, and he completely ignored her protests.

"Nope, not even the tip of the iceberg, Beautiful. Now rest, you're going to need it," he said with a suggestive waggle of his eyebrows.

Isabella knew she was fighting a losing battle and she really was tired. She let the soothing feeling of Edward's fingers running through her hair lull her to sleep. Right before sleep claimed her she whispered sleepily, "Too sweet. What am I going to do with you?"

"Just love me," Edward whispered back, even though her steady breathing let him know she'd already fallen asleep.

He held her while she slept for a bit and then carefully slid out from beneath her, making sure to tuck the pillows and blankets around her. He picked up his clothes and walked quietly to the bathroom to take a shower, taking a moment to just watch her as she peacefully slept.

"So fucking beautiful," he whispered softly as he stared at her.

He quickly showered, not wanting her to wake up and find him gone. Once he was done, he got dressed in a pair of clean boxers and some loose basketball shorts that sat low on his hips. He didn't bother with a shirt; he hoped he wouldn't need the rest of his clothes for long, but he didn't want to give Isabella one of her presents naked, either.

Now her naked, that was a must.

He went to his closet and pulled out the bag he'd hidden there last week. After their dinner with Charlie, Renée, and Nonna, he'd gotten this idea. He hoped she'd understand the sentiment behind it. He was so excited when he found exactly what he'd been looking for when he walked into the jeweler's. Spending the weekend in the city at the penthouse, going to the opera, that was all going to be amazing and he hoped special for her, but this, this was something he hoped would mean a lot to her.

He set the bag on the nightstand beside the bed and pulled out her present, attaching it carefully to her wrist. He smiled when he looked at it, and then excitedly put the identical one, save for color, on his. Shit, he hoped she liked it. He was even more nervous about this than the changing the bedroom thing.

Edward crawled into the bed, trying really fucking hard not to wake her up no matter how much he was aching to do so. He felt like a little kid waiting for Santa Claus, and it wasn't even him getting the presents. He had to admit, this whole giving presents thing was a hell of a lot of fun.

Isabella felt what seemed like a never-ending stream of kisses to the top of her head as she woke up from what had to have been the best nap she'd ever taken.

Bar. None.

She stretched, enjoying the slightly sore muscles in her legs, not to mention between her legs. She picked her head up and as she went to push her hair out of her face, noticed something on her wrist that had most definitely not been there when she'd fallen asleep.

"Edward?" she questioned and turned quickly to look at him.

"Happy Birthday," he said softly.

She sat up, wrapping the sheet around her chest. Holding her arm out, she looked at it, and then brought it to her face so she could look closer at it.

It was...

"It's a friendship bracelet," Edward answered her silent question.

Isabella immediately felt her eyes fill with tears and then before she knew it was in his lap, tangled in the sheet. "You have one, too," she cried when she saw the same bracelet as hers, but in a different color on his wrist as he pushed her hair back over her shoulder.

"Isabella, I asked you a month ago if we could be friends as well as lovers. I think we've got a pretty good handle on the loving part, but it's just as important to me to be your friend. You're my best friend, the person I want to share everything with. I don't have many friends, but if all I was allowed was one, I'd want it to be you," he said with so much feeling it brought tears to his eyes.

"Oh, Edward. It's perfect; you're perfect," she squeaked as she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck.

He laughed at how happy she was. "I'm not so sure about the perfect, Beautiful, but I am trying to be. You deserve it after everything," he started to say but was hushed when she put her fingers over his lips.

"Let's get one thing straight, Edward Anthony Cullen," she said fiercely as her eyes blazed at him, "and then you can tell me what these colors mean. I love you, have always loved you, will always love you. I knew who you were, the kind of man you were from the get go. Yes, you've made mistakes but we both have. I'm not keeping score Edward and I'm not living in the past. You've made me happier in the last month than I ever imagined I could be, so to me, you are perfect." She turned in his lap and straddled his thighs. "Got it?"

Edward looked up into her eyes, seeing how much it meant to her to truly leave their past in the past and even though there were many things he could have said, he gave her a sexy, crooked smile instead and answered simply, "Got it."

"Now, my perfect husband," she said with an adorable giggle. "Why don't you tell me what these colors mean?" Isabella asked as she tucked the sheet under her arms.

He reached down and picked up her hand, a bit unsure of how to tell her why he chose the colors he did. "Well, when I first got the idea to give you this, I'll be honest and tell you I had no idea what the hell I was looking for, but when I saw these, I knew they were perfect. I wanted you to have something that you could wear to work or wherever, but I wanted to have one just like it. And, well the colors," he went on and blew out a nervous breath. "Mine, is obviously brown because it reminds me of your eyes," he said softly as he ran his fingers down the side of her cheek.

"And mine is green to remind me of your eyes," Isabella finished, looking from her wrist and then up to her husband's very anxious looking face.

"Perfect," she said tenderly.

Edward shrugged his shoulders and said, "You've always told me you liked my eyes." He reached up and slid his hand behind her neck and pulled her face closer to his so he could kiss her. "I just wanted us to have something to remind us of how far we've come, something that was only for us to know," he whispered against her lips after he'd kissed her.

She was immediately reminded of what she wished for just a short time ago, and now here her amazing husband was doing just what she'd hoped. Her heart filled with love for him and she wanted him again. The first time was frantic and needy; now she wanted to take her time.

Isabella pulled the sheet from her body, letting it fall into a pool around them. She leaned forward and kissed up the side of his jaw until she reached his ear. "Thank you for our new bedroom, sweetheart," she whispered huskily in his ear as she curled her tongue around his earlobe.

"I'm...ah...so glad you like it...shit," Edward hissed when he felt her teeth bite down on the sensitive skin.

She ground her already damp center against his straining erection, delighting in how much he wanted her, always. She licked down the side of his neck, grazing her teeth across his shoulder. "Thank you for our bracelets. It's the best thing you could have given me. I don't ever want to take it off. I love it," she said between warm, wet, open-mouthed kisses across his chest.

She flicked his left nipple with her tongue and then followed that with her fingernail, flushing with pleasure when she heard the deep rumble in his chest and felt his fingers curl around her hipbones.

"Isabella," Edward said, half begging, half warning.

She paid no attention, giving the right nipple the same attention. When he felt her tongue lave at the sensitive flesh, he closed his eyes and threw his head back muttering a fierce, "Fuck!"

Isabella took that cue and proceeded to slide her hand inside his loose shorts, palming him fully in her hand. "Oh, I plan to," she said seductively as she continued to assault his nipples.

Edward's brain registered what she had said, about half a second before he felt himself grow even harder in her hand. He picked his head up and stared at her, totally captivated by what he saw. While their lovemaking could never be described as ordinary, not at all, he couldn't help how her words affected him.

"Beautiful?" he squeaked out as her hand began to slide up and down his length.

She covered his mouth with hers, possessing it fully. Everything he'd done for her today, yesterday, the weeks before all seemed to culminate into the blinding need she had for him.

She slithered up his body, pressing her breasts firmly against his chest and then lowered her very wet center over him, taking him fully inside of her. Once he was as deep as he could be, and Isabella was sure she'd never felt him fill her so fully ever before, she stopped moving and stared into his eyes.

In them she saw...everything. She saw the way he needed her. The lingering sadness and pain he had still not yet shared with her, his fear that his mistakes had been too many to move past. But beneath all that, she saw and felt his unending love for her.

She held the side of his face and smiled at him, through the tears that she felt fall down over her cheeks. "Edward, look at me, look at us," she told him in a shaky voice. She watched as his eyes moved from her eyes and down to where their bodies were connected. When she heard his groan, she picked his head up again. "We're perfect together, baby. Don't ever, fucking ever doubt it again. Please?" she begged him, using words she'd never used before.

"I won't. Oh, God, I promise I won't," he cried out as he wrapped his arms around her.

With that, she began to move up and down. Edward stopped thinking and just allowed himself to feel as their bodies spoke to the other without words. When Isabella dragged her nails down his back and he held onto her ass as she rode him, he felt it. When she sucked his tongue into her mouth and twisted his hair in her hands, he felt it. When he felt her hardened nipples rub against his chest he felt it. When she picked up his hand and placed it between their bodies and over her swollen bundle of nerves, and when they came together, he felt it.

They were perfect together.

He saw just how perfect they were, many, many times that night. Even when they ate their peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in their new bed, he saw how perfect they were.

~~~~OOO~~~~OOO~~~~

The next morning Edward most definitely did not want to leave their perfect bed, but he didn't have a choice.

He bent over and kissed his wife, chuckling softly when she opened her eyes. "You're leaving already?" she asked sleepily as she scooted up the bed so she could sit up.

He sat on the bed, knowing it was probably not the smartest idea he'd ever had seeing as how she was still delectably naked, and rumpled, and with her swollen lips, so mouthwatering he had to groan.

"Edward," Isabella giggled at him, though she wasn't sure how she was going to let him leave, either.

"If I didn't have to meet with Jasper this morning you know nothing could make me leave you," Edward told her as he picked up her hand.

Surely, that was safe enough, right?

Apparently not because as soon as her tiny hand was inside of his, he lifted it to his mouth and began kissing the back of it.

"What...ah...what time am I meeting you at the penthouse?" Isabella managed to stammer out when she felt his tongue make circles on her skin.

Edward had, between the many lovemaking sessions the night before, told her the rest of his plans for the weekend. They would be spending the weekend at their penthouse apartment in the city. Tonight they would go out for dinner, tomorrow he was surprising her and he wouldn't tell her what was going to happen much to her consternation, and then that evening, they would be attending the opera. Sunday morning they would go to Mass with her family and then return to their home in Evanston.

She'd been to the opera with him before of course, he was a patron supporter after all, but she knew this time was very different from the others. This was going to be their 'coming out' as strange as that was to say, but it was true. She had to admit, she was excited beyond belief. Edward had bought her a new dress and had it waiting at the penthouse he'd told her. He'd planned everything and Isabella was touched more than she could say that he seemed as excited as she was to go out...together.

Edward reluctantly stopped kissing her hand and looked up at her. "I made dinner reservations for seven o'clock. I want to leave the office no later than four so that I can be there when you get done with tutoring. I'm not sure I can wait until after dinner to have you again, my love, so I hope you're not late."

The tone of his voice sent shivers over her body and when she was about to say something they both heard Peter honk the horn out front.

"I have to go, Beautiful. I'll call you in a bit, okay? Get some more rest; you didn't get much last night and we have a busy weekend," he told her sweetly as he leaned forward and kissed her forehead.

"You're wearing your bracelet!" Isabella exclaimed happily.

"Of course. I'm never taking it off. Now you'll be with me, always," he told her and snorted at how cheesy he sounded. It was true, sure, but still.

"I love you," she told him tenderly.

"As I love you. Now rest," he told her once again as he stood up.

"I take it the night was a success?" the smug angel questioned unnecessarily as they headed toward the office.

Edward rolled his eyes and grunted, not even bothering to answer the question.

"Fine, be that way," Seth said and chuckled. He didn't really expect Edward would answer anyway, but it was worth a try. "Are you ready for this weekend?"

Edward ran a hand through his hair and then turned toward the otherworldly being. "In some ways, yes. I'm very much looking forward to showing off my beautiful wife. I'm very much looking forward to spending the weekend with her, too. I'm really looking forward to pissing Vincent off, but the rest, no. I'm not sure I'd ever be ready to face Anna again and I know Carlisle and Esme will be attending the performance as well."

"Showing off your beautiful wife, huh?" Seth said with a hard edge and Edward was immediately reminded of the asinine comment he'd made on the plane what seemed like eons ago.

Had it really only been a month?

"You should have kicked my ass for that fucking comment; I would have deserved it. Isabella has never been an 'accessory', " he said, disgusted with himself.

"Glad to hear it," the angel said harshly.

Edward huffed, annoyed at being reprimanded and reminded of how big a fool he'd been. His fingers found their way to the bracelet on his wrist and he felt better immediately.

He wasn't that Edward any longer.

Seth sighed mightily, a bit upset with himself for letting his temper get the best of him. He'd known all along that Edward never meant what he'd said. "I'm sorry, Edward, that was not necessary. I know you've never felt that way about the lovely Isabella," Seth said quietly, well as quietly as he was able.

"You really care about her, don't you?" Edward questioned, even though he knew what the answer was.

"I care about both of you, Edward Anthony. This has never been just an assignment to me. I have my reasons for wanting to undertake this particular task, and perhaps one day I'll share them with you, but I hope you know how much I want you to accomplish everything you need to. It's as much for her as it is for you. You are two very special people," the angel said in a show of very uncharacteristic vulnerability.

"I hope I can do it, too," Edward answered Seth's comment about what was still left to get done.

"Well, this weekend is a good start. Do you plan on talking to Jasper this morning?" Seth questioned, focusing on the task at hand.

Edward nodded, knowing he'd put off speaking with Jasper plenty long enough. "I do. It's way past time and he deserves an explanation as much as the rest of them do. He's been a very good friend for a very long time; he needs to know I appreciate that."

"I totally agree. And, Anna, are you ready to tell Isabella about her?"

"Hell no!" Edward snorted. "I know I have to," he went on quickly. "I should have done it a long time ago, but well, you know why I didn't."

"As long as you tell her before the performance on Saturday night," Seth reminded him.

"No shit. There is no way in hell I'm subjecting Isabella to Anna Davenport without her knowing everything ahead of time. I might be clueless sometimes, but I'm not an idiot," Edward told him.

"Anymore," the angel supplied.

Peter stopped the car in front of the office and Edward gathered his things, thanking Peter when he opened the door. "Peter, will you make sure Charlotte stocks the refrigerator at the penthouse, please?"

"Of course, Mr. Cullen. What time would you like me to pick you up for dinner?" Peter asked.

"Peter, it's Edward, not Mr. Cullen and not, sir, either," Edward told the sweet old man. Over the last month Edward realized what a pompous ass he sounded like when Peter called him Mr. Cullen or sir.

"Yes..s..Edward." Peter smiled at him. "Do you need me to take you and your beautiful wife to dinner?"

Edward chuckled, it seemed as if Isabella had another member of her ever-growing fan club. "No, Peter. We'll use Isabella's car or I'll have her get the Mercedes before she meets me at the penthouse. You and Charlotte enjoy a quiet weekend together. It's been far too long," Edward told him and then shocked himself when he said, "I know I haven't said it, but thank you, both of you, for taking such good care of Isabella and me. I'm quite sure Isabella has been much more appreciative than I have been, and for that, I'm sorry."

Peter practically choked when he opened his mouth to speak. After he cleared his throat he said, "Mr...um, Edward. Really, no apology necessary. It's been my pleasure."

"I highly doubt it's been a picnic, Peter, but thank you for trying to make me feel better."

They shook hands and Edward was pleased to say he felt much better after that unexpected turn of events.

"Well done, Edward," Seth told him once they'd gotten on the elevator.

"It's been way past due. Peter is a good man," Edward answered as the doors opened.

"Yes he is, but so are you. I'll be around if you need me," the angel remarked then was gone.

"Damn angel," Edward muttered.

He said good morning to Donna and then pulled out his phone to send his wife a quick text message before Jasper walked in, which he did a few minutes later.

Jasper couldn't help but stop abruptly when he saw Edward smiling like the lovesick fool he obviously was as he pushed the buttons on his phone. Alice was so excited to see Isabella tomorrow night. He tried to tell her not to get her hopes up too much, seeing as how more often than not, Edward didn't attend and if he did, it was hit or miss if Isabella attended with him. Alice was sure Isabella would be there though, especially after she'd spent hours on the phone with Rose discussing, in great detail as he well knew, all the changes they'd seen over the past few weeks.

Jasper cleared his throat to alert Edward to his presence and Edward looked up, not caring in the least he'd been caught acting like a teenager with his girlfriend. "Hey, Jasper," Edward greeted him warmly and stood up to shake his hand.

"Edward," Jasper nodded and smiled. "Damn, who the hell are you and where is the real Edward Cullen?" Jasper teased, though he really wanted an answer.

Edward motioned toward the couch in the sitting area, wanting to sit somewhere comfortable to have this talk. After all, this was Jasper, the best friend, not Jasper, the lawyer, and he wanted to make sure Jasper knew he realized the difference. The two men sat, and though the angel wasn't in the room with them, Edward could feel his presence anyway.

"Edward, talk to me. What in the hell is going on?" Jasper demanded immediately. "Don't sugarcoat it either; you know I can tell if you lie to me. If you've got some terminal illness or something, I can handle it, just tell me what the fuck has been up with you for the past month."

Jasper had held his tongue, watching and waiting, for the past few weeks. It was the only explanation he could come up with. He'd convinced himself that Edward had contracted some strange disease or found out he was dying of some ailment; nothing else made any damn sense at all.

Edward wanted to laugh but there really wasn't anything funny about what Jasper just said, not to mention the way he'd said it, so Edward stopped himself. "Jas, I'm not sick or anything like that, I promise," he answered his friend, purposely not mentioning dying.

"Then what is up with you, man?" Jasper asked again.

Edward leaned back against the sofa, deciding how much to tell his best friend. Choosing to go with the flow, he answered, "Jasper, you know better than anyone all the shit I've had to deal with all these years. Between Grandfather, Carlisle, taking over the company, dealing with Vincent, Anna, Sophie, not to mention my own fucked up childhood, I was a fucking mess. Carrying around all that anger and bitterness turned me into someone I never wanted to be, made me act in ways I'm totally ashamed of, and I hurt people I love, Isabella especially, but you, Em, Rose, Esme, too. That damn plane ride was a wake-up call and made me realize just how truly awful I'd been. I'm trying, Jas, I really am, to be a better husband, a better brother, and a better friend. I've been given a second chance by Isabella and Em and Rose and I hope you'll give me one, too."

"Edward, do you know in all the years we have known each other, and we're talking close to fifteen years now, that is the first time I've ever heard you mention anything about before you went to live with Carlisle and Esme?" Jasper asked.

Edward chuckled, though it wasn't in amusement. "I'm not the least bit surprised to be honest with you. I've spent twenty years trying not to think about it, you know?" Edward questioned.

"It was really bad, wasn't it?" Jasper had no idea what his friend had been through, but it was obvious it was something bad enough to turn him into the man he became.

"There are plenty of people who have been through more than me, Jasper. I'm not too proud to admit that, but yeah, to answer your question, it was bad," Edward answered honestly.

"But you're still here, Edward, trying to be better. That says a hell of a lot about the man you are if you ask me. As for a second chance, you know you don't need to ask. I'm your friend, Edward, and nothing is going to change that," Jasper told him sincerely.

Edward grinned at him and let out a long, cleansing breath. He reached up to run his hand through his hair when Jasper said, "Edward, what the hell is that?" as he pointed to his bracelet.

This time Edward did chuckle in amusement, if only at his friend's shocked tone. He supposed it wasn't a normal Edward Cullen thing to wear a bracelet, but damn. He brought his hand down and held his arm in front of him, running his other fingers across the colored rubber and smiled. "It's a friendship bracelet. I got one for Isabella, too, but hers is green. You know you're my best friend, hell you've been one of my only friends for as long as I can remember, but... she's...I just...I mean..." Edward stammered, having a really hard time explaining.

"She's your best, best friend. I got it, Edward. It's the same with Alice. I'm happy for you, man, really. I haven't ever seen you like this. It's nice to see," Jasper said with a genuine smile.

The two men changed the topic to business, having had enough emotion to last them for a while. Edward and Jasper discussed the project Emmett and Isabella were working on, remarking more than a few times how they each couldn't wait to see what Vincent Sinclair's reaction was going to be. Neither Edward nor Jasper believed for one moment that the man didn't have someone inside the company feeding him information. Edward had always been aware of that and normally he couldn't have cared less. Vincent was always one step behind him in everything and as long as that remained the case, Edward didn't see any reason to get overly worried. Of course this project was different because Isabella was so intricately involved so he would be sure to be extra diligent as far as she was concerned. Vincent Sinclair wasn't to be trusted at all.

Once Jasper left, after agreeing to meet Edward and Isabella for a drink during the first intermission on Saturday, Edward got to work and spent the rest of the morning putting out fires and checking on things. By the time the clock approached four o'clock, Edward couldn't wait to leave and focus on Isabella and their weekend. Yes, there was a bit of business to do on Saturday night, but the weekend was for her and he was determined to make it one she would remember!

~~~~OOO~~~~OOO~~~~