A/N: SM wrote Twilight and I wrote this.

Bella wasn't sure if it was the mention of school or the fact that Edward was treating her like a child but she found herself pouting and playfully stomping into the bathroom. How could he dismiss her like that after that kiss? Before she entered the bathroom she turned and blew Edward a kiss before shutting the door with a little more force than intended. Edward laughed at her outburst.

He settled on to the chaise longue with his laptop and headphones, ready to watch the films Bella had loaded up for him. He tried very hard to keep his mind off the fact that his mate was currently naked and getting very wet under a steaming hot shower. With a grunt of frustration he clicked on the first film and fiddled with the viewing speed to watch it in quadruple time with subtitles since he was perfectly capable of taking it in at that speed.

Bella emerged from the bathroom, freshly washed and wearing the linen nightdress and shawl Edward had given her back at SPAM. She loved the feel of them against her skin; so soft and feminine. She had learned her lesson though and this time she was wearing fresh white cotton panties underneath the nightie so as not to alarm Edward with her nakedness. She couldn't bear to wear a bra to bed however, so she pulled the shawl around her shoulders hoping that it would cover her chest until she was under the duvet.

Fighting the urge to go to her when Bella re-entered their room, Edward tried to be nonchalant so as not to make her uncomfortable; it was their first night in their shared quarters and he wanted her to feel safe and at her ease. He loved being close to her and couldn't bear the thought of living in a separate suite of rooms away from her. He was pleased that she too seemed to be feeling a mate's pull for him, gravitating towards him whenever they were in the same room.

The kiss they shared earlier was spectacular and beyond any of his expectations. As a gentleman, of course he would wait until she was ready for a more physical relationship but as a vampire he hoped it would not be too long; he was already aching for her. A vampire's need for his mate is strong and persistent but he would use all his control to be patient.

Rosalie's thoughts from earlier, about possible safe vampire/human sexual positions, came back into his mind. He looked over at his beautiful mate as she sat up in bed in the linen nightdress and shawl he had given her, she was plaiting her beautiful long hair down one side; he was dazzled once more. She gave him a small smile, blew him a kiss and then snuggled down under the duvet falling almost immediately to sleep.

"Goodnight Edward," she whispered.

"Sleep well my darling," he replied.

She smiled and drifted off to sleep.

Edward gave a small sigh and went back to his 'homework', watching film after film until at around 4.00 am when he heard Jasper calling to him in his thoughts. 'Edward, can you hear me? We were thinking it would be good to hunt while Isabella is sleeping and before going into the school environment.'

Edward looked over to see that his mate was still deeply asleep so he paused his episode of the rather confusing 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer', went over to tuck Bella in under the duvet she'd kicked off and placed a soft kiss on her forehead before heading downstairs to join the others.

Carlisle was waiting for him as well as Emmett and Jasper.

"Do you always hunt separately to the women?" Edward asked, noticing that it was just the men.

Carlisle shook his head: "No, no, we mix it up all the time but the ladies wanted to remain in the household in case Isabella needed them. They are already very fond of your spirited young mate."

Edward smiled, hearing the thoughts in the minds around him, confirming that all the family were indeed quite captivated by his dear Isabella.

"Thank you for thinking of her and for inviting me to go hunting. I am keen to see what wildlife you have on offer in such a lush forest."

Emmett slapped his back: "Well let's go then shall we."

With that the four men flashed out of the house and into the forest. Edward was by far the fastest but it was Jasper who proved to be the best hunter, leading the group through the forest to find a herd of deer, several bears and even a mountain lion.

After satisfying their thirst, the four men perched on a large rocky outcrop to watch the sun rise. Edward marvelled at the natural beauty surrounding them and considered how refreshing it was to be in such a wild location. He loved his apartment at SPAM and he already missed his dear friend Tanya but he was glad to be in this new and exciting place with the Cullen family and of course his dear Isabella. He felt himself in that moment to be quite content.

Carlisle broke their silent revelry: "Edward, you may have noticed that Emmett, Jasper and I have been blocking you from reading our thoughts."

Edward nodded, he had noticed but took no offence, he understood their need for privacy and would always try to respect that as best he could.

"Well, the reason we are doing this is because we wanted to discuss something quite sensitive in nature and we wanted the opportunity to do this after we'd spent some enjoyable bonding time hunting."

Edward nodded once again but now feeling slightly uneasy.

"Please do not feel uncomfortable Edward," Carlisle tried to put him at his ease.

Jasper cleared his throat before addressing the first topic of concern to the family: "Edward, we understand that you are recently mated with Isabella and of course we do not wish to intrude on your ... private relations. However, we would like you to know that we are here to support you and guide you, as you and your mate... find your way so to speak."

Edward was a little confused and at that moment wished that they would unblock their thoughts so he could understand their meaning more easily.

Emmett chuckled: "What my dear brother is trying and failing to say, is that we understand the challenges of bonding with a mate and wish to help you. We have already noticed that Isabella is very spirited, capable and independent. Which is a good thing, trust me I am mated with Rosalie and she is about as spirited as it is possible to be, and I love her for it.

"We also noticed that, no doubt due to your birth era and the fact that your mate is a fragile human, you seem to be quite reserved with her and perhaps even a little overwhelmed by her fragility. This must be very difficult for you considering we completely understand the physical changes you are going through now that you have your mate with you.

"I know that if I had not been able to consummate with Rosalie when we were first mated, well, I think I would have gone insane."

At that point Carlisle interrupted: "Actually, that is exactly what would've happened to you and Rosalie, Emmett. Edward you need to understand that if you and Isabella do not consummate your bond soon, you will be slowly driven insane and it may be irreparable. I have seen cases of this before over my many years and it is similar to the insanity caused when one's mate dies. We mate for life and it is all consuming; once bonded we literally cannot survive without our mate. I am unsure the effect of the mating bond on Isabella given that she is human but she does seems to be feeling the effects of your mating draw."

"Yes," Edward whispered. "She feels a pull towards me and I towards her. I had heard tales of the power of the mating bond and the destructive power of prolonged separation from one's mate but I was unaware of the danger to my human mate. I thank you all for your concern and I will certainly heed your warning.

"Please understand that I wish to allow Isabella to set the pace of our bonding but I believe it won't be long as we are already so drawn to each other. I will call on you for advice and assistance if her pace puts either of us at risk of losing our sanity. I value my peace of mind and I value Isabella's sharp intellect, I would not do anything to put those at risk. Believe me."

"Good, good," said Carlisle relieved to have such a sensitive topic out in the open and dealt with maturely. He was warming more and more to his new son and was pleased to find that that Edward's sensibilities were quite similar to his own.

Jasper then chuckled: "Now for the other topic. Humans and their sexuality."

Once again Edward was very confused; didn't they just agree on a course of action with regards his Isabella and their physical relationship?

Seeing the look of confusion on Edward's face Jasper tried to explain: "No, Edward, not Isabella's sexuality. Other humans. Look, I understand that you've led a fairly reclusive lifestyle and have not socialised much with humans. Is that correct?"

"Yes, Jasper. My desire to have broader society is one of the main reasons I have come here to live with you."

"Good," said Jasper. "Living amongst humans has its challenges. You seem to have your blood lust under control and that is by far the most difficult hurdle we face. However, there is another challenge which takes some getting used to. Humans are quite lusty creatures and unlike vampires they do not 'mate for life'. In fact it is a rare human who does not have a wandering eye, even those who are in so called committed relationships."

Jasper started pacing with his hands behind his back which he held stiff and straight. Edward could see in that moment that Jasper carried himself as he most likely did in his human life. He had been a confederate officer in the civil war when he was changed, Edward looked forward to talking with Jasper about his experiences and his life since then.

"Edward, as you know vampires have certain allurements which help us to attract our natural prey, that is to say humans. Unfortunately even though we are vegetarian vampires these allurements still invite human attention which make us appear both dangerous and desirable to them. A tempting combination for humans which causes unwanted attention, sexual fantasies and advances.

"There is no doubt that humans find us to be quite a handsome group and because of this we have each in our turn had to deal with the unwanted desires of humans at some stage. Thanks to his more high profile vocation coupled with his natural good looks, it has been a more common problem for Carlisle. Rosalie, of course, has also had more than her share of unsolicited attentions."

He stopped pacing and turned to Edward wanting to be sure to have his full attention as he continued: "Adult humans are bad enough but teenage humans, as you will soon discover when you start with us at school tomorrow, are obsessed with sex."

He took his seat on the rocky outcrop next to Edward: "In my human years there was no such creature as a teenager, we were infants, children and then adults. Our adult years began at around thirteen. I myself was engaged to be married at the age of 15 but she married a yankee while I was at war, which of course is another story. Since the 1940s and 50s however, we've had to deal with this new human subgroup called teenagers. Unlike my time, these teenagers remain at school until they are eighteen and then complete College before being burdened with the responsibilities of adulthood. "

"The teenagers of today are therefore, rather spoiled, highly sexualised and rather ... forward," he lamented.

Emmett and Carlisle were nodding and scoffing in agreement with Jasper's points and even Edward had to admit that this teenager phenomenon was new to the past seven decades or so.

Jasper continued in his instructive tone: "We have each had to find ways to deal with, and fend off, human advances but I fear Edward that it may be more difficult for you for three main reasons."

Jasper jumped down and began pacing and continued in a very business-like tone: "Firstly, you are an exceptionally attractive individual, even for a vampire. So I do not doubt you will be subjected to a large number of unsolicited approaches. Secondly, your mind reading ability will mean that you will be aware of the spoken and the unspoken desires of the sexually charged teenagers you will be surrounded by. This will be challenging as it will likely offend your sensibilities but I am concerned more for reason number three, which is that is that you will hear not only the innuendo and fantasies of these young adults for you, but also for your mate, Isabella."

Edward sat a little stiffer at this thought. He hadn't considered, though perhaps he should have, that the young school children would of course be attracted to his Isabella. Her beauty and intelligence would attract anyone's attention.

Emmett jumped down from his perch on the highest rock in the outcrop to add his advice: "Edward, you can do what Rosalie and I have done to push away potential suitors and that is to make a pronounced demonstration of our devotion to each other. It won't work for all the humans but it does seem to do the trick for most of them."

Jasper chuckled: "They even get into trouble with the school administrators for their inappropriate shows of affection. Alice and I have as many classes together as possible. Our favourite trick is to have little 'lovers spats' occasionally and then make a big show of making up. It's a lot of fun."

Carlisle added: "Of course, I have the luxury of being able to wear my wedding ring which acts as a talisman against unwanted attention for all but the most ardent hopefuls. I also call Esme on my mobile from public locations and speak in lovey, dovey terms which is easy as my Esme is a miraculously wonderful woman so it is easy to play the part of the devoted husband."

Edward jumped down from his perch on the rocks: "This is very good advice, thank you gentlemen. I will discuss these ideas with Isabella as soon as we return. We will have to show a solid united front from the outset. Thank you again all for your excellent advice. Do you mind if we return to the house now? Isabella should be waking up and I do not wish her to worry."

They all agreed and took off quickly towards the Cullen residence. When they arrived, Bella was not there. Esme greeted them in the foyer and explained: "Bella wanted to go for a run this morning. Apparently this is part of her normal fitness routine, so Rosalie and Alice have gone with her for fun. I would've gone too but I wanted to make Bella's lunch, goodness knows what awful slop the school canteen would have on offer for a vegetarian human. I am making lunches for all of you so Bella doesn't stand out."

Carlisle followed her back into the kitchen and excitedly asked if she would make him a lunch too. "I think having a home-packed lunch at the hospital would be so much easier to manage than having to pretend to eat in the canteen everyday. I don't know why we didn't think of it earlier."

Esme giggled enjoying yet another new experience brought into their lives by having a human in the family.

Disappointed that his Bella woke without him, Edward went upstairs, showered and dressed for his first day at school. Bella had laid out clothes for him with a note saying: "Wear these - no arguments."

He looked at the clothes with a resigned sigh. He hated the low-riding jeans and especially the boxer shorts.

When he entered the kitchen cleaned and dressed, Esme gave him a nod of approval. HIs jeans hung low on his hips, but not too low. He wore a white t-shirt with a plaid overshirt. He had new joggers on his feet and a baseball cap scrunched into his back pocket.

When Bella returned she went straight upstairs to shower and dress. She was sweaty but feeling great after her run though she had found it a very odd experience to run with vampires. They were obviously going at what must've been a ridiculously slow pace for them but they mimicked her breathing and look of exertion. She realised that life for them amongst humans involved a good deal of acting.

Their ability to run without needing to breathe meant both Rose and Alice were free to 'chat' and chat they did. They clearly had an agenda and they took it turns to get through it.

Alice started: "Bella did you know that when vampires mate, we mate for life.. well for eternity?"

Bella didn't answer she just nodded that she understood; she was saving her breath for actual breathing as she ran.

Then Rosalie continued without skipping a step: "Yes, and if you take to long to consummate with your mate then he'll, and possibly you'll, go slowly mad?"

Bella shook her head at that one. Seriously? He'll go mad if they don't have sex? That wasn't in the files.

It must've been Alice's turn: "When we are mated we actually feel what you would call ill, when we are separated from each other for prolonged periods of time. When we are newly mated we start to fell ill after only short periods apart. You seem to feel it too, that weird feeling of wanting to see Edward even when he's only been out of sight for a little while?"

Yes, Bella nodded in return. She did feel that; she felt queasy and anxious.

Rosalie was up: "If, heaven forbid, a vampire's mate should be killed then we go insane. It's all part of the same one vampire, one mate deal."

Alice chimed in again: "We just wanted to share that with you as you seem to be a bit uneasy with Edward's over protectiveness. We just wanted to let you know that's pretty normal for a newly mated male vampire. They get pretty possessive. That may be difficult for you to handle as you strike us as a sort of 'girls can do anything', 'I'm an independent woman' type. Which is great by the way; we're all for that too."

Rosalie closed it out: "But for now, so early in your bonding, you might want to give him a little slack. He's trying to assimilate to the human world as well as getting to know his new mate and add to that his mate is a HUMAN with all the vulnerabilities that go with that."

Bella nodded. They took the last turn and were heading back up the drive to the Cullen house when the girls sped away from her.

"Thanks for the run Bella," said Rosalie. "Let's do that again."

"Oh yes, and we can buy cute little running outfits too," said Alice. "That was fun."

'Fun!' Bella thought sarcastically. "How the fudge was she supposed to deal with all this new information."

After a long hot shower, she dressed for her first day back at high school. Talk about 'fun!' she thought with equal sarcasm.

When she entered the kitchen to grab some breakfast she found that Esme had put out a selection of breakfast cereals for her to choose from but best of all she'd made a pot of coffee and the smell was heavenly.

Edward was sitting at the breakfast bar waiting for her; as she sat with him he leaned over a placed a small kiss on her cheek.

"Look, we match," he said pointing to their clothes.

Bella was wearing skinny jeans, chucks, a grey t-shirt with a print about a bowling club and a plaid over-shirt. She giggled. "Well, I was looking for a sort of 'couple who are comfortable with each other but not trying to gain anyone else's attention' kind of look.

He chuckled and placed another kiss on her cheek: "I am sorry I wasn't there when you woke up dearest. I ..."

"Edward," Bella interrupted. "We are about to go to high school as eighteen year-old seniors, you cannot call me dearest... not at school anyway. Let's try something else, okay?"

"Love?" he looked at her hopefully.

She shook her head.

Alice came into the room: "What about bae?"

Bella shook her head again. "Too 'try hard'," she said. "We're going for more of 'a nerdy, I just want to get through high school so I can go to college and actually have a life' demeanour. We don't want anything that makes us stand out."

She looked at him: "How about calling each other by our initials, that's sort of a cutesy couple thing but doesn't sound like we're trying too hard to fit in. I'll call you E and you can call me B. How's that?"

His grinned widened, he loved her so much: "Perfect ... B."

Alice laughed: "I call Jasper ... Jazzy. I don't think he likes it very much but it works for that 'intimate couple' thing."

Jasper walked in at that moment. "I hate it when she calls me that but she's right, it works. I call her Alley Cat. Isn't that cute?" he teased, pinching Alice's cheek as she scrunched up her face at the sound of her nickname.

Rosalie and Emmett walked in and having heard the conversation before entering the room pointed to each other. "Babe" he said. "Monkey Man" she said.

Edward rolled his eyes, hearing inside their heads the reason for 'monkey man'.

Esme clapped her hands excitedly: "Okay it's time to go. Since I wanted Bella to have a decent lunch and not have to eat the canteen food, I've made everyone a packed lunch. It should be easier to disguise your non eating this way, too. Bella, yours is the one with the little flower drawn on the bag. Edward and Bella I will drive you this morning to meet with the headmaster. C'mon, let's go."

Edward heard Esme's internal joyous thoughts at finally feeling like a true 'mom', something she had craved as a human. Bella was just extremely grateful to be rescued from the horrors of canteen vegetarian food.

The others took off in two different cars while Edward, Bella and Esme travelled in the Esme's soccer mom Volvo SUV.

Their drive to the school was quite a bit slower than the others since Esme obeyed the speed limit where the others did not. On the trip Edward chatted to them both about the discussion with the men at the rocky outcrop, well the part about needing to fend off unwanted advances, anyway. He'd talk to Bella about the consummation staves off insanity when they were alone; he had not idea what she'd think of that!

Esme agreed that they needed to come up with their own shtick: "Carlisle and I are always very affectionate in front of humans. Poor Carlisle whenever we start in a new place all the nurses, male and female, get so excited and try their best to get his attention; tight uniforms, baked goods, straight out offers of blowjobs, you'd be surprised."

Bella nearly swallowed her tongue to hear sweet mom Esme say 'blowjobs'.

Edward quickly covered before Esme could continue with the thoughts going through her head: "Well, dearest... I mean B... what do think our 'shtick" should be?"

"Well," she said thoughtfully. "Given your rather old-fashioned nature and style, let's go for 'dreamy in love'. I'll be with you for every class except gym so we can be in a our own little 'love bubble' all day."

Edward laughed: "Well, that's not a shtick, B, that's actually how I feel."

"Me too," Bella whispered. Edward smile broadened and he squeezed her hand gently.

"We're here," said Bella. "Pop on those sexy Ray Bans and let's make our high school debut!"

Edward opened the car door for Esme and then went to open the door for Bella but she had already jumped out of the car. She whispered to him that most teenage boys don't open car doors for their mothers or for their girlfriends. He frowned slightly but then nodded.

Bella reached into his back pocket, took his baseball cap out and placed it on her own head, cap facing backwards of course. She cuddled in close to Edward and put her right hand into the back pocket of his jeans. He, in turn, threw his arm around her shoulders pulling her close. In this manner they followed Esme across the parking lot towards the school administration building.

As they passed a group of girls, a blonde, buxom girl drew the attention of her group to the new couple: "Who. The. Fuck. Is. That?"

The girls all spun their heads at once to look at the new couple, barely noticing the small brunette tucked under the boy's arm. All they saw was a six-foot two, lean, muscular adonis with a mess of bronze hair that looked just right for the pulling. A collective sigh could be heard from all but the blonde, who called out: "Hallelujah girls, there's a new hottie in town."

Bella giggled and gave Edward's butt a squeeze. He looked down at her in surprise. "Did you hear that E? There's a new hottie in town." She waggled her eyebrows and he laughed, pulling her even closer to him and whispering in her ear: "Yes there is and she's all mine."

A/N: I know, I know you all wanted to get to school and we've made it to the car park. it was just important for the guys and gals to give Edward and his dearest some important advice.

I hope you liked it.

School Daze is next! See you soon.