AN: I was interrupted an incredible amount of times while writing this, so it didn't really end how I originally planned. On the plus side, it's pretty long... Oh, and please, if you have any prompts or suggestions, let me know! It's always more fun to write something based off of someone else's idea! Anyway... Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: It may be hot where I live, but it's still not Phoenix. Still not Stephenie Meyer...

Bella grumbled to herself as she painstakingly dusted each individual mini glass animal. She had built up quite the collection over the years, and now had nearly 20 tiny figurines of her favorite creatures. They made convenient presents, especially for scatter-brained Renee, who occasionally forgot her own daughter's birthday. Affordable and sold everywhere, they became the default gift of her mother for nearly every occasion. At least they had variety… she thought to herself, picking up a cute penguin, golden in color. Too bad there were so many of them.

She tried to set the penguin down carefully among its closely nestled brethren, but ended up knocking over a delicate horse, causing the whole assembly to domino. A few shocked seconds later, she was faced with a shelf full of up-ended animals.

Bella groaned loudly, completely frustrated with the whole spring-cleaning thing. She had been at it all day, thinking that cleaning the house would be a useful occupation to fill the otherwise empty Saturday. Edward was hunting, Charlie was fishing, and even Alice, who would usually never miss the opportunity to take her shopping, had other plans. The bathroom as well as the entirety of the downstairs was spotless, allowing her time to tackle her own room, of which she was now feeling resentful.

She set the penguin that had caused the whole fiasco on her nightstand, then dove on her bed face first to bury her head in the pillows. Once there, she groaned again, though this exclamation sounded more tired than frustrated. She allowed her body to go limp as she contemplated calling it quits.

Just then, she felt a pair of cold arms wind around her waist as icy lips touched her flushed neck. There was no doubt as to who the intruder was. Although, it wouldn't really faze Bella if her surprise guest had been someone a little less civilized. At this point, the Volturi sounded tame compared to the dust-bunnies that she had found under her bed.

Bella remained motionless as Edward lavished attention on her neck, before moving south to her shoulders. His frigid temperatures were a relief to her overheated skin.

"Hard day, Love?" He murmured into her shoulder.

"You have no idea." She turned her head now, and he was immediately at eye level. They searched each other's faces as though the few hours apart had been altogether too much. Bella's intense expression faded after a few moments, and she sighed.

"I missed you," she said, a soft smile on her lips. He smiled in return, reaching up to smooth away strands of hair that had escaped her ponytail.

"I always forget how hard it is to be away from you until I'm in your presence again. I never notice how tense having you out of my sight makes me until I see you and I can relax again." He sighed. "But you managed to make it through the day unscathed."

"I did. The menagerie though?" She gestured to the shelf behind her vaguely.

He chuckled. "I thought I heard a crash." She rolled her eyes. He laughed again, then wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her flush with his body. She sighed and nuzzled her face into his chest.

"I'm glad you're back," she said, pressing a soft kiss to his collarbone. He bent his head to inhale the scent of her hair.

"I am too," he said. There was a strange undercurrent to his voice, making it sound like a rougher form of its usual velvet. She looked up, wanting to see the expression on his face. When she met his eyes, she saw that they were a liquid topaz, as if they had melted from the heat of his emotions. Longing and desire were plain on his features as he leaned in to capture her lips with his. She immediately responded, running her hands up his arms to come to rest at the nape of his neck tangled in his hair. He rolled them so that he lay on top, bracing himself so that his weight did not crush her. He looked at her for a moment as she lay there gasping for breath, before leaning down to caress the corner of her jaw with his lips. One hand held him up, while the other snaked around her head to gently release her tresses from the elastic that held them back. Once they were free, he buried his hand in them while his lips moved to her neck. Bella could do no more than lie there as the barrage of sensations flooded over her.

He moved his face to her collarbone, and she shivered at the feeling of his cold breath on the thin skin there. After a moment of caressing this body part, he pulled away and lay on his side next to her. Bella, however, wouldn't stand for the cession of their previous activity. She rolled onto her side, facing him, then pressed against the shoulder farthest from her. Edward fell onto his back easily, without complaint. He looked bewildered, yet excited at the same time. A crooked grin graced his lips as Bella threw her leg over his body and pulled herself lie on him. The only problem was that she miscalculated the force necessary to accomplish the task, and almost ended up launching herself off the bed.

Edward chuckled as he caught her waist and pulled her close against him. She growled into his chest, then lifted her head and let it fall against his shoulder. It made an almost audible clunk.

"Ouch," she sighed, her voice disgruntled.

"Did you have a reason for attempting to bruise your forehead?" Edward asked, lifting her head carefully to examine the damage. "Or was it just a passing urge?"

Bella closed her eyes and pouted as he ran his fingers over her skin, checking for swelling. Seemingly satisfied at his findings, he kissed her forehead and returned it to his chest. He ran his hands down her spine to her waist, where he traced feather-light designs on the skin that their kissing had exposed. Bella sighed once again.

"Sweetheart?" he asked, trying to find the motives behind her self-destructive behavior.

"I really can't do anything right, can I?" She said, her voice sad. Edward reacted immediately, sitting up and scooting back to lean against the headboard, bringing her with him. Bella ended up straddling his hips, and still cradled close to his chest.

"Why would you think that?" Edward pushed her gently back so that he could watch her face.

"I can't even kiss you without nearly killing myself." She played with the collar on his shirt, avoiding his eyes.

"That doesn't matter in the slightest." She looked up to see him staring intensely down at her.

"It would be nice to be able to make you feel the way I do, for once in my life."

"And how do I make you feel?" He asked, lifting her wrist to inhale the scent there. She chuckled.

"I think you can figure that out, if my reactions to you are any indication…"

He laughed, then grew somber. "So you think that you have no effect on me?" He took the hand that he was holding and placed it over his heart. She shook her head, biting her lip.

"Well," he laughed, "you're wrong there."

Bella raised her eyebrows, and he continued.

"Just then, when you were biting your lip… And having you sitting with me like you are… Everything about you drives me crazy, including your lack of gracefulness." He shook his head. "It's becoming incredibly hard to remain gentlemanly when I'm with you."

"You know, I don't always want you to be a gentleman."

Edward sighed, sounding incredibly put-upon. "But alas, it seems to be my fate… Until August, at any rate."

Bella leaned into him again, and Edward wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly. "Let's just go to Vegas," she mumbled into his chest.

"If we could, I would. I highly doubt Alice would let us get far, though." They both laughed at the thought of the pixie-like vampire's wrath as she discovered them ditching their own wedding.

"It's worth a shot…" Bella said, wistfully. Edward was silent, thoughtful. Bella sat back and their eyes met, grins spreading across their faces.

"Just then, a piercing ring shattered the stillness. Edward reached for his phone, and checked caller ID. When he saw the picture that flashed onto the screen, his features settled into a scowl.

"Do you want to answer it?" He asked Bella.

"Wha—Why? Who is it?"

His scowl became more pronounced.

"Alice."

Something new, for a change! What do you think?