EP Read Along Week 16 Chapters 45, 46, 47, 48

Emancipation Proclamation Read Along Week 16

Chapters 45, 46, 47, 48

Hello all mia bella ragazza! It's Finally Friday and that means more Fun with Fran and her Finicky EP Edward. Do I dare keep going with the F-words? We know how many of those are found coming out of Edwards mouth, right?! Yeah, well since reading this story, I find that word rolling off of my mouth all the time now too. It's all Edward's fault, but I'll try my best to keep things clean here. Well, here we go girls. Let's get the comments flying. I want to hear what you all think of my favorite chapters, especially chapters 47 and 48!!!

Chapter 45: EPOV

Edward wakes up and senses something is wrong with Bella, and so Edward lays out the Italian charm, trying to get Bella to spill what is wrong with her. He's quotes the poem “La Vita Nova” by Dante. Edward may be a bad ass, but he's a very bright one, he knows his tesoro can't resist him when he speaks Italian. Then it's adorable how he starts to give silly examples as to how the two of them are just right together. Some of my favorites were “spaghetti and meatballs, chips and dip, (it's got to be ripple for the finicky Edward) cherry and coke...He gets her to tell a bit of what's wrong with her. She tells him that Carlisle wanted to know if she was in love with Edward. And that she said yes, and he thought they were idiots if they thought they could fool him. So, it seems Carlisle is ok with them having a piece of happy as long as they don't flaunt it. Do you understand why he doesn't want it flaunted in his face?

Did you not love it when Edward keeps walking around shirtless and his father asks him if he needs his laundry done as he's been walking around barely clothed? And Edward answers him “I've got my dick covered, you taught me that shit at least...” I love how those two banter with each other, it's usually in good fun. Except after the shooting range scene. Then the real fire power came out. First though Edward explains to his father that he couldn't help falling for Bella, it wasn't something he was looking to happen. Edward challenges his father and how he's dealing with Bella. Carlisle finally puts Edward in his place by explaining he's not the bad man his son thinks he is. He demands that Edward let him control the situation because he knows what he's doing, he's got a plan to get them all out of this situation he's worried about. Of course Edward still doesn't trust his father completely, but he's left speechless from his father's rant. Carlisle gives him some answers, tells him why he wanted Edward to be the one to teach Bella to drive. He wanted him to see first hand how hard it is to deal with someone as sheltered and broken as Bella, it's something he knows a lot about. Yeah, Carlisle knows his business. I don't know about you, but my opinion of Carlisle went way up during this passionate speech to his son. Edward SHOULD listen to his father.

Chapter 46 BPOV

This chapter finds Bella getting some much needed real world experience. She notices Edward is more patient with her, she doesn't know that it's because of Carlisle's disclosure of how things in life need to be slowly exposed to her. Bella and Carlisle have a bonding moment when she makes him lunch and a Cherry Coke. She doesn't understand why he's been treating her so well and he is touched that she is so kind to him despite his past behavior. He's as taken in with Bella's beautiful soul as Edward is, he's trying in his way to do right by her, for Elizabeth and Edward's sake.

Ahhhhh, and then there's the waxing scene. Did you not just feel horrible for Bella, enduring not only the pain of it, but how traumatic it must have been for someone as sheltered and abused as Bella? She must have felt violated. But Edward makes her forget all that, yes?! With the bath tub-Rosalie's toy soothing he gives her. Yeah, I'm sure the waxing event was quickly forgotten. Love Edward's reaction, he didn't know if should beat Rosalie/Alice or fall on his knees in thanks to them for getting her waxed. That scene is like a lot of them in EP, one part sad and another part funny. I for one think Edward “handled” it very well. How about you?

Chapter 47 and 48 Edward and Bella's POV

Bono San Valentino!

I'll just review the Valentine's Day scenes together. Bella doesn't know what this day is all about. Alice comes to take her for a girl day, explains a little and helps her get ready for what Edward has planned. As always, it's Edward's reactions that steals our heart. He is having a panic attack worrying over his plans to make Bella's first Valentine's Day special. He loves her so much, he just wants it all to go well. And he thinks he's not romantic and he thinks he's clueless when it comes to what “making love” truly means. Do you agree with him? Is Edward lacking in the romantic department? I don't think so! Not after he rents a whole Inn, right? As he goes about the business of getting flowers, candy, the B&B, picnic lunch, taking her to an art gallery... he starts thinking it will all go wrong, ants will invade their food, etc. He has no self confidence when it comes down to it, he thinks he's bound to screw this up too. And then in walks Bella, and one look at her and he remembers what it's really all about. Just her presence is enough to make all the panic go away, she's what's been wrong, his missing piece. They both relax in each other's presence, they realize all they need is each other.

I won't try to describe Edward's perfect Valentine's Day, I could never do it justice. I will tell you that it was Bella's decision when she asks Edward to make love to her. I will say that I cried through out the whole “FIRST TIME for Bella” scene. I cried at how beautifully Khar described this for the both of them, I will tell you to go back and re read that scene again, beginning with Edward playing the piano for Bella, and the words to 18th Floor Balcony. I will tell you to listen to the words, watch some of the Twilight Video clipped to it and see how it fits their lives. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frBuQtxoA4g

I will tell you that both Edward and Bella felt this was THE moment, FINALLY, because they were out and away from what defines Bella as a slave, that they both felt free and whole and normal enough to let this happen. I will tell you that I wish everyone's FIRST was this PERFECT, because everyone should be as lucky as Bella, to have a man make the effort he did to make the first time so artfully romantic. He worships her and he not only tells her this, but shows her in every soft kiss, warm touch, and delicate way he makes love to her. Edward finally gets it, he knows what making love is. He felt the intensity of the two of them coming together, “merging our body and souls. I was making love to her entire being and getting all of her in return.” Bella asks him to never leave her. He says he never would and asks if she feels it, feels how much they belong together. And she replies “Sempre” and his reply is also “Sempre, Forever, Isabella. I'll fucking die without you. I'll never survive if you ever go away from me.” And with that, I say enough said...about their first. 

But the next day, I think is cute. When Bella wakes up, sees a little blood and Edward explains what that is. Then he starts getting aroused again but realizes she may be too sore and he wants her to speak up for herself if she doesn't want to have sex. I just have to quote this because it's pure Edward: “Because quite frankly we'd never leave the bedroom or put clothes on if we went by when I wanted it, because I'm a man. I'm pretty much always fucking ready and willing....And by the way, I also told you that day that you'd be comfortable enough to want to try that kind of shit with me someday. You didn't believe me, and look at you now with your cherry popped.” He goes on to be serious and says he doesn't want her to think that it's all about sex with them now. Edward has grown up for sure! Did you not love how he draws her a bath and washes her? 

They reluctantly leave the Inn and head back to the roles they have to play. First they stop and have lunch and Edward openly displays his relationship with Bella. Bella feels the shift in their new found connection, she feels and believes Edward's devotion to her, she believes no one will come between them, but there is this feeling she recognizes, she feels like they're being watched. Hummmm?

So girls. What did YOU think of their first? Where do they go from here? The title of this chapter is “Change is Coming” and so it is. Hold on tight for it....!!!

(Blinkie by Rose Arcadia)

PS I think she also made the banner at the top of the post :)