A/N: I don't own Twilight or its characters; they belong to Stephanie Meyer. This is just what they got up to in my mind.

15D: "I have enough reasons not to be with her, don't give me any more."

I stood on Bella's porch not knowing what my next move would be. As I tried to clear my mind, I heard the sound of soft sobs coming from the inside of her house.

I closed my eyes and internally cursed myself for the upset I'd caused.

As I turned around to face the door, I raised my fist to knock but paused. What I'd said to Bella mere moments ago was still true. I didn't know how to fix this and even if Bella let me comfort her, it wouldn't mend anything. It would probably make things worse.

Sure, I could turn around and knock on her door. If she let me in I could comfort her, placate her. I could even tell her I was all in, I could do this, no big deal, and I'd get to see her warm soft smile, get to touch her and hold her.

But it would be a lie. I couldn't start our relationship on a lie.

As much as I wanted, really fucking badly, to be all in with Bella, I wasn't. I couldn't even contemplate telling her that we were over, but equally I couldn't rush this. I'd only known about Tyler a matter of days. I needed more time. It was as simple and as complicated as that.

So I sighed and reluctantly retreated down her driveway, away from her and toward the sidewalk.

"Shit. Fucking hell," I screamed as I bent my knees and crouched down. I held my head in my hands and cursed myself again. Way to go, Edward. How to make a hopeless situation even worse.

I took a few deep breaths before standing up when I heard my cell ringing.

I immediately hoped it was Bella.

It wasn't.

"Em, seriously?" I questioned him.

"Ali said she saw you leave in a car with some chick. I can guess who."

I knew Emmett should have been a detective. If our business ever folded he'd have a new career in the police force for sure. "Ed, what the hell have you done?"

I opened my mouth to talk but didn't have any words to explain.

"Where are you?"

Still I was silent. There was no way of telling him where I was without admitting I'd left with Bella.

"Ed, I can't help if you don't answer."

I knew Emmett's heavy-handedness was because he cared about me and I was pretty stuck here.

"I'm out by Ferne Point. I don't have my car."

"Stay there."

I scoffed. "I'm not really welcome here," I informed him.

"Well walk to the end of the street then, dickhead."

"Fine, I'll be on the corner of Acorn and West."

"I'll be there in fifteen." He then spoke quieter as I heard the jingle of keys. "I'll be as quick as I can, baby."

I guessed that was meant for Rosalie and not me.

True to his word, Emmett pulled up fifteen minutes later.

I flopped myself into the passenger seat of his car, hoping to play down this whole situation to Emmett as much as possible.

"What the fuck, Ed?"

No pleasantries this evening, then.

"What? I'm allowed to talk to her."

"You weren't just talking."

What the hell? Did I have 'I've just had sex' written across my forehead?

Emmett took in my confused expression and explained his words. "Your shirt's buttoned up wrong." He shook his head and tried to suppress the grin I saw forming on his face.

Oh. Shit! I looked down at my misaligned buttons and set about fixing them as I spoke. "Damn it. You're not meant to know what's just happened."

"Me? Why?" Now it was his turn to be confused.

"Because you two apparently have some PT conference soon and she wasn't pleased that you'd know she was 'off fucking your brother.' I informed him, quoting Bella's words.

Emmett laughed out loud. "I'd already guessed that's what happened, you're not too subtle, Ed. Maybe if you don't fuck her, there's nothing for me to know."

"I have enough reasons not to be with her, don't give me any more."

"Yet here you are, leaving her bed again."

"Sofa," I corrected. "But I get your point."

Emmett raised his eyebrows at me. "Lucky bastard," he grumbled quietly before shaking his head again.

I'm damn sure he had nothing to complain about with his sex life with his wife, they couldn't keep their hands off each other when I saw them at family events and at work so god know what they were like in private. Still, I didn't question his words, I didn't want to get into that conversation with him.

"Jesus, Ed. I don't understand what you're thinking." He was clearly still happy to talk about my sex life though. Great!

"I wasn't. She left the restaurant and then I bumped into her outside and she looked so upset. I know it's my fault. I should have let her drive off but I thought I could make it better, help her..."

"So your dick is offering public service now?"

"No...fuck, did that really just happen?" I mumbled, more to myself, even though I knew the answer. I could still feel her touch on my skin, smell her perfume on my clothes, and feel the soreness in my lips from our frantic actions.

"So, what now?"

I shrugged. My brother sure had a lot of questions for me tonight.

"I don't know, just lay off me, man."

"I'm meant to just sit by and watch while you self-destruct?" Emmett was mad now, raising his voice and gesticulating wildly. It took a lot to make him mad but apprantly I'd managed it tonight. "I'm meant to watch you hurt yourself over and over again? That's not how this family works, bro, you know that."

I ran my hands through my hair but didn't reply.

"It seems like you've made your decision. If you can't accept her having a son you know what you have to do. You got your fix, now move on, yeah? Tanya has some hot friends at this party, dude."

"Not interested, Em." I shot him down immediately.

He hit his steering wheel in frustration. "Why are you doing this to yourself?"

I remained silent. I couldn't explain it because even I didn't understand.

"I knew you'd fuck up tonight. Dad told me to keep an eye on you."

"Dad?" What the hell?

"Yes. You've been monosyllabic all week and moping around like you've lost a limb. Mom and Dad are gonna notice, they're not stupid."

"Is that why Ali wouldn't leave my side tonight?"

"Yeah, probably. I thought you'd see Bella and get shitfaced drunk. Not end up sleeping with her."

I scoffed loudly at Emmett. "That might have been a better plan."

"Anything's a better plan than yours."

Emmett turned off the highway and I knew we'd soon be back at the restaurant, meaning I could finally escape his questions. He took a few deep breaths and his voice was calmer when he spoke again. "So you and her...and then you left?"

"Agh, I know. But what was I meant to do, Em? Stay and make small talk? We hadn't thought it through that far but she was there and her dress was tiny and her legs, fuck... I didn't think..."

"Clearly! I don't even know why I'm surprised. Everyone felt the sexual tension in that room."

"Ugh, not helping, Em."

"I'm sorry, now you want my help?" His tone was sarcastic as he stopped the car at the lights and turned to me. "I'm not gonna sugar coat it, bro, you're in the shit."

At this point, I thought silence was my new best friend.

"I still don't quite understand why you two can't see each other without Tyler being involved for now?"

"And get more hurt further down the line?" I snapped. I'd had this conversation hundreds of times in my head; I really didn't want to have it again. "I'm not sure how to know I'm okay with Bella having a son without spending time with him, but she won't let him get hurt by allowing us to spend time together when I may leave. How can you start a relationship with one foot out the door?"

Emmett shrugged as he pulled up in the restaurant parking lot and shut off the car engine.

"Sort out your hair, bro; you look like you've been thoroughly fucked."

"I have."

"Well flatten it down or something, it's a dead giveaway."

"Whatever," I grumbled as I ran my hands through my hair, sensing from Emmett's reaction that it hadn't helped.

Of course, when we walked back into the restaurant the first person we saw was our dad.

"Where have you boys been?" He tried to sound casual but he was never very good at hiding his emotions. He looked at me suspiciously and I realized I was done with this whole evening and constantly having to explain myself and my actions. I was beyond tired of this whole situation.

"I need a drink." I turned and left my surprised looking dad with Emmett, hoping and praying Emmett wouldn't tell my dad any details.

Thankfully, my out of character behavior must have been enough for my dad to know it was a wise idea to leave me alone for the rest of the party. Unfortunately, not all the guests got the message.

A rather keen woman with extra curly hair managed to place herself close to wherever I sat. Even when I rejoined Emmett, Rosalie, Alice and Jasper, she seated herself at the next table, right in my eye line.

Thankfully, other than Rosalie giving me the stink-eye, no one else at the table mentioned Bella or my eventful evening, and for once I was more than happy to hear tales of JJ's diaper rash and the cream Rosalie recommended to help with it.

Seth also sat with us, which meant the conversation was kept PG and all was well until he mentioned his 'stinky' teacher who had given the whole class a big project to do. I think the problem was more that Seth hadn't started the work and it was due soon, but the indirect mention of Bella had all heads turning to me.

Christ. I felt like I was suffocating. I pulled at my shirt collar, and wondered how soon was too soon to leave.

I knew the party was finally drawing to a close when the slow music started. Couples appeared from nowhere and filled the dance floor, including my mom and dad who could never resist the chance to dance, and Emmett and Rosalie, Alice and Jasper.

That left Seth and me at the table alone. The poor kid looked exhausted at the late hour and as I watched Em get more and more amorous with his wife, I guessed they'd want time alone later when Seth was asleep.

"Hey, buddy, you wanna stay at my house tonight? We could head off now and let your mom and dad party on?"

Seth's tired eyes lit up as he grinned. "Yeah, can we get pizza on the way?"

I laughed and shook my head. "Not tonight, I saw how much party food you ate, you're just like your dad," I told him fondly. "If you're sleeping over at mine I'm not risking your puking," I joked. "But, if you like I'll help you with that homework tomorrow. I've got a few spare boxes and paint; we'll build an awesome castle in no time."

"Can it have a drawbridge? Miss Swan said the best castle will go on display and get extra homework points."

"We'll see what we can do," I told him, glossing over the mention of Bella and being sure not to promise him anything about his chances of winning. "I'll just check with your parents."

I was Seth's early escape from this party but really he was mine and I was pleased to have his company to stop myself wallowing in my thoughts all night.

I fought my way onto the dance floor and thought Emmett had found me when I felt a tap on my shoulder. But when I turned round it was the woman from earlier.

"Would you like to dance?" She was clearly nervous asking me, and I felt like a dick turning her down but at least I didn't need to lie.

"Sorry, I can't." Her face fell. "I have to get an eight-year-old to his bed before he falls asleep at the table." I nodded in Seth's direction and once she'd followed my gaze and saw Seth resting his head in his hands she nodded reluctantly.

"That's a shame." Then she was gone before I could say anything further.

My excuse was true but it was just that, an excuse. If I hadn't just offered to babysit Seth I'd still have turned her down. I wondered when it would ever feel right to be interested in another woman. I couldn't spend the rest of my life wanting Bella but not being with her.

That train of thought was too much for me after a long day so I shook my head and was relieved when I finally spotted Emmett.

He looked pleased when I told him my plan and even more so when I told him to take his time picking Seth up in the morning. He and Rosalie walked back to the table to say goodnight to Seth and checked he was okay with our arrangements while I looked for my dad. I didn't like leaving things so awkward between us so I interrupted his dance to say goodbye.

"I'm heading off."

"Home?"

"Yeah, of course," I shrugged. "Where else would I go?"

He looked up at my hair and down at my open shirt collar before looking back in my eyes. Being the cool, calculated guy he was, he didn't say anything more but after a quick raise of his eyebrows he nodded at me.

"Nowhere. Drive safely."

"I'm taking Seth, he's half asleep. That way Em and Rose can party on as long as they want."

"Good idea. 'Night, Son. Look after him."

With that, he turned back to my mom who gave me a warm smile before Seth and I finally managed to leave.

As mentioned there's one more chapters in this outtake.

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Thanks to SarcasticBimbo and EdwardsFirstKissfor giving up their time to beta and pre-read for this chapter. Any mistakes are my own.