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not beta'd

prompt - liquid

Charlie paused, and then exhaled real slow. Dramatic-like. "You sure that's a good idea, Bella?"

I loved my dad, but damn was he predictable. I could've written the script for this conversation.

"Well, yeah." I made a face he'd never see, thanks to the phone, and turned toward the window. "The weather's crap, and I'd rather stick around to help Edward with the kids. We're pretty sure Esme and Carlisle are going to be stuck in Port Angeles...so, it's the right thing to do."

At the other end of the kitchen, Embry was shaking his sippie cup, watching in fascination as droplets of water rained down all around him. I snapped my fingers, motioning to Edward to grab him before the ground got slippery and someone fell.

"All right, then. You just...call me if you need anything. I'll probably spend the night down at the station, case we get any emergency calls. Doubt you'll be the only ones rained in."

I nodded, relieved. Charlie trusted me, but he was no fool. There were a lot of things Edward and I could get into tonight, including each other.

"Thanks, Dad. I'll check in later. Be careful out there."

"Will do. And like I said, call if you need anything. Don't take any chances."

"Okey dokey."

"Bye, Bells."

"Bye." I disconnected and slipped my phone back into my pocket. "Well. That's that."

"I bet he said 'bye Bells', didn't he?" Edward asked, wiping liquid from the floor with a towel. "I've always thought that name was weird." Embry shrieked, pissed that he could no longer reach his sippie cup, which I'd put on the counter. Edward hoisted him up on to his shoulders, eliciting giggles and drool, most of which ended up in his hair.

"It's weird if anyone besides him says it," I agreed, wrinkling my nose as I grabbed paper towel. "Hold still...he just...ugh."

"What?"

"He got spit in your hair."

"Yuck. Embry, man. Not cool. Not cool," groaned Edward, reaching up.

Embry smacked at my hands as I wiped the drool away. "Coo!"

"You should go take a shower," I said, trashing the paper.

"Eh, I've had worse," Edward said, shrugging, wiggling Embry with the movement. "Anyway, who'll watch him while we're in the bathroom?"

"Nice try. But hey, if you don't mind having baby spit in your hair, then that's cool."

"Technically, Embry's a toddler now."

"Yeah, he is," I said, smiling up at the little face perched just above Edward's head. "Such a big boy now."

Embry shook his head. "No no no."

"So, what did Jake say when you went all weird on him?" I asked as we walked toward the back of the house. There was an enclosed porch there with wicker furniture and a basket of Embry's toys. Edward let him down and he made a beeline for the basket, overturning it with a clatter.

The rain was a lot louder out on the porch, but its fresh, clean scent felt good after having been cooped up all day.

"He just laughed," Edward said.

"Glad he finds it funny."

"Jay's a dick. That's just how he rolls." He shrugged, looking like he was trying to tamp down his irritation. "You know."

I did know. Jake took very little seriously. Unlike Em, who was easy going in a good way, Jake just came off as self absorbed about it, like if it wasn't hurting him, it didn't matter. It could be off putting at times, but I was used to it.

With dusk had come a drop in temperature, and it was more chilly out than I'd expected. Sitting on the porch swing, I pulled on my sleeves, debating whether or onto not I should run inside for my hoodie. Edward eased down beside me, putting his arm around my shoulder.

"Don't act like you're not cold," he said, chuckling.

Being close to him was so much more natural than being apart. I gave up the fight for the time being and closed my eyes, letting him warm me with his body heat.

We rocked slowly, and I thought about the many times we'd made out in this very spot. Thinking about his mouth, his hands...it made me ache. In good ways and bad.

"Remember our first kiss?" he whispered suddenly.

"Remember your last kiss?" I asked, sitting up straight. Mood was broken, and I was a bitch for it but I didn't care.

Or maybe I cared way too much.

Edward sighed loudly. "She kissed me. Shit! Why won't you let this go?"

"So if Jake kissed me you wouldn't be angry? Shut up."

"Yeah, I'd be pissed – at him. You make it sound like I went looking for something on the side."

"And everyone else saw, too," I continued, remembering. If I lived a thousand years, I'd never forget Edward, tipsy and covered in glitter from all the girls on Homecoming Court. And Rosalie Hale, making sure he got a little extra on the lips. "Everyone. What was I supposed to think?"

"I don't know, that Rosalie's a slut?"

I got up, needing to create distance. Again. Across the saturated backyard, little puddles had formed. The thunder and lightning had stopped, and I was tempted to go play in the freezing rain – the way we'd done as kids.

"You didn't even want to come," Edward said, appearing at my side. "I asked you like...twenty times."

"Means nothing."

"It means everything. You'd already practically dumped me."

Tears sprang to my eyes. I knuckled them away and looked over at Embry, who was busily pressing buttons on a broken keyboard. "So then it was okay for her to kiss you?"

"So not okay," he said, grabbing my hand. I tried to yank it away, but he held fast. "Not okay at all."

I finally let myself look at him, really look at him. His eyes were red. Swallowing, I shook my head.

"You're the one person who isn't supposed to hurt me," I said.

He pulled me close, wrapping me in his arms.

thanks for reviewing and interacting, guys. many many thanks. *hugs*

also, it's not as bad as some of you are thinking. i'll let you know right now that there were no orgies involving glitter and the homecoming court in its entirety. js. ;)