Chapter Seven: Love Drought

Bella

I could see people running around my parents back yard. If you could even call it that. It was a rare sunny day in Seattle, and they were rushing to finish the set up for the party. Esme, my mother and Alice were directing everyone out there. The youngest Cullen's were running around while Rosalie looked on. The view was gorgeous, I grew up here during the second half of my childhood, after everything that happened. This house was the only thing Riley knew. There was nothing but blue cold water and the Seattle skyline. I had yet to change into my dress, my hesitance was forever present. I had yet to understand his willingness. We were still in that weird limbo where things seemed to be ok. We got along for lack of a better word. He did his thing and I did mine.

A light knock distracted me from an email. Calling them in I regretted it instantly.

It was Rosalie.

"Are you lost?"

She tried to hide the look of annoyance. I hadn't interacted with her since that dinner and I had no desire to do so. She shook her head and for the first time, with me, did she look unsure about herself. "What I did that night was wrong. I would like to apologize to you. I'm sorry for what I said that night. I haven't given you a chance, and that is a bitch move on my behalf. You were right, I don't know anything about my brother and you. I don't know about anything that happened before all of this. I wasn't even aware there was a before. May I sit?" I gestured with my hand for her to pick where she would sit. "You have brothers, you know what that is like. You have two, Edward is the only one I have. You can't help but be protective of them because no matter how old they get all you see is the little boy who would cry watching Lion King."

"You want to know what happened? I was seventeen when I met your brother. He was twenty-one. We began seeing each other while I was in school in Boston. I loved him, everything about him. He was perfect in my eyes. One day we were supposed to meet for dinner. When I pulled up to the restaurant, I saw him tongue deep in Catherine Fitzpatrick's throat." She was now one of a select few who knew this. "He broke my heart. Now, imagine having to come to terms that you have to marry someone who did that then and a few weeks ago fucked the photographer's assistant who took your engagement picture." She looked shocked. Your brother is no saint, sweetheart. "That is where I get to be this way and not feel guilty or bad about it. You, your sister, and my brothers are the lucky ones. The ones that marry because of how they feel about the other person. I don't get that luxury. I could've despite this contract but that was ruined by your perfect brother. Yes, I am a hermit as you called me. I love what I do. I don't feel the need to be out and about like others do. I am just as happy in my lab doing my work, running, swimming or reading. I don't have the patience to deal with incompetence, so I limit my time around others because otherwise I would be on some serial killer list. As a sister I understand in part your reason for the dislike towards me. As a woman, I hope you can at least tolerate me for your parent's sake, knowing what you now know. Otherwise this is going to be hell for the both of us, I meant it when I said I would let that one slide. There won't be a second, I keep my promises. So, let's keep things cordial." I walked over to the door and opened it signaling that story time was over. I needed to get ready and most importantly I wanted to be alone.

Donovan stepped in with a garment bag as she walked out still without saying a word. Donovan was the only exception currently because after that I didn't feel like dealing with anyone else at the moment. Sensing my mood Donovan laid everything out in silence and helped me into my dress before stepping out. It was a midnight blue lace A – line dress, that fell a little above my knees. He had paired it with the same colored red bottoms and simple understated diamond jewelry. The most ostentatious piece of jewelry was the engagement ring, but I would be a liar if I said I didn't like it and that I was not.

Cullen is here – A.

I was giving my lipstick a touch up when there was another knock at my door and moments later Alec opened the door letting Edward in. His cheek looked red. Oddly in the shape of a hand. "Come with me." I pulled him along with me to my moms' closet. My skin tone was more golden than his anything I would try to put on him that was mine would make him look like a Cheeto puff. "Alec, can you get me a gel pack and salt. We will be in my mother's closet." This would mess with my pictures and the rumor mills would go wild. There is always photoshop.

We hadn't been in there more than a minute with Connor entered with what I had asked for.

"Did one of your harem get upset?" he held the gel pack to his face as I poured salt into a face towel then soaked it with alcohol. "There isn't one." He sounded bothered. "This was curtesy of my sister if you must know. No fucking clue what I did wrong." I snorted and took the pack from him and replaced it with the towel. "You look beautiful." Of course, where he was sitting and with my shoes off his face was eye level with my chest. "I'm serious, I love this color on you. I always have." Deciding to not reply to that comment I began ransacking my mother's makeup looking for concealer. Finding the one I wanted I dabbed some at the base of this throat. Photoshop was good but not that good. "Really?" I rolled my eyes and took the towel away. "Really. The only reason why I didn't shoot you in the knee that one time or break your nose the other day was because I have to consider how bad you will look in pictures. I also can't be walking around with a handicapped husband. Its selfish reasons don't get too excited."

It wasn't all a lie, for the most part I did care about the image we put out. Fact of the matter is that the way people treat you is often based upon how they see you. Your appearance. Even when it came to the Family. "I'm going to get you to care, Ms. Swan. I'm going to make you love me so much so that I will be the beginning and end of your world. You can fight me all you want but you won't be able to help yourself. I swear it." Another comment I would ignore. Despite the selfish reasons, I did care about his well-being regardless of the clusterfuck my mind was when it came to him.

As I worked on covering what I assumed to be Rosalie's handiwork. No way this was Alice her hands resembled her, they were tiny. His eyes were closed as I worked in silence with his last comment still swimming in the forefront of my mind. His eye lashes were impossibly long, and I envied them. Mine had been burned when I was younger, just one of the many bad ideas Michael and I had. Safe to say we both got an earful from my dad that day and gave my mother a good fucking scare. They should have seen everything coming. When I was done I turned and began putting things away needing to get some distance. I would already have to be too close to him well into the evening.

We both received a message at the same time. "That was Alice asking if we were ready to head down. Everything is in full swing out there. We can always stay holed up here and let them get creative about what we're up to." In his dreams. He was busy inspecting his face, he wouldn't see anything. "No, lets head down. The quicker we do the faster it is over. I just need to go get my shoes."

Alec was at the door just about to knock when I swung it open. "Miss, your parents are asking about you two." I settled my glare on him. Ever since he was taken with Edward that day I had caught him using 'miss' instead of the usual which was my name. "Alec." He nodded. "I swear if you keep it up with the 'miss' shit, I will fucking deck you."

"Of course." He moved out of the way and I walked to my room. Behind me I could hear rushed whispers coming from Edward. I rolled my eyes and continued. If they wanted I would hold the damn ruler myself. Fucking men.

I took my time before heading back out to him. I knew this would only make it more real and the next thing hurling its way to me was the wedding in a month and a half. Standing in the middle of the hallway I looked at his silhouette standing at the top of the stairs talking furiously into his phone. I could have done worse, or rather they could have chosen worse. Genetics did a number on him. I could appreciate that.

When I was a few steps away he finished his call and turned to face me. Unleashing the full extent of what I had previously been admiring. Simply put the man was handsome. No matter how hard I tried over the years I couldn't find someone who was as physically attractive to me as he was. "Shall we?" he held his hand out and I took it willingly. Without fail the feeling that I got every time we came into physical contact began and it wasn't arousal, though that wasn't too far behind. His deep voice broke the silence as we descended the several flights of stairs.

"Look, I know that this isn't what you want to be doing. I don't blame you, I haven't exactly proven myself to be the man you deserve these past few weeks and for that I apologize and sadly I can't take things back no matter how badly I want to. I can't remember all the times I saw you enter functions on the arm of another man and wanting it to be me. Having you by my side is all I've wanted since we met, trust is something that is gained, and I will do all I can to gain yours. The code to my phone is your birthday. Everything else is the date we met and that only we know, or I at least hope you remember it as well. I want no more secrets on my end. I'm an open book for you. The thing with Catherine at Ostra all those years ago I could never explain, and I want to . . ." I was not going into that with him right now. Not if I didn't want an elevated blood pressure and to get through the evening without maiming someone.

"Edward, not now. Let's just have a pleasant evening without our parents babysitting to make sure we make it through the night breathing without the help of machines. Words are just that, they mean nothing to many people. Edward. Actions, I like actions . . . "A blur appeared in front of us. It was Alice.

"There you are! Everyone is looking for the happy couple. Now, come on. Let's go!" Squeezing my hand, he led the way to the back deck and to where the masses awaited.

Edward

The chatter and the constant congratulating seemed to be nonstop, some hot shot photographer Mario Tostino or some shit close to that was like a fucking hovering bird around us. Constant clicking taking place. I was glad Isabella hand covered Rosalie's fucking hand print. God damn, that shit was like a semi hitting me right in the face. I'm not saying that I hadn't ever been slapped, but fuck! My sister had a heavy hand, I pitied any asshole who had been on the receiving end of a slap of hers. Currently she was standing with a group of acquaintances, but her eyes never left me, the promise of a threat very prominent in them. The stomach she was currently sporting not making the threat any less ominous. So much animosity couldn't possibly be healthy for the child.

Much like I had noticed Rosalie trying to kill me with her eyes I had noticed that every assholes eye was on Isabella. I knew the looks they were giving her, and I had to hold back from putting them in their place, old and young alike. Pieces of shit, I would take their eyes out with a rusty spoon.

Complete lack of fucking respect, assholes.

A few of the men I had pending business came up to us and congratulated the two of us on our engagement. Bella thanked them, and it was a complete one eighty from the cold woman I knew she could be, I could tell that she too could see where every man's gaze was when they looked at her, she would be more pleasant with some and not with others. The more obvious assholes were close to getting her wrath, but she held back and would instead hold my hand in one of hers and the other settled on my forearm. Once her grip tightened it was time to move on or she would cause a scene. My concern was any of the women of my past trying something, this woman would have no mercy on them. My only hope was that Catherine had already spread the fact that my future wife had a spine and wouldn't mind putting every one of them in their place.

A good number of them were already married, there were only a few that from what I heard were holding out waiting for when I was ready to settle down. Little did they know that shit was on paper since before I knew how to wipe my ass. Catherine seemed to be the president of that pathetic committee.

Speak of the fucking devil and he shall appear.

"Edward, my boy! Congratulations! What she's doing with such an ugly bloke as you though . . ." Phillip Fitzpatrick, his wife who I had recently learned had been around the block more than a few times and their daughter. The latter which was trying to avoid looking at the woman on my arm.

"Not all of us can be devastatingly handsome like you Phillip." He laughed as he clasped my shoulder in one of his meaty hands. "I kid, it's like your parents had you carved by Michael Angelo himself. You're absolutely beautiful Miss Swan. I can see why your brothers and Charles are so protective of you. You're both going to make beautiful babies." I could see Catherine roll her eyes as Isabella and I thanked him. Feeling the tightening grip on my arm I excused us, and we continued our rounds. "That poor man. He seems decent." I snorted, he was fucking ruthless in the boardroom but outside of it she was right. You would find few as honest as him. I could see our parents watching us. Charles looking for any distress coming from his daughter. He looked ready to jump in if need be. My father looked impressed and amused at what he was looking at, Esme just looked confused but was hiding it well.

I was confused myself, she was being pleasant. When I spoke to her before heading out I expected there to be some sort of blow up. For her to set me straight. Instead she shut it down and let me know words would get me nowhere. She wanted actions and that was now my mission. During a second of peace with no one demanding my attention I allowed myself to revel in the feeling of her hand in mine willingly without the effect of any substance. With our fingers laced together her soft palm was flush against mine. I could feel the band of her engagement ring and I felt proud of it being there. Regardless of the circumstances, she was mine. I just had to get her to think of me in the same way. I was serious about her falling madly in love with me. She could deny it all she wanted but I would get it to happen. She wouldn't even know when it did.

"Billy! How are you?"

"Hello dear. Edward." William Black. Much like every region had their main family in control followed by lesser ones. There was one which almost had the same status as the Cullens, and that was the Black's. They were in the position of power for the Native Americans, we controlled everything else much to their chagrin. He couldn't hide it in his voice when he said my name and that was fine the feeling was mutual. They weren't exactly fond of us, but I knew they had a relationship with the Swan's.

"Bells!" This fucking puppy was putting his paws all over her. He pulled her in and looked like he might be suffocating her. Jacob fucking Black, the young wolf. He needed to get his meaty paws off of my woman. Family friend or not I didn't want him touching her, I didn't want him around her. "We were supposed to get married! Remember." If I clenched my jaw any tighter I wouldn't have any damn teeth by the end of the night. What the fuck did he mean by that? Once he had let go of her I wasted no time pulling her back to me, this time my arm wrapped around her waist.

Paws off asshole.

"William, and Jacob, thank you for coming today." The animosity in both their eyes was obvious, luckily, I wasn't easily intimidated. "Of course, the Swan's and us go way back. These two used to run around in diapers together. It was endearing to watch them growing up together. They were inseparable for years." Through my peripheral I could see Garrett and Benjamin keeping a close eye and my in – laws inching their way inconspicuously our way. The last time we ran into them it was at a bar and there was a brawl. He may have needed a sling and a few stitches. The asshole deserved it. Right now, I regret not breaking his hands as well. Although right now seemed like a good time, the fear of the wrath of my mother over me ruining this evening was greater than my need to physically maim him.

I didn't like that way he was looking at her and it was beginning to cloud my vision. I didn't like the trip down memory lane he was taking, it sounded like nails on a chalk board to me. I flexed my free hand needing to release some of the tension building. One unexpected swing was all I needed. Just one and I would have the motherfucker on the floor. His brother wasn't that far away. I think part of their anger was that I fucked his sister when we were teenagers. She was a fan of the Cullen charm. Most women were. When little brother walks in while you're pounding his sister from behind, it becomes a problem. You would think they would be over it by now. Emily was married and having little puppies of her own. She was currently talking with my very pregnant sister almost bumping stomachs. Her husband Paul standing close by. I could almost respect the man. Out of their whole organization he was the one I could stand. He did however, deliver a mean right hook.

". . . come on Bells, I was your first kiss! . . ." tuning back into the conversation was a bad idea. Whatever tension I released from my free hand was back and I could feel it curling into a tight fist. I was beginning to hear the blood rushing in my ears. I would just have to push Isabella out of the way, Jasper or Emmett would get her out of the way as I beat the shit out of him. Esme's anger be damned as well as the Swan friendship with them, they didn't need them anyway. Fucking douche bag . . .

"Edward, Bella. Your parents are looking for you."

Jasper.

The look of gratitude she gave him was noticeable.

It was bullshit. They weren't I could see where they were, and they were in deep conversation. He had the uncanny sense to feel my mood shifts. More often than not he had been the saving grace for assholes who were going to be on the receiving end of my irritation. The asshole made a move to hug her again and she deflected it by placing her other arm on my chest and turning us away. "We really should get going, it is nice to have you both here. Please do enjoy the rest of the evening."

It took everything to step away. She all but dragged me to a secluded portion of the property well away from prying eyes of the party itself. My breathing was shallow, and it was taking everything in me to calm down and none of it was working. I had yet to release her hand from mine and instead clenched my eyes shut to see if it would help. A small hand shoved me in the chest and I find myself surprised to see that she has pushed me into the base of a pine, her lips meeting mine. Not expecting her lips to be on mine so abruptly I froze for a second only to snap the fuck out of it when she began to pull away. Burying one hand into the hair at the base of her neck and the other settling on the small of her back I pulled her back to me and held her there while I poured all of my feelings towards her into that one kiss.

I had missed the way she tasted, how this felt. No one could compare to her. No matter who I dated after the shit fest all those years ago there was only ever her. I never kissed any of the other women if I could help it. It did nothing for me.

I felt like I was twenty-one again. I knew better. Seventeen-year-old Isabella wouldn't have been so bold. She had just started to get comfortable with the idea back then, she was discovering herself when it came to what was happening between us. Twenty-five-year-old Isabella knew what she was doing because she was meeting me stroke for stroke not moving away. Her mouth fighting for dominance over mine. I would have to make a mental note to keep my hair with some length since she seemed to like running her hands through it. Sooner than I would have liked I felt her hands trailing down my shoulders and eventually to the center of my chest where she pushed away from me.

It was one of the most beautiful sights I had ever seen.

Lips swollen because of me.

Her face was flushed, and the color dipped into the v – neck of her dress.Her chest was heaving with her heavy breathing and her eyes wild. The sun hitting them just right so that they reflected the flecks of green in them as well.

I committed the image to my memory. It wasn't something I wanted to forget when I had waited for something like this for so long.

"You can't be getting mad over shit like that. We were kids. If you must know I punched him in the nose for it. He never asked for my permission." She dug her hands into her dress and out came what appeared to be a compact mirror, a tissue, and a tube of lipstick.

"The fucking dress has pockets?" she looked at me and shook her head smiling sarcastically before opening the mirror and beginning to fix her make up. "Out of everything I just said you're going to focus on the fucking pockets the dress has? I thought you were supposed to be smart. Yes, it has pockets to keep shit with me without having to carry a clutch. I don't have a dick so that I can wear pants that have pockets, in women's clothing that is a rarity. Also see what you do to control that." She pointed below my waist. "Forget Jacob, he doesn't matter. Just bitter I shot him down a few years ago." That admission just served to reignite the fire. "Look, I won't deny that I dated. What the hell did you expect? I just didn't whore around like you did. You will run across men with whom I may have shared some time with and if this is the way you're planning on reacting every time then I might be a widow sooner rather than later." She made sure that not a hair was out of place on her head before standing before me and wiping my lips of her lipstick. "You weren't a saint, you can't be upset at what I might or might not have done after you decided to tear my heart out. Despite the fact that I don't spend much time with the younger members things would get back to me. I know the basics of what you were up to and I'm putting things behind me, or at least trying for the sake of whatever this is." I tried to interrupt her to explain. "Don't say anything. I don't care what happened. It happened already and nothing you say or do will change it. At this point lets focus on the here and now as well as what we are supposed to do." She fixed my hair and stepped back. "Can we just head back and get this fucking circus over with. There's too many people I don't like here and to be honest it's starting to give me a fucking head ache."

She held her hand out for me and I took it without question as I always would.

The calm of our brief seclusion broke as soon as the party came into view. The Irish side of the family better described as my fathers were already a fucking mess. We could drink sun up to sun down and repeat it all over without faltering on a straight line. That didn't mean we didn't become boisterous and, in a party setting we were literally the life of the party. Charles family wasn't too far behind it was a relief to see them getting along famously. Renee's family at least the older ones seemed to be sticking their nose up in the air minus Johannes. He was rumored to be insane back when he was younger, he was right in the middle of it all. I had to give it to him, he was pushing eighty but that didn't make him any less boisterous than the rest.

"Jesus." I grinned hard. I don't think she had ever been privy to this side of her family or her grandfather for that matter. Take it all in sweetheart this is what it really is like. It's not all prim and proper.

Emmett pulled me away from her and held the bottle of whiskey to my lips. Standing back, I could see her watching me through the gaps in the crowd of loud men. The usual speeches were given.

Angela.

Riley.

Jasper.

Marcus.

Marcus made my mother ugly cry, and made it known he was best man. I could think of no one else. I had considered Jasper, but Marcus kept popping up in my mind. That man had been with me since the day I was born and was still with me day in and day out.

He has been around looking out for me since I was in my mother's womb.

". . . I can't see these two with anyone else. It is scary how well they complement each other. It has been an honor to see the little boy who would pester me since he learned how to crawl become a man that his family and I can be proud of. "

"But you are family!" Esme, Rosalie, Alice, and I simultaneously shouted making him smile and wipe a tear from the corner of his eye with a wrinkled hand.

"To now see him become a husband to such a wonderful woman and possibly become a father in the future makes me anxious for the years to come. May your marriage be full of happiness and the best of luck to you both. I love the two of you. To the future Mr. and Mrs. Cullen!" raising his glass he turned to us both with a warm sincere smile.

Shortly after things had begun to slow and people were now leaving. Isabella was with Angela and Riley. Since she told me she was pregnant she was spending more time at our place. For someone who claimed to refuse to want children my wife to be had taken o caring for her friend as if she would break without making it too obvious. She acted like she was unbothered with anything, but the truth was anything but.

"So, what happened when you guys disappeared? I know for a fact there might not have been a ten-foot pole but, she most definitely didn't screw you to calm you down. Or did she?" Carlisle was now beside me handing me a glass of whiskey. "Is the image of me doing my future wife something you want in your mind? We might need to have you see a therapist because I'm pretty sure that's all kinds of fucked up." He snorted. He could be so inappropriate at times. When I was seventeen he walked in on me fucking a girl and all he said was 'I hoped you fucking wrapped it up.' and walked out. Safe to say I never saw the girl again. Like I said inappropriate, but he was my father. "I can tell you right now that having to deal with all these assholes, the Black's and Diachi today has me more tightly wound than a fucking spring. When we get home your mother and I will be going at it for hours." This was nothing knew, I was more than aware my parents had a very healthy sex life. I was surprised that I didn't have more siblings. "You got your Viagra ready and everything?" The resounding smack to the back of my head felt as if my brain was rattling inside. "I don't need that shit. Your mother can confirm that. She hasn't let you near her, the tension in your shoulders is obvious. I don't need the image of you two, I just want to make sure you guys are fine when it comes to that department. She's not like the other floozies you became used to. It's not going to be 'Wham, bam, thank you ma'am' with her. Remember son, this isn't a woman who needs you, she's not falling all over you. She knows what she wants and what she deserves. You better fucking deliver, you're my son and I blessed you with a good endowment, and a decent brain what you do with it is all you. Your little ass was quite proud of it even inside of the womb."

He wasn't necessarily lying but I shook my head nonetheless. That would happen on her time and on her terms. She most certainly knew what she wanted and what she deserved. I could try as hard as I wanted the rest of my life and even then I wouldn't be enough.

Something Riley had said made her laugh in earnest, I could hear it from where we were standing, and it became my favorite sound. It wasn't forced or faked and no matter how hard she tried to stop it would bubble up again.

"You're a sucker. A fucking goner. Look at that cheesy smile." Taking a deep breath, I continued to watch whatever Riley was doing. He was still carefree and young. He had to be the clown of their family because the other two were serious and focused on their work. "Can you blame me? Look at her. I wasn't going to go after Charles Swan's seventeen-year-old daughter just to get in her pants. Even back then there was something about her that drew me to her. She was it, and she has been it for me since then." Downing the remaining scotch in my glass I put it down.

"You fucked up."

"I fucked up. As unintentional as it was."

"You guys will get there. You'll find a way." I could have sworn he said something under his breath, but I wasn't about to bug him about it.

"Welp, I'm going to take your mother home and have my way with her. Looks like Rosalie is leaving, and Alice has been gone. Maybe you would do well to follow." I motioned for Garrett to get the cars ready to head out and signaled for one last drink.

Watching her for a few more minutes after my parents left I approached the group. It didn't escape my notice that she was cold when I walked up. Taking off my jacket I put it over her shoulders. A completely sober and observant Angela looked at her with one of those looks only friends can share. "Are you ready to go? Or do you want to stay longer?" I could feel the slight shiver she gave when I whispered in her ear. Turning slightly to face me she nodded and began her goodbyes.

When she was done, she held her hand out and we left hand in hand.

She didn't let go until we were inside our place.

A/N: Thanks for reading! Things seem to be going smoothly for these two, for now. I'm working on the next chapter now, so another update hopefully soon. I hope everyone has a great weekend.