Hello ya'll,
As promised an extra chapter this week to make up for the last one.
Hope ya'll enjoy!
Disclaimer: SM owns Twilight. I don't.
Chapter 9
Confirmations and Petitions
It had been years since Edward remembered what it was like to wake up with someone. Bella's sweet face was pressed up against his chest, her hair splayed out, mouth slightly open, simply beautiful. Everything about her was beautiful.
He loved her. Of that he was sure.
The past two weeks had only cemented how he felt. It had only happened once and this was vastly different. This was more. He had told her the truth when he said it had scared him. It had.
When he'd woken up next to her for the first time he realized there was no where else or anyone else he'd rather be with.
Bella had opened herself up. No longer the insecure girl he had meet during their business meeting.
Edward had recognized her internal battle. He would shower her with affection and while she would indulge him at first, answering his questions and returning his sentiments, she would reel it back.
She needed stability someone she could depend on and if he had to prove himself worthy, he would. She was worth it.
Whether it was because she doubted herself of him he was not sure. What ever she wasn't telling him was the issue that was holding him back.
They rescued me from hell.
Those had been her words. They rescued me from hell. She was adopted. Whoever her biological parents were, they had done a number on her. Where ever they were, he hoped it was far away. He would never rush her to divulge any personal information but he'd be lying if he said curiosity wasn't nagging him.
Bella began to stir then, her eyes fluttering open. Like every other time he was near her, a smile overtook his face.
"Good morning."
"Good morning, did you sleep well."
"I did. Who wouldn't in this huge bed," she teased.
"Thank my mother, she arranged everything when I told her I'd be staying longer than a week."
"She leased you this apartment and furnished it for you from New York?"
"Technically, I paid for everything, she just chose everything."
"Let her know she did an amazing job," Bella stretched her arms up showing a sliver of her tummy.
"Can we switch topics now? How about we discuss how edible you look right now?" He pulled her in closer, peppering her face with kisses. She laughed at his antics, throwing her head back, allowing him access to her neck.
They stayed in bed the rest of the morning, sharing languid kisses, and whispered words of love, although steering clear of the actual word itself.
Neither wanted to leave the bed and Edward only let Bella get up when her stomach growled. He kissed her stomach and dialed a small bistro around the corner. A number he often used during the week when he wasn't around Bella to have her feed him.
When the carrier arrived they settled themselves on the balcony table, eating al fresco.
"I know you have to drive back in a few hours and I wanted us to talk about a few things before you do."
"What is it?" Bella's heart stammered. Her palms were clamming up like they tended to do when she was nervous.
"First thing first. The donation came through, I've signed the paperwork and they should be finalized by the end of this week."
"Really! That's amazing Edward, thank you! Thank you!" She threw herself at him which was no chip of his shoulder. He caught her happily, placing her down on his lap.
"And I want you to come to New York with me in two weeks."
"What?" Her face looked puzzled.
"My parents are throwing their annual benefit gala and I was hoping you'd come with me. You would get to meet my parents, my sister Alice, her husband Jasper. We can stay the weekend, take in the sights, it will be fun."
"Yes."
"Yes?"
"Yes." She confirmed with a grin.
"Great, I'll make the arrangements." She kissed him lightly on the lips.
"Anything else you want to share," she smiled at him.
"Yes," he replied somberly.
He wanted her to know everything, including his relationship with Bree. If he didn't tell her before she met his family Alice would and that was something he wasn't willing to risk.
"I was 21, fresh out of college, ready to prove to myself. My father had made me an executive director and I can admit now, it was overwhelming. I wanted everyone to take me seriously and not just see me as another privileged boy whose father indulged him with a suit and a job. I came in early at the office and stayed late, my work was impeccable, my clients had no complaints, and I attended every charity event with my parents. It was at one of these events I met her. Bree Tanner. Her father worked at Wall street and she came from old money. She was older than me, liked to call me Jr..." Edward shook his head, as if clearing his mind.
"Bree was larger than life. Everybody loved her, she could walk into any room and make it hers. She was polite, well tempered, and looked every inch the socialite the magazines made her out to be. But what enticed me was the fact that she pursued me. You have to understand, at the time, my family wasn't as esteemed as we are now."
"What do you mean? I thought you're grandfather had started the company. Hasn't your father always worked there?" Bella asked.
"Yes, my grandfather started the company. It had been a small business when he was acting CEO. It was Carlisle who turned it into a blooming enterprise. He'd been a surgeon until an accident deprived him of his steady hands. He joined his father and worked hard for years to build the company up. We've only seen the turn around for about 7 years. When I met Bree we were still trying to prove ourselves. So to have someone of Bree's standing vying for my attention...it was...flattering. I enjoyed every minute. She'd bat an eye and my heart would soar. I was besotted." Edwards laughter held no humor.
"If I wasn't in the office, I was with her. My family loved her and I loved her. Everything was perfect. At least for a while. After a year together she began to pull away. She'd spend more time with her friends, partying, traveling and I was always working. Still trying to prove myself." Bella kept her focus on him, his eyes were shinning with unshed tears. She slipped her arm around her waist trying to provide some sort of comfort.
"My best friend, A. and his family, at the time, were struggling. He approached me with a business proposal. His father, Stefan, was losing a lot of money. Their business wouldn't stay afloat for another year at the rate they were going. If we silently bought them out we'd get to keep their clients and expand our business ventures. The only clause that was non amendable was that Stefan and his son's would stay as head of the company so no one would be the wiser. After months of negotiations everything was signed and Cullen Enterprise owned S.V. industries. Any one outside of our families had no idea. Appearances were maintained and reputations went unharmed.
"It was then my father decided to expand. He started small but it changed, soon we had our hands in publishing companies, restaurants, hotels, shipping companies, anything you could think of. The company blossomed under my father's supervision, S.V. industries included. Stefan and his family appeared to be gaining some footing and eventually they were able to repurchase their company. My father was happy to relinquish the reins. It was after all, their family business. We understood its importance. Stefan was the sole proprietor of S.V. Industries again, no one the wiser.
"I didn't notice it, not once. During all those late night sessions with Stefan and Carlisle...A. and Bree would go off together. He was my best friend...she...I loved her," Bella squeezed his side and held on tighter. She had never seen him falter, or stumble for words. This was new and she didn't like it.
"I was going to propose. I wanted to marry her." He spoke the words so softly Bella almost thought she imagined them. "Instead I found them together. One hand on her waist the other on her cheek, kissing like they probably had a thousand times before."
"It wasn't until a month after our break up that I discovered why. Bree had only been with me because she knew that my families income was growing. The only buy out that was kept hidden was with S.V. Money, it was always the fucking money. She wanted it. She wanted someone who could maintain her lifestyle. She wanted to be envied by other women. It was why she chose A. Bree believed he had more than what he actually did. They lasted a while until S.V. declared bankruptcy and Bree ended her engagement with him."
"I never saw her for what she was. And it killed me. All her exuberance hid her insecurities. Bree was spoiled and lacked any character. Money made her fickle. She was beautiful but there was nothing else to her. She could entertain and pull people in but had no actual friends. There was nothing more to her than a pretty smile and well chosen words."
"She broke your heart." Bella's words weren't a question. Just a fact.
"Yes, and I threw myself into my own despair. I worked and kept to myself. I wallowed for a while. Until one day I decided I'd had enough. I learned from my mistakes. I'd always known how to read people and I let my own superficiality cloud my judgement. It won't happen again."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize, there's no need. It was their betrayal that hurt me. I grew up privileged, never wanting for anything. My parents saw to it that despite my upbringing I turned out to be a good person. I'm happy to say they succeeded. I've never intentionally harmed anyone...That's what hurt the most. It was my first and last experience with cruelty and I don't want to ever face it again.
"Do you still see them?"
"Sometimes. At social functions. We never speak. Bree tried once after she broke it off with A. It was idiotic of her to believe I'd want anything to do with her. A. on the other hand, I've not run into. He moved to Europe with his family.
"Thank you for telling me."
"All selfish reasons believe me. My family is going to be excited to meet you. The only other relationship I've had was with Bree and since then I've stayed away from them," he smiled at her. "I guess I was waiting for you." He kissed her forehead.
Edward was quiet for a while, which suited Bella fine, she needed time to mull over his words. She wanted to take away his pain and maybe hurt that ungrateful woman who stomped all over his heart. She couldn't believe that someone had cheated on a man as wonderful as Edward. And then having to lose a friend over it as well.
He shared so much with her already and now it was her turn. It felt right. He shared his heart and now it was her turn.
"When I was 9 my biological parents, Sue and Harry, were arrested. They had been drinking, getting high and soon started to fight, they always did. I guess one of the neighbors finally had enough and called the police. They arrested my parents and took me to a children's facility."
"Renee and Charlie?"Edward questioned.
"They adopted me, Renee was Sue's sister."
'What happened?" His arms still around her waist, their food long forgotten.
"When Charlie and Renee came to pick me up in Phoenix the police officer that was in charge of my case filled them in. Sue had met Harry as a teenager and ran away before she graduated high school. Renee hadn't seen her in years. He was abusive and got her addicted to several drugs. A year later she was pregnant with me. They were neglectful parents, but not abusive. When I turned two Harry started to beat me. He had beat Sue but before then he hadn't touched me."
Much like Bella had done with Edward, he tightened his hold. It was almost painful, it didn't seem to bother her.
"I don't remember the first time, I was so young. It is sad though, that my first memory is of his fist," her voice sounded distant, her mind taking her back to that home, with those people.
"It continued until the police became involved. I never told anyone about the abuse. I expected violence from everyone so I didn't make any friends. My parents were either gone or high so I didn't speak to them either. Instead of human companionship, I immersed myself in books. I read everything I could. It's probably the reason why I excelled in academics. It's also the reason why I'm terrible in social situations."
Bella sighed and leaned into Edward, closing her eye's, relishing the sense of security he provided.
"I had been neglected and beat for years. When I was removed from their care I was underweight, skittish and covered in bruises. And then I had to go through the trial. I don't remember the charges but I do remember testifying. Some of my neighbors and teachers testified on my behalf as well. They were sentenced to 25 years and they couldn't contact me. After it was all done, Renee and Charlie moved us out to Forks, Charlie's hometown. They started a new life with me and I became Isabella Swan. They saved me. And they showered me with the love and affection I never received from my biological parents."
The tears came freely from her eyes. She sobbed quietly letting Edward rock her back and forth.
"Sue killed them. I don't know how she got out or how she found us. Charlie was so careful and we couldn't be tracked but she found us. They were on their way back from a night out. Charlie pulled over to help a woman with a flat tire only to be shot several times by Sue. She killed her own sister."
Bella's quiet sobs turned into cries of agony. Her entire body shook and Edward felt his heart break a little. He wanted to erase everything she'd been through.
It took a while for Bella to calm down.
"She's in prison and will spend the rest of her life there," she looked down.
Bella's sobs ended, a silence encompassed them, neither moved, they just held each other. Providing comfort. Edwards hand splayed on her back, her head resting on his shoulder.
"I've already let you in and your relationship with Bree doesn't matter to me. Does my past matter to you?" Her voice small and unsure.
Edward felt Bella try to move around in his lap and pulled back a little to give her space. She shifted around until their faces were an inch apart, her legs were wrapped around his waist. He lowered his head and captured her lips in a kiss.
It wasn't until they both needed air that they separated. Edward carried Bella to his room and lay her down on the bed. He removed her shoes and jeans, pulling the covers over her body. She watched as he removed his own clothing and slid in next to her on the bed. He brought her in to his embrace, kissing her softly on her forehead.
"I love you," he told her. His eyes boring into hers. "You don't have to say it back, I know you feel it. It'd be nice to hear but I don't need them to confirm what I already know."
Bella loved him. She wouldn't have talked about her biological parents if she did not.
"I love you, too," she told him, her voice still quiet, no longer unsure.
He kissed her again. Bella could feel him smiling against her lips and she laughed. Despite their exhausting conversation she felt lighter. There were no more secrets between them. She had told him everything. And he was here, holding her. She had been worried that once he heard the truth he'd think it was too much. That she was too much to handle. Instead she was feeling a happiness that she had never felt before.
"Stay with me. You can leave in the morning. Please."
Edward wanted her here with him. Every time she pushed him away, every time she doubted her feelings, every time he held back was erased. There was no denying what they were to each other anymore. This was love. And he wasn't about to let her go.
