Chapter 9

There was absolutely no doubt in Bella's mind that her professors were sadists.

In the weeks between Halloween and Thanksgiving, the amount of work they piled on was ridiculous. And to add insult to injury, Bella had a re-scheduled mid-term for the day before Thanksgiving – for 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm. Which meant she'd be holding up Edward, who was generously playing chauffeur for her since her original road-trip partner, Alice, decided to go to Texas for the holiday to meet Jasper's parents.

Fortunately, it was a relatively easy exam, so Bella was actually back in her dorm and mostly packed by the time 7:00 rolled around. She hauled her overnight case and duffle bag full of dirty laundry down to the parking lot to wait for her ride.

It was cold and misty and drizzly, so, cursing her lack of gloves, she stuffed her hands in her pockets as she hunched up her shoulders to try to keep the cold at bay. Her damp ponytail was hanging limply down her back, strands sticking to her cheek as the wind whipped it around. She watched, lost in thought, as water beaded on the water-proof canvas of her bags.

She was actually looking forward to the trip. Because of their crazy schedules, Bella hadn't seen nearly as much of Edward as she would've liked over the past few weeks. And when they did see each other, nine times out of ten it was for a group get-together of some kind or another. So having him to herself for the better part of the three and a half hours each way sounded pretty good to her.

Dangerous and a test of her self-control, considering they'd be stuck in such a confined space together, but good nonetheless.

Of course, Edward had been testing her self-control a lot lately. If she wasn't so certain it was completely unintentional on his part, she'd accuse him of purposely torturing her. He invaded her personal space more than ever before – and he'd never been particularly respectful of it to begin with. It seemed like he touched her more often, and for more random reasons, and he often appeared more affectionate than teasing.

He'd also upped the flirting.

Sure, they kept up the same old banter most of the time, but with increasing frequency, Edward would side-swipe her with something that left her completely flustered and wondering if it were possible he could be serious. She'd discount the possibility almost immediately, of course, but then it would happen again, and she'd be left wondering.

She'd hate him for it, if she didn't know he was absolutely clueless as to the sort of havoc he was wreaking on her.

Bella was pulled from her reverie as a car drew to a stop in front of her. Before she could even pick up her bags, Edward was around to the passenger side and opening her door for her.

"You're getting soaked," he chastised gently. "Get in. I'll worry about your bags."

Before she could protest, Edward was gently guiding her into the passenger seat, and she relented, knowing there was no point in arguing with him. Gratefully, she sank into the overly comfortable leather seat (only briefly worrying that her jacket would ruin it – she knew Edward didn't care), and held her hands over the heaters.

Oh. Oooooooh. He even had her seat warmer on, so it was nice and toasty for her poor, cold bum.

Edward was officially her hero.

Speaking of whom, the hero in question opened his door, shaking his head like a wet a dog before shutting the door. His hair was spiky and darkened by the rain, looking more brown than the reddish-blondish-brownish color it normally was. She couldn't help but notice that the darker hair made his light eyes absolutely pop.

It was completely unfair for a man to be so good looking. Truly.

"Why didn't you wait inside where it was warm?" Edward asked as he put the car in gear and pulled out of the lot.

Bella shrugged. "Figured it would just be easier if I came out here."

Reaching over, he wrapped one of his hands around both of hers, which were still in front of the heating vent. "Fuck, Bella, your hands are like ice. Where are your gloves?"

"Jeez, Dad," she grumbled with an eye-roll, "I'm sorry. I just didn't think it would be as cold as it is." He held her hands in front of the heater, rubbing them as best he could with one hand. Bella smiled over at him, amused by his worrying. "Thanks for turning the seat warmer on, by the way. It's by far my favorite thing about your car."

Edward grinned at her in that annoying way that made her stomach flutter. "It's the least I could do. You deserve to travel in style, Miss Swan."

At some point, and Bella wasn't sure when, exactly, she'd proven just how crummy a road trip companion she was by falling asleep.

A gentle caress on her cheek slowly roused her from sleep. Eyes fluttering open to see Edward's smiling face far too close for comfort, his hand still raised and stroking her cheek. Blearily, she looked around, realizing with surprise that they were already at her dad's house.

Bella flushed guiltily. "God, I'm so sorry, Edward. I didn't mean to sleep the whole way."

"Don't worry about it," he assured her with a crooked smile as he leaned back, dropping his hand to the console between them. "You were in a chatty mood while you napped, so I was kept entertained."

"Oh god," she groaned, letting her head fall back against the head-rest, and Edward started to laugh. Really, she didn't even want to know what he might've heard, though the more masochistic part of her wanted to know if she'd said anything too horribly embarrassing.

"It's adorable, Bella, really," Edward tried to reassure her, though his continued laughter wasn't helping. "Don't be embarrassed."

"You'd tell me if I said anything incriminating, right?"

"No way," he grinned widely. "Some things are just too good to share."

Bella groaned again and leaned forward, thumping her forehead against the dashboard. That was confirmation enough that she'd said things that were likely best left unsaid. She just hoped she'd managed not to say anything about him, or how she felt about him. That was more mortification than she could handle.

Still laughing, Edward reached over and rubbed her back. She shot him a dirty look for his trouble before peering out the windshield again. Charlie's cruiser wasn't there, and there were no lights on in the house, but she wasn't surprised – she knew he had to work the late shift tonight. Only her poor truck was in the driveway, looking all forlorn in its solitude.

"Is that thing still running?"

Bella huffed indignantly. "Yes, that thing is still running," she informed him. She loved her truck. She was very protective of her truck. He knew better than to make fun of her truck, on penalty of death. "We thought the drive to Seattle might be a little much for it, and I didn't think I'd really need it there, anyway, so I left it here. Now I at least have something to drive whenever I come home."

"I'm sure it's as reliable as ever," he said dryly, and she made a face at him.

---

Flashback

Sitting in the cab of her beloved truck, Bella crossed her fingers as she put her key in the ignition and cranked it. Nothing. Not even the sick, sad choking sound it had been making the past few weeks.

Ever since her Chevy decided to start pitching a fit more often than not, Edward had tasked himself with waiting in the Java Jive parking lot until it seemed like she should be able to get home okay. This was the first time it had completely played dead, though.

Well, the first time this month.

Shaking his head in bemusement, Edward opened her door for her. "What's the plan?"

"Alice," she admitted with a sigh. "Jake's up in Vancouver for the week, so I don't have a mechanic on call."

"Why would you call Alice?"

"So she can drive me home," Bella explained, though she'd have thought that would be fairly obvious. "And to beg her to pick me up tomorrow morning. I do not want to show up for school in my dad's cruiser."

Edward grinned. "Make you feel conspicuous, or something?"

"Or something," she grumbled in agreement. Attention bothered her at the best of times, but when the town's police chief drove you to school, the attention was pretty much unavoidable.

"Call Alice about tomorrow morning, but I can drive you home now," Edward offered, motioning with his chin to his pretty silver Volvo.

Bella arched an eyebrow at him and shook her head. "It's out of your way."

"I have to drive through town to get home anyway," he pointed out with a shrug.

"Yeah, but my house is in the opposite direction," she informed him. "I'll just call Alice, it's no big deal –"

"Swan, stop fucking arguing and just get in the damn car," Edward ordered with a laugh, holding open the passenger door for her.

She scowled at him, but complied, making sure she locked her poor truck behind her.

Not that anyone would be able to steal it, even if they wanted to.

"You're a bossy asshole, Cullen. Anyone ever tell you that before?"

"Maybe a couple of times," he admitted guilelessly, grinning as he shut the door for her. She watched as he went around to the driver's side, admiring his profile in the semi-darkness. She tore her eyes away as he climbed into the car, and turned it on. It purred like a freakin' kitten.

Fucking Edward and his fucking new car. Well, okay, maybe not new-new, but it was only a couple of years old, so brand-spankin' new compared to her antique truck.

"You should talk to your dad about getting a more reliable car. Or truck. Just some kind of more reliable form of transportation," he mused aloud, ignoring the death glare Bella shot at him.

"I love that truck," she informed him.

He just chuckled as he reached the parking lot exit. "So where am I going?"

"Left," she grumbled.

Edward glanced over at her, his smirk looking slightly demonic in the glow from his dashboard. "You really hate asking people for help, don't you?" Bella simply arched an eyebrow at him in a silent "duh". He laughed, shaking his head. "What's wrong with friends helping friends out?"

Shrugging, Bella tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "Take the next right," she instructed. "Nothing's wrong with it. I just don't like depending on other people."

He was quiet for a moment, only the music from his iPod filling the car, and she thought he was going to let it drop. Silly her.

"You rely on Jake to fix your truck when it conks out, and you have no problem calling Alice for a ride," Edward pointed out quietly, eyes on the road. "So why's it so hard for you to let me help you?"

"Turn right at the stop sign," Bella murmured, trying to figure out how to answer his question. How could she explain that she hated having to count on anyone for anything? That she was used to being the responsible one, acting like more of a dependable parent to her mother than Renée ever was with her? How could she tell him she wanted to be able to rely on him, but she was afraid to let herself, because she was sure, at some point, he'd let her down when she needed him?

She finally settled on a version of the truth. "I've known them a lot longer. I mean, god. I've known Jake since we were little, and Alice has been my best friend since my first day at Forks High, and it still took me a long time to feel comfortable asking them for anything."

Edward's brow furrowed slightly, and Bella looked away, turning to peer out her window at the dark of the woods beyond the road's dirt shoulder. "Take the next left. It's the fourth house down, on the right."

Silently, Edward guided the car into the driveway, and put it in park. Bella immediately reached for the door handle, wanting to escape. "Thanks –"

"You can count on me, y'know," he said suddenly, his voice quiet but strong. She looked over at him, and he was watching her intently. Her teeth tugged at her bottom lip as she shifted slightly in her seat. "I'm your friend, Bella. Please don't ever feel like you can't ask me for help." He shrugged, his lips quirking in a crooked smile. "Or for anything else. It's what friends do, right?"

Still worrying her lip, she dropped her gaze to the console between them.

"Bella?"

Silently, she nodded, and looked up at him with a half smile. "How 'bout I promise to try?"

Edward's answering grin was beautiful. "I'll take it."

Bella could feel her cheeks turning pink, and she was grateful for the darkness inside the car. "Just stop ragging on my truck, okay?"

He held up his right hand. "Scout's honor."

"Were you ever actually a Scout?"

A mischievous grin was his only reply, and Bella shook her head at his battiness. "See you Wednesday?"

"You know it," he confirmed. "Think you'll be up for a lesson after shift?"

"I'm counting on it," she quipped cheekily, opening the door and sliding out. Before Edward could reply, she closed it again and jogged towards the house. He didn't back out of the driveway until she was safely inside.

---

Releasing her seatbelt, Bella reached for the door handle. "Thanks so much Ed–"

Before she could finish, he was out of the car and heading for the trunk. Really, she should've known better than to think he'd let her haul her crap up to the door herself. Climbing out, she stretched, enjoying the feel of the crisp air on her skin, after being cooped up in the car for so long. Edward shut the trunk with a soft thud, and, bags in hand, walked with her to the front door. Knowing better than to try to shoo him off before he got her bags inside, Bella stood on her toes and reached above the door, snagging the spare key.

"I still can't believe your dad of all people leaves a key out in such an obvious place," Edward chuckled.

Shrugging, Bella unlocked the door and pushed it open. "I guess he figures nobody would be dumb enough to break into the house of the Chief of Police."

Which was probably true enough.

Stepping inside, she flicked on both the porch and front hall light, and Edward set her bags down at the foot of the stairs. "You gonna be okay here alone until your dad gets home?"

Bella gave him an incredulous look. "Tell me you didn't really just ask me that."

A sheepish smile curled Edward's lips, and he ran his hand through his hair. "Yeah, sorry," he chuckled. "Forget I said anything."

He looked tired, and Bella felt guilty. He now had to back-track about 40 minutes to get home, and she was worried he'd fall asleep driving.

"Do you want some coffee or something, before you head back out?" Bella offered.

Edward hesitated, looking torn, before finally shaking his head. "My mom'll worry if I'm too late," he admitted with a roll of his eyes. "I'd better just get home."

Bella nodded, still feeling guilty, and followed him out onto the porch.

"Thanks again, Edward," she told him with a smile. "I really appreciate the ride – especially since this is so out of the way for you."

Smiling back, he tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "If it's for you, nothing's out of my way," he told her, and once again her mind went reeling in confusion. Stepping forward, he wrapped her in a tight hug, and she couldn't do anything but hug him back. As he released her, he kissed her forehead.

"Have a good Thanksgiving, Bella. And if you need a break from the turkey and football games, give me a call."

With a final brush of his fingers against her cheek, Edward hopped down the steps and jogged back to his car. He turned and waved, then climbed inside. Bella stood on the porch until he'd pulled out of the driveway, and waved as he disappeared down the street.

The next morning, Bella padded downstairs, ready to start preparing everything for dinner while Charlie continued to saw logs. A note was attached to the fridge.

Bells,

One of my guys is sick. I'm covering his shift tonight. Sorry, kiddo, changing dinner to tomorrow. The Blacks and Clearwaters are coming.

Dad

P.S. The turkey'll keep, won't it?

Shaking her head with a chuckle, Bella scribbled a reply to Charlie, assuring him that yes, the turkey would be just fine (she knew he'd only bought it the day before). And now she suddenly found herself with a day to do absolutely nothing… and she had no idea what to do. Watching TV was out, because it liable to be nothing but football and parades. She knew any of her old friends who happened to be in town for the holidays would be busy with family.

She was on her own.

Trudging back upstairs, Bella decided to take the opportunity to curl up with book. She hadn't had a chance to read just for the sake of reading since before starting college.

Bella was about halfway through one of her guilty pleasures, the latest Stephen King book, when her phone began playing 'Razzle Dazzle'. Scurrying off the bed, she dug through her bag until she found her phone, hoping she could answer it before it kicked in to voicemail. And she really had to change that ringtone. She hadn't changed it since Halloween, and the joke was getting old.

"Hey," she breathed with relieved smile as she caught it in time.

"Hey yourself," Edward chuckled. "What, did you have to run for your phone?"

"Pretty much," Bella admitted, perching on the edge of her bed. "It was buried in my bag, had to dig for it."

"Speaking of things in your bag, have you noticed that you're missing something?"

His tone was leading, so she knew that, obviously, something must've fallen out in his car. She crossed the room and snagged her bag again, dumping the contents out on her bed.

"Um…," Bella sifted through everything, her brow furrowing, "I don't think so…"

"Oh, really?" Edward's laugh let her know that she was obviously wrong. "Hmmm, nice driver's license photo, Swan. You look very… pissed off."

"Oh, hell," she grumbled. "My wallet. Too obvious, I guess."

His warm chuckle made her smile. "I found it half under your seat when I got home. Do you want me to drop it off for you, or are you going nuts making dinner?"

"I'm not planning on going anywhere I'd need my wallet. And no, I'm being lazy," she told him. "My dad has to work tonight, so we've moved dinner to tomorrow."

"Bella, please tell me you're not spending one of the biggest family holidays alone." She could hear his frown. It was very amusing.

"I am, and it's fine," she assured him. "I've done it before. Hell, I've even spent Christmas alone a couple of times. I'll be fine. It's no big deal, Edward."

"Be ready in two hours."

Bella blinked. "What?"

"I'm picking you up in two hours, and you're having Thanksgiving dinner with us."

"Um, no. I'm really not," she protested. "I appreciate the offer, I really do, but I'm not crashing your family dinner."

"There are going to be so many people here, one more won't make any difference at all," he assured her in a tone that was leaving very little room to argue. "Besides, my parents really want to meet you. They were hoping I'd bring you by before we headed back on Sunday."

His parents wanted to meet her? But… "Why would they want to meet me?" Bella wondered aloud.

Again, he chuckled, and it was like being wrapped in a warm blanket. "Because you're important to me," he replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, and Bella's heart skipped a beat. Or three.

"Please, Bella? You'll be doing me a favor by coming. You'll save me from having to spend the whole afternoon playing Hungry, Hungry Hippos with my cousins."

Bella smirked, and it came through in her voice. "Hungry, Hungry Hippos?"

"Don't mock, Swan." Edward was clearly amused now, too. "My parents kept all the board games from when I was little. They think video games cause brain damage, so they refuse to have a console in the house."

"I used to kick ass at Hungry, Hungry Hippos," she told him smugly, causing him to laugh.

"Does that mean you'll come?" His voice was so hopeful that she just couldn't say no.

"Yeah, I'll come."

"Thank you," he told her, and she knew he was grinning. "Um, it's sorta, kinda dressy, so…"

Bella winced. Great. "Right. So no jeans?"

"No jeans," he confirmed. "Pretty much anything else goes, though."

Crap. Did she have anything appropriate? Flinging open her closet door, she frowned at the scant offering. She'd taken almost all of her clothes to school with her, and most of those things were in her duffle bag waiting to be washed.

Shit.

But then, near the back of her closet, she spotted something she thought might work: a full black skirt that Alice had insisted she buy for some event of another. It had been worn maybe twice, if that. She could pair it with a nice sweater, add a pair of leggings and some ballet flats, and it should be okay…

Alice might actually be proud of that outfit.

"Yeah, okay I'll figure something out," she promised. "I'll see you in a bit. And Edward?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks," Bella said softly, smiling to herself.

"Anytime, Bella. See you soon."

Knowing that Edward came from money and experiencing it firsthand were two very different things for Bella.

When they pulled up to his house, the long, winding driveway jam-packed with luxury cars, she had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from gawking. It was a massive Frank-Lloyd-Wright-ish design with walls upon walls of floor to ceiling windows. And considering the view they had, it was no surprise they wanted to be able to appreciate it. Inside, the décor was modern yet welcoming, which struck Bella somewhat paradoxical, but it worked.

Once inside, Edward took her jacket and purse, hanging them in a closet that was about the size of her dorm room.

Okay, not really, but it was huge.

Apparently sensing her unease, Edward took her hand and gave her a reassuring squeeze before leading her up the stairs and past rooms filled with people. Releasing her hand as they reached the kitchen, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and drew her into the room. And oh dear god, what a kitchen! Bella couldn't quite keep from gaping just a little bit. Stainless steel appliances, built-in double oven, gas range, an island long enough to comfortably sit eight… What she wouldn't give for access to a kitchen like that. God, the things she could do!

"Mom?"

It was only when Edward spoke that Bella noticed someone else was in the huge room. A very pretty woman, light brown hair pulled up in a soft, classic chignon, popped her head out of the walk-in pantry (a walk-in pantry!!) and simply beamed at them.

"You must be Bella," she stated, stepping out of the pantry and shutting the door behind her. A half-dozen quick steps across the room, and Bella was being pulled from under Edward's arm and engulfed in a hug. Bemused – and taken a little aback – she returned the embrace. What else could she do?

"It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Cullen," Bella told the woman with a smile.

"Oh, none of that Mrs. Cullen garbage. It's just Esme." And when she was smiling at her so warmly like that, how could Bella refuse? Edward's mom surprised her yet again by cupping her face tenderly. "Edward's right. You're absolutely lovely."

Instantly, blood rushed to her face, and Bella struggled to come up with a suitable response. She assumed Edward would be just as mortified, but to her surprise, he chuckled and took her hand again.

"Mom, don't embarrass her," he told her, and Bella glanced up to see him smiling fondly as his mother. Esme winked – actually winked – at her son, before turning her attention back to Bella.

"I'm so glad you could join us, Bella. We've wanted to meet you for so long."

She couldn't quite wrap her brain around that one. But Edward had told her the same thing, so... Go figure.

"Thank you very much for having me," Bella replied, hauling out her best manners. She hadn't had to use them for a while, but thankfully she remembered how to be polite and to shelve the sarcasm. Charlie would be proud.

Renée would be rolling her eyes and wondering when the real Bella had been replaced by a Stepford Daughter.

"Why don't you give Bella a tour?" Esme suggested. "Your father's probably in his study." She paused for effect, and flashed a mischievous grin. "Hiding."

Bella couldn't help but laugh at that, and Edward seemed to relax – she hadn't even realized he'd been tense. "Good idea," he agreed, giving her hand a gentle tug.

"Um," Bella began hesitantly, glancing from Edward to his mom, "if you need any help, Esme, I'd be more than happy to give you a hand. I love cooking, so…"

"Sweetheart, you're our guest," she tsked. "I'm not expecting you to help."

"I know," Bella smiled shyly. "But I'm offering."

Esme looked at her for a long moment, long enough for Bella to start fidgeting and wondering if she'd said something wrong, before breaking into a huge smile. Then Bella found herself being hugged again. "You are a doll," Esme said. As she stepped back, she looked up at Edward and smirked. "I think I'll trade you in and keep Bella."

"Hey, I help!" Edward protested. His mother arched an eyebrow at him and he smiled sheepishly. "By not trying to help. You know I'd only screw up whatever you're trying to do in here. I'm hopeless in the kitchen."

"Hence the extensive collection of take-out menus in your apartment," Bella drawled with a smirk, and Esme laughed.

Edward released her hand and slipped his arm around her shoulders, clapping his hand gently over her mouth. "That tour sounds like a really good idea right about now. Later, Mom," he grinned and guided Bella from the kitchen before releasing her. Esme's laughter followed them, and Bella couldn't help but join in.

"I like your mom," she informed him with a wide smile.

"She obviously likes you, too," he mock-grumbled. He obviously wasn't really annoyed, because he took her hand again and gave it a gentle squeeze. "C'mon, let's see how long we can avoid the rest of the relatives. They'll all end up loving you, too. Then they'll side with my mom and you'll become a permanent fixture around here, while I'm out on the street, playing guitar on the corner for spare change. They'll probably have you moved into my room before I'm even out the front door."

Bella rolled her eyes and bumped him with her shoulder. "God, melodramatic much, Cullen?"

He made a face at her. "Yeah, well, we'll see how you like it when your dad decides he wants to keep me."

The snort of laughter was out before she could stop it. "Yeah, like that's ever gonna happen."

Edward made good on the tour, introducing her to random aunts, uncles, and cousins along the way. There was no way Bella would remember most of their names, but she played nice with all of them. She was incredibly impressed by the Cullen home, though. For as intimidated as she'd felt when she first saw it, by the time Edward had shown her most of it, she felt incredibly comfortable. It was grand yet homey, and Edward credited his mother's decorating skills for everything Bella complimented.

One of their last stops was the study of one Dr. Cullen. Bella had never had the pleasure of meeting the man, but figured that was only because he was fortunate enough to work at the hospital in Port Angeles rather than Forks. Otherwise, she was sure he would be embarrassingly familiar with her - and her impressive medical file as a result of countless emergency room visits.

Bella and Edward paused outside the door, and he knocked before softly calling out, "Hey Dad? You still hiding in there?"

"That depends," came the response from the other side. "Are you alone?"

Eyebrows climbing high in amusement, Bella shot Edward a smirk. "No, I'm with Bella. I wanted you to meet her."

The door was open before Edward finished his sentence, and Bella had to admit she came very close to swooning at the feet of the incredibly handsome man suddenly standing before her. It was amazing that there was no shared DNA between Edward and his father, because they had the same tall, lean physique, sharp cheekbones, and stunning eyes – though Dr. Cullen's were blue rather than green. "You should've told me that in the first place," he said, shaking his head at his son. With a welcoming smile, he took Bella's hand, shaking it and then squeezing gently in greeting. She could feel her cheeks heating as the blush appeared, right on cue. "Bella, it's a pleasure to finally meet you."

"You too, Dr. Cullen," she managed, proud of herself for not stammering.

"Please, call me Carlisle," he corrected, much as his wife had earlier. Finally releasing her hand, Carlisle turned and clapped Edward on the shoulder. "So! Are the two of you looking for a safe hiding spot, too?" He smiled at Bella and said in a conspiratorial whisper, "Don't let Aro corner you. He likes to flirt with all the pretty young girls, and he'll just love you."

Bella was horrified that she'd very nearly tittered at Carlisle's comment. Instead, she just bit her lip and shook her head. "I don't think we've run into him yet," she confessed, glancing at Edward for confirmation.

"I'm keeping her as far away from Uncle Aro as possible," Edward confirmed with a laugh, squeezing Bella's hand. "She'd hand me my ass on a silver platter if I let him monopolize her for the rest of the night."

Apparently approving the idea, Carlisle nodded. "Glad to hear it." He smiled at Bella, and swore she heard chimes sounding as the sun broke through the clouds. "This one needs someone to keep him in line. Don't let him get away with anything."

"I don't," she answered at the same time as Edward said, "She doesn't." They looked at each other and burst out laughing, much to Carlisle's obvious amusement.

As the laughter subsided, Carlisle checked his watch, sighing grandly. "I suppose I should go be sociable before dinner's served," he said resignedly. "Any idea where your Aunt Kate is?"

"Last I saw, in the family room setting up the DVD player for the kids. Uncle Garrett's outside, I think, 'not having a cigarette'." Again, Edward smirked, and Bella got the distinct impression this was some long-running family joke.

"How he thinks Kate won't smell it on him, I have no idea." Carlisle sighed and shook his head. Edward stepped to the side with Bella, allowing his father to pass. "Great to finally meet you, Bella. I hope we'll see a lot more of you around here, from now on." He pointed at Edward and quirked an eyebrow at him in mock warning. "Behave and don't scare her off."

Edward rolled his eyes dramatically as his father grinned and headed off in search of Kate. "Okay, that's it, I'm taking you home. Both my parents seem to like you better than me, and I can't handle the competition."

"It's not my fault they've got such good taste," she quipped, elbowing him lightly in the ribs. "Or such a deadbeat son."

Dinner had been… an experience. Never before had she been part of such a large family get-together. Bella had remained fairly quiet, as was her way when immersed in a situation where she wasn't entirely comfortable. But she politely answered all the family's questions without embarrassing herself – or Edward.

Uncle Aro had, indeed, tried to chat her up (and she suspected he would've tried to feel her up, if she'd given him half a chance), as Carlisle had warned. The older man had chosen to pounce on her when Edward was in another room, and while she knew inherently that he was harmless, she'd been decidedly uncomfortable. Fortunately, she'd been rescued by Edward's youngest cousins, Charlotte and Felix, who, for some reason Bella simply couldn't fathom, had taken an instant liking to her and insisted she go off to play with them.

So now Bella was sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of her game piece, skirt tucked demurely between her legs despite the fact that her leggings allowed for a little less discretion, smacking her lever repeatedly – but not too quickly. Charlotte and Felix were slamming theirs and squealing in excitement, and Bella was going to make sure one of them won (she was silently rooting for Charlotte, since Felix was older). Marbles scattered around the board as plastic heads shot out to capture them and pull them back into their trough. The TV was on to some random kids' show, but nobody was paying attention to it.

Once again, Felix won and he threw his little arms in the air victoriously. Charlotte pouted, but it was quickly replaced by a huge grin.

"Eddie!" Charlotte jumped up to run across the room.

Bella glanced over her shoulder to see Edward leaning in the doorway, a pained yet amused expression on his face. Charlotte took his hand and started trying to pull him further into the room. "Eddie, come play with us!"

"Yeah, Eddie," Bella grinned evilly. "Come play with us. It's Hungry, Hungry Hippos – your favorite!"

Edward narrowed his eyes. "I don't know, Izzy, it looks like you've got things pretty much under control."

Oh, game on, Cullen! Nobody called her Izzy and lived. Nobody!

Felix turned curious eyes towards Bella. "You said your name was Bella," he said, confused.

"It is. But Bella is actually short for Isabella," Edward informed his cousin, letting Charlotte lead him to the spot at the board between her and Bella. "So Izzy can be short for Isabella, too."

"Izzy," Charlotte tried the name out with a grin. "Izzy rhymes with dizzy. Dizzy Izzy!"

It was a good thing Charlotte was as cute as she was, or Bella would have been forced to silence her – possibly permanently. Instead, she glared at Edward and mouthed, 'You're dead.' A smug grin was his only reply.

"I like 'Bella' better," Felix said quietly, glancing over at her shyly. "It's pretty, just like you."

Well. It seemed she had a seven-year-old admirer. She couldn't not smile at that. "Thank you, Felix," Bella told him gently, reaching out and ruffling his hair, which earned her another smile. "That's really sweet of you." She shot Edward a haughty smirk. "See? It's not just your parents. Everybody loves me." Then she turned her attention back to the kids. "Are we playing again?"

They managed to get three more rounds in before their mother, Heidi, who was Esme's younger sister, came to collect them. They both whined a bit, complaining that they didn't want to leave, and Charlotte clung to Bella's waist. "Can Izzy come home with us?"

Bella gritted her teeth and shot Edward a death glare. "Only if Eddie can, too," she said sweetly.

"It's Bella," Felix corrected his sister, coming to Bella's rescue. She just might have to keep Felix, she mused.

Heidi simply chuckled at her children's antics. "I hope we'll see you at Christmas, Bella," she said kindly, smiling at her with eyes the same shade of hazel as Esme's. "These two will be heartbroken if we don't."

Unsure how to respond to that, Bella shrugged – the gesture was stopped by Edward's hand gently resting between her shoulder blades.

"She'll be here at some point," Edward promised his aunt, smiling down at Bella. "I'll make sure of it."

"You will, will you?" Bella asked, one eyebrow arched in challenge.

"Please, Bella," Felix wheedled. "Please be here for Christmas."

"Yeah, please Izzy – I mean Bella," Charlotte joined in. And with those two adorable little faces peering up at her as if she were the most amazing thing since Santa Claus, how could she refuse?

"I'm sure I'll be able to stop by for a little while," Bella relented, and the two little ones cheered before throwing themselves at her for hugs.

Goodbyes were said, and Bella and Edward were left alone for practically the first time all day. They could hear the socializing still going strong upstairs, but for the time being, things were quiet on their floor. And for that Bella was grateful – she was feeling drained from being around so many people for so long.

"You were great with them," Edward told her, taking her hand and leading her over to the sofa. She was stiff from sitting so long on the floor for hippo wars, so she was grateful for the opportunity to stretch out a bit.

"I haven't spent a lot of time around little kids," she admitted. "I don't have any cousins, and all my dad's friends' kids aren't that much younger than me. So it was fun."

Edward smiled at her. "I wouldn't be surprised if Felix asks you to marry him the next time he sees you. That's one serious crush he's got going."

Laughing, Bella sat at one end of the couch, stretching her legs out over Edward's lap. "He's a cutie. I could do a lot worse."

"Try not to break his heart, okay?" Edward shot her a sideways glance, smiling crookedly as he picked up the remote and tried to find something else to watch. "I don't think anyone would be able to recover after being rejected by Bella Swan, but especially not at such an impressionable age."

She laughed softly through her nose. "Yeah, that's me – serial heart-breaker."

Apparently deciding on a rerun of The Simpsons, Edward set down the remote and gently slipped off Bella's shoes. He set them on the floor next to the couch, and began rubbing her right foot, gently massaging the arch with his thumbs. "Oh, wow, that's… ooooh… really, really nice," she moaned, closing her eyes and sinking back against the arm of the sofa.

"Did you have an okay time today?" The question was soft and tentative, and Bella opened her eyes to see a surprising amount of uncertainty on Edward's face.

"I had a great time," she assured him, smiling. "I love your parents, the rest of your family seems great," with the notable exception of Uncle Aro and the twin thirteen-year-old terrors, Jane and Alec, who were both in need of a major attitude adjustment, in Bella's humble opinion, "and I've got my very own fan club in Charlotte and Felix." Her eyes drifted shut again, and Edward moved on to her left foot. "But if you ever call me Izzy again, I'll kill you without a second though. Despite the fact you give the best foot rubs ever."

"How 'bout you promise to never call me Eddie, I'll promise to never use the 'Iz' word and to give you foot rubs anytime you want, and we call it even?" One of his eyebrows was arched at her, his lips curled crookedly.

Bella pretended to ponder that, and the longer she took, the more his half smile turned into a pout. "Okay, okay, deal," she laughed, kicking his thigh lightly with the heel of the foot not being rubbed. "Just stop it with the puppy dog face. I can't handle that."

They sat in silence for a while, both of them simply relaxing. Edward kept up the foot rub as he watched Bart get into some kind of mischief, and Bella was lulled into a state partway between wakefulness and sleep. She drifted for a while, until a chorus of "good nights" rang out from upstairs as another car load of people headed out.

"Hey, Edward?"

"Hmmm?" He rolled his head against the back of the sofa to look at her, a lazy smile on his face.

"Would you play something for me? On the piano, I mean?"

The smile on his face grew, until it was the full-blown, knee-weakening one he insisted on turning her way with alarming frequency. It was hazardous to her health – and heart.

"Sure," he agreed, carefully shifting her legs off his lap and sliding her shoes over so that she could easily slip them onto her feet. Once standing, he held out his hand to her, pulling her up off the couch. And, as he'd been doing all night, he kept hold of her hand as they headed upstairs to the music room.

Edward shut the door behind them, and the extent of the room's soundproofing amazed Bella. They couldn't hear a thing from the living room, just down the hall. He led her over to the beautiful baby grand, and settled himself onto the bench, tugging her hand gently indicating she was to sit next to him.

"What would you like to hear?"

"Anything," Bella admitted. She didn't care, she just wanted to hear him play. He seemed to consider that for a moment, but then he lifted his hands to the keys and pure magic seemed to flow from him to his instrument.

Edward was absolutely mesmerizing as he lost himself in the music. Eyes closed, face peaceful, his hands flew across the ivories, creating something so breathtakingly beautiful that Bella felt her eyes prickle with tears.

He was also hands-down the sexiest thing she'd ever seen. The sleeves of his dress shirt were rolled up, exposing his forearms, and she watched the muscles shift and flow as he played.

She'd always found men's forearms and hands sexy. She couldn't explain it. And she'd admired Edward's for years. But now, seeing him work the keys so expertly, she felt positively enraptured.

A lock of his hair flopped down over his forehead as his entire body seemed to become consumed by the music, but he didn't seem to notice. Bella desperately wanted to sweep it back, to keep it from distracting him. In order to keep herself from acting on impulse, she linked her hands together and settled them in her lap.

Bella let the melody carry her away, and she became lost in both the music and the man. She almost wept as the last notes faded, and Edward opened his eyes, glancing over at her almost shyly.

"That was…," she paused, at a loss for words. "God, Edward, that was incredible. You're incredible."

His smile went crooked, and he raked his hand through his hair, shoving back the bits that had fallen forward as he'd played. Bella was surprised to see his cheeks were pink, as if he were embarrassed – though why he would be, she had no idea.

"I didn't recognize that piece. What was it?"

Edward looked uncomfortable, once again pulling his hand through his hair. "It's an original composition I've been working on," he admitted, and Bella gaped.

"You wrote that," she clarified, not making it a question. He nodded, and the color in his cheeks deepened. "Wow."

"Does that mean you liked it?" His voice was soft and tentative, and she wasn't sure she'd ever seen him look quite so vulnerable.

"I loved it," Bella promised him, smiling widely. "Thank you for playing it for me."

His eyes scanned her face for a moment, as if attempting to determine her sincerity, and then his face split into the most beautiful smile. "No, thank you," he told her, relief evident in his voice. "You're the first person I've played it for, so you liking it… it means a lot."

Their eyes met and held, and the space between them became energized. With every fiber of her being, Bella wanted to lean in and kiss Edward senseless. The urge had never before been so strong. She could imagine how silky his hair would feel as she ran her fingers through it, how soft his lips would be against hers, how tender yet demanding his hands would be as he pulled her closer…

Danger, Will Robinson, danger!

Before she could do something catastrophically stupid, Bella stood and stepped away from the piano, making a big deal of checking he watch. "Shit, when did it get so late?"

It sounded lame even to her own ears. How tragic was that?

There was no response from Edward for a moment, so Bella started babbling to fill the silence. "I've gotta get up early tomorrow so I can start cooking, so I should probably be getting home…"

"I'm ready whenever you are, Bella," he replied from behind her. She jumped slightly and turned, not having heard him approach. The look in his eyes… god, what was it with him lately, saying one thing but making it seem like he might be saying something else entirely? She didn't know whether it was her imagination, or whether he really was trying to confuse the hell out of her.

"You'll come tomorrow, right?" Bella blurted out, desperate to change the mood. Edward's brow furrowed, and she rolled her eyes. "To dinner. At my house." He still looked like he wasn't quite understanding her. "Tomorrow is Thanksgiving dinner at Casa de Swan. I'm asking you to come."

"You don't have to invite me just because you came over today," he protested awkwardly.

"In all the time you've known me, how often have I ever done something just because I feel obligated?" The question was rhetorical, and Edward was smart enough to realize that. "I'm inviting you because I'd like you to be there." Her lips quirked. "You can bond with Jake."

Both eyebrows shot up, almost disappearing into his hairline. "Jake's going to be there?"

"Yup. And his dad, and another friend of theirs, Sue, and her two kids. So come, please? You might actually be able to keep me from setting Leah's hair on fire."

He barked out a laugh at that and cocked his head. "Who's Leah, and why is her hair in danger?"

"Leah Clearwater, Sue's daughter," Bella explained. "Sue's husband died a couple of years ago, and I think she and Charlie might've gone out a few times since. If they haven't, they should. They obviously like each other." It was cute in a vaguely disturbing way. Because if Charlie and Sue ever got married, that would make Leah her step-sister.

Bella would rather set her own hair on fire.

"Leah and I have never exactly gotten along." And that was putting it mildly. "I love her kid brother to death, and Sue's pretty cool, but Leah… Let's just say she makes Rose look like Miss Congeniality." Edward snorted. "And she's not nearly as entertaining. No heart of gold hiding within that one."

"Well, when you put it that way, how can I resist," Edward wondered, still laughing. "If nothing else, I'm now dying to meet this Leah. I need to see for myself if she can really give Rosalie a run for her money."

Relieved that the strangeness between them had disappeared, Bella slipped her arm around his waist and steered him towards the door. "You know I'm only inviting you so you can charm Leah into acting like a human being – or a close facsimile thereof."

Edward laughed richly, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. "I'm good, but I'm no miracle worker," he joked. "Are you sure you shouldn't be inviting a young priest and an old priest instead?"

Bella grinned up at him. "You might want to bring a jug of holy water, just in case."

Oh yes, tomorrow would be much better with Edward there to watch her back. Just so long as she could keep herself from pinning him against the counter and ravaging him.


There we go, the longest chapter yet. Hope you enjoyed! :)

If you want to chat about the story, get sneak peaks, ask questions, etc, pop on over to the forums at Twilighted, in the AU-Human area and play in the MIA thread. The link is on my profile page.