Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

A big thanks to TwiDi for beta'ing this for me. And please send some positive thoughts out to my other beta Rachelle_MyBell who unfortunatly couldn't join us for this chapter because of some sadness in her real life. I love ya baby!

AN: Umm *waves sheepishly* I know I know it's so late and I hope some of you are still with me here. This chapter had 5 rewrites before this incarnation. So I hope you enjoy it, and know that I actually have a good bit of the next chapter written, and I like where it's going *citrus may be involved just saying* so the update shouldn't take nearly as long.

Edward's POV (the night they get back)

I fucked up.

It was plain and simple.

I. Fucked. Up.

And more than once. I should have told Bella sooner about Faith, and warned her about my psycho-cousin. Not that I really think about warning anyone about Tanya, to be honest I had forgotten her propensity to pull that shit. I was kind of fucking overwhelmed with the baby and telling Bella.

Fuck my life.

And I guess, like all men who fuck up, I need the advice of the one person who always knows how to make things right.

"Hey, Mom?" Mom looks up from my daughter, whom she has yet to put down since she got here.

"Oh, Edward, she is so beautiful," Esme coos. Faith wraps that tiny hand of hers around Mom's finger and giggles. I think they've bonded.

"That she fucking is," I agree.

"Edward, language! In a few months this one is going to be talking more and more and I swear if one of the first words out of her mouth is 'fuck', or 'shit' I will hunt both you and your brother down and spank your asses raw." Gotta love Ma, she chews us out about language by cussing at us.

"Got it." I laugh. Faith's eyes dart towards me and she drops Mom's finger to reach towards me. Ah fuck, she's got me wrapped around her little finger. I take her out of a protesting Esme's arms and hold her. She grips my nose and does a baby coo of her own. "Ok, kid, your old man needs help. Wanna see if Grandma can give us a hand getting Bella to forgive me?" Faith giggles some more and Mom just rolls her eyes.

"Alright, Edward, tell Momma everything," she demands, her tone slightly sarcastic. God, I love my Mom.

"So, it all fucking started…"

Bella's POV (starts the next morning)

I wake up to the blaring of my alarm in my ear, still tired from getting home so late. The late hour is what saved me from having to fill Jake and Paul in on everything that had happened this past weekend. And thankfully all Seth did is pout because he was denied one of Esme's suppers.

"Seth, get up we have school!" I yell outside his bedroom door.

"'K." is the only response I get. I know I might have to come back in a minute and drag his bum out of bed. I swear, getting him up takes more time the older her gets.

I go get the coffee pot going, knowing I'm going to need a fix today, and also knowing there was no way I was going to spring for a five dollar cup on the way to school. Seriously what the heck is in that coffee to make it cost so much? I can buy a big can and filters, then add my generic equal and my one splurge of the named brand French vanilla creamer I adore and I have two weeks' worth of coffee for what people pay for one or two cups.

Next, I pull out the premade pancakes from the freezer and put them on a plate in the microwave to heat up. Another thing I can't believe people pay so much for, premade pancakes. For what one of those boxes cost I can get two boxes of regular pancake mix, which last a heck of a lot long. With just one box, I can mix up a big batch, generally on a Saturday morning, put them in freezer bags and we eat them for breakfast for a few days. Even after the large batch we still have more mix in the box, to make another large batch. So, it's not only cost effective, but time effective as well.

"Seth, food!" I yell knowing his weakness. Less than a minute later he walks in, grumbles 'hello' and starts scarfing down the pancakes.

~0~

Around forty-five minutes later, we are crawling into Rusty, my beloved GEO Metro that I inherited when Sue passed on. Luckily, it still had three-fourths of a tank, so we didn't need to stop for gas this morning.

"Bells, are you working today?" Seth asks around his travel mug of milk.

"Yep, gotta pay the gas bill this month," I say jokingly, but it's the truth. With the weather turning, the gas bill is going up and up in the house.

"I hate that you have to work so much, Bella," Seth says seriously, "someday I'm going to take care of you so you don't have to work so much," his sweet voice says earnestly.

"Seth, I don't mind. I love ya to bits and pieces, so taking care of you is important to me. So don't worry about it. Plus, in May I graduate and maybe I can get a job where I don't have to wear an apron." I laugh and he joins in. He gets a serious look on his face.

"You know, if you married Edward we could move back to Forks and you wouldn't have to work. He could take care of us."

"Seth…" I wonder how to proceed. "Edward and I…" Great how do I explain this?

"You and Edward?" He prompts.

"We haven't been together that long, Seth. And right now, Edward has a new baby that he has to think about. And well, things have happened and I'm trying to figure out whether or not there is even going to be an 'Edward and I'."

"But, Bella, it's perfect. You have me, who you have to take care of, and he has a kid to take care of. And it all evens out so you have equal baggage." He states.

"Baggage?" I'm shocked at the term.

"That's what Mr. Graham at school said to Mr. Peters when they were talking about Ms. Jane. That she had too much baggage with a kid and that's why he wouldn't date her."

"Seth, first off, you are not 'baggage'. A child is a gift from God, and I can assure you that Jane doesn't see her son as baggage either. Seth, if I didn't want you, if I didn't love you, I wouldn't work so hard to keep us together. You are not baggage. And I don't see Edward's daughter as baggage either." I tell him, knowing that I mean it. I have no problem with him having a child. It's the fact that he didn't tell me he had one that has gotten to me. "Second, where the heck did you hear your teachers talking like that?"

"I was running an errand for Ms. French to the office, and Mr. Peters – who is our vice principle – was talking to Mr. Graham – my gym teacher – in Peters' office with the door open. I kinda eavesdropped," he tells me shyly.

"Well, it's rude to eavesdrop and they should have had that door shut. Ugh! Seth, just remember, adults don't always think before they speak, and sometimes grownups are idiots. Know that you are wanted and loved, and I would never, ever be with someone who saw you as baggage." I hope he can hear the sincerity in my voice as I tell him this.

"I love you too, Bells. It's like Jake told his Dad about himself and Paul, 'we are a package deal, if you want one, you get both'." I nod in full agreement.

"True, kiddo, so true."

~0~

By the time we make it home that day, I'm exhausted. Generally, Tuesdays I just have the one class, but I had a professor that has two sections of one of my classes, so he let me sit in his Tuesday class so I could make up my absence. On top of that I ran around to all my other profs getting the work I missed. Then I spent two hours in the library to work on my midterm research paper. So, like I said, I'm exhausted, but I still have to work this afternoon.

Seth and I made it up the stairs and the door to our apartment was slightly open. I pushed him behind me and pulled out my cell to call Jake. I should have called 9-1-1, but I knew we'd need a place to hide out if there is a robber in our apartment. I almost jumped a mile when I heard ringing coming from our apartment.

"Hello, sexy biotch number uno speaking." He quips upon answering the phone. I jump when I see him standing in the open doorway, while hanging up his phone and grinning. "Hey, doll, sorry bout that." I try to smile, but really I kinda want to hit him with the baseball bat for scaring the living daylights out of me.

"Uh… hey," is my brilliant reply. Seth laughs and pushes past me to go into the apartment. "You're early." I pout slightly.

"Well, babes, Momma bear wants all the deats on what sexy bike boy did to piss you off and it's just been easier to wait here instead of having to keep running up and down the stairs in my heels for… Oh hell, just come in here and look." He grabs my arms and pulls me inside.

I look around, and my apartment looks like it has vomited a purple flower shop. There are about six different arrangements of flowers, all in various shades of purple, some have a few other colors but purple is definitely the predominant color here.

"Holy crap," I mutter.

"Tell me about it." Paul comes out of the kitchen carrying a large bouquet. Once again the main color is purple. "There are two more upstairs that Jatina thought fit our apartment better than yours, just so you know." He looks at Jake and winks.

"Well, you can visit them if you like," Jake jokes.

"Uhh… I think I'm good with all of these. This is a lot of purple."

"Bella, I think if you take a closer look, other than purple, all of these arrangements only have one other thing in common." Paul points out, so I began looking at them. Trying to remember flower names from Sue's garden.

"They all have Hyacinth." Jake of course has no patience and blurts it out. "And, oh my God, girlie, I googled that. Purple Hyacinth means 'I'm sorry', or more literally a deep regret and longing for forgiveness!" he squeals bouncing slightly, while clapping his hands together. "Well, that, and they are all from, Edward." Jake adds as an afterthought.

"Apparently he gave the instructions that if you weren't here that the delivery guy should go up to our apartment and so we could sign for you or something." Paul tells me while sitting the vase down.

"Well, technically, he's not breaking the rules," I say aloud, then cover my mouth quickly.

"Rules?" Seth asks.

"The do-not-come-around rule. I asked him to give me a couple of days to think." I go on and explain to them what happened, leaving out the whole naked Mom getting rammed into by a cult leader thing. Poor Seth wasn't old enough for that.

"Uhh… I'm gonna go do my homework now." Seth grumbles when I'm done. I know he needs to go think. Poor little guy, maybe I shouldn't have said anything in front of him. I suck at this whole responsible adult guardian thing at times.

"Ok, I gotta head to work soon, Seth, I'll say 'bye' before I go."

"'K, sis."

After he leaves the room and I turn to the pair that remain and begin in hushed tones filling them in on the cult. The weirdness and everything else I edited while Seth sat in the room. They both sit in stunned silence when I tell them about Renee and her "friends". And Jake offers to go give Tanya a mohawk, he refused to completely make her bald, something about a racist stereotype and scalping, Paul just rolls his eyes, so I mainly ignore it.

"So, you don't think I'm a bitch for needing a couple of days to think?" I ask Jake and Paul.

"Absolutely not, sweetie. Bike boy should have told you about his cousin if nothing else. I can kind of understand the whole baby thing, wanting to tell you in person. He probably figured that her sweet face would melt your heart and keep his junk intact. Though I'm still pissed he didn't tell you about it. Grrr, men!" Jake exclaims tossing his arms in the air dramatically while Paul just looks at him adoringly.

"Bella, my advice is to let the man stew. He's probably used to getting away with anything and not being accountable to anyone. He claims he's your boyfriend. Boyfriends share their lives, problems, issues and family craziness with their significant others. Edward didn't. So, make him sweat it out. If he really wants to be your boyfriend, he'll still be there and will learn a lesson that will make him a better boyfriend in the long run," Paul tells me. Probably saying more than I've ever heard him say at one time that didn't include something about Jake in it.

"Bella, take a couple days, babes, if nothing else, it will make him think. If he really wants to be with you, he'll be there when you are ready. If he doesn't wait then, he isn't worth it." Jake says with finality.

"Ugh! Fine," I say half-exasperated, half-giggling at how crazy this all was.

"Now, my child, get your sweet behind to work. We've got everything here." I kiss both their cheeks and then check in to say goodnight to Seth before heading to the restaurant.

It was odd being back at work, after a weekend from Twilight Zone that I had just lived through. Everything was so normal and routine here. And everyone was clothed, which was a big plus. Tony offered to give me another day or two off to recover, but I needed the routine that came with being at work and with it I needed that sense of normalcy that had been lacking lately in my life. Between Edward crashing through my walls to make himself a part of my life, to Phil's death and my Mom's utter crazy life, I just needed something that reminded me of being me. And I really need the money.

"Hey, Bella!" Angela greets with a wave as she ties her apron around her waist.

"Hey, Angie, how are things?"

"Good, Ben just got a promotion at work, so I'm thinking about cutting back a few hours a week here. I could really use the extra time for school work."

"I hear you, girl. If we didn't have Charlie's social security cheque coming in for Seth every month to cover the rent, I'd probably have to drop out completely." That eight hundred dollar cheque on the first of every month paid the absorbent rent on our apartment.

"Just think Bells, in a couple of years, we'll be employed in a nine-to-five that doesn't consist of soaking our achy feet at the end of our shift." She sighed like it was the best thought ever and it kinda was. A job that I wasn't on my feed ninety-nine percent of the time sounded divine.

"So true, girlie, so true."

After that we really didn't get much time to talk for the rest of the evening. The place was packed and our breaks didn't correspond with being able to take time to chat. I made a respectable eight dollars in tips. Eight dollars that will come in handy getting Seth a new winter coat that he's going to need. He had grown like a weed over the summer and was way too big for last year's coat.

I started walking home, complaining to myself about the fact that I didn't drive to work. Sometimes, I'm just too cheap. And as tired as I am after my shifts, I deserved the nice ride home. My cheap side was yelling at my tired side, telling it to use the quiet to think things over about Edward. My tired side flipped it the bird.

Out of the corner of my eye I see something moving. A slow moving car is driving past me. A very familiar slow moving car. I start to feel nervous and open my cell to make it look like I'm talking to someone. I make a promise to myself to drive to and from work at least till spring. Seeing this same car so many times can't be a coincidence. I make it to my building and rush up the stairs.

Inside, I find a note letting me know that they'd gone upstairs and that they'd have Seth downstairs first thing in the morning. Jake added that they wanted to watch TV, and since mine was fairly small and didn't have cable, their apartment won. I laugh, used to this.

I double check the locks and send a text off to Jake to let him know that I'm home. I notice that I have a new text message, so I open it to see who it's from. Edward. I fight the urge to open it right away. Instead, I go and fill our tiny tub with warm water and some of my special bubbles. I don't use them often, a small treat when I'm feeling down, but gah… they smell so good.

Before getting into the tub I grab the baseball bat and bring it in the bathroom with me. I'm still a little rattled from that car following me around. I set it beside the tub and sit my cell phone on the toilet lid. I slip my clothes off and slide into the water. The heat reaches my aching muscles and I swear I hear them sigh with pleasure. The water laps up over my breasts. The bubble mix leaves the water feeling like warm silk sliding sensuously over my skin. When I shift the cold air hits my nipples and they bud up.

I love it when this happens. Every time the warm water soothes them, then I let the cold air hit them. They tighten and I can't help but touch them. But my touch didn't satisfy my craving. It only reminded me of how it felt when Edward touched my nipples, when he licked them, how he gently sucked them between his lips and rolled them with his tongue. Groaning, I submerge completely under the water.

Edward.

The biggest pain in my butt, yet I can't help but want him. But the biggest question, can I trust him? Can I allow him into both mine and Seth's lives? Because no matter how much I want him, Seth has to be my first priority. Groaning again I reach for my cell to read his message.

Trying to give you space, please let me know you got home from work. E

Ding dang it! Why does he have to be so thoughtful? The pretty flowers. Worrying about me getting home from work… To text him or not to text him?

Home safe, going to bed. Thx for the flowers. B

Before I could talk myself out of it I hit send. I try and rationalize with myself that he asked so little just wanting to know I'm safe. It would have been rude not to say I am. It's not like he asked if he could call, or wanted to know what color panties I was wearing.

Pulling myself out of the tub, I drag myself off to bed and hope that the next day would bring more clarity on how I should handle this situation.

~0~

The week passed by at a slow pace. I called Edward on Wednesday morning, only to get his voicemail. I let him know I needed a little bit more time, trying to explain that I had to worry about Seth as well as myself, and that I was having a hard time. I promised that I wouldn't be any longer than necessary. He sent me a text back saying that he understood. And we haven't talked since, though my resolve is quickly weakening and all I want to do is call him. No that's a lie, I'd also like to lick him and a little humpage wouldn't go amiss either.

"Can we stop homework time and do videogame time now? Come on, Bells, it's Saturday, not Sunday." Seth pouts from his spot at the coffee table. Since we were both so far behind I added an extra homework block into our schedule. Seth was protesting it with everything he has.

"How much did you get done?" I demand. To be honest I'm getting testy and grumpy myself with having to do this extra homework, but I know it has to be done.

"I finished my social studies and English homework. I just have math and that one science worksheet about plant reproduction."

"Do the science and then you can save the math for tomorrow night."

"But, Bella…" he whines.

"But Bella nothing, I could make you do it all." He rolls his eyes, pouts some more then pulls out his worksheet. I go back to trying to get through Heart of Darkness. Oh the joy of English lit.

Twenty minutes, two hundred grunts and I don't know how many grumbles under his breath later, Seth declares himself done. I look it over and proclaim that he can go get on the laptop to play video games online. He's allowed to use Pogo, but the chat has to be turned off. I'm vigilant in trying to protect Seth from predators.

Deciding that I need a break too, I get up and go and pop the pair of us some pop corn. I pull out the old air popper that Dad bought years ago and pour the cornels in. This is another thing that's just so much cheaper to do it the old fashioned way. Microwave popcorn keeps going up in price, while the bag popcorn stays about the same.

Knock, knock.

The sound pulls me out of my internal rant about the prices of things, and how expensive it is just to buy basic things. Seth stands up from out little "office" which consists of two old TV trays, something else we inherited from Charlie and an old kitchen chair. Where we have the laptop and printer hooked up. I motion for him to grab the bat and he nods. I walk to the door.

"Who's there?" I ask with a firm voice. I hope it is intimidating.

"Esme Cullen, dear." My jaw drops in shock and Seth laughs at my stunned face. I open the door and it is in fact Esme Cullen. I take the chain off and let her in.

"Hi, Esme," Seth, who apparently has better manners than me, greets her.

"Hello, Seth. I've missed you, my darling boy." She smiles then embraces him. She just seems so warm and it makes me miss Sue so much.

"I've missed you too, Esme." Seth squeezes her tightly and giggles like a teenage girl. He is such a little ham.

"Hi," I say, my voice a little nervous. I can't help but wonder why she is here. And looking way too perfect with her perfect hair and makeup in a pretty dusty rose cashmere coat and heels.

"Bella, dear." She hugs me as well. "I've come to kidnap you. I've brought a babysitter for Seth so you have no excuse. Go change out of those jammies, I'm taking you to tea."

Fuck.

AN2: Visual aids are going up on the blog. I estimate that the next update will be within the next 3 weeks *fingers crossed*

Story Recs:

Royal Rebellions /s/6683803/1/(I will be honest the first chapter didn't grab me, but by the time I hit the end of the 2nd chapter I couldn't stop reading it.)

Quiet Storm /s/6575026/1/ (Bella and Edward mobward story that is so different from the others out there. I mean you have Ghetto welfare fraud Alice, crack dealer Jasper, Carlisle who is a major perv, Esme who just wants to give Carlisle a blowjob, former stripper Rose who's married to Emmett the plumber. Its drama and humor and romance galore!)

Dear Mr Masen /s/6483877/1/ This is a wonderfully delightful gem that I just can't stop reading! Edward and Bella are both pretty awkward, yet adorably lovable.