Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight. No copyright infringement is intended.

A/N: Are you guys ready for the Cullens?

Thanks to my lovely pre-readers Jaxy (Jax713) and Packy (_LittleLovely_) and my rock star beta Mel (mcc101180).

Chapter 10. Family Day.

I wake up startled by the Star Wars theme coming from my phone. I can only manage a groan as I press the answer button and bring the offending device over to my ear.

"Wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up." A high-pitched squeal comes from the phone, and I have to pull it away from my head for fear of hearing loss.

"Alice…"

"We're here!"

"Already?" I groan, turning on my bed.

"Mom wanted to get good seats."

"I told you guys I already got you good seats." I rub my eyes and look at the clock. "Thing doesn't start 'til nine." I sigh when I realize it's seven already, and I should be up.

"You know how Mom is..." my sister says, and I can hear my mom behind her. "She's making us wear your jersey."

I smile as I sit on the bed, rubbing my neck.

"Oh my God, E. I can't wait to see you! I have so much to tell you."

Not much family time has been allowed since the World Cup started, so even though my parents have been watching every game, today will be the first time I actually get to see them. My sister, on the other hand, just arrived in Brazil for the finals. She's been busy with her first year of college, and now in summer session, like the little overachiever that she is.

"I know, kiddo. We'll talk soon, okay?"

"Oh, and Edward?"

"Yeah?"

"That ref at the game against England was a fucking asshole!"

"Mary Alice Cullen!" I can hear my mom behind her.

"You foul-mouthed midget," I say, chuckling into the phone. "Good luck getting away with that one."

"Hey, I learned from the best."

"Okay, I'll meet you guys there in a bit." I get up from the bed and stretch my back.

"See you soon, big brother."

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

There's an unexpectedly large amount of people at the training field. My family, of course, is sitting in the first row. When I come out with my teammates, I'm pleasantly surprised that no one is booing — there's actually cheering going on. I wonder if my declarations to the press were that effective, or if my fans are just bipolar.

I walk quickly to my family before we begin the session. My mom is already up, leaning on the rail, reaching for me. She embraces me in a hug before I can say hello.

"Edward." She breathes out in relief. My mother, forever struggling to keep her emotions at bay.

Once my mom releases me, I ruffle my sister's hair and half hug my dad.

"How are you, son?" my dad asks in his usual soft, composed tone.

"I'm all right." I shrug at him and he pats my back.

"You definitely seem calmer," he says, raising his eyebrows.

The last time I was on the phone with my dad was right after the England game... I wasn't at my best.

"I am..." I say, smiling. The clicking sound draws my attention back to my mother who, camera in hand, is already flashing away.

"Mom..."

"Hush... Alice, smile," she instructs as my sister closes her arms around my neck.

After a couple pictures, and once Couch Clapp starts blowing the whistle, I head to training.

We start jogging, but I can't seem to focus until I see Bernard and, more importantly, the barely-over-five-feet woman walking next to him. I'm smiling and waving at her like an idiot, when I trip over what seems to be Seth's foot. When I look at him, I realize he's done it on purpose, as he's unable to contain his laughter.

"You little piece of shit."

He's laughing hard as he continues to jog, leaving me with no other option but to follow. I'll have to come up with a way to get back at him.

After training, they set up a couple tables for us to attend to fans. I sit next to Seth as we sign jerseys and take pictures.

As the lines start to die down, I notice how Seth tenses next to me and stretches his pose over the chair. I turn to look at him, when I notice the strawberry blonde, freckled-face girl standing in front of him, making goo-goo eyes at him, holding his jersey in her hands. She smiles broadly at him as she hands him the shirt.

I look at Seth, who seems to have lost his ability to speak all of the sudden. He opens his mouth a couple times, but no sound comes out. He's leaning back on the chair, balancing it on the two back legs, making it way too easy for me. One nudge with my foot and he's falling backward.

I snort as the girl giggles. It takes Seth a second to jump back to his feet.

I look at him and shake my head.

"I'm Seth," he says shakily, extending his hand to the girl.

"I know that." The girl giggles, looking down.

Are these two for real?

"What's… um… what's your name?" I'm tempted to face palm myself as Seth stutters.

"I'm Lucy."

"Nice to meet you, Lucy."

Very smooth, kid.

I return my attention to the guy holding a little kid in front of me, and continue signing, as I leave the two awkward birds be next to me.

Once we are done signing autographs, the fans are dismissed, and they let our families out onto the field.

I smile at Bella and, with a hand on the small of her back, steer her in the direction of my parents.

"Mom, Dad, this is Isabella Swan."

"Bella," she says, shaking their hands.

"She's a reporter for ESPN," I continue. "But don't worry, she's not working today."

"Actually…" Bella extricates a camera out of her purse. "I was hoping I could take some pictures." She shoots me sheepish look, and then turns to my parents. "It's a little hobby of mine."

Oh great...

"Well, what do you know?" my father says, wrapping an arm around my mother's shoulders, as she smiles broadly at Bella. "Another photographer aficionado."

When my sister comes closer — from wherever the hell she was — her smile doesn't fit on her face as she looks over at me and then Bella.

"Bella, this is my sister, Munchkin-head."

"Edward!" My sister frowns at me, swatting at my arm. "I'm Alice," she says, extending her hand to Bella.

Before Bella can answer, I wrap my arm around my sister's shoulders and start ruffling her hair.

"Stop!" she shrieks from under me.

"Munchkin, c'mon, I've missed you. Fight back!"

My sister, who usually laughs and plays along with me, is now rigid under my arms, and when I let her go, she's death-staring at me, her face crimson red.

Are those tears in her eyes? What the hell?

"Hey, kiddo, I'm sorry. I was just messing with you."

"I'm NOT a little kid anymore!" She stomps away and I look over to my parents, who exchange a knowing look. I want to ask if it's that time of the month for her, but I've learned the hard way to never, ever, bring that up.

When Alice returns, she has fixed her hair and her outfit, and it's looking spotless again. I smile at the purple Chucks she's wearing — the ones I gave her for Christmas. She ignores me and starts talking to Bella. I feel a little guilty, but before I can apologize, Jasper comes to say hello.

"Mr. Cullen." He nods to my dad. "Mrs. Cullen." My mom joins him in a hug.

His hands go in his pockets as he greets my sister with a tiny nod. "Alice."

I look over at my sister, realizing her mood has suddenly shifted and she's now all smiles for Jasper.

It must really be that time of the month...

The field is suddenly splattered with kids — the children of some of my teammates — and both Bella and my mother get their cameras ready.

"The future of US soccer," Bella comments, crouching on the grass. "Their lives will be forever tied to this."

"We've been at this since he was six." My mother is at my side, smiling at me.

"You started playing when you were six?" Bella turns to look up at me.

I know she knew this already, but she's probably just playing along with my mother, so I nod at her.

"Take a look at this," my mom says, fishing for her cell phone in her bag. "His first game." My mom proudly displays that god-awful background picture of hers.

"Awww…" Bella squeals in amusement.

"Mom…"

"It's adorable," Bella says, standing up.

"Which part? The bowl haircut or the no front teeth?"

Bella smiles at me, nudging me on the side with her shoulder. "All of it."

She looks at the pic for a few seconds, before handing the cell phone back to my mother. Emmett comes behind her, holding his son who is dressed in full US uniform. The boy is kind of adorable, with curls like Emmett's but blond hair like Emmett's wife, Rosalie.

"Hey, Edward, since your family is here and all... do you mind watching over Collin for a bit... like twenty minutes."

Rosalie clears her throat behind him, so he rectifies. "Thirty-five."

I look around and my mom is back at taking pictures, and my sister has once again disappeared.

I turn to Bella at my side, and she gives me an encouraging smile.

"Sure..." I say to Emmett with a shrug.

"Oh, man, I owe you." Emmett hands me his kid, and he and Rosalie disappear before I can say anything else.

I smile at the kid in my arms. It's not the first time Collin and I have hung out. He's a cool dude.

"Okay, little dood, wanna shoot some PKs?"

I spend the next half hour playing with Collin, while Bella takes pictures of us. He kicks the ball, and I pretend not to be able to catch it, falling on the turf. Every time, it makes him giggle. Every time, he jumps on me afterward. One time, he knees me in the nuts, making him, and Bella, giggle harder.

Overall, and blinding pain notwithstanding, we have a good time.

Once Emmett and Rosalie return, we gather our stuff to leave. We take showers and meet our families outside again. We're supposed to go back to the hotel and get ready for the sponsors dinner.

My mother, bless her heart, is quick to ask Bella, "Will you join us for dinner?"

Bella looks over to me, and I stare back expectantly — no one can say no to my mother.

"Of course."

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

I fumble with my tie a couple times until I get it right. Tonight is one of those occasions I can't get out of wearing a suit. My dark gray Armani sauna-with-sleeves sits on the bed, where it will stay until the last possible minute. I run some water on my hair, trying to tame it, before I give up on the impossible task and just settle for leaving it as is.

When I get out of the elevator and head for the dining hall, I'm tired but eager to get to dinner and Bella. As I go up the steps, I recognize Bernard's huge form and, behind him, the reason for my sleepless nights. I miss a step, and almost fall on my face, while I hold on to the railing, trying not to make a fool of myself — a bigger one that is.

Bella is wearing a little black dress... with um... ruffles... and... it's strapless. Her shoes are at least five inches high, and they make her legs look endless. I think I might be drooling.

I make it to the top of the stairs unscathed, but a little out of breath.

"Bella..." I breathe out. Her hair is down and wavy, and she runs a hand over it, pushing it over to one side. "You look stunning."

She looks down, embarrassed, but smiles. "Thank you," she says. "You clean up nice as well."

I give Bernard the "get-lost" sign and offer my arm to Bella, as we go in the dining hall.

Dinner goes over smoothly. Jasper sits at our table, since his family could not make it. Emmett and Rosalie join us too with little Collin who sits on my mom's lap the whole time. Seth sits at a different table since it seems like every Clearwater in the world is here for him.

Conversation flows easily as I manage to make two important accomplishments. The first, loosening my tie and opening the strangling collar of my shirt. The second, getting my hand comfortably on Bella's thigh under the table. If it were to end here, I would call the night a success.

Waylon gives an embarrassing speech, thanking our families for supporting us, but asking our wives/girlfriends to abstain from distracting us too much. It would have been funny if he wasn't serious about it.

Once dinner is over and we head out, I smoothly get Bella's hand in mine, while we say goodbye to everybody.

Once my family is gone, and Bernard comes closer to us, ready to take Bella back to her hotel, I whisper in Bella's ear. "Would you stay for a while longer?"

"I don't know."

"Just for a little while," I press, looking into her eyes.

She bites her lower lip, eyeing me warily.

"C'mon, I'm claustrophobic in this suit. Come upstairs with me."

When she nods, I smile and dismiss Bernard.

As we go up in the empty elevator to my suite, I start getting anxious. She looks so good in that dress. Her breasts... good lord... I can see the round edges of them, pressed up against the fabric of her strapless dress… It's all I can see from up here!

I stare at the ceiling of the elevator, fumbling with my tie, loosening it more, and getting more of my shirt buttons out of the way, just to give my fingers something to do. Once the elevator doors open, I march out and as soon as we are in the room, I shed the tie and jacket altogether and breathe out in relief.

"I fucking hate wearing suits." I head for the mini fridge to get some water. When I ask if she wants something, she doesn't answer, so I turn around to face her, noticing she has followed me over and is now standing right in front of me.

"I always knew there was a real nice person in there somewhere," she says, with a finger trailing over the opening on my shirt, playing with the buttons. I drop on the bar stool, surprised by her forwardness. "I just never expected him to be so… sweet." Her other hand palms my cheek as I lose myself in her eyes.

When her face inches closer to mine, she closes her eyes and mine follow her lead. She touches her lips softly to mine, her hand moves to the back of my neck, and I wrap one arm around her.

Her kiss is sweet, gentle, but exactly what I need, what I've been waiting for — an indication that she's in this with me.

When she breaks the kiss, her hand is still on my neck. "Thank you for today. It was incredible."

"God, Bella, I've been waiting so long for you to kiss me." I exhale through my nose and peek up to see her.

"You have?" She smirks deviously as her fingers slowly twirl my hair.

My hands seize her waist, and I pull her between my legs. There are so many things I want to do to this woman, I don't even know where to start. The truth is, this never happens to me. I've never felt overwhelmed by a woman before, by my desire for her, by my needs.

Bella stares at me and I smile, lost in the truth of her eyes. I feel like I need to break the intensity somehow, before I say or do something stupid. I didn't ask her up here to sleep with me. Well, not really... I mean, not that I would be opposed to that, but...

With a sigh, I decide to make a joke before I lose my mind.

"Okay, I got my kiss. You can leave now," I say with a smirk.

She gasps and turns to leave, but I catch her elbow and swing her back into me. A giggle starts building in her chest, but it's quickly sealed inside, by my lips on hers.

Our chuckles die down as the kiss intensifies. My hands hover over her. I want so much. I want it all.

I pull her closer, between my legs. She has one hand on my hair, while the other fists my shirt. I kiss her neck, breathing deeply.

"We need to stop," she whispers in my ear, and I groan.

"Bella..." I rub my nose against her neck and trail kisses over her collarbone.

"Didn't Coach say—"

"Don't do this to me..."

"You have two intense training days coming up. The biggest game of your life right after... He said—"

"I know what he said, all right? But this..." I say, bringing her hand between my legs to feel me. "This is not going anywhere."

She puts her other hand on my face and brings me away from her neck, giving me a tiny smile, one that says this is not gonna happen.

Fuck me...

Please.

I attack her mouth again, pushing my luck. I grind myself on her hand, getting up from the stool, pushing my body against hers. The moan that erupts from her throat is all the indication I need to grab her legs and bring her up to me.

I'm barely aware of where I am carrying her until we land on my bed. My lips never leave hers as I make up for all the time we've lost. Even though it's only been a couple days, that's 2880 minutes which translates to a whole lot of kisses.

Before I realize it, her hand has found its way over to my pants and she's undoing them. I groan into her neck as my hands go over the fabric of her dress, trying to figure out how to get it off of her.

Is there a zipper on the back?

Bella has a significant advantage on me — as I continue to struggle with her dress, she already has me in her hands.

I am pretty convinced Bella has glued this dress on. Or maybe it's the fact that the pleasure she's inflicting with each stroke has clouded my mind. My hands are no longer useful and now fist the sheets around her.

I give up on the dress.

Oh, God... yes...

Shit... No!

I don't want to rush this, I want to savor the moment, but if she continues stroking me, I'll be gone in point two seconds.

"Bella," I plead through a groan. "Please, baby, stop."

"Why? You were begging me not to stop half a second ago."

"I know... God... woman... please." My hand surrounds her wrist, stopping her midway through my shaft.

With my eyes shut, I try to breathe through the springing coils in my stomach, trying to impede the unstoppable.

Her hand is still clenched around me, making it impossible harder for me to focus. "Bella, please, let go. I... fuck... I need a minute. Let's enjoy this, c'mon."

"Don't you just want to get off? Isn't that what you want?" The hurt that taints her tone surprises me.

Did I manage to offend her somehow?

When I open my eyes, I see tears and hurt in hers. What the hell?

"What are you talking about?" My voice is strained — her hand is still gripping me tightly.

A traitor tear falls for her eye, and she finally lets me go and wipes it in anger.

"Tee-Tee?" My hand reaches for her cheek, catching more tears.

She sits up on the bed. "This is happening too fast, Edward."

I sit up next to her, arranging myself painfully inside my boxer briefs.

"The truth is, I just got out of a pretty messed up relationship... if that's what you could call it, and I really think I should just be by myself right now. But then you come along…" she waves a hand at me and sniffles "…with your charming self, and we're in this magical place... and I got caught up in the moment. But I'm scared because this is all going to be over soon, and I don't want to get hurt again."

I'm caught off guard too, by the honesty of her words and what she just shared with me. I reach for her hand. "Bella, I'm not going to hurt you."

"Right..." She chuckles humorlessly, looking down.

"Listen to me." I grab her chin so her eyes meet mine. "We'll figure something out. I just found you — I'm not going to let you go."

"See? Why do you have to say stuff like that?" She drops her head on my chest.

I run a hand over her hair and kiss the top of her head. "I know we haven't had too much time together, and I get it if you still don't trust me, but I'm in this, Bella. I mean it. You're not gonna get rid of me so easily."

"I don't want to get rid of you," she says into my chest.

"Okay, good... now that that's settled." I grab her hand and bring it down over my stomach and on top of my underwear, where I'm still very much hard for her.

She giggles. "Make up your mind, Cullen. You either want me to do this or you don't."

"I don't, actually." Chuckling, I move her hand back to my chest and she sighs. As much as I would like to make this go in that direction, I can't help the sadness that overrides me, when I look at the tears that still make her lashes wet. "What did he do to you?"

I wish I knew who the bastard was, so I could inflict some pain on him for hurting her.

She blinks a couple times, uncertain. I guess she didn't expect the conversation to go this way.

"Um... what he did was a lot of models behind my back."

"He cheated on you." God, what an idiot.

"See, I don't know if I would call it cheating. I was under the impression we were in a relationship. He, however, was not. I was just so stupid."

"Sounds to me like he was the stupid one." I'm relieved when I see that my statement makes her smile. "So who was he, some kind of star from your network?"

"Star? More like Sport's Expert." She snorts through her words.

Oh God, please no…

My mind travels to the first time I saw Bella on the TV screen transmitting live for ESPN. I remember making fun of the same "sport's experts" she works with. Paul Lahote and… "Sam Uley?"

"What? No!"

Oh, thank fuck!

"Paul..." she whispers.

Paul?

Paul!

Oh, for fuck's sakes!

I shoot up from the bed running a hand through my hair. "Paul? You were with Paul? You've got to be kidding me!"

I know Paul. I cannot believe this. Suddenly something else clicks in my head. It's gotta be the same Paul that kept calling her during the game. He still calls her. He still wants her. Well, he can't have her — she's mine.

"Yeah, that Paul…" Bella's voice comes softly from the bed.

"Shit, Bella. We went to high school together. We used to play soccer together."

"I know. He brags about knowing you a lot."

"What a fucking asshole! I can't believe it!" Oh how I wish I didn't know who her ex was. I could just have a faceless son-of-a-bitch to hate on. But Paul, Paul is too real, too close. I want to hurt him.

I pace around the bedroom, not knowing what to do or how to control my anger. Bella kneels on the mattress, eyeing me carefully.

"Hey, calm down." She reaches for my elbow and turns me, so that I'm standing in front of her, before she starts speaking again. "I'm pretty sure I got this job thanks to him, actually. He must have put a good word in for me; maybe he felt bad for how things ended. I got the job less than a month after we broke up."

I don't tell her what I'm thinking, but as good as she is at her job, he probably just wanted to keep her around so he could continue to take advantage of her. The fucking douche-bag.

God, I'm being an asshole. She's good at her job. Period.

I'm pretty close to hyperventilating — a growl building in my chest. My hands, in fists, rest at my sides, as I try to cope with the images my masochistic brain keeps showing me. Paul's hands on Bella. Bella's on him.

"Hey…" Her voice is small, and I feel her hand on my neck, pulling me to her. "Stop..." Her touch is numbing, and I let her pull me back to bed. I lie on my back, with her by my side, as she caresses my hair and my neck, in the most hypnotizing manner.

He'll never touch her again, even if I have to chop off his hands.

God, I'm going to hate her work. I'm going to want her to quit. We're going to fight over this. I just know it.

I try to take deep breaths, in an effort to control my rage, before all the asshole-y, possessive, insecure thoughts I'm having come spilling out.

As Bella continues caressing my hair, I calm down enough to realize she's humming. When I pick up the tune, I smile.

We've got tonight.

She's right.

I'm getting ahead of myself. I won't ruin this before it starts. I'm overthinking everything instead of enjoying my time with her. With each stroke of my hair, Bella peels a layer of anger from me, replacing it with utter calm. Before I know it, I drift away and let her take me.

T-minus two days for the World Cup final.

A/N: Sleepover?

How do you like the Cullens?

You guise! Tsk, tsk, tsk… Paul even appeared on Chapter one! Courtney37 and Ladynikiw got really close, guessing Paul was the ex-boyfriend! 1000 virtual gummy bears for you two, sweets!

Also, how do you guys feel about Bella finally giving in? Too soon? Too late? Right on time? Honestly though, who could resist Edward playing with a little toddler? BTW, that scene was inspired by this gif (bit . ly/JUmTyb) Ovary-melting warning!

See you guys Thursday!

Ronnie :)