AN: Dear followers, Sorry it has been so long since I last updated but thank you for bearing with me. As a thank you, I am posting chapters 9 and 10 today and chapter 11 next week.

Chapter 9 – A Blissful Romance

"A man had given all other bliss, and all his worldly worth for this; to waste his whole heart in one kiss upon her perfect lips." – Alfred Lord Tennyson

*Emmett*

The past three months with Bella were so blissful. We went out to lunch once a week and she spent her weekends in my arms. Even though we had yet to take our relationship to the next level, things between us could not be better.

Bella expressed that she was feeling the same way I was over lunch the week before Thanksgiving.

"So my dad called earlier asking if I was coming home for Thanksgiving and I thought we could tell him then that we are dating." She spoke with some hesitance.

I was a bit surprised she wanted to tell anyone about us. Outside of her friends and my students in my class, no one else knew that we were dating. Whenever I brought it up, she always made some comment about what other would think.

"So you've gotten over caring about what others are going to say?" I wanted to tell our families this summer when we made it official but Bella wanted to give our relationship "time to blossom" or something.

"Yeah, we've been together for a while now and it's clear that I'm the best it's going to get for you." she smirked.

I rolled my eyes and laughed, happy that she was finally ready to tell other about us.

*Bella*

"So how are things going with you and Emmett?" Angela asked after we finished our weekly work out.

"I invited him home for Thanksgiving."

"What does your dad think of that? Or have you not told him yet?" she asked, noticing the look on my face.

"I figured Thanksgiving was the best time to tell him. He'll be in a good mood and since Sue's moved in, I can count on her to rein him in."

"Well I have to say you seem a lot happier being with him. You're smiling more and seriously relaxed. I love it."

"It's all Emmett. When I'm with him, I feel like he's putting me first but not on a pedestal like I was some prized artwork that was too fragile to handle. The happiness that I feel when I'm with him is on a whole other level."

Thanksgiving arrived, bringing with it the first snow fall of the season. Wednesday night was filled with small delicate flakes that turned into a semi-harsh storm by Thursday morning. So Emmett insisted on driving us rather than driving separate cars.

"I'm already springing it on my dad that I'm dating someone. I just think it will be very awkward if we show up together, in the same vehicle."

Emmett chuckled and pulled me back into the bed into his side. "Babe, I understand that you're nervous but this isn't the old days where your father had to approve of our relationship. If he doesn't like it, then too bad."

I smiled, my nervousness slipping away. Emmett was right, if my dad didn't approve, then too bad.

Feeling a bit more confident, I began getting ready. After I showered I dressed in a smoky grey sweater dress and black leggings.

After applying my make-up, Emmett wrapped his arms around my waist and gave me a kiss on my neck. "Don't worry, everything will be fine. If you begin to feel like you can't handle it then say the word and we'll leave."

Half an hour later, Emmett and I were piling into his jeep. "Last chance to change your mind." he smirked, helping me into the seat. I shook my head. I'd been putting it off for too long. It was time my boyfriend met my family.

Since the roads were pretty bad, we had to creep through my old neighborhood before slowly pulling into the driveway. I saw that Leah's car was here, for which I was grateful. If my dad tried to jump on Emmett, I could use her as well as Sue to get him to back down.

"We don't have to go in there if you don't want to. We can just turn around and they won't be none the wiser." Emmett suggested.

Despite having butterflies in the pit of my stomach, I shook my head no and placed my hand in his outstretched one, allowing him to help me down.

Just as Emmett was locking up the jeep, the front door opened. "I told you I heard someone pull up, Sue." He shouted over his shoulder.

He stepped out further, peering through the snow.

"Bells, that you?" he called out.

I tighten my grip on Emmett and allowed him to lead me towards the house. The entire way, I kept my eyes on my dad, waiting for him to react to Emmett. His face was a mix of confusion and worry.

"Happy Thanksgiving, Dad!" I greeted him with a hug. He patted my back stiffly, never taking his eyes off the guy standing next to me.

"Yeah, you too Bells. What is – what's all this?"

I let go of my dad and pulled Emmett to my side, slipping my hand back into his. "Dad, this is Emmett Cullen, my boyfriend."

"Cullen you say? You uh you related to Edward?"

Emmett's face remained stoic as he nodded yes. "Yes sire, he's my brother. Adoptive brother but brother all the same."

My dad nodded and mumbled something before inviting us into the house.

"Well I guess we should get out of this nasty weather. Bells, I'm sure Sue could use your help in there. Emmett, you and I can get to know each other in the living room."

We followed him in and I hung up my coat by the door before heading into the kitchen. Sue was pulling the Turkey out of the oven while Leah's girlfriend, Kylie, was whisking the mashed potatoes.

"Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!" I called out.

Both ladies reciprocated my greeting, Sue with a hug.

"How have you been? I was sorry to hear things between you and Jake didn't work out." She smiled warmly.

"It was for the best. But I've been good. How are you? I hope my dad hasn't been driving you crazy."

She laughed and commented on his stubbornness about her changing the décor in the house but that she was wearing him down.

After asking if I could do anything to help, Sue passed me the table linens and Leah the plates, to set the table.

"So don't tell anyone but I have some big news that I want to share at dinner." Leah whispered once we were in the dining room.

"Really what is it?" I asked, happy to see Leah so excited about something that didn't involve hitting someone.

She opened her mouth to speak but the chime of the doorbell cut her off. Leah smiled and held up her finger, saying "Give her a minute" before heading to answer the door.

I straighten the centerpiece and went to the kitchen to grab some glasses for everyone.

When I returned, Jake was standing the dining room, clearly waiting for me.

"Hey Bells. Happy Thanksgiving." He smiled before hugging me awkwardly.

"Yeah, same to you Jake. What are you doing here?"

"Dad and I always spend Thanksgiving with Charlie. I was surprised to hear you were going to be here. I know you normally prefer to spend Thanksgiving with your mom in Florida."

"Yeah well things change. I wanted to do something different this year."

Jake nodded and made a snide comment about "a lot of things with you have been different this year."

I huffed and walked away, choosing not to let my anger get the best of me.

As soon as I walked back into the kitchen, Sue asked me to gather everyone from the living room.

"Tell them to wash up, dinner's ready."

I headed into the living room to deliver the message, immediately noticing the scowl on Emmett's face. I raised my eyebrows at him to which he discreetly nodded towards the living room doorway where Jake was posted.

Earlier he promised me he wouldn't make a scene if Jacob was at my father's for Thanksgiving as we didn't think he would show.

"Hey everyone, Sue says the food is ready. Time to wash up."

The men trooped through to the bathroom, Emmett hanging back to give me a long kiss. When his lips finally left mine, I felt a bit lightheaded.

I heard someone scoff behind me and grumble something. I knew Emmett kissed me like that to throw it in Jacob's face and I didn't mind it at all.

After a prayer by Sue, my dad started carving the Turkey. Once everyone was served, the small talk started. Leah and Kylie told us about their life on the coast and Sue explained Seth's absence.

"The Coach is going to start him in the Bowl Game so Sue and I are heading to Miami to surprise him." My dad smiled. Charlie always wanted a son and now that he and Sue were together, he finally had one.

"So Bella, how are things going for you with your job. I showed your father the photos you did of that loft near the old logging mill. You did a wonderful job."

"Thanks; that was actually my first time leading a project. Because of Emmett's pushing, my boss finally took notice of what I could bring to the company. He's been hinting about opening up a second firm in Seattle. And if that happens I'll be moving to the Seattle and receive a promotion which will allow me some creative control over the projects I take on."

"Well as always, your Dad and I are proud of you. I'll be praying that you do get the promotion."

"Yeah, isn't that how you two met? On the job?" Jacob asked.

"Yes. The loft that I designed was for Emmett." I smiled as he placed his hand in mine.

"Huh, I always thought you couldn't date a client. I guess he was the exception to the rule."

Emmett looked right at Jake as he explained. "Well after I broke off my engagement to high school girlfriend, I was told Bella's firm was the best in town. As we worked so close together, it brought up old feelings. But I waited until I was no longer a client before asking her out."

"So are you and Bella living together?" My father asked.

I began choking on my greens and turning a bright shade of red while Emmett smirked. "No sir, I live at my loft and Bella stays at her townhouse."

"Yeah except for the night of your date right Emmett?" Jake sneered.

I shot him a warning look but Jake didn't stop. It was apparent he wasn't going to forgive me so easily.

"If I'm not mistaken, that was your first date right? And he spent the night. I remember you made me wait until our 5th date before I was allowed to spend the night and even then I had to sleep on the floor."

"Oh you mean the night where you and your friends jumped him outside of my place as he was kissing me goodnight? He did that because we didn't know if you were still out there waiting for him. It's clear now that you were."

"Have you even asked her father's permission to be with her? Oh, and I'm sure baby brother Edward doesn't know about this." Jake retorted.

"Jacob, that's enough." Sue spoke through her teeth.

"No I want to know. Bella, have you and Emmett here asked Edward how he felt about all this. He was deeply in love with you? And what about Emmett's ex? What does she think?"

"Dad, can we please not talk about this right now?" I pleaded with him.

"No it's fine Bella. I haven't spoken to Edward since he moved to the East Coast. I've tried to reach out to him but he never replied. And as far as my ex, well she lost the right to have an opinion about the people in my life when she cheated on me."

There was a bit of an awkward pause and I silently prayed that that would be the end of it.

But Jacob chose to do the exact opposite. "So your girlfriend cheated on you and you thought you would do the same?"

"Jacob, you and I were over before Emmett and I started dating."

"You broke up with me the day you went out on your first date!" He shouted, jumping to his feet.

"And when I told you about the kiss, you acted as if you didn't want us to be together. You told me you would've preferred me lying to you. How else could you expect me to take that?"

"Wait, wait a minute Bells. You and Jake were together when you kissed him and then you broke up with him just so you could date him, without feeling guilty?" My dad admonished me for my behavior

"Yes I did kiss Emmett which is what lead to us slowly breaking up. After that but we were breaking up long before Emmett came into the picture and you know it. I gave you the space you claimed to want and you did nothing!"

"I don't care Bells. Jake was pretty serious about you and he deserves more than you breaking up with him just to date someone new."

I could not believe the words coming out of my father's mouth. Sue gave him a warning look, noticing how uncomfortable the others were getting. Leah was looking anxiously at Kylie who was staring at the exchange between Emmett and Jacob.

Emmett was being polite but I could see the fury he was hiding behind his quiet demeanor.

"Charlie this really isn't any of our business. Let's let them work it out at another time."

"Huh, well I'm sorry but I raised my daughter to treat people with respect. Jake clearly loved Bells something fierce."

"Yeah Dad, just like Harry was pretty serious about Sue. After all they got married and had a couple of kids, no offense Sue." I countered.

"True but I waited until she was done mourning him before I even approached her. I respected her and I think you should have given Jacob the same courtesy, that's all."

I pushed my plate away, having lost my appetite and desire to be in present company any longer. After a few awkward minutes, I carried my plate into the kitchen, throwing it in the sink and bracing myself against it.

"Bella, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. It's just I thought that you and Jake were going to give me grandkids and grow old together. You can't blame me for being upset that you two are no longer together."

"And I understand that Dad. But you're acting like you don't want to give Emmett a chance. I really like him, I always have. When he came back into my life I struggled with my decision to pursue a relationship with him but I did what I thought was going to cause the least amount of heartbreak."

"I remember how upset you were when he left for college. You told Edward you needed to take a break. You sat in your room crying for a week then you became some adrenaline junkie with Jacob. Every weekend, it was something different with you two. And I didn't say anything because I trusted Jacob would keep you safe. And I knew this was your way of working through your pain.

"But after the cliff diving incident and the motorbike "accidents", I began to worry that you weren't ever going to be over him. Then one day you were and I just don't want you going back to that dark place."

My dad pulled me in for a hug and stroked my hair. "I just don't want you going back to that if things don't work out with your "dream guy". I have you best interest in all this Bells, I hope you know that."

"I know Dad. But Emmett isn't going anywhere so you don't have to worry about that."

After the tension between my dad and I was diffused, Sue packed up a plate of food and dessert for Emmett and I.

I returned to the dining room and apologized to both Leah and Kylie.

"You guys, I'm sorry that my personal drama ruined your holiday. Kylie we're not usually like this, at all." I explained.

Both women just smiled as Leah explained Kylie's family is pretty much the same way when they get together for the holidays.

"Only difference is, in my family after the first argument, someone breaks a dish over someone's head and the rest of the evening is filled with shouting and food flying everywhere. This was a nice change of pace."

I hugged them both and returned to the foyer where Emmett was slipping into his coat. I grabbed mine and pulled it on, passing the food bag to Emmett. I thanked Sue for dinner and promised the next holiday wouldn't be more of the same.

My dad stepped forward pulling me in for one last hug. "I hope I didn't ruin thanksgiving for you Bells. I just want you to be happy." He shrugged.

I smiled and wiped away the couple of tears welling up.

"Well I will say this much. I like him better than Edwin. At least he understands sports." He chuckled.