Stephenie Meyer owns all these characters. I just wanted to take them to play somewhere different for a while.

All I can say is thank you Beachlover for helping me get this ready in time because you all are very impatient! When people start mentioning pitch forks and torches in reviews, then I've found I can type really fast!

So let's just get on with it shall we - it's time he answered her question.

...

Chapter 10 – 60's Night – Part 2

Bella

"Edward, please tell me what happened to us."

I saw his fists clench and for a moment, I feared I should have kept silent.

"I think we should get back."

"You don't think you owe me an explanation?"

"No, Bella, why would I think that?" I dropped my hand, disappointed as his eyes narrowed on me.

"I don't understand you, Edward. You seem to like me, so what's holding you back?" He snorted, hard, then shook his head and looked right at me, taking a step closer.

"You…you fucking did my head in and I don't do failure well, Bella."

"How!"

"You really don't want to get into this now." He said it slowly, like a threat, and promptly walked out.

I sat there on the stool, hearing the muted music playing down the hall and occasional laughter. I had no idea what has just happened or what he was trying to tell me. I was only aware of my heart racing and my lips still tingling because fuck, the man could kiss.

I wondered what to do now. In my current state, I could not convincingly hold an intelligent conversation on business but I didn't think I could handle another smoke. I was ravenous, so I slipped through the crowd and headed for the kitchen.

"What can I get you, would you like a drink?" a skinny waiter enquired.

"Um, have you got any finger food left and maybe a beer?"

He smiled. "Sure, no problem, I'll bring it to you. Where will you be?"

I looked around for somewhere to sit peacefully and spied the sun lounges by the pool.

"I'll be just there." I pointed and he nodded, commenting on how beautiful it looked outside.

I sunk down into the padded lounge and put my feet up, taking in the incredible house surrounding me. It really was private, their own little cocoon right on the water, lit by the soft rippling light from the pool.

"Here you go, Bella."

I looked up and saw Emmett handing me a beer and opening his own before turning. "Oh, thanks, man." He took his own plate of food as the waiter handed me mine. "We had exactly the same idea. You got the munchies too?"

I laughed and nodded as he sat down on the lounge next to me and put something in his mouth before chewing and making a contented noise. "You know it still feels weird being here in a different house. It even makes the view of the bay look different."

"Oh Emmett I love this house. Congratulations. Your mother is over the moon with it."

"Yeah, well a lot of love went into it. Took nearly two years to get it right and there's still some things I'd change but you know, you have to stop somewhere."

"I love the bridge over to the house and the big circular entry. It just has that wow factor."

"I do love circles, Bella; they just work for some reason. Not too many people dare to use them these days so I got a chance with this project to feed my creative urges. Mom gave me full reign really."

"What was it like before?"

"Uh." He looked up and around to get his bearings. "We'd be under the deck right now. The block sloped from the road down to the water back then so the deck was on stilts. The old house was weatherboard and while Mom always kept it nice, the location right on the water was taking its toll. Just lucky I can design and build, right?"

"You should be very proud of it, Emmett."

"Actually right here is where most of our parties took place when we were in college. Shit we had some nights down here."

"You didn't go away to college?"

"Nah, we all went to college in Seattle and lived at home. Dad said he'd pay so we didn't have to start work with a huge debt but he wouldn't pay for student accommodation. I know it seems strange but they gave us a lot of freedom."

"I assumed you all went to Ivy League schools."

He snorted. "Not the Cullens, no we all went to Nathan. You can walk there from here. Where did you go?"

"Forks High School and then I got into the writing school at MIT. I found out I'm a much better editor than a writer," I said as I snorted. "I know all the rules and the language, but my imagination is not good enough to make a living out of it."

"I think you're lucky if you find one thing you're good at." I nodded in agreement with that one.

"Hey, where's Rosie. Is she coming out?" I still hadn't talked to her.

"Uh, she's having a little nap. God she burns out quickly, has she always been like that?"

I nodded again - amused that he knew this already. "Yeh, she likes to think she can drink, but after about three or four, she's a lost cause. She skiffles!"

"She what?"

"Disappears, goes to bed without saying goodnight. It's just a thing that we say."

"Skiffles, shit I like that!" He laughed away to himself, looking back at his plate.

It was quiet for a while as I watched a boat cruise past.

"Look, Bella, I hope I didn't do the wrong thing last week, you know, after that stupid shit with Edward."

I sat up and turned to him, eager to catch any information. "Oh God, please tell me what happened, Emmett! She hasn't called me and Edward will barely speak to me."

He snorted. "Edward shouldn't have involved her as far as I'm concerned. He asked her a few questions about your friend Jake and she wasn't sure what to say so she kind of clammed up. When Edward flipped out and moved back here, she tried to blame herself but I asked her not to say anything. I told her not to worry about it because Edward is an idiot sometimes and that I knew you two would be fine."

"We're not fine, Emmett. He's all over the place with me and he basically ignores me most of the time."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "Trust me, Bella, he's not ignoring you. He'll come round when he sorts his own shit out. Anyway, the forces are conspiring against him faster than he can fight back." He made an arc in the air with his arm, still holding the beer.

"Christ, what does that mean?"

"It means that my sister and mother have taken a shine to you and the fact that they put you in that dress this evening shows they're serious. Dad proposed to Mom the night she last wore it."

I looked down at the dress, horrified that I was wearing such an icon. "Oh no, I feel really scared now. I could have burned it or spilt something on it and ruined it!"

"Don't worry about it. It's the message it sends more than the actual dress – Mom's big on symbolic gestures and Edward will understand. In fact don't look now, but he's watching you from a window upstairs."

Of course, I had to glance up and I saw him for a fleeting second before he moved back out of sight.

"What is his problem?"

Emmett grinned at me. "He's got a stick up his ass but he'll work it out." The whole thing was driving me mad. I just picked at the rest of the food on my plate.

He dropped the subject of Edward and continued asking me questions about my life, family, college and what it was like working for his father. He made me feel special and I could see how Rosie had fallen for him. He seemed like a genuine person, very comfortable in his own skin. Emmett was just a nice guy all round.

I was suddenly aware of the increase in volume behind me and we both turned round to see couples slow dancing to When a Man Loves a Woman. Emmett sighed in frustration, but I thought it was great that the elders were getting into it. I just watched them, thinking how nice it would be to have a man to dance with me like that.

Emmett jumped and we both turned back to see Alice, Jasper, Paul and Edward all holding blankets, one of which had already landed in Emmett's lap.

"We're going to start the fire Em. Want to come?"

Edward was holding a blanket out to me. "It's getting colder, Bella. You'll need this out here." Emmett glanced at me sideways, a hint of a smirk on his lips.

"Sure Al, it's getting too loud to have a reasonable conversation anyway." He stood to leave but I stayed, unsure if I'd been invited to go with them or not. I'd snuggle here on my lounge under the blanket for a while and take in my surroundings. They walked away, Edward hesitating for a moment before going with them towards the water.

It felt wonderful being outside under the blanket and I closed my eyes as the next song came on, Etta James' At Last. I was humming to myself along with the song when I heard my name gently called.

"Aren't you coming down with us?" It was Edward with his hand out.

I took his hand, a little confused. As he brought me up he coaxed me close with his other hand on my waist and we ended up chest to chest, looking into each other's eyes. The warmth of his body radiated through me and I yearned to keep him near, even if only for a few minutes. "Please dance with me Edward, I love this song."

Without saying a word, he moved my hand to his chest before pulling me closer with the other. "Me too." I rested my head on his shoulder as we moved back and forth and I felt a tingle as his hand moved softly to my lower back. It seemed like we were joined – every inch of him down to his knees was touching me, guiding me with the strength of his body that he used so gently.

The song didn't last nearly long enough for me and the surreal moment was over as soon as Stand By Me started playing. He straightened up as if he'd been leaning down onto me and then he released me. One of my hands had traveled up and was now hanging onto the back of his shoulder. The other one I left flat on his chest. Could he tell I didn't want this to end?

"Come on Bella, let's go." He had both hands on my arms now, ready to push me away.

I shook my head. "Please tell me what I did, Edward. I need to know."

He grimaced, not wanting to speak. "Don't you get it? I don't want to ruin the evening and it is going to be ruined if we start this." He stood close to me, overbearing and beautiful.

"How bad can it be, Edward?"

He snorted and started to walk back down to the others, leaving me frustrated and bewildered. Then he turned, running his fingers through his hair and began to storm back at me. I backed up because he looked menacing now.

"You remember that first night I came to your place, what I asked you?" He was glaring at me now, furious and barely controlled.

"I don't know, no!"

"Well I remember every damn word that came out of your mouth. I asked you if you had a boyfriend and you said 'Not lately. It's been just me for a while.' That meant no, right, I don't have a boyfriend?"

"That's right, I don't have a boyfriend and it has been a while." Jesus, this is about Jake!

He was building up to something and I saw his fists clench for the second time this evening.

"Well how about you explain your relationship with Jake because he sure as hell sounded like a boyfriend with the messages he left on your phone!"

Fuck, I could feel every ounce of blood in my veins straining against the beats of my heart. I tried to calm down and just answer the question.

"Jake and I care about each other, that's all. He's not my boyfriend, just a friend."

"Don't fucking lie to me again! I may have been out of the game for a while but I know a booty call when I hear one!"

Shit, shit, shit, I could just imagine what he would have said on the phone.

"What gives you the right to delete my messages? You're judging me without knowing all the facts."

"Okay, I agree I was doing that at first, so I asked Rosie and you know what she said?" I just cringed inside, knowing this part. "She said nothing, like a deer caught in the headlights - she opened and closed her mouth without any words coming out, so I think they were all the facts I needed, don't you? That's when I packed up your stuff for the courier!"

I thought about what I should say and I tried to keep cool. "You should have asked me, Edward. She can't stand Jake. In this case, silence meant nothing."

"Oh, but there's more!" His arms flew out and his eyebrows raised. "I did start to question it when I heard your messages and read your texts to me. I even replayed the booty call message in my head to see if it sounded like a joke call because he was laughing so hard when he left it. I kept thinking, why would a boyfriend not know for days if his girl had nowhere to live?" He leaned forward, clasping his hands together. "I still had hope at that point, believe it or not, so I offered to drop Rosie off when you went shopping. I thought I would come in and say hi, but you can see in from the road, Bella. I saw him kiss you goodbye and when he hightailed it out of there, she seethed his name as she spotted him leaving. That's when I knew you were with him and it was over between us."

"You're assuming you know everything, when you know nothing, Edward."

"Just let me get this straight with you, Bella. I don't do chicks that have multiple partners. I've been there and done that and I won't break that rule ever."

"How dare you say that to me you arrogant…" I could really feel myself working up for something bad. "You have no idea how I live my life and you have no right after a mere week to judge me like this!"

"A mere week? I have been pursuing you ever since you came into our building! Every time I asked you out, you had some excuse but you never used the boyfriend card to get rid of me and no one ever came to pick you up for a date as far as I saw! You were always there working! I was convinced you were single and I stupidly, so stupidly put myself out there! Christ, you had me so fooled I was fucking falling for you! Did somebody tell you I was easy to play? Did you enjoy it, Bella?"

I slapped him across the face.

I didn't mean to and it scared me to death.

Moments passed, maybe minutes, while he held the side of his face, staring at me in shock, and then stormed off into the house.

I dropped back down on the sun lounge, hoping what just happened had not happened, but my stinging hand told me otherwise. The track changed to What a Wonderful World and I snorted at how out of place it seemed.

Alice was soon at my side. "Bella, did you just slap my brother?" I think she was ready to take me on. All the Cullens would line up to have a go now.

I took a deep breath. "He just accused me of cheating on him and I didn't. I would never do that to anyone, ever." The tears were beginning now. "He asked me if I enjoyed it, Alice. How does he know how to stick a knife into you and twist it like that?"

Alice sat down with me and placed a couple of stray hairs around my ear as I sobbed and tried to wipe under my eyes. She looked out at the water and sighed. "She did this to him, that bitch of a wife. She's the cheater, the one who makes him expect that poor behavior from everyone. For what it's worth, when he finds out he was wrong he'll be beside himself. He'll come around, don't worry, that is if you still want him, and you do don't you?"

I nodded, still crying. "I've tried but I can't hate him, Alice, and I do still want him. He's the most annoying, infuriating, judgmental man I've ever met but I can't get him out of my mind. What am I going to do?"

"Just be patient, Bella. I have a very strong feeling about you two. I know you will be together just as I knew he'd never stay married to Tanya. Come on, let's go down to the fire and forget this for a while. It's beautiful down there."

I sat up, sniffling, and she placed the blanket round my shoulders. I let her guide me down to the fire, on the last of the grass before the sand. From down here you could see up the bay and the moon's glow illuminating in the expanse of black water. This incredible beauty made me feel even sadder for some reason.

Emmett sat forward, "You okay? What did he do to you?"

"We're not talking about it right now, Emmy. It's time for a little break from the fighting." She sat me down and rubbed my back. Then Jasper smiled at her sweetly and she joined him, sitting in his lap as he surrounded her with his blanket.

"There's two theories to arguin' with a woman and neither one works." Jasper really didn't talk that much but he came out with these gems every now and again. Alice giggled and hugged him tight. I was too miserable to laugh at the moment.

"Fighting, from Edward, that's awesome!" Emmett fist pumped. "Yeah, there's definitely hope for him now! I've seen more emotion come out of him in the last few weeks than I have in…fuck…years. You need to stick around, Bella, its fun when you're here."

He couldn't make me stop sniffling yet, but at least the tears were drying up. I'd kill for a tissue.

Emmett turned round and pointed up north towards the other side of the bay. "See up there where the flashing light is, Bella? That's Saint Edward State Park, where they got his old-fashioned name. Dad took Mom up there in the old motor boat one September evening and, as they like to tell us, that's where Edward was conceived."

Alice pointed at Emmett. "Hey they conceived me in Alice, Texas, on one of their crazy driving holidays with you boys."

Jasper pulled her back, looking straight in her eyes. "I know Alice. It's south west from where I lived, pretty close to the border with Mexico, darlin'."

She rubbed noses with him, quietly answering, "I just knew we had some cosmic connection Jazzy."

I wanted to stop blubbering so I joined in. "What about you Emmett, where did they conceive you?"

"He doesn't have a special story like us, do you Em."

We all jumped and Emmett said, "Shit, Edward, where did you pop up from?"

"It's low tide. I went for a walk to the park and came up the beach." He sat down in a chair, brushing his feet off and nodding his head toward Paul who had fallen asleep without any of us noticing.

Alice tried to stand up but Jasper wouldn't loosen his grip on her. "Paul!" She giggled and kissed Jasper's nose. "Let's get him inside, Jazz. I'm getting cold anyway." She raised her eyebrows suggestively and he smirked while releasing her, letting his hand linger for a moment on her ass before standing. Jasper lifted Paul, wrapping his arm round his shoulder and managed to walk him up the slight hill, Alice holding the blankets.

"Woo, this boy's shit the bed drunk!" Jasper called out and I heard Alice's giggles fading into the night air.

The track changed to I Got You Babe by Sonny and Cher and I guess this one fit perfectly with Jasper struggling to hold Paul up.

I chuckled at the sight and then stared out at the water, trying to look anywhere but at Edward. It was awkward and I was nervous about what he was going to say to me next when he'd been so angry when he left. Was he going to assault my morals again just for shits and giggles this time? I couldn't face him if he perceived me that way. He was wrong on so many levels, so ready to believe the worst when the opposite was true.

Emmett was leaning back, also scanning the water, moving his head and shoulders and humming quietly to the song. Nobody spoke, and I let myself imagine what it would be like if it was calm, like nothing had happened and I'd known these two for years.

The track changed to The Temptations singing My Girl and Emmett sat up. "Well, I think it's time I checked on my girl. Thanks for the smokes tonight, Ed." He stood and squeezed Edward's shoulder. "Just like old times, huh?"

Edward smiled at him. "Will you check on the state of that room?"

"We're sleeping in there so I'll fix it in the morning before we come out. Hey Bella, you water ski?"

"I've only tried it once, Emmett. I fell down a lot." He laughed and placed his hand on my head.

"You'll be good. Alice is driving tomorrow and she's safer than either of us, or Dad for that matter." He leaned down, squeezed my hand lightly and then waved at Edward. "I'll see you at breakfast."

Now it was just the two of us and the silence was deafening. I tried to focus on the sound of the waves coming into the shore, tiny and regular, slapping the sand. Then he spoke softly.

"Why couldn't you just tell me, Bella? I need to know for my own peace of mind why you had to lie."

I looked at him for a few moments before speaking. "You don't seem to think much of me, Edward. I already told you I didn't lie but you don't believe me so what's the point?"

His hand hit the arm of his chair. "Are you really going to keep this up?" His hands went to his hair, the frustration bubbling to the surface again.

"Are you! I have never cheated on anyone, Edward Cullen! My mother did that once and I saw it crush my father, so I couldn't do that to someone and I'd never put up with it either! I can tell you've been hurt, but there's no reason to take it out on me. I've done nothing to be ashamed of."

"Okay, tell me who Jake is then."

"I told you, he's someone I care about."

"Enough to sleep with?"

I rose to get up. "You're not going to listen are you? The jury's in before you've heard the evidence."

He grabbed my wrist and then gently let his hand slip away. "Please stay. I will listen. I need to hear this for my sanity."

I sat back down and he leaned forward, his body language telling me he was open to talk without excessive emotion.

"Jacob Black and I grew up together because our fathers were best friends, still are, but Jake's four years younger than me, so we were never in sync romantically. When I was fourteen, he was only ten if you know what I mean, but we get along great so we kept this private friendship going where it was just the two of us. He never went out with my friends and vice versa."

Edward was still leaning forward, his expression meant nothing particular to me but at least he was quiet.

"When Jake left Forks and came to Seattle, I looked after him for a while. He slept on the couch until he found his own place and I was like his big sister - no that's the wrong word - we were both very lonely. Most of my friends from Macmillan's shunned me when I left and Jake knew no one in Seattle, so we spent a lot of time together. One night we had a few drinks and started whining about our pathetic sex lives when we came up with this idea to have sex with each other, you know just for the release."

Edward's hand came up, covering his face under his nose and over his mouth. I couldn't tell if I'd piqued his interest, if he was horrified or just trying to control what words came out.

I let out a long breath. "There were guidelines we adhered to in this arrangement, Edward, and we were tested for STD's before anything happened. We would call each other if we were horny and it happened only if we both wanted it. It was as if when we met specifically for sex we were two different people. You might find it hard to understand, but Jake comes over other times just to watch a movie or talk and stays on the couch. In fact, he rarely ever slept in my bed. We never went out as couple and we kept it to ourselves. Really, Rosie is the only one who knows and she doesn't want to understand it, the fact I could love someone without being in love with him."

Edward pressed his palms together in front of his face and he blew into them. I still couldn't fathom what his reaction to all this was.

"It's pretty sad really when you think about it. After going out with James and being basically abandoned, I have been very picky about men and in six months you were the first guy I let in to my world. It's funny because Jake just met someone special too and he came over the other night to tell me that the sex between us was over. The timing would have been perfect if you hadn't…you hadn't…dumped me for no reason."

I actually heard the howling sound before I realized the torrent of tears that was about to unleash itself. The pain in my sinuses told me it wasn't worth fighting and I let it take me. Edward was off his chair in a flash, kneeling in front of me and running his thumbs over my cheeks.

"Please don't cry, I'm so sorry, I wouldn't hurt you like this for the world. I'm not sure I fully understand but I believe you. I knew it, all the time I knew you weren't capable of the things that were right in front of me. I knew it wasn't true."

I put my arms round his neck and let the tears soak into his t-shirt. After a minute, he pulled my chin up, smiling and looking from one eye to the other, seeing the truth in my eyes. He leaned in for a kiss but I put my hands on his chest to keep him away, shaking my head and laughing.

"I can't kiss you like this, Edward. It's too gross."

"Blow your nose on my t-shirt – I don't care." He grabbed the shirt, pulling it up for me and I got a look at his chiseled chest. Fuck. I shook my head, saying that was worse and asked if we could just go inside.

He sighed but took the blanket from me and we walked up the hill, separate but a little closer than we had been.

"What time is it anyway?"

"I don't know, but she's playing Burt Bacharach, so they won't be far behind us. I think this party's over."

We went upstairs to find someone had swapped Jasper's bag with mine, placed in the middle of Edward's bed. We looked at each other, and then he snorted and shook his head. "That pixie, I bet she planned this all night."

I went straight to the bathroom and blew my nose, then I wiped my raccoon eyes, feeling worn out and exhausted from crying. "Edward, I'll go out on the couch, I really don't mind."

"Like hell you will! I do have some self-control you know, you stay with me!" He startled me. "I mean please stay and just sleep next to me. I'll be good."

He took my hand and we sat down on the bed. His finger gently ran down my cheek and he looked at me sincerely. "Did you realize how badly I was failing at trying to stay away from you, Bella? I couldn't, I kept coming back because more torture was better than not seeing you."

I looked at his handsome face, his tormented expressions as he spoke, and I pushed his hair back, watching it fall forward immediately.

"It's funny you should say that because even though I was really hurt, I couldn't stay mad at you. I kept hoping whatever it was had nothing to do with me, and that soon you'd just call and apologize for being a moody shit. Then you completely ignored me in the office and I couldn't work you out at all." He looked at me, shaking his head.

"If you only knew, Bella. Oh God, I am really sorry." He put his forehead on my shoulder and I ran my hand over his head.

"Well I'm very sorry for slapping you. I didn't plan it if that's any consolation." I put my cheek to the top of his head, trying to soothe him as much as I could.

He looked up at me and then snorted. "It was probably the best thing you could have done. It kind of brought me to my senses. I realized I'm tired of trying to stay away from you, Bella. I very much want to try and work it out if you'll give me a chance."

"You'll have to accept the thing with Jake you know. I can see that it's hard for a normal person to understand, but it is what it is and I'm not ashamed of it. He is important to me, but just know that he's not important to us. That part of the relationship is over for good and I would never cheat on you. It's not in my makeup to do such a thing."

He grimaced and I could see he was struggling. "I guess I'll get my head around it. I'll try."

I suddenly had an idea. "Let's start again, Edward. Let's pretend we don't have six month's history and all this crap behind us." I couldn't resist. I had to put my finger in the tiny indent in his chin that had been calling out to be touched and I felt his arm go round my waist. "We can reveal our personal secrets honestly and appropriately, when we need to, like normal people. We can build some trust and work on whatever this attraction is between us in the meantime."

God that is a sexy smirk.

"Do you want to start dating? Is that what you mean?" He started tracing the way my hair swept over my forehead, making me lose concentration.

"Uh yeah, that's exactly what I mean, Edward. Let's find out about each other and whether we're compatible before we find out, you know, if we're compatible." He burst into laughter, looking happier than I'd seen him in a while.

"Sounds like a plan, a very good plan in fact. Now come on, we need to get some sleep."

"What I really need now is a shower. I smell of hair spray and dope and beer and smoke and I'd prefer to smell of you."

He suggestively raised a single eyebrow and smirked. "After you woman, just don't use every drop of hot water, okay?"

"Yes sir, whatever you say." I curtsied.

I stood to get my toiletries and he lay back on the bed with his arms behind his head watching me. I tried to be demure but he saw me take my panties, a shirt and shorts from my bag and I'm sure I heard a deep growl come from him.

When I looked at him lying on the bed like that, my brain filled with fantasy Edward thoughts and I imagined him naked, almost exactly like that while I rode him into oblivion.

I have to say, it looked pretty fucking good.

...

A/N

Would you have stayed with him that night or kicked him out to the couch?

Drop me a review and let me know.

I hope you enjoyed 60's night. It will be interesting to find out how these two feel about each other in the morning.

Beachlover's recs this week are both fantastic WIP's

Deviant by planetblue - "He pissed me off and then he turned me on. Spectacularly."

Push by xXKiwiCullenXx - "Inspired by "Push" by Matchbox 20. I remained in my hiding place taking in the older motorcycle, his messy wind blown bronze hair, leather jacket, worn jeans, biker boots and white t-shirt. He was a like a modern day James Dean."