Title:Living Life

Summary:When Edward fell for Bella he knew his life would change forever, watch as he navigates this life with just love and a plan.

Rating:M because we all love our OCD lovin'

Pairing:It's always going to be an E/B story

Disclaimer:No, I still don't own these characters. Although I wish I did.

Chapter 11- Bella
Come Away With Me

I watched as my Dad twirled his new bride around the make shift dance floor with a smile. He looked really happy. He'd never admit it but for a long time he was afraid he was never going to find anybody, that one day I would be gone with my own family and he would have no one. I think that's why he wanted me to be with Jacob, because Jacob was never going to live La Push, and Dad probably hoped I'd settled just fifteen minutes away. It broke Dad's heart more than mine when he found out what Jacob did, because I think my Dad felt it was just going to push me further away.

I would never do that to my Dad but we're not the kind of family that talks about these sorts of things. My need to talk about everything that crosses my mind comes from my mother and years of Angela complaining that it wasn't healthy to keep things bottled up. Sure I could talk to my Dad, but he would never tell me I was wrong. He was the one who picked me up and told me everything would be okay no matter what I did.

Sometimes I wished I could talk to him about some stuff, but then I realised it wouldn't be a relationship my Dad was comfortable with. He kept his own emotions to himself; it was what he was taught to do by his father. Some people say that's unhealthy now of days. I think it just displays generational gaps.

I was so happy Dad had met Sue; she just suited him and his life very well. She was a small town woman who preferred the simpler things in life. She was extremely down to earth and just an all round nice person, the type of person I wanted my Dad to be with.

Absolutely nothing like my Mom. From the moment she found out she was pregnant she resented him. She never wanted to resent me, so all the hurt and anger she had went to him. He had tried so hard to make it work, to make her happy and give her a safe home where they could raise me. But my Mom always thought she was bigger than this small town life, and I think she had raised me to think that I was bigger than that too. It would something my father could never understand.

He thought I would settle down back home in Forks. I'm sorry small town life just wasn't for me. I was much happier on the edge of the city, in the suburbs. I think it worked a lot better for my personality. And Edward's. I couldn't even imagine how he would live in a small town environment like this. Everyone was too lacked and in each other's business. In the city there was hustle and bustle. We had lived in our house for eight weeks now and we hadn't one neighbour come up to our door, it was sorta perfect. I can't say Edward would have survived had the welcoming committee arrived with pies and casseroles to eat, strangers and touching his food? Yeah I would be scraping him off the floor by now.

But looking at my Dad I knew that with Sue he was finally happy. Maybe I didn't understand the romance of small town living, but my Dad did and he was living it out right now.

It was almost like a fairytale but with plaid shirts instead of armour and an old Chevy truck instead of white horse.

My Dad was finally getting his happily ever after.

I was leaning against the decking railing in my Dad's yard watching him when I heard someone clear their voice behind me.

"Bella?"

I turned and saw my cousin Vanessa standing there holding a sleeping baby. The baby had darker skin than Vanessa and deep brown hair.

"I have nothing to say to you." I told her trying to walk past her when she stopped me.

"Please, let me say this?" she asked.

"Why? Do you want me to feel bad for you now or something? What he's left you alone with the baby and you and I are supposed to bond over the fact that he cheated on us both? That's not going to happen." I told her walking past her.

"I wanted to apologise." She explained.

"I don't need an apology Vanessa; I need you and Jacob to stay away from me." I told her. "I have my life and I don't need people like you butting in and trying to make me feel like crap just so you can feel better about yourself. What you did was horrible. I hope you have trouble looking at yourself in the mirror, because I thought you were my best friend." I told.

"Why are you being like this? You didn't even love Jake anymore when it happened!" She said and I shook my head at her ignorance.

"That isn't the point." I told her. "That's not why I'm mad at both of you. You knew how I felt Ness, if you wanted to be with him all you had to do was tell me and I would have ended it, or told him to end it. I was perfectly happy to let him go but it was you who told me to hang in there with him, that we would work through our rough patch." I said "You both humiliated me. Everyone knew except for me, and here I was telling people that sure Jacob and I had problems but we're trying to make them work. I looked like an idiot. Right under my nose my cousin, and supposed best friend, was sleeping with my boyfriend of five year. It wasn't like Jacob and I were just a fling. It really hurt. The sneakiness and the lying. That's why I'm mad." I said.

"Do you not think I thought about it? I wanted to tell you so bad. It just happened so fast." She said readjusting the baby. "One minute we were talking about how he felt his relationship was over and then the next I'm peeing on a stick. Bella we didn't plan this." She said.

"Well I didn't plan on coming home to find my boyfriend of almost five years humping my younger cousin did I?" I asked. "Stay the hell away from me Vanessa." I said before walking away.

To be quite honest I didn't know why I felt like this. It wasn't like I was still in love with Jacob. I had Edward and he was everything I've ever wanted. But the humiliation and lying just killed me. I never understood how one minute Jacob was asking me to be the mother of his children and the next he was sleeping around. I was so blindsided by it. I thought that when all was said and done Jacob and I would still be friends. But I lost two of my best friends because of how he and Ness went about things. And that really hurt.

Plus the fact that I had never gotten to vent until now, I had a lot of things going on. As happy as I was for my Dad it's still an emotional weekend. Plus all my frustration in the past year with my Mom, Jacob, Rosalie and Emmett... I was bound to snap eventually and the cousin who slept with my boyfriend was prime for a bitch out.

I stomped past the dance floor and over to the seating area where I found poor Edward looking like he wanted to crawl into a hole and die as he sat in between my drunken, sloppy uncles.

He jumped up when he saw me, immediately noticing my expression. I was being a barrel of laughs this weekend wasn't I? First freaking out about having kids and now this drama with my cousin? Great. What happened to a nice weekend where he could meet all my relatives?

Oh yeah they were my relatives.

I really should have seen that coming.

"What happened?" he asked.

"Did that little bitch say something to you?" My Uncle Danny said. He was Ness' father and had been furious with her when all of this had started happening. "I'll kill her for starting shit. This is Charlie's weekend. I had her warned when we came here. I said to her do not go near Bella this weekend, because if you do I will stand there and laugh when she puts you through a wall." He said standing up.

"Sit down" His wife Anne said pulling him down "Let the girls sort it." She was more team Vanessa in this whole situation. She had never got on well with my Mom and as a result she didn't particularly like me. Plus Jacob's family was pretty much in charge down on the Reservation. Anne like the 'power' she got in the area for having a grandchild who was one of the 'Blacks'. I would love to see her face when she realised Jacob's baby mamas were turning into a dime a dozen kinda thing.

"Yeah right, well you know what Vanessa got what was coming to her when that asshole cheated on her. Jacob promised Daniel and Charlie when he got Vanessa knocked up that he would never do shit like that again. That Ness was it for him. And now what? The girls will never be able to talk to each other and Ness is left to raise that little baby alone while Jacob goes off and has the time of his life getting everything that moves pregnant with that little dick of his. Seth told me about your little outburst last year Bella, good for you finally getting a real man." My Aunt Carol who was obviously drunk said while patting Edward's shoulder.

"Well I hardly think that's fair to say..." Anne said when Edward stood up and walked towards me ignoring whatever they were saying.

"Bella?" Edward asked me. "Are you okay?" he asked.

"No" I told him crossing my arms over my chest.

"Do you want to talk?" he asked wrapping his arm around my waist pulling him close to me.

"Not here" I said not wanting to start a scene at my father's wedding. I grabbed his hand and pulled him to the end of the yard before asking him to give me a boost over the fence.

"Where are we going?" he asked me as he carefully lifted me up so I could swing over the fence.

"A place I used to go when I was a kid." I told him not giving much away.

We walked into the forest for about five minute before stopping. There was a huge tree with thick branches that I loved to sit on as a kid.

He helped me climbed up before jumping up beside me. He leaned in and wrapped his arms around my shoulder.

"What happened?" he asked me and I sighed.

"She... what does she expect me to do?" I asked him.

"Who? Your cousin? I don't know love." He said.

"Seriously though what does she expect?" I asked. "She humiliated me. It had been going on for months and she knew that I wanted to break up with him but he wouldn't let me. How hard would it have been to say 'Bella he's just jerking around with you, this is what is really happening'? Seriously I would have been upset at first but... this is such a mess." I said putting my face in my hands.

"Bella maybe she was scared. Maybe she was worried that she would lose you and him if she told you? Maybe she thought he would leave you for her and was hoping it would turn out better." He said trying to shed some light on the situation.

"You're not really comforting me." I muttered and he chuckled hugging me tighter.

"I'm just trying to make you see the bigger picture." He explained.

"What if I don't want to see the bigger picture?" I asked and he chuckled "No really, what if I don't?"

"You're not that petty" He explained and I sighed.

"Sometimes I wish I was" I told him and he nodded. "You do know I'm not upset because I still care about him right?" I asked Edward worried about how this was coming across.

"I know" He said moving a stray hair away from my face. "If you were ever going to leave me, I'm not worried that it would be because of Jacob Black." He told me. "Especially after everything you told me." He said and I sighed.

"Like I'd ever leave you" I told him with him kissing him. "I practically branded myself with your name this week."

"I know" He said "It doesn't mean I've stopped thinking that you're too good for me." He said and I rolled my eyes. "You know it's true."

"How so?" I asked him.

"You're beautiful" He said and I smiled "Intelligent, all around amazing, caring, nurturing" He said before moving closer "Sinful in some ways."

"How so?"

"Don't think I didn't notice the lacy thong you slipped on this morning." He said and I chuckled. "You're funny, kind, everything I could have ever wanted but never deserved." He added becoming serious.

"Edward" I said shaking my head "Stop that. You're worth a lot more than you think Babe." I told him. "Why do you think of yourself that way?" I asked him.

"It's the truth" He said and I shook my head.

"No it is not. Everything you just said I feel the exact same way about you... well except the thong, I'm not into that sort of thing." I told him with a smile.

"Thank God I'm starting to chaff" He teased and I almost snorted. "Do you really think that?"

"For too long you felt like you weren't good enough Babe. You are; you deserve to be happy. We make each other happy so I think we deserve each other." I told him I said kissing him.

"You think so?" he asked.

"I know so" I said. "That's why we work so well, sure we have fights but it's nothing a cuddle can't fix and okay there are days where I feel like I'm going to strangle you but that's normal. If we didn't have that things would be boring. There would be no passion if we didn't have that." I told him and he nodded. "You make me feel amazing, in more way than one." I told him and he blushed. "That is something Jacob never did for me."

"Because he's got a small dick?" Edward asked and I laughed.

"Well yeah for one but he didn't know how to make me smile or laugh or embrace every odd little thing about myself. Where you wouldn't let me change a thing would you?" I asked. That was something I always knew about Edward. I knew no matter he would me for who I was, not something he wanted me to be.

"Nope" He said kissing me.

"Being back here with all these people... I just... it makes me remember how bad I felt about myself at the time and how he made me feel. I just..." I began before sighing. "I actually can't justify to myself why I stayed with him so long." I said "I feel like an idiot. Like all the signs were in front of me and I didn't see it. How much of an idiot was I? He didn't make me happy. He was obviously up to something and I just sat back and let it happened." I said. "I'm mad at both of them for making me feel like that. But I'm mad of myself for staying with him for so long. Really how could I put myself through that for so long?"

"You were young? One minute you were a teenager and then you had to grow up and face the real world and being with Jacob was something that linked you to home? Plus his Mom had just died. He was clinging to you too. Believe I know what it's like to want to hold onto something." he said.

"What do you mean?" I asked him holding his hand in mine.

"Bella my parents had to move with me when I went to college and when I got my job here. You don't have to justify the need you once had to hold on to something or someone at home, even if it didn't make you happy. Not to me." He said kissing my hand and I smiled.

"You're too perfect sometimes." I told him and he chuckled pulling me closer.

"I try" He said teasingly. "So, are you okay?"

"Yeah, just as long as I don't have to talk to Vanessa or Jacob for the rest of this visit." I said and he nodded. "This is my Dad's weekend. He doesn't need to be worrying about me. So I'm not going to let those two get to me." I told him and he nodded.

"Is Jacob here? I haven't seen him." Edward said.

"Probably lurking in the shadows waiting to pull some stupid stunt." I said knowing Jacob he was just biding his time, trying to figure out when he could make the biggest scene.

The music from my Dad's back yard wafted over towards us. I was still shocked it hadn't rained. Normally in November, Forks weather was similar to monsoon season. I suppose my Dad's idea was so unconventional it just had to work really.

"We should be getting back." I said.

"We should..." He said and I looked at him wondering why he had stopped. It was rare that he paused nowadays "Or you could dance with me?" He said and I looked at him in confusion. Edward doesn't dance. Ever. I'm told he did once under duress at a New Years Eve Party but I was hesitant to believe it.

"I like your idea much better." I told him. He smiled as he jumped down off the tree branch before lifting me off.

He held his hand out and I took it and he placed his other one on my back pulling me closer to him. I smiled up at him and put my hand on his shoulder.

The song changed to Nora Jones' 'Come Away With Me' it was perfect for the moment.

"You know I love you right" I told him.

"Yeah" He said. "And you know I love you?" he asked.

"Yeah" I said as he moved us around.

"Well then I think we're alright." He said and I smiled brightly.

He twirled me in and out of his arms and just held me close to him.

"You've been holding out on me" I told him as we walked back hand in hand afterwards.

"Shhh don't tell anyone." He whispered and I nodded.

"Your secret is safe with me." I told him winking.

We walked back to the party and saw my Dad talking with Vanessa. I took a deep breath; Edward pulled me closer to him.

"I'm fine" I told him and he shook his head. I realised Jacob was walking towards us. "Maybe he won't see us?" I suggested.

"With our luck?" Edward asked.

"Crap." I muttered. We really had the worst of luck at times.

"My sentiments exactly Love." He said as Jacob stopped in front of us.

"This is one heck of a party." Jacob said.

"If you're looking for someone to compliment Leah organised it." I told him trying to get past him but he wouldn't let me.

"But that would mean having to have a conversation with Leah." He said and I rolled my eyes. None of the La Push guys liked Leah; they thought she was a bitch. I don't know why, she was so much fun. I had really got to know her this past year what with planning the wedding and helping her with her daughter Emma. Leah wasn't with Emma's father Sam. Who as irony would have it was cheating with her on, with her cousin Emily.

It would seem there was a recurring theme with the La Push boys.

I loved little Emma and thought of her as my niece. She was fascinated with Edward's hair too, we had babysat her a couple of times when Leah needed a break.

"I'll see do we have some comment cards. Come on Babe." I said trying to move away from Jacob again. Edward grasped my hand again when Jacob stood in front of me.

"What's the rush?" he asked.

"I have this policy where I don't talk to idiots." I told him and Edward chuckled.

"You got something to say?" Jacob snapped at Edward. Edward didn't say anything. "What afraid you're going to s-s-stutter?" Jacob asked and I saw red. I moved to hit him when Edward grabbed my arm. I looked back at him and he shook his head.

"Don't talk to him like that." I warned Jacob. "Do not make this about you and your stupid idea that you and I are going to get back together. Because it's not happening. This is my Dad's day now get the fuck out of my way." I said through my teeth.

"Or what?" he asked standing up straight so he could be taller than me. The thing he obviously didn't realise was Edward was much taller than Jacob so his efforts to intimidate us were in vain.

"She said move." Edward said and I could see my Uncles looking down the yard to where we were standing. "Now, do it or I have no problem moving you myself." He warned. It was always easy to see when Edward was getting tensed. He would start breathing heavily through his nose as if to try and calm himself.

"I'm so scared, oh look someone has spilt red wine on the couch you better go clean it." Jacob said and before I could even see what was happening Edward had punched Jacob.

"I'll be inside" Edward said before quickly walking away. Thankfully not too many people had seen. My Dad glanced at me as I rushed after Edward.

"I'm sorry Dad" I said and he shook his head. "I was trying to make sure nothing happened and now this..." I began when Dad stopped me.

"Edward's not the kind of guy to do that unprovoked, what did that meat head do?"

"He made fun of Edward's OCD, he made fun of his stutter too but he just brushed that off, I think it's really the OCD that gets to him." I said and my Dad literally went red in the face. Dad had a lot of time for Edward, he thought Edward was good man and he knew Edward treated me right. Dad always got so annoyed that people talked down to Edward because of his OCD. He didn't think it stopped Edward from being a great guy and Dad knew it was something Edward couldn't help having.

Plus as a Police Officer my Dad had also striven to protect those who weren't as strong. I knew he sometimes saw Edward as someone who needed protecting. Edward hated it but I think he was glad my Dad understood his issues enough and still wasn't freaked out by them.

"What an ass. Go check on Edward, I'll get rid of Jake." He said and I sighed.

"You enjoy your wedding get somebody else to do it." I told him before heading inside looking for Edward. He wasn't downstairs so I went upstairs to find him in the bathroom. He was inspecting his knuckles. "How's it looking slugger?" I asked him.

"Let me guess your Dad saw that?" he asked me looking straight ahead. I moved to stand in front of him and saw why he wouldn't look at me. His eyes were red, he had been crying. As far as Edward had come in this past year, his OCD would always be a sore spot for him. He felt it made him weaker, which is why he'd lash out at people when they'd comment on it.

"Dad's on your side, you know that." I told him taking his hand from him. "You've got a decent right hook there Babe." I told him. His knuckles were a little red but nothing major. "I haven't seen you hit anything since you hit your brother last Thanksgiving. Or do you have a secret career as a street fighter?"

"The punching bag, works wonders." He offered up as an explanation and I nodded. "How's Jacob?" he asked, no looking anyway apologetic which I was happy about.

"I didn't even look." I told him kissing his knuckle. "He deserved it." I added.

"I just..." He began before stopping.

"I know Baby." I said wrapping my arms around him. "Don't worry about it. The majority of the room has wanted to clock him for a long time now. So you'll probably be met with a round of applause." I teased. "Does your hand hurt?"

"Nothing major" He explained and I nodded.

"Edward?" I asked and he looked straight at me "There's nothing wrong with you okay?" I asked him.

"Bella..." He began and I stopped him.

"I'm just saying you have tendencies to go into your head when these things happen." I told him.

"I know" He said.

"But remember there is nothing wrong with you! You're just my Edward and it's nobody's business that you may prefer things to be a certain way. It's our business and anybody that shoves their nose in it deserves to have it punched." I said and he laughed. "Are you ready to go back out there?"

"No" He said shaking his head "I'm ready to go have wild loud sex in your ex boyfriend's car though." He said with a wink and I giggled.

"I've officially corrupted you." I said pulling on his shirt so he would lean down to kiss me. "I like it" I said before kissing him again.

"Edward?" I heard Carlisle call as a voice travelled up the stairs. He and Esme had been mingling for most of the night; they had a real knack for it.

"We're in here" I called from the bathroom before opening the door.

Carlisle appeared in the door.

"You go back to the wedding" Edward said and I nodded. I kissed him again before leaving him with his father to make sure his hand was okay. As I walked back into the yard I realised just how cold it was outside. I saw my Dad standing near a heater and decided he had the right idea.

"How's Edward's hand?" he asked me wrapping his arm around my shoulder, I smiled as I stole all his body heat. I was in a freaking dress in November; he got to wear a suit. It was only fair.

"He'll live." I said scanning the room. I wanted to give Jacob a piece of my mind before putting my stiletto through his.

"I made Jake leave Bella." Dad said.

"You didn't have to do that Dad. I get it Jacob is family; no matter how much I despise that idea." I murmured.

"Jacob isn't family Bella, Edward is family." He said and I smiled up at him. "You're going to marry that boy; something I'm happy for you to do because I know he's loves you more than anything. And your happiness trumps any kind of promise I made Jacob's mother a long time ago. If she could see him now, I'd say she'd have him over her knee." He added and I nodded. Jacob's mother had been fierce growing up. Great and motherly but also extremely fierce.

"So true." I said "Thanks Dad that means a lot." I said, referring to what he said about Edward, wrapping my arms around his waist hugging him.

"So how long before you two give me grandbabies?" he asked.

"Dad!" I sighed "You just love to ruin the moment" I said shaking my head.

"No but Esme and Sue have a bet and I want to make sure the Missus is backing the right horse." He said with a smirk.

"It's really up to Edward isn't it?" I asked with a shrug.

"Why?" he asked me.

"Because we're not going to have kids until we get married and he has to ask me to marry him." I said. "And I have no idea of when that is going to be." I added "So don't ask."

I looked up at my Dad and he has the weirdest expression on his face. It was like he was trying to not to smirk but not be too serious.

I knew that face. That was his 'I know something you don't know' face.

"Dad?" I asked curiously.

"Yeah?" He asked.

"Do you know something I don't?" I asked him.

"I'm not at liberty to discuss that." He said before letting go off my shoulders giving them a quick squeeze before walking away.

Feeling a bit dazed I walked over to a table and sat down beside Esme where she was talking to one of my Dad's cousins.

My head was racing, had Edward talking to my Dad about proposing?

Oh my God!

It was coming soon.

That was the only logical explanation right? That he was going to ask soon which is why he had talked to my father. He wouldn't risk my Dad spilling the beans by telling him too early right?

"Are you alright dear? You look a little flushed?" Esme said pulling me out of my thoughts.

"Yeah I'm find, just you know a lot happening." I said and she nodded before patting my knee.

"It's a beautiful wedding." She said and I nodded. "I love weddings, they are just so romantic."

"Yeah" I said when I saw Edward and his father reappear into the back yard. I swear my heart skipped a beat when I saw him.

He was going to do it and he was going to do it soon.

All I had to do was sit back and wait for it to happen.

It was finally happening.

Oh that Charlie, he couldn't keep a secret if his life depended on it could he? So what did you think of the confrontation? Edward's getting a bit more assertive? Let me know what you think about that.

So the song they dance to is 'Come Away with Me' by Norah Jones, and I love it. It's very pretty and just nice... I recommend listening to it.

So sorry if this chapter is late, I did say I was going to update more often but... I was surprised with a lovely trip to France with my two best friends so yeah I'm currently sitting out at 20:00 looking out on a lovely green with the lovely pool, in shorts typing. Kind of the dream scenario, it's pretty amazing!

Review please!

Love The Irish Cullen.