Please love me. In honor of me being about to start writing the Epilogue (yess go me!) I'll post today TWO ("Two, Leah?" Yes, two, dear readers) chapters, even though I posted on Friday. How's that? I know many of you were worried about them becoming a thing, so here it is, and a lot more. Leave me some love! :D))

DISCLAIMER: You don't own me (sings). I don't own you either, or Twilight.

"Bella."

"Bella."

"What?"

"How could you?"

"How could I what?" Bella frowned, finally putting on pause the movie. They were watching The Boy and the Beast... a Japanese animated movie... in Edward's living room. It had been two weeks since Rose's birthday party, which meant that they'd been dating for three weeks. Well, sorta. They hadn't been able to see each other since then, because Edward had to stay helping Rose clean and Bella had some leftover research due on Monday. Since then, they'd extended the 'no gym' week thanks to Dr. Hale, who'd suggested Edward not work out a little longer (her delayed birthday gift to Bella). Because of this, all the interaction they'd had consisted of FaceTime and a few text messages. Neither was big on the phone, and Edgar didn't exactly lay around all day. Bella, well, she had other excuses.

"How could you give Rose lasagna and then lie to me about it being something weird?" He demanded to know, turning to look at her. They were sitting on Edward's couch with a bowl of popcorn in between them, their feet laid out on top of a low table and a blanket covering their legs.

He actually sounded rather offended, which both amused Bella and made her wonder if she should apologize.

"How'd you find out?"

"I went to Rose's apartment yesterday, and found your brother eating some. He said he had to find a new girlfriend, seeing as she'd told him the Pyrex contained something with green peppers, which he hates. Coincidence? I think not. Maybe I'll have to find a new girlfriend, too."

Bella's lip twitched.

"But you don't."

"Don't what?" Edward frowned, twisting his body a bit more to get a good look at her. This made the bowl of popcorn shift a bit, and foreseeing a spill, he grabbed it and put it on the table.

"Have a girlfriend. We're not official yet, right?" Bella asked innocently, and Edward's mouth dropped open.

"You're gonna make me ask?"

She shrugged.

"I'm not making you do anything. I just figure it'd be nice to know whether you want me want me, or if you're just ok with me. I mean, we haven't even defined our exclusivity yet. Who knows? Maybe I've been meeting other guys on the side," Bella sniffled dramatically, not kidding either of them for a second.

Edward raised both eyebrows.

"Ok. Who else have you been meeting?"

She scrunched her nose up.

"No one," she grumbled. "But I could!"

"Would you though?" Edward countered, enjoying for once being the one with the upper hand.

"That's beside the point!" Bella snapped. "Don't you want us to be a thing?"

"No, I want us to be people."

Bella wasn't sure whether she wanted to laugh or to kill him.

Middle ground it was.

"Fine," she bit back, crossing her arms over her chest and glaring at him with everything she had. "Then I'll ask Jake."

"Then I'll ask Nurse Cheney."

"Fine!"

"Fine."

Bella put the movie back on, pissed he wasn't taking her seriously. But she wanted to be his girlfriend, damn it. She liked him so much already, and it didn't feel right to say he was just the guy she was dating. He made her happy, fucking hell, and she wanted the tag to go along with it. She wanted the world (except Jasper and maybe Alice) to know she had a boyfriend, because that meant commitment. Dates were the middle ground between single and taken, and a boyfriend was the middle ground between taken and forever.

Yeah, I believe in forever. Fucking romantic hell.

So yes, Bella was pissed that Edward didn't seem to want to make them real. It felt like they weren't solid, even though she knew they were. Besides, and Bella would lose a finger before saying it out loud, but a physical relationship with the guy you were dating didn't feel as free as with your boyfriend. Maybe it was just her, but she felt like she had to ask Edward permission to touch him at this stage. With Jasper, she'd just done whatever she wanted whenever (if) she felt like it.

Ok, alright, I'm horny, too.

So she sighed and put the movie on pause again.

"Will you be my boyfriend, Jasper?"

Bella woke up with a start.

Oh thank God, Bella thought even as her heart galloped. I didn't actually say that.

"Were you dreaming about Jasper?"

Shit fuck somebody shoot me right now.

She was actually at Edward's place, and two weeks since they'd seen each other had gone by. And, though it pained her to remember, the previous conversation had actually happened, minus the part where she asked Edward to be her boyfriend with the wrong name. When she'd started back the movie, pissed, she'd fallen asleep, and now found herself with her head on Edward's lap looking up at him after having said her ex-boyfriend's name in her sleep.

"Oh my God," Bella whispered, face flaming. "Kill me."

"What?"

"Nothing," Bella said, turning her body away from him with a long sigh. "I'm sorry. I wasn't dreaming about him."

"Why'd you say his name, then?" Edward asked, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Again, out of perfectionism. "Were you trying to make me jealous?"

"Did it work?" She asked with faked enthusiasm, confirming for Edward his theory had been heard and denied.

"It did," he admitted, despite knowing that hadn't been her intention. "I don't want you to still be dreaming about him."

"I didn't," Bella insisted, getting up. Edward could see she had blanket marks on her cheeks, a mesh brow and smudged makeup. He found her adorable, though he wished she'd stayed where she was. "I was dreaming about..."

"About?"

Well, it seemed like she wasn't getting out of this.

"You." She grumbled, avoiding his eyes. "I dreamt I asked you to be my boyfriend, and I accidentally called you Jasper."

"Does your subconscious not like me or something?"

"My subconscious asked you to date me. Get real."

He chuckled.

"You know, if your conscious asks me without calling me by the wrong name, I might say yes."

She eyed him suspiciously.

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Ok then." Bella made eye contact. "Jake, will you be my boyfriend?"

He lost his smile.

"Low blow, Bells."

She waited.

"Now you ask."

"You're really gonna— Ow!"

Sometimes a punch on the shoulder was necessary.

"Fine, fine! Isabella Swan, will you be my girlfriend? For the record, I feel like a second grader— Oomf!" Edward lost his breath when Bella launched herself at him and planted her lips firmly on his.

Her strength had been such that Edward had been propelled backwards, so now he was laying flat with Bella on top of him, his hands on her waist. Her breath was hot, and he fought to not notice just how soft she felt against him. Despite the weight gain, almost none had gone to her chest, so it wasn't that he felt too much of that pressed against his chest. But he felt her —every curve, every—

Stop thinking, dude.

Alright.

"I'll be your girlfriend," Bella mumbled against his lips, rearranging herself so she was sitting on his abs, legs on either side of his torso. She was comfortable like that, but it appeared he had trouble breathing, so she moved down until her butt found the comfort of his belt buckle.

"Bells," Edward breathed, bringing both hands up to hold her face.

"Edward," Bella whispered through open mouthed kisses.

"Fuck, I want you so bad," Edward cursed, surprising Bella. He didn't normally cuss, and especially not in front of her. Smugly, she wondered if he was out of his mind. So, to confirm, she moved a tiny bit downwards... so their centers were aligned. "Shit."

That was most definitely a prominent bulge.

Bella thanked whatever God was out there.

Edward suddenly gave her a bruising kiss which was way too short, letting go and burying his face in her neck. They were both breathing hard, pulse erratic and hormones not really helping. Nor was Bella, who kept rocking on top of him, seeking friction to relieve herself.

He grabbed her hips with an iron grip.

"If you don't want me to have an accident in my pants, which really isn't romantic, I'd advice against moving."

"Perfect. I'll keep it up then," Bella tried moving, but Edward's hold on her was too tight. Damn it.

"Minx," Edward flipped them unto his side, his back against the backrest (oh wow look at that) and with his now girlfriend clinging with her left leg to his hips, her right one now straightened, eyes aligned.

It was way more comfortable than it sounded.

"I like the word minx. It's funny," Bella mused, trying to think of what other words she liked.

He kissed her forehead.

"You know, I really wanted to ask you in a more romantic way. You foiled my plans."

She rolled her eyes.

"Romantic shmantic. If I'd left it up to you, we'd be making it official by next year. My way was better."

"By bullying me into asking?"

She nodded with a self-satisfied smile.

"Bella."

"Yes?"

"Thanks for wanting to be my girlfriend." He smiled, kissing her forehead again.

Her heart started melting.

"Bella?"

"Yes?"

"Never lie to me again about food."

"Do you want to come in?" Bella asked as Edward turned off the ignition.

He turned to her with a surprised face.

"Really? It was that easy? Ask you to be my girlfriend and then get introduced officially?"

Bella grinned sheepishly.

"If you think about it, you and I have been dating roughly four months already, right? I mean, you've been my boyfriend in almost every way for a while now, minus the physical aspect. You're important to me, and my family's my world. I sorta want them to be in on this."

I sound so whipped, Edward internally whimpered, but couldn't deny her words.

However, Bella's insecurity decided to show itself.

"You don't think it's too soon, do you?"

Edward didn't restrain the urge to roll his eyes.

"Why would it?"

"Jasper officially met my parents the day of Rose's birthday party, and we'd been dating for months. Like, officially dating, and he still seemed reluctant. I'm just… I'm not pressuring you into this, am I?"

He grabbed her hand, which was resting on her leg.

"Despite what your subconscious might believe, I'm not Jasper. I'm Edward Cullen, pediatrician, unskilled gym trainer and Bella's boyfriend."

She couldn't resist it.

"You've shared one title, at least."

He glared.

"The point is, you insufferable creature, that I don't feel it's too soon. Like you said: I want to be a part of the people most important to you."

Bella looked down.

"Ok. I believe you." Bella finally relented, squeezing his hand. He held it up and kissed the back of it, needing to kiss any part of his girlfriend. "Now let's get this show on the road."

Saluting, Edward let go of her and got out of the car, running to the other side and opening the door for her. Thanking him, Bella got out, loving how much of a gentleman he was. He could be really old-fashioned in some things, and she had to admit she loved that. She wouldn't have minded if he'd never opened a door for her, or pulled out a chair for her, but having experienced it, she had to admit how much it touched her.

"Ready?" Bella asked when they were on her porch, her hand gripping the house key tightly. Too tightly, thought Edward, judging by the white knuckles. Was she actually more nervous than he was? He was the one meeting her parents, right?

"As I'll ever be. You?" He asked, prying her fingers away from the key. She had dents on her hands from the pressure it had made on her palms, and he calculated she'd been about thirty seconds away from drawing blood.

She gave one quick nod, and getting the keys back from Edward, she opened the front door.

Silently, they slipped into the two story house.

"Mom? Dad?" Bella called, taking off her light jacket. Night around these parts was always chilly.

"In the living room!" They called out at the same time.

How cute. They were probably ignoring each other though, with Mrs. Swan watching reruns of Desperate Housewives and Mr. Swan grading essays.

"How should we do this?" Bella whispered to Edward, suddenly wishing she'd thought this through a lot more. He, for some reason, seemed to have a complete handle on the situation, and calmly grabbed Bella's right hand. It was like for every shot of adrenaline she had over the anxiety of the Swans meeting her boyfriend, he got tranquilized. That wasn't really fair, considering she was supposed to be on home turf.

"Naturally," he said simply, squeezing her hand.

Naturally what? What, Edgar Collins? What?

"Breathe," he reminded her, looking at the incoming panic coloring her face. More than worried, he was amused by the panicking 'cool as a cucumber Bella'. The age difference rarely showed, but it did now. He was more confident in himself —not in a way that could be achieved through self esteem, but with experience. He had his profession and age to thank for that, as well as personal history.

Adversity was the best teacher a man could have to be taught how to survive.

Or, in this case, face your younger girlfriend's parents without peeing your pants.

Bella, with wide eyes, took a deep breath, finally nodding. She was ready. She was determined.

"How was your day, sweetheart?" Mr. Swan asked absentmindedly, and as Bella predicted, he was grading papers.

Huh, what do you know? Mom's watching Gossip Girl, not Desperate Housewives.

"Good." Bella said, coming further into the room. Neither parent figure had turned to look at her, too consumed in their own things to turn to see their daughter holding hands with a mammoth of a man.

Said man cleared his throat, and now Bella's parents turned, thinking how that cough didn't sound like it came from their twenty-year-old daughter.

Renée Swan's mouth fell open, and Charlie dropped his red pen.

"Rie… What's going on?" Charlie asked, seeing as his wife seemed to be currently speechless.

"Mom, dad… I want to formally present to you my boyfriend."

Charlie sputtered for words.

"Since when…?"

"We made it official today. I wanted to let the people I love most to know about him. I think our relationship is too important for me to hide it from you." Bella explained, thankful for Edward's warm hand encapsulating hers.

"I—" Edward started, but was cut off by Mr. Swan.

"Come with me to the back. We'll talk there," he said, and his voice was firm and left no room for argument. It was the same tone he'd used with Emmett when he'd told his son to break up with May.

"Daddy," Bella said quietly, letting go of Edward's hand. "Don't hurt him. And I don't mean just physically."

She put a hand on Edward's back, giving him a light push.

Poker face on, Mr. Swan didn't reply, simply guiding Edward to the backyard.

In the living room, Mrs. Swan finally turned to face her daughter.

"You're insane."

"Why?" Bella asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

"He's probably not serious about you, Isabella. If he's Rosalie's age, then he's eleven years older than you. He's a man with an established career. How could he—"

"Possibly be interested in me?" Bella asked, hurt. "What, am I not good enough for him? Is that it? I'm twenty, not twelve. If I'm old enough to choose a career that'll determine the rest of my life, I'm old enough to choose a relationship. Or do you not trust my judgement?"

Renée cast furious eyes at her daughter.

"Careful with your tone. I'm your mother no matter if you're twenty or eighty. I'm worried about you, don't you dare insinuate I'm underestimating you. I know better than anyone how much you're worth."

"But you make it sound like you are, mom!" Bella insisted, feeling a tell-tale sign in her nose that said she was about to cry. Letting out a shaky breath, she calmed herself. Crying would get her nowhere. "Yes, he's older, yes, he's a doctor. He's also got his own baggage, which he's been open with me about. I'm not getting into anything blindly. I know him. Who do you think helped put me back together after Jasper?"

Mrs. Swan swallowed hard.

"Emmett told us he was in love with Rose. Did you know that?"

Bella didn't flinch.

"Edward told me he was over her. I believe him; I'm not gonna waste time doubting him."

"What if he's just using you to get to her?" She insisted, and at this, Bella hesitated. What she'd told Edward two weeks ago was true; If I'm given half a good reason so early in our relationship to doubt this thing we have, I could spiral down. And here she was, letting her mother give her doubts she probably never would've thought of herself.

What if he wasn't over Rosalie Hale yet, and was using Bella to make her jealous? What if she was the rebound? What if he didn't really like her? What if—

Think, Bella. Would he really be capable of that?

No, he wasn't. As Bella had said, she was easily influenced in things like her opinion of people. However, it was usually with people she didn't really have an interest on retaining her opinion of them. With Edward… she wanted to believe in him. She wanted to believe the man that had let her cling onto him as he accepted pizza from a delivery guy didn't have any ulterior motives. She wanted to believe that every smile and kiss he'd given her hadn't been motivated by Rose's face, twisting at his heartstrings and propelling him into action.

She thought then of the morning after the pizza incident, when Edward had confessed to Rose he'd been in love with her for years.

"… I wish he'd done it years ago, but he didn't. He hadn't had the right incentive."

"So which was the incentive?… You said he hadn't said anything because he hadn't had the right incentive; obviously, now he does. Which is it?"

Bella's pulse jumped.

"It was me." She whispered, suddenly wanting to cry for different reasons. She'd been the incentive; but that was back in April. He'd told her of how he felt in, what? July, August? So, for how long had he liked her? How long had he had to put up with her talking about Jasper, comforting her with words when he wanted to comfort her with hugs? Her heart clenched, then expanded.

"What?" Renée asked, not understanding. She'd thought she was getting through to her daughter, but then Bella's face had softened in a way the mother had never known.

"It was me," Bella sighed, smiling, letting her arms fall. She looked up at the ceiling, all of her doubts suddenly washed away. Looking back to the front, she explained to her mother. "I think he's liked me at least since April, ma, and he said nothing about liking me up until the end of July. Our first date was three weeks ago. I think… I think he's really serious about me. I think Rose's got nothing to do with us."

At this, Renée was speechless. The lawyer that was known for her quick comebacks and counter arguments was speechless, and it was because of the lovestruck expression adorning her daughter's face. Bella had looked content with Jasper, of course. But there hadn't been anything special about the way she'd looked at the boy; she'd looked at him like you'd expect to look at someone you were fond of. This look? She was more than fond of Edward. Even the way she'd introduced them was different; with Jasper, she'd been nonchalant. She'd brought him over eight months into the relationship, but with Cullen, it appeared she'd been unable to even wait a day. The situation was different.

So, as Bella had suggested (sort of), Renée decided to trust her daughter's judgement. What else could she do? Those really were her only concerns, and Edward sort of was the only person in her life that also liked watching Keeping Up With The Kardashians. He deserved a chance, she supposed.

So she sighed in defeat, feeling like she'd lost a trial.

"Well, I guess he's hotter than Jasper. You did better in that department, at least."

-.-

In the backyard, Mr. Swan sat on a plastic chair with a heavy sigh, motioning for Edward to sit down on the one beside him. He did, the chair whining under his weight.

Silence was absolute for a few minutes, only the sound of the occasional cicada interrupting.

Finally, Charlie broke the silence.

"Thank you."

This is unexpected.

Surprised, Edward turned to look at the older man, but he didn't stop staring at the front.

"For what?"

"Returning my daughter to me. Isabella took her breakup with Jasper really hard, and…" Charlie sighed, feeling like he wanted a beer really badly. "Truth be told, I asked Emmett to keep an eye on his sister. He told me that you were there for her the night of the breakup, and that you offered to keep helping her. She's been going to the gym a lot more thanks to you, too." He chuckled, then lost his smile. "But it's fine now. You can stop, if you're dating her out of some sense of pity. I don't want that for her." He turned now, looking at Edward with sharp eyes.

"Sir, with all due respect, I would never date anyone out of a sense of pity. I helped Bella because I already liked her. I didn't want her hurting."

"So, is that it? Did you help her so she'd feel indebted to you and date you?"

Am I digging myself into a deeper hole?

Edward took a moment to think of his next answer.

"I wouldn't have felt like a man worth dating if I hadn't helped the girl I liked get through a tough time," Edward began carefully, measuring his words. "I'm not the kind of person that demands compensation for helping."

"You're a doctor. You get paid to help," Mr. Swan deadpanned.

"I do, but I'd also do it even if I wasn't getting paid. I like going on medical brigades every once in a while, and I can assure you that sometimes a thank you is worth ten thousand dollars." Edward said, feeling the need to defend himself. It was true he got paid to do what he loved, but it wasn't like he asked for insurance first and name second. He believed in health care for everyone, and he was one of the few doctors that was willing to give money out of his own pocket to treat an uninsured worker than needed a few stitches. "Still, I never would've helped Bella just so she could date me."

Mr. Swan was still dubious.

"How can I know you're being honest? My daughter is young and a hopeless romantic. How do I know you didn't rope her into dating you?"

Has he even seen you? Does he seriously think you need to 'rope' a single girl into one bleeding date with you? Bella would rant when Edward told her of the conversation.

"I think you know better than anyone Bella is the kind of woman that knows what she wants. If she didn't want me, she wouldn't date me. I'd have done a valiant effort to get her to date me, and then withdrawn if she still didn't accept me." Edward shrugged, not daring to mention he went after an underage girl for three years before making her his wife after a year of dating. Not the time or place. "As for being honest… Short of a polygraph, there's nothing I can say that'll make you know for certain. All I can offer you is my word that I like Bella very much, and I assume she's dating me because she likes me just as much, too."

Mr. Swan finally looked away from Edward, looking straight ahead.

"I see."

They were silent again for a few minutes, listening to the silent night. No cars honking, no loud TV, no voices to disrupt the ambience. Just nature.

Finally, Mr. Swan spoke.

"Treat my baby well, Edward. Keep making her happy. Make that your life's goal: make sure my daughter never lacks laughter or love when she's with you."

Watching this man, Edward thought to himself this was the kind of father he wished to be for his future daughter.

"I will," Edward promised, and he meant it.

"So, what happened after that?" Angela asked; she and Bella were on the phone, seeing as that Tuesday Ange was out with the cold. Bella was walking from her last class of the day, which meant it was almost four in the afternoon. Angela had apparently been knocked out the whole day yesterday, and had only woken up a couple of hours ago.

"Edward and dad came in, and they looked very calm about it. No new bruises on my boyfriend, so I assume it didn't get physical. Then Edward said he had to be in the hospital in the morning, so he had to go. We spoke on the phone a bit the last three days, but neither of us likes talking much on the phone. I'm a lousy texter, so he's sort of given up on me on that front."

Angela sneezed.

"You weakling. You could be sexting with him, but instead you're too damned old fashioned to even send emojis. What year were you born in?"

"Only a 90's kid will remember," Bella whispered cryptically, and she could almost see her best friend face-palming.

"You dork. Are you gonna bring me some hot soup or what?"

"I ride a bike, Angela. Bikes and hot soup don't mix."

"Delivery guys."

"Fair point," Bella acknowledged. "Except for the part where they have a special box to store the food in. I can go to your place and make some, though. Got ingredients?"

Ange sneezed again.

"Yeah. I'll leave the door open for you, but I'll be in the TV room."

"Ok. See you in a bit."

Bella hung up, and rounding a corner, smacked into somebody.

Is Edward's clumsiness rubbing off on me or something?

About to start apologizing, Bella first cracked an eye open to see it was Jasper… and Alice.

Somebody shoot me on the foot so I can be rushed to the ER and meet with Edward.

Bad Bella, thinking of excuses to meet Edward.

"Tweedledee, Tweedledum," Bella greeted, rubbing her sore nose. "What brings you here?"

Alice shot a look at Jasper.

"I bet you'll want to talk. I'll be in the car." She said, then stomped away.

Maybe I deserve that after the shit I said to her the last time we spoke.

"I came to get Alice. She hasn't been feeling well these last few days," Jasper explained, and Bella's eyebrows shot up.

"Really? Angela's out with a cold. Something must be going around."

"Must be." Jazz hummed in agreement, finally looking at Bella instead of trailing the path of his pouting girlfriend. "Wanna talk? Five minutes."

"Sure."

They found a bench which overlooked the parking lot, hoping it was public enough to assuage Alice's probable jealousy.

"You don't seem hostile today," Jasper noted, sitting down. "Much."

She glared.

"The clarification wasn't required." Bella looked around, finding easily enough Jasper's beat up white truck. It was a hulk, and from the distance she could see Ali pouting in the passenger seat. "She actually seems like she's had a few bad weeks."

Jasper nodded.

"She and her sister don't get along well. Cynthia's here for two months to recuperate from some surgery, and apparently they've been fighting nonstop."

Bella nodded in understanding, remembering one of the times Ali had talked about her difficult relationship with her family.

"Well, at least you're there for her. That's what counts," Bella said, fiddling with her bike keys.

"Yeah," Jasper said absentmindedly, turning to look at his ex-girlfriend. "You look happy."

"I'm always happy."

"I haven't seen you happy in a long time, B." Jasper pointed out, and Bella couldn't deny it. He'd been the source of her sadness, after all.

"Well, I did well last semester, and I'm doing even better this semester in my classes, I think. I've made more friends," Bella said, thinking of Edyth and Nyla, another girl she'd discovered to be quite fun to be with during one of the group projects. They had plans to hang out this week. "And… I'm seeing someone. I'd say I have no reasons left to be unhappy."

Jasper analyzed her face, seeing the honesty displayed there.

"Is it Cullen?" He asked, knowing he had no business wanting to know.

Bella cracked a smile.

"What do you know? You were right. He did have a thing for me," she giggled, thinking back to that April night, smile fading. "I don't know if you were right to break up with me without even giving me a chance of trying to hold you up, but… I'm glad you did. Maybe you and I weren't fated soul mates, but friends. You were a good first boyfriend, Jazz," Bella said, looking away from him and searching again for the white pickup truck. "But maybe you and I were meant for someone else. I see that now."

Despite knowing he had no right whatsoever, he felt a rush of jealousy course through his veins. Isabella Swan would always be his first love, and no matter what she thought, he'd loved her madly. The problem was that maybe not madly enough.

Still, there was something they agreed on.

"I'm glad I let you go, too, Bella. If I hadn't, lots of things would be different, starting by me never meeting Alice. She… She makes me feel like destiny's a real thing."

Bella nodded in understanding.

"I get what you mean. I also wonder if maybe I was meant to find Edward," she said, smiling a bit at the memory of meeting him. "Rude as he was when we first met."

"You do know, right? That when Ali and I met, she was only your friend. I need you to tell me you know I never once looked at her in any way I shouldn't have while you and I were dating." Jasper said, thinking of first meetings.

Bella stood up.

"Of course I know that, you dimwit. I would've thrown a tantrum much worse than before," Bella said, grabbing her backpack. She looked at her ex, the wind blowing past his hair, the familiar eyes looking up at her. "I'm sorry for lying about Jake. And for divulging things about Alice that weren't my business."

He sighed heavily.

"Yeah, I know. I also didn't think you cheated, but Ali and I had a long talk after you left about that. Not one of your brightest moments, B." Jasper said, standing up as well.

Sheepishly, Bella stuck both arms through the backpack straps.

"Well, I was kind of furious." Bella admitted. "Incidentally, I think it was thanks to you that Edward manned up and told me he liked me. Life works in mysterious ways, right?"

Jasper gave her a defeated smile, thinking of how he could never win against her in anything.

"Right. Also…" he trailed off, not knowing how to continue. Fortunately for him, Bella did.

"I'll hear that explanation about how you and Ali got together. Soon," Bella promised, knowing it was a story she had to know in order to regain her friendship with the girl. Despite everything, Bella had felt deeply attached to the pixy-like girl, and knew that a great part of her anger had been because of the betrayal she'd felt from Alice.

"Alright. I'll hold you to it," Jasper promised.

With a last look, they parted ways.

-.-.-

"Honey I'm home!" Emmett called jokingly the next day, smiling when he saw his girlfriend come out of their bedroom.

"Hi! How was work today?" she smiled, walking up to him and throwing her arms around him, aiming for a short welcome back kiss.

"Good. We had this case today—" Emmett rambled on and on about it excitedly, undoing his tie and setting down his things by the door.

Rose flitted around the kitchen, pulling out plates, glasses and cutlery. She brought out some leftover meat, got the salad out and a few other things as Emmett spoke.

"Hey, what's this?" Em asked, looking at a post it with illegible handwriting stuck on the kitchen counter.

"Oh, that was to remind me. Your mother called and said to call her back. She said she tried your cell, but that it went to voicemail, so she assumed you were driving." Rose explained, serving both of them a glass of wine. They were both heading straight to bed, anyway, both looking like hell had bitch slapped them after their own tiring day.

"Oh," Emmett frowned, fishing his phone out and indeed finding the missed call from him mom. "Give me a sec, Ro. Could be about work."

Oh boy, was it not.

"Hello?" Mrs. Swan's business voice came on the phone. It's our home telephone, mom, you could answer in a friendlier way.

"Ma? It's your favorite son."

"Charlie! It's another scam call!" She jokingly called back, laughing at her son's answering grumble.

"What's up? Is it about work? I had a missed call from you," Em explained, leaning against the wall, cell phone perched between his shoulder and ear. He was unbuttoning his shirt, wanting to get into his pajamas as soon as possible.

"Oh, nothing like that. I just wanted to know if you had this Friday off. Rie is going on a date with Edward, I think, and your father and I thought—"

"Rie is going on a what with who?" Emmett interrupted, and Rose froze. If what she thought was going on was true, she had a few seconds before her boyfriend exploded. She knew what was next. She started sending a text to her best friend:

Em knows. Hide. —R

"Shit," Mrs. Swan whispered, not expecting this development. "I thought you knew, son. Edward is Rie's new boyfriend. She brought him over last Friday—"

The line died.

Running like a bat out of hell, Mrs. Swan rushed to her daughter's bedroom, knowing this was a matter of speed.

"Ma? What's wrong?" Bella asked, turning in her desk chair to look at her disheveled mother.

"You've gotta go to Edward. I accidentally told your brother—" Bella didn't need to hear more, and instead ran down the stairs and to her bike with a speed Renée Swan didn't know her daughter was capable of achieving.

Unfortunately, Edward didn't see Rose's text message in time, and Bella got stuck in traffic just long enough to give her brother the opportunity to arrive at Edward's apartment about five minutes before her.

"Open up, Cullen!" Emmett slammed his fist against the door, not caring that he was disrupting the neighbors. He only had to slam the door for a few seconds before a drop dead gorgeous woman opened the door with an angry huff.

"Can I help you?" She asked, raising her eyebrows as she watched Emmett assess her from head to toe, taking in her big shirt that he could've sworn he'd seen Cullen wear.

"Tanya? Who's that at the door?" Edward walked out of his bedroom at that moment, only wearing boxers and rubbing a towel through his wet hair. He wasn't looking up, so he walked a few steps further until he was no longer covered by a wall, and was now in Emmett Swan's field of vision.

"YOU!" Emmett roared, and Edward was so startled that he was paralyzed even as he saw the hulk of a man (Edward was more lean while Em was almost on par with bodybuilding Arnold Schwarzenegger) stalking towards him.

So, in a few words, Edward felt Emmett's upper cut make direct contact with what was probably his small intestine.

He crumbled to the ground.

"Oh my God, what are you doing to him? Edward!" Tanya rushed to protect her brother with her body, not wanting to give the man another chance to hit him without having to hit her, too.

"Shit, I can taste my soul," Edward moaned, curling into himself.

"What the hell, man? I'm gonna call the cops," Tanya screeched, seeing the man's unmoving position.

"You don't even have the decency to stay away from a twenty year old girl, and now you even cheat on her? I should put you in an ambulance." Emmett sneered, and thankfully Bella had arrived at the front door just in time to hear her brother rant.

"Emmett Swan, stop it!" Bella screeched, closing the front door. She really didn't want the cops called on her for disturbing people.

"Rie, can you believe this guy? He has the fucking guts to—"

"That's his sister, you moron." Bella snapped, rushing to her boyfriend. "Are you ok, Edward? Did he hit you?"

"Who's that, Bella? You sure you don't want me to call the cops?" Tanya asked, moving just enough to let Bella check on her brother. Two days ago, Edward had called her to say he and Bella were official, which prompted his younger sister to drive out to see him. She always wore his pajamas, deeming them more comfortable, which was why she was wearing his clothes.

"Please don't. The oaf is my brother." Bella said, leaning down next to Edward's stomach. "Did you upper cut him?" Bella snapped at her brother, who was growing increasingly embarrassed by his actions.

"I did." He admitted, watching as Bella flipped Edward onto his back.

"Make yourself useful and bring me some ice," Bella growled at him, apologizing to Edward when she saw that moving hurt him.

"You could say please," Emmett mumbled, the rage that had consumed him finally easing out.

"Now!"

He did as told.

"I'm sorry about him," Bella whispered to Edward, whose face was screwed up in pain. "Apparently my mom let it slip."

That explained it.

"It's alright. I'll take some ibuprofen and I'll be good as new." He said, content when Bella got behind him sitting back on her legs, putting his head on her lap. "However, tomorrow we'll see if I can go with you to the gym. You aren't getting out of it anymore."

Damn.

Tanya watched this exchange with a soft smile. It was clear to her that her brother and Bella were so into each other that the bodybuilder's outrage was wasted. Besides; when she'd met Bella almost two months ago they'd spent the afternoon getting to know each other, making it clear since then that she was the girl her brother needed.

"Your brother has problems," Tanya said, rupturing their little bubble. "I demand compensation."

Edward whimpered again, but for different reasons.

My sister is a brat.

"I'll see to it that he pays back Edward for the pain he caused," Bella promised, brushing a hand through Edward's hair. It was getting a little long, and though she had an image of how good he'd with longer sex hair (thanks Robert Pattinson), she figured he wouldn't look professional.

Emmett came back in that moment, ice bag in hand.

"Sorry man," he said, handing Tanya the ice. "I let my anger get the best of me."

The three glared at him.

"What? This is my baby sister we're talking about here. I'm allowed to get hot in the head, right?" Em defended himself, knowing he was the least favorite person of the three at this moment.

"Not if you're gonna go punching my boyfriend," Bella pointed out, still running a hand through Edward's hair.

She's gonna make me fall asleep if she keeps this up.

"About that. What the hell, man? My sister? Of all the people in the world, you had to go for my little sister?" Emmett said, remembering the reason for running here in the first place.

"And out of all the people in the world, I had to go for your girlfriend's best friend." Bella rolled her eyes. "Can we move on? This is getting old. Any argument you can come up with I already heard from mom and dad, and neither of them punched Edward." Bella said, quite angry that her brother thought she'd be ok with him punching Edward, even if he really had been cheating on her.

A slap would've sufficed in that case, and spamming his phone.

"How long have they known?" Emmett asked, then remembered his mother saying they found out last Friday. "No, actually, tell me how long you've been going out."

"I think it'll be a month tomorrow," Edward said, sighing in relief (and pain) when Tanya finally positioned the ice correctly.

"But he's been my boyfriend since Friday," Bella clarified. She was horrible with dates, and she preferred for the sake of celebrations to have marked down the day they became official. "We were planning on telling you last Saturday, but you cancelled last minute."

Another question surfaced.

"Does Rose know about you two?"

They shot Emmett a look.

"She's my best friend. Of course she knows."

Bella thought of how bothered she'd have been if Jasper had said this about Maria when they were dating. With Rose, though, Bella felt no need to be defensive. They were best friends, and that was that. Rose was with her brother, and happily so, and Edward was with her. Simple.

"So she's known all this time and hasn't said a word?" Emmett asked, sounding wounded.

"Well, look at how you reacted. She was right not to say a word," Tanya said, and they sneered at each other. "Ro's a firm believer in bros before hoes. In case you were doubting it, Edward's the bro and you're the hoe."

"Thanks for clearing that up," Emmett thanked dryly, cutting his gaze back to the nurse and her patient.

"Em, I love you, but you aren't objective when it comes to me." Bella explained, apologetic despite everything. She'd wished several times to share her worries with her brother, but hadn't been able to.

"I'm not," Emmett finally agreed, sighing. "Is anything I say gonna change your mind?"

Bella shook her head.

"Then I guess I have no option but to step back," he sighed, and did literally step back. "I'm going home. It's been a long day,"

Bella could see that from his disheveled look, what with the half open buttons and tie hanging on for dear life.

"Also," he said, a few feet away but just close enough to make eye contact with Edward. "I'm not standing by again as I watch my sister suffer. You hurt her and I run a Monster Truck over your prized bike, Cullen."

He wasn't kidding, either.

Gulping, Edward nodded, thankful when Swan finally stepped out of the apartment.

The three sighed in relief.

Turning his beautiful green eyes up at Bella, he gave her a nervous smile.

"You think he'd really hurt Gertrude?"

The first part was more nightmare than dream. And yeah, I named Edward's bike Gertrude. I always name my stuff. My computer's called Sora Puckerman, and my iPad is called Minato. I had an iPod I called Big G (it was red and I'd just seen a movie about a redhead they called like that), and an iTouch I called Galatea. Now I'll stop my rant before it gets too long and I talk to you about consumerism, falling for marketing and stuff unrelated to this story.

Leah.

P. S. Shoutout to my recurrent reviewers (I know who you are; not where to find you, but how to ID your username) and new reviewers. You make a girl incredibly happy with so many compliments. Believe it or not, I think all negative reviews have been about my summary lmao. I've had both of them hated on, which puts me in the 'aw shucks' mood because I've actually liked both of them. Then again, maybe I'm not objective.

P. P. S. How many of y'all had forgotten about Edward's incentive huh? Didn't think it would be important in the future, would it? Did you? I didn't, to be honest. Sometimes I wing stuff, although I'm quite pleased when I manage to connect the dots.