Sorry this has taken so long, was having some issues with getting the chapter the way I wanted and my daughter was off school all week driving me crazy! Hope you enjoy!

The next day at three I found myself standing on Esme's porch. Edward was working at the bar until four but I told Esme I would help her with dinner. She opened the door and welcomed me inside. I handed her the bottle of wine I brought and we went into the kitchen and got to work.

"Are Emmett and Heidi out today?" I asked.

"Yes. They went to Port Angeles earlier to pick up a few things and then they were going over to see the bar. They'll probably just head back with Edward." she answered.

By the time Edward and the other two got to Esme's we had dinner cooking and we were sitting having a glass of wine at the kitchen table.

"Hey baby," Edward grinned as he came over and gave me a kiss before going to grab a beer.

"Hey mom, oh, you're here already," Emmett said, his smile dropping as he saw me.

"Yup, I offered to help your mom with dinner," I answered.

He was starting to really piss me off.

"Good little girlfriend aren't you." Emmett said sarcastically as he took a sip from his water.

"Emmett, drop the attitude," Edward warned.

Esme looked between them before taking a sip of her wine.

"So when will dinner be ready mom?" he asked.

I noticed Heidi didn't seem to say much.

"About another half an hour. Why don't we go sit in the living room?" she suggested.

We all went in and sat down, the TV the only noise.

"What are Alice and Jasper up to today?" Esme asked me.

"Shopping, I think. Alice took a practically empty suitcase so she can use it to bring her purchases home. She plans on a huge shopping spree while she's there." I laughed.

"I can only imagine. Jasper will be like a pack mule trying to get all their stuff back. You should have seen her on the flight back from Phoenix. She came home with a suitcase more than she took. She found some little store there on Saturday and ran amok. The woman who owned the place certainly hit the jack pot!" she laughed.

"God! I'm glad we left earlier then. No doubt I would have been dragged along if we were still there. She was bad enough on Friday. She wanted me and her to have a sleepover on Thursday night and I said no she she thought that meant I would go shopping with her on Friday. She was more than a little annoyed when we snuck out of the hotel in the morning and stayed away all day. No doubt she'll bring me back a ton of stuff she thinks I should have and then pester me to death until I wear them" I groaned.

We carried on chatting for a bit before Emmett interrupted.

"Wait, you were all in Phoenix? Why?" he asked.

"Bella's mother passed away. We went out for the funeral," Edward answered.

"Oh right. Sorry." He said glancing at me.

"Thank you. I'll go check on the vegetables Esme."

"Okay dear." she smiled.

I checked the roast chicken in the oven and then the vegetables. Everything was about ready so I quickly set the table in the dining room. She came in just as I was taking the chicken out to rest.

"I'd have done that sweetie."

"It's no problem Esme. Go sit with your family, I'm fine finishing off in here." I offered.

"I'd rather be in here. Between Edward trying to figure Emmett out without actually talking to him, Emmett being pissed at the world for no apparent reason and that horrendous woman he calls his wife staring at her fingernails and typing on that damn phone, I'm going crazy in there. It's hard to have a conversation when no-one answers you," she whispered.

Together we worked to put everything into the serving dishes that were on the counter and carve the chicken. Once we had everything sorted we carried it through to the dining room. I carried through a pitcher of iced water and a chilled bottle of white wine and set them on the table while Esme got the rest of them through. Dinner was uncomfortable at best Then the barbie at the other end spoke up.

"Don't you think it's a little inconsiderate to have wine in front of Emmett when you know about his addictions?" she asked.

"I, I'm sorry, I never thought. I'll just" I started but Edward cut me off.

"He handled it fine hanging out in a bar for the afternoon. I'm pretty sure he can handle a bottle of wine on the table. It wasn't even drink he had a problem with." he said glaring at her.

"Can we not talk about this in front of a perfect stranger?" Emmett asked angrily as he inhaled his food.

"She's not a stranger, not to us anyway. She knows all about it anyway," Edward shrugged.

"What do you mean?" Emmett asked his voice slightly raised.

"I told Bella about my past which included telling her everything that happened at that time." Edward said still eating away seemingly oblivious to the fact that his brother was about to blow a gasket.

"Seriously? Why don't you just take out an ad in the paper!" Emmett yelled.

"Look, not that I have to explain myself to you, but your old buddy Tanya showed up with her son. She told Bella that she was my wife and Riley was my son and I had to explain everything to her. Even if she hadn't, I would have told her eventually. I love her and want to be completely open and honest with her." Edward growled fiercely.

Was it wrong that that turned me on a little?

"What, so she can sell the story to the press when she takes your money and runs?" Emmett spewed angrily.

"Will you drop this shit" Edward asked angrily.

"What's going on?" Esme asked, looking between her sons while I died from embarrassment.

"Well from what I heard between last night and today she doesn't work, she lives with her uncle after just showing up here a few months back and all of a sudden you're in love. Doesn't that strike you as strange? It's as clear as day that she's only with you for your money and if you're too blind to see it then I'm not going to sit back and let it happen." he yelled banging his fist on the table.

I was stunned. I knew that's what he thought of me but I never thought he would be screaming accusations across the dinner table at his mothers house. I put my napkin on the table and stood.

"You know what Emmett, I already told you, I couldn't give a damn if Edward was rich, poor or anything in between. I'm with him because I love him plain and simple. If you can't believe that then that's fine. You'll only disappear again anyway so what does it matter. Esme, thank you for a lovely dinner. I'll see you during the week at some point. Baby, I love you. Call me later okay?" I said as Edward sat there still in shock at his brothers outburst.

I grabbed my coat from the rack in the hallway and left on foot as I heard both Esme and Edward rip into Emmett. I hadn't taken my car because I was supposed to leave with Edward. I was almost back at my uncle's when a car stopped beside me. Edward. He jumped out of his truck and came around to the side of the road where I stood.

"I'm so sorry about that jack ass baby. You know I don't believe him don't you? I already told you I don't." he said looking at me worriedly.

"Of course I do. I just wasn't going to sit there and let him talk about me like that as though I weren't even in the room. Are you okay?" I asked.

"I'm fine now, just pissed at that asshole. You still want to come to my place?" he asked.

"Aren't you going back to your mom's?" I asked him.

"No. She's going to stay with your uncle tonight. She told Emmett she'll talk to him tomorrow. She was packing an overnight bag when I left. She's pissed as hell at him too."

"Okay then." I got in the truck and we drove to his.

When we got back from Phoenix I had brought over some things and left them here so I could go to work from here. I was off tomorrow anyway so it didn't matter. We got home and I changed into some yoga pants and a t-shirt of Edward's. I sat on the sofa with my laptop emailing Rosalie while Edward played some game on his x-box. The door was knocked and Edward went to answer it.

"What the hell are you doing here?" I heard him ask.

"I just came to see if you were okay. You know, I thought you might need some comforting after hearing what your little girlfriend was really after." I heard Heidi say in what I supposed was her impression of a sexy manner.

I went to the archway which led from the living room to the hallway and was stunned.

She opened her coat as I got there to reveal a black push up bra, panties and black hold ups. She was wearing black stilettos too. I burst out laughing causing the two of them to look at me.

"You have got to be kidding me! I get accused of being a gold digger yet here you are throwing yourself at your husband's brother! What would Emmett have to say about that ?" I asked still laughing.

"I thought you had saw sense about that little whore!" she fumed pulling her coat around her.

"You, my brother's wife, come here in your underwear and you're calling her a whore? Are you shitting me? Get the fuck out of my house!" Edward yelled at her.

"Fine!" she started to stomp away from the door.

"And Heidi?" he called after her and she stopped, "I wouldn't go near you with Emmett's. Just so you know for the future!" he yelled.

He slammed the door closed and locked it.

"You okay babe?" he asked.

"Yeah. I think I'm going to go to bed. The sooner this day is over the better." I sighed.

We headed up to bed and cuddled as we fell asleep. I never saw Emmett for a few days but from what Edward said Emmett caught her coming home dressed the way she was and after hearing from Edward, kicked her out. He told her it was the last straw and he wanted her gone by the time he got back. Apparently Heidi was more than a little friendly with the opposite sex.

On Wednesday I was working at the store when the bell rang signalling someone coming in. I noticed Emmett with a list in his hand searching through the shelves. He looked confused before approaching the counter with his head down

"Excuse me … oh it's you. So you do have a job?" he asked with a smirk.

"Not that it's any of your business but no I don't. This is my uncle's place and I cover shifts to give him and the others who work here time off. What do you want?" I asked.

"Where can I find turmeric?" he asked with a glare.

"Second aisle about halfway up on the right hand side," I answered and looked back down at the order I was writing out.

"Look, it's not that I don't like you, I don't even know you. I just can't see you pull the wool over my brother's eyes and sit back and do nothing. He's already had one bitch try and take him for all he's worth without some small town girl doing the same to get her the fuck out of dodge," he said with a smirk, as though he had caught me out at something.

"Well asshole, for your information I am far from a small town girl. For a start I live with my uncle because I haven't been back in town long and I was going through some stuff so I didn't want to live alone. I don't work because one, I don't have to and two, I'm still deciding what I want to do. Don't come in here with you attitude and issues and think you know all there is to know about me." I said sternly.

"See that just sounds like excuses to me. You're just pissed because I've got your number," he said still smirking.

"Really? So what, pray tell, am I all about then?" I asked

"You came here to mooch of your uncle heard about Edward and decided he was your ticket out of here. You get in a relationship with him, marry him and then when the time is right you divorce him and disappear into the sunset with a nice chunk of change to tide you over until you find your next victim," he answered smugly.

"Really, see I see a small flaw in your plan." I said just as smug.

"Oh really, and what would that be?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Well considering I have just under four million dollars in my bank account, not including the money I have coming to me from the sale of my property in Phoenix, I don't exactly need Edward's money. Then there's the fact that I came back here to live for good because my only family lives here. Then there's the fact that I'm head over heels for your brother. So you can spew your bullshit all you want but it's not going to change things between Edward and I." his face dropped.

"I-I-I didn't know. I"

"Exactly. You didn't know. But instead of waiting to find out you come in here with your accusations not giving a fuck that it's actually your brother your hurting. Maybe if you'd paid more attention to your skank of a wife instead of me when you got here she wouldn't have turned up at your brothers door in her underwear. Now get the fuck out of this store before I call the cops and have you charged with harassment." I sneered before turning my back on him and going out back.

Boy did that feel good. I heard the store door open and close as he left. Asshole. I finished up the order I was writing out before calling it in. I tidied the shelves while I waited for Embry to come in. When he did I left to head over to the bar. I was going to grab some lunch while I worked on some of my coursework. I had came up with an idea for my business and I wanted to run it by Edward.

As soon as I walked in the door Stacey came over to say hi.

"How are you? Edward's in the office with his brother. He is fine! Is he single do you know?" she asked.

"I'm good. And yes Emmett's single. He's an asshole though so be warned." I said with a roll of my eyes.

"Ah I see. I'll avoid! Now what can I get you?" she asked.

"I'll have a chicken burger and fries with a coke please." I asked.

Stacey went to place my order while I headed to the office to get my laptop. Edward had brought it for me earlier. I knocked on the door before I went in. Edward was behind the desk while Emmett sat across from him. When he saw it was me Edward stood and came around to meet me.

"Hey babe, how was the store?" he asked as he gave me a kiss.

"It was okay. Shitty customers, just the usual. Can I grab my laptop? I have a paper due I need to finish and I want to see if Rose has gotten back to me. I haven't heard from her in a few weeks." I said frowning.

It wasn't like Rosalie to leave you hanging. Normally she would email back the next day if not the same one. She must be really busy at the garage.

"So Eddie, when do you want to have a night out? What about tomorrow" Emmett asked as Edward went to get my computer.

"We're having dinner with Jacob and Leah tomorrow night." I answered for him.

"Well how about Friday?" he asked still looking at Edward.

"We have plans," I answered again.

We were going to Port Angeles for dinner and Edward had booked us a room at a hotel so that we could have a few drinks without worrying about getting home.

"Am I allowed any time with my brother before I go home or are you intent on keeping him away from his family?" he asked me, his voice dripping with venom.

"Actually we spend time with his family regularly. Maybe if you had told him you were coming instead of just showing up with your whore on the side we wouldn't have made any plans," I spat back.

"Okay enough. She's right Emmett. We made these plans while we were still in Phoenix. If I had any idea you were going to show up we'd have done it next weekend but we have hotel reservations. Here you go baby. I'll be out shortly. Did you order some food?" he asked.

"I did, a chicken burger. Stacey put it in for me. Eric on today?" I asked.

"Yeah. He knows how you like it. As do I." he said with a wink and a grin.

I leaned up and gave him a kiss which quickly escalated before the pain in the ass cleared his throat. I turned and glared at him.

"I'll let you back to that." I said with a grimace at Emmett.

"I won't be too long," he said.

I turned to leave and he popped me on the ass. As I walked away I heard Emmett murmur

"Are you two always like that?" as Edward laughed.

I went back to my booth and quickly logged into my email account. Still nothing from Rosalie. I quickly shot her another email asking if everything was okay before opening up my paper. I added a few things and took a few out before sending it off to be graded. I was really enjoying this business course and was glad Edward had suggested I take it up.

My food came just as Edward and Emmett left the office. Emmett left the bar and Edward came over to sit with me.

"So did you get your paper done?" he asked stealing a fry.

"I did. I just sent it away. I wanted to talk to you about something. I've had an idea for my business."

"Oh yeah. What are you thinking?" he asked stealing another fry.

"Okay, stop stealing my food and I'll tell you!" I exclaimed.

"I'm thinking about opening a book store. It's something I enjoy, reading, and I was thinking since the nearest library is in Port Angeles I could do a small borrow section, a membership type of thing. I also thought I could offer trade ins, you know if they buy a book they can bring it back and I take so much of the next lot or something. I could also have a small coffee shop if I can find somewhere big enough. What do you think?" I asked nervously.

"I think you, my angel, are brilliant. And you know the space next to the post office is empty. It's divided into two stores now but it's actually all the one space." he suggested.

We got to work making lists of things I would need to look into and threw around a few suggestions for names and I felt better than I had in a long time.

I finally had found what I wanted to do.

I hope you all liked it!

Characters Not Mine.