Chapter Twelve- R U Mine?


Okay let's revisit this Bella.

I was babysitting DB, as I usually do when Edward goes to work, doing some university assignments, making up some lists (one of my habits anyone is yet to trespass on). It was almost 11pm, the doorbell rings, I answer…. Which leads me to where I am right now…

Edward's hands snaked around my waist, his tongue was most definitely down my throat. My mind was not making many connections other then.

SEX! SEX! SEX!

Edward pulled away before I could register anything else. He poke me, a few times. I responded a minute or two later.

"We…just…" Edward muttered.

"You just…."

"But….you're not a day dream…"

"Well one would hope not!" I glared taking a few steps back, "I hope you don't go ravishing every babysitter you see!" I declared angrily, but if anything, anger was not one of the prominent emotions running through the many veins in my body.

"Well," Edward scratched his copper head uneasily.

"Good grief man!" I slapped his shoulder and laughed heartily, instead of showing him how hurt and confused I was. But the most unsettling of any emotion was the feeling of triumph.

"We need to talk about this," he ran a hand through his messy locks.

"I don't think-"

"Look just listen to me, please," his eyes looked pleadingly at me, and I groaned inwardly before sitting on the nearest chair and waving my hands for him to continue.

"I umm," he looked a little lost for words, dressed in royal blue scrubs. "I have tried to deny-"

My mind drifted, I had the strongest feeling this was going to be some 'pride and prejudice,' crap.

"I tried not to like you but it's become near impossible. I mean your family is…"

Yep, just like pride and prejudice.

"And not to mention you're also a little-"

"I get it! Get lost, I don't like you either," I glared at Edward who looked at me stumped.

"What?"

"You just told me reasons why you shouldn't like me, well here I'll make it damned well easier for you! I don't like you! Get out and take April with you!" I got up and made a beeline for my room, locking it behind me.


Edward looked down at himself in confusion. What had just occurred? He thought humourlessly. He had indeed listed many reasons why he shouldn't like her but the worst part was, he liked….no, he more then liked Bella.

"Fuck me," Edward muttered running his hands through his hair, before pulling it slightly to emphasis the shithouse he now owned.

Edward took a glance at DB curled up on the mat, bending over he picked her up gingerly and kissed her forehead before placing her in the cradle and gently flicking away the curl on her closed eyes.

Edward lithely moved toward Bella's bedroom door and rested his forehead on it. "Look Bella, I didn't mean to point out flaws! Hell I have a mile long list of my own flaws. I love sex way too much, I may as well be a nympho, and my parents probably don't love their kids. I have relationship issues; I'm not a conservative. Much to my parents' disappointment. I hate the colour of my hair. I know that sounds girly, but it's bloody red," Edward heard a muffled laugh from the other side and fought his own smile.

"I wish I could go to the gym more often. I work under my father that affords me 'special' considerations. I hate it."

"I count everything. Well almost everything. I can recount the number of times we've talked with no pretence or innuendo, which is a grand total of two times," Edward smiled a little, shoving his hands into his pockets, all the while keeping his forehead in contact with the large door.

"I have a horrible habit of running my hands through my hands when I'm nervous, anxious or tired and sometimes just when I don't have anything to do…" Bella opened the door, which unsettled Edward's gravity sending Edward crashing into the side of the bed.


"Oh fuck!" I yelped as Edward went down, hitting the side of his head on the corner of my for post bed. Edward didn't move much. "Oh shit, oh shit, oh shiiiitt, I killed him! Fucker!"

"Oh, you haven't killed me …yet," a dry muffled voice replied back, "close enough though. You owe the jar five dollars," Edward groaned and rolled over, throwing both his hands over his eyes.

"Edward, I didn-" he held up a hand cutting off my speech,

"In all honesty I realised if I wanted to date you, I'd never be safe from danger. Which you just proved," Edward deadpanned.

"You want-"

"Wait Bella, let me finish. Please?" Edward sighed. "I also realised your whacky family comes into the bargain. But I wouldn't have it any other way. Your bothers have been nothing but… psychotic but they've welcomed me. You mother even called me two nights ago and offered to deliver homemade meal for my dinner because she knew I was doing a graveyard shift. I love that you came down to work with April and dropped off lunch and your dad, more then sufficiently scared the fucking shit out of me."

"I love that when you get completely utterly drunk, you begin to mutter other things then what you want to discuss. You also giggle a lot when you're drunk, you have so many endearing qualities I want to name them all, but just looking at you makes me speechless," Edward stopped as his eyes met mine for the first time in the entire speech.

"You fucking cheesey sod!" I launched myself at him, slapping his chest, "don't go all fucking sweet and corny on me you dick! You fucking sonofabitch! If anything go back to the innuendo! Don't be all sweet and endearing and mushy!" I yelled, Edward looked at me startled.

"I must have hit my head hard," Edward muttered not bothering to stop me from slapping his chest. I continued slapping his chest.

And then I stopped and rested my head on the bed, my hands stilled on his chest, "I'm sorry, I just. I want things to go back to normal!" I all but yelled, "I want to go back to despising you! Hating the way you live your life," I took a deep breath, "but I can't because of what you told me yesterday! I find myself wanting you more after that! Before I could deal with it, but now!" I rolled off and lied down next to him. "You explained everything about me you hated, and about my family, hell you even mentioned thing you hate about yourself and your own family and I still freaking want you, and then you turned into this cheesey bastard and it all but intensified. I hate cheesey. I never liked fucking cheesey. I used to laugh at cheesey! I never wanted to date a cheesey man!" too much use of the word cheesey.

"You owe the swear jar eleven dollars, better make that twelve for the next one. Bella, will you go on a fucking date with me?" He already had my hand in his rubbing small circles on my palm.

"Fuck yes, pick me up at eight tomorrow," I laughed, rolling onto my side to kiss his cheek.

"You know you've swore a total of 649 times in my presence," Edward muttered, his mossy orbs were lit with fondness.

"All worth it," I smiled and he chuckled moving to capture my lips with his own.

"So is this the first date? Because if rules dictate I only have to go through another two before I can make my way into your pants," he wiggled his eyebrows.

"I think you're already there," I snickered and Edward smiled, he looked a liitle surprised as if his hands had a mind of their own.

"So I am!" he looked like a jubilant child.


Edward was already at my apartment at eight, dressed in a tux, I, on the other hand had jeans and a shirt on. We both looked each other up and down and muttered 'I'll be back in ten minutes.'

Ten minutes later we were out in the corridor, I was wearing a lovely classy crimson silk evening gown, Edward was wearing jeans and a polo shirt. We looked at each to her and muttered.

"My apartment or yours?" we snickered and went to his.

We had a Breaking Bad marathon, Edward was still in his jeans and shirt, me still in a stupid evening dress. Chinese take away boxes strewn on his coffee table. "Where's DB?" I asked slightly sleepy.

"DB?" Edward looked down at me, tucking some of my stray hairs behind my ears.

"Doorstep baby," I murmured sleepily.

"What's wrong with April?"

"Well it make you wonder where May, June and July are," I muttered closing my eyes, Edward's chest trembled with laughter.

"I agree, it is a horrible name," he conceded. "However somewhere down the line, I wouldn't mind a May, June and July," Edward chortled.

"Hmm… Doesn't she have a middle name?" I asked sleepily.

"I don't think so, but I do rather like DB though," Edward pondered the name for a few minutes while I snuggled further into his side and let my eyes close.


Edward was at work, I had to much spare time on my hands, so I made a lists, I was in the middle of my 'Edward' list when the someone decided to knock on my door.

No one ever knocks on the front door… everyone seems to have a key to my damned apartment, I considered not answering but thought it would be imprudent.

Yo ho and behold.

"Hey Bella!" a blonde haired moron sang, he wore a tux.

"Mike," I muttered dryly.

"You know you promised me that date…" he looked at me up and down.

"That was three months ago, and you for got to pick me up," I snorted glaring at his tennis ball head, "plus I can't today, I'm teaching my dog to yodel," I rolled my eyes.

I heard someone cover his or her laughter with a cough; I turned a fraction to see Edward standing at his door looking back at us, he looked good in royal blue scrubs.

"You don't have a dog…" Mike frowned.

"I'm sorry what did you say? I have a terrible habit of ignoring people who bore me," I shrugged nonchalantly looking at Mike with a sigh, Mike looked a little red in the face and I felt like a bitch. Edward decided to come in.

"Hey sweetums," he kissed my cheek, "what's for dinner tonight? Oh and who's your friend?" he asked politely, keeping his hand on the nape of my neck. A universal sign to all men.

MINE.

"Spaghetti," I smiled, "and this is Mike, my landlord," Mike nodded stiffly before turning around and marching up the stairs.

"Yodel? Dogs yodel?" Edward looked at me with pure fascination.

"I can't think under pressure," I muttered, Edward chuckled before dipping his head lower and capturing my lips.

"Well we should buy a dog," he murmured against my lips.

"Don't need one, I have you," I smirked.


"You have the attention span of a lightening bolt," Edward sighed at DB, "DB no. Not the TV, daddy is speaking to you, love," Edward tried to gain his daughter's attention.

"You like DB?" I started.

"It's cute," Edward shrugged and delivered a lopsided smile making me chuckle.

"Well dinner is served," I smiled, but it became some what stilted as I became side swiped by the headlong tram rushing towards me. Metaphorical, of course. Edward and I had skipped a whole bunch of relationship necessities and yet here we are as a family unit.

This left me reeling, I felt my head swimming, light on my feet and a roll of nausea surge up my throat.

"Bella?" Edward concerned voice tore me out of my awareness. He'd deposited DB into her high chair and rushed to stand behind me as I swayed further.

"Hey, woah!" he grasped my elbows and made me lean against him. "Breathe," he ordered softly, black dots appeared before my eyes.

I was pushed into a chair and told to put my head on my knees and focus on breathing.

I was having a panic attack. I hadn't had one of those since… well I don't remember.

Edward put a reassuring hand on my back, gently moving it up and down, I looked up to find his concerned moss orbs staring at me with little to no comprehension of what just occurred.

"Are we moving to fast?" I blurted, Edward looked a little startled but maintained his composure.

"I don't believe so," he looked a little lost, "I've never been in a functional relationship," he looked out of sorts, he raked his free hand through his hair. "It's not like we live together-"

"No, that's exactly what it seems like!" I yelped, "we spend so much time together and I-"

"You feel smothered?" he questioned looking unsettled, eyes troubled.

"Yes…no…sort of. I don't know where I'm going with this, but I feel so…."

"Vulnerable?" he asked quietly, I nodded.

"Somewhat. I feel like I don't know how we got here," I hiccupped, I felt the onslaught of tears begin to grace the corners of my eyes.

"Well it was two and a half months of beating around the bush, one drunk night and one inane day of work followed by a somewhat shitty declaration of feelings," Edward sighed sitting in the chair next to mine. "Are you scared?" Edward asked after a few minutes of consuming silence.

"So much," I whispered, Edward wiped away a few tears.

"Well join the whacky train of fucking misfits. But I mean it when I say, I want to give this a go and I mean a proper go Bella. No wish washy casual sex bullshit, I want the whole nine yards. You nagging, compromises, fights, the make ups, the sharing of thought. I want it all and I can wait until you're ready for it," Edward muttered.

I took a few more calming breathes. "Can we take things super slow?" I asked in a broken voice.

"What does that entail?"

"Maybe you finding a proper babysitter, us going on dates, me not living in your apartment or yours in mine," but as I was listing off this minor things, it became evident that either way this relationship started off in a highly unusual way, there really was no point in slowing things down. We'd just be moving in circles.

"I don't like that idea," Edward frowned.

"Neither do I. I'm sorry, I've just never gotten so serious with someone in less then one week…" I rested my head on the back of the chair.

"God, I hope not," he cheekily added with a saucy laugh and a wist, chaste kiss on the corner of my mouth. "Can we agree to let things just be?" Edward asked looking into my eyes, searching for something. I don't know what it was but apparently he found it.

"Why not, let's let the chips fall as they please," I shrugged, "be warned though, if you propose in the next few weeks I will run for the hills," I kissed him on the lips before standing up and filling his plate.


Things were as they should be, I was babysitting, Edward and I spent time in both our apartments, we'd become acquainted with every flaw in each other. My parents did not intervene. However, Dad sure loves to scare Edward.

Mum loved the idea of a doctor for a son-in-law, my brothers all welcomed Edward with open arms they needed someone for Saturday evening basketball, otherwise they were out of some tournament. Hence the open arms.

Edward's parents seemed absent, ever since that fateful day at University. I broached the subject.

"Edward," I chided gently as clew raspberries on DB's stomach, e=he looked up at me sheepishly.

"Hmm?" He pulled DB's dress down and picked her up, gently tossing her in the air, her giggles filled the air.

"What happened to your parents?" I asked, beating the bush would be useless.

Edward's face hardened, "Alice said they left for work, Esme is in America and Carlisle is with his mistress in France," Edward shrugged.

"But they-"

"They don't ever get involved in our lives, Alice and I were merely inconveniences," Edward interjected. "My mother's sister and husband raised us. They weren't blessed with many children," Edward squinted, "just good old, Alistair, but Elizabeth wanted a brood of them," Edward smiled fondly.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to bring up…that," I waved my hand noncommittally, Edward chuckled.

"It's fine, I was wondering when you'd ask," Edward shrugged, "my parents are merely parents in name and nothing more. My aunt and uncle are more likely my parents, or at least they loved us as parents should," Edward shrugged.

"Why don't you parents shower Alice and you, with love?" I asked baffled, Alice was a successful interior designer, Edward a doctor. What was not to be proud and cherished of two stellar children?
"Did I not mention my parents love dwindled after three years of marriage, by then Alice and I were very much born. They have strong beliefs about marriage. To be honest their marriage is more like a marriage of convenience, thye both do their own thing. Never in the same place at the same time. Even if they were, it's merely a 'hello dear,'" Edward smiled cynically.

"I don't think they've ever had a conversation that lasted more then ten minutes," he snickered. "At any rate, Alice and I, tend to avoid them when we can."

"Well what about your aunt and uncle?" I asked hoping for a more brighter light in Edward's eyes compared to the pitiless anger.

Edward's entire demeanour changed to light and carefree within seconds, "they are two of the loveliest people you'll meet," Edward grinned.

"And Alistair?"

"He's a lawyer, but he's in America with some clients going over some real estate. He's very much like an older brother to Alice and I," Edward smiled.

"I'd like to meet them someday," I grinned, "after all you've met my parents," I chuckled as Edward paled.

"Under duress," Edward pointed out with no humour.

"Well saddle up. Mum wants us over in about a week for some genuine family time. Before you ask. That precludes, two days of family crap such as camping, bbqs, singing and sharing shitty stories. Before you give me your answer, I should also say…don't agree when she asks. And she will, don't agree."

Edward looked startled but nodded, not understanding the level of embarrassment he'd put me through.

I only hoped Mum didn't use the puppy dog face when she comes over to pick up DB.

One could only hope.


This feels like a disjointed chapter, and honestly, that is exactly what it is, I suppose!

There should only be three more chapters before I close this off and focus on other things!

Enjoy the chapter!

B.