Edward Cullen is a rock star in the biggest band of the decade. He's America's "It Boy," but he's still unhappy. Will Bella be in time to save him? AH AU
Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer created Twilight; I'm just toying around with her characters.
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The week flies by for Bella, with all of the upcoming changes, she does her best just to keep Edward at the level he is now, fearing what Carlisle had said about the silent bomb just exploding. The two of them make plans to go see Bella's father that weekend, just days before Dr. Salazar comes to evaluate them.
After Bella had given Carlisle the 'ok' to bring in Dr. Salazar, he called her immediately, and later that day, he met with Bella and explained what would be occurring.
"Bella," Carlisle begins. "She'll come in about two weeks, just to do a brief evaluation first. Then, after she's collected her notes and comes up with a plan, she'll come back and be staying with us."
"So, she'll be here for the day, to observe us, and then leave, and then come back? What a waste of a flight," Bella laughs. "Why doesn't she just stay?"
"Carmen thinks that if she exposes herself to Edward for too long a period in the beginning that he'll reject her. She thinks it best, and I agree that he meet her, and then have her depart. That way, you can find out how Edward likes her, at a later time, discuss with Carmen on how to reintroduce her on a more permanent basis."
She and Edward had talked about it briefly, on the couch the day he decided he wanted to meet her father, but since then, Bella hasn't brought it up. She was trying to avoid it. In fact, she's pretty sure the first thing Carmen will tell her is that she needs to stop being romantically involved with Edward. It's logical, and most definitely the smartest thing she could do to help him.
*
Finally, the day of the lunch with Bella's father arrives, and right from the start, Bella knows it's going to be the worst day ever. She wakes up gasping for breath, on the verge of a panic attack because of a nightmare she's just had.
As quietly as she can, she crawls out of bed, careful not to wake Edward, and sneaks off to the bathroom where she climbs into the bathtub, head in her hands, trying to stop panicking.
Eventually, she gets out of the tub and goes back to their bed. She pulls out her laptop to record it all in her journal.
Hi Journal,
I woke up this morning with the worst feeling in my stomach. I dreamed that "Charlie Brown" had finally come to his senses and decided he was going to marry the red headed girl instead of staying with me. He'd done everything we'd agreed upon, but that made it so much worse. He was so honest with me about it, telling me straight out that he didn't love me anymore, and that he was sorry – wanted me in his life still- and that he was in love with someone else.
The dream flashed forward to a wedding, with "Charlie Brown" at the altar and me by his side, acting as his "best man" smiling sadly through tears that I'd passed off as 'joyous' to him. I could see "Lucy" and "Sally" in the congregation, looking how I felt: betrayed and broken hearted. "Linus" and "Schroder" were behind me, being groomsmen, and then the little red headed girl walked out, following behind her beautiful bridesmaids, toward "Charlie Brown" grinning wickedly, like she knew how I felt and didn't care.
"Charlie Brown" looked back at me as the little red headed girl got to him, one final time, and I couldn't help it. I watched myself run down the aisle in tears, sobbing and carrying my broken heart in my hands. "Charlie Brown" didn't stop the ceremony after I ran, and the little red headed girl yelled 'carry on' to the preacher as "Sally" and "Lucy" followed after me.
The dream skipped ahead again, this time a few years down the road, with "Charlie Brown" calling me, telling me that he and the little red headed girl were expecting a girl and he wanted to name her after me. The little red headed girl pretended to be happy, but as soon as she got me on the phone, I could see her face, rolling her eyes as if I was in the room with her, despite the 3,000-mile difference. "Charlie Brown" came back onto the phone and told me he needed me to come to the birth, and then the christening, and then be the godparent, and I didn't say no because I was too in love with him to let him go.
It flashed forward again to when I was a older, sick with cancer, still heartbroken on my death bed for "Charlie Brown" who was nowhere to be found, despite his good health. "Sally" and "Linus" came in, apologizing, saying that "Charlie Brown" wasn't coming. That he and the little red headed girl were vacationing and couldn't be pulled away.
I shot awake, on the verge of a panic attack.
That's all for now,
Peppermint Patty
"Bella? Why are you awake so early?" Edward asks, stretching out on the bed. He yawns as he wipes the sleep out of his eyes. "Everything ok?"
She nods, closing the laptop. "Yeah, I just had a nightmare," she answers. "I'm alright now. Let's just go back to sleep."
He pulls her closer, wrapping his arms around her tightly. "I'll keep you safe, sing in your ear, run my hands through your hair to get you past this nightmare," he sings softly, and Bella smirks, giggling, unable to hold it in.
"You're singing me "Lullaby at Sunrise"?" she asks, shaking her head as she curls into him, pulling the blankets over the two of them.
"Do you want to keep singing?"
"No, let's just go to sleep, today's a big day for us," he says, another yawn taking over him. "I need my rest if I have to face your father."
She nods into his chest, sinks as close as she can into him, and closes her eyes, trying to shake off the feeling of dread that the nightmare had left. She feared that her theory would be proved on Monday, when Carmen got there. She feared that she was just Edward's Superman, nothing more.
On Monday, she'd figure out how to deal with it. Right now, she was going to enjoy every single second she had with him.
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"Are you scared to meet my father?" she asks Edward, smiling wide. "He's not that bad, not really. I think you'll like him."
"But will he like me?" Edward asks, running his hand through his hair as he fixes his tie. "I mean, what if he recognizes me and tells Angela or something?"
"First, he won't recognize you, and second, is it really such a terrible thing for Angela to find out?" He walks up behind her and wraps his fingers around her hips.
She hears Edward sigh into her hair, and she knows what he's going to say. She stops him before he can tell her why it would be bad. "I know, I know. No one can know it's you. It just sucks, you know? Knowing that I can't tell anyone that I'm completely in love with you. You know?"
He grins and kisses the top of her head. "Dad thinks it's best, and I can't say I don't agree with him. He knows what's good for our family. I can't go against that just because I want the world to know how we feel right now."
The right now in his sentence forces Bella back into her nightmare from earlier that morning. She sees the older version of herself laying in the hospital bed, and before she can shake the memory, Edward is hugging her tighter, telling her it's alright. She turns in his arms, holds onto him, gripping at his shoulder blades, and breathes him in.
"What's wrong, Bella? I don't know what I did to make you upset, please. I'm so sorry, Bella, please talk to me."
"It was just my dream, I remembered part of it. I can't shake the feeling and…. Just forget it, I'm alright. Now, let me go put on the clothes Alice bought me, and slip into those heels she picked up in Los Angeles."
She heads back to her room and walks into the closet, grabbing for the garment bag that Alice had gotten ready for her. The shoes are still in the box, and when she opens it, she sees the red leather of the sole and smiles, knowing exactly who made them. She grins wide, setting them aside, and slips out of her clothes and into her dress clothes. It's a pair of grey high-waisted dress shorts and a white chemise top. There's a note from Alice and Rosalie telling her to tuck the shirt in and wear her hair down, but there's nothing else there, no other tips. She's a little surprised.
After dressing and fixing her hair, she walks back into Edward's room and clears her throat to get his attention. "How do I look?"
His eyes are wide, his mouth open so big she's sure he's going to get drool on his tie. "You look…"
"If I need to put on something else, something more appropriate for my father, please tell me."
"No, no, you look incredible. I just… Holy fucking shit, Bella, you're gorgeous."
She smirks at him and leads him toward the bedroom door, down the hall and down the steps. "We're going now. You can compliment me later, Edward," she laughs, winking back at him.
Carlisle meets them at the front door. She sees him look between her and Edward, so she asks Edward to go upstairs to get her coat. He goes, seemingly unaware, and whistles as he goes.
"Thanks," Carlisle says. "I wanted to speak to you briefly. I have to tell you that I'm not sure about this. Last time he was out, he wasn't very cooperative, and this is way more important than seeing friends. If your father feels as if you are in danger, or if he feels Edward isn't right for you, he will mention it, and as a father, I think he'll mention it in front of Edward. If he does, I'm afraid of how Edward will react."
"You're not giving Edward enough credit, Carlisle. He'll be fine."
"I want to believe in him as you do. You know I just want what's best for the both of you."
"I know that," Bella smiles.
"This is a very mild sedative. I'd like it very much that you use this if he starts acting up. It won't make him fall asleep, it'll just keep him very mellow, and if the need arises, you can both leave without incident." He hands her a small plastic bag with two tablets in it.
"They will dissolve like seltzer tablets, fizz for a moment, but not much," Carlisle continues. "You can tell Edward if you'd like, I don't mind. I just don't want this outing to ruin everything for you."
"What do you mean, for me? Aren't you worried about Edward?"
"How do you think your father will react if Edward has an episode? I'm a father, Bella, I know what I would do if my only daughter was dating someone who had any kind of psychological outburst. Even at your age, I wouldn't consent to it."
Bella smiles sadly at Carlisle. He smiles back, but sighs, "I just want you to be careful. If you have any sense of him having an episode, do this. For both of you."
"You know, he might want to take these anyway," she tells him. "He's really nervous to meet my father. I'll talk to him about it on the ride there. I'm really just glad neither of us are still bandaged."
"But you are bruised."
"That's nothing new for me," Bella laughs, patting Carlisle's arm as she puts the tablets into her pocket. "I'm always bruised, somewhere."
"Hopefully, that's something Rosalie can help you with when you get back. She's a trained yoga instructor. Yoga can be soothing and helpful with equilibrium."
"Yoga? Gross," Bella groans playfully, smiling as Edward comes back down with her coat. Carlisle hands her the keys and then they leave, smiling.
The drive is a decent hour's drive, but Bella has a lot on her mind, so it's a quiet one. She and Edward listen to an iPod playlist called 'One Hundred and Eleven Classical Masterpieces' which makes the drive a calm and almost serene affair. She tries to decide whether she should tell Edward about what Carlisle's given her for him, but she's honestly worried that it will set him off, so she's apprehensive.
"Edward?" She decides it would be for the best to be honest with him. "Carlisle gave me something…for you. Something that I'm not sure you'll like, but I have to tell you, because I want us to always be honest with each other."
"What is it, Bella? I'm sure it's not that bad." Edward laughs at Bella's nervousness, and grabs for her hand. She smiles appreciatively, but doesn't continue right away.
"They're in my purse. It's a mild sedative, to help keep you stay calm. They won't knock you out, but Carlisle thinks it might help with your nerves."
"You don't think I can do this?" Edward asks, biting at his lip. She sees the look in his eyes and knows what he's feeling.
"No, it's not that I don't think you can. I just… it's a big day, Edward, and I don't want you to get overwhelmed. My father's not scary, but I know that you're nervous. I don't want you to be nervous, but I understand why you are."
"If you think it's for the best, Bella, I'll take them," Edward says softly, tightening his grip on her hand. "I want to show your father that you're in good hands with me."
"I am in good hands," she tells him, pulling his hand up with her own to her lips. "You're perfect for me. Everything will go fine today, if you don't want to take the pills, I'll hold onto them. If you feel anxious later, I'll give you them to you then."
"What's your father like?" Edward asks. Bella's surprised he hadn't asked sooner, but answers him just the same.
"He's a cop," she tells him, pushing her hair back. "A detective actually, in Port Angeles. He deals with a lot of low level crime and things like that. When we get to the house, he'll have his rifles out on the table to scare you. He'll be cleaning them, drinking beer, wearing a flannel and some jeans. He will also make sure you look at his badge, which will be at his hip, like a lighthouse, so he knows that you know he's the boss. But don't be worried, as soon as he sees how you are with me, he'll lighten up."
"So, guns, badge, flannel, beer," Edward says, calculating. "Where are we going to lunch then? Port Angeles is a big city, someone will recognize me."
"We're staying at the house," Bella says, soothingly. "I told him it'd been a while, and that I wanted to catch up without having to worry about being in the town. I'm making lunch when we get there. We'll probably make a stop at a grocery store on the way, so that I make sure I've got supplies. If I know my father – and I do – he'll have beer and salsa in the fridge, and some chips and boxed macaroni in the cupboard."
Edward and Bella laugh as she explains the menu, and as the drive slows, as they get into town, Edward starts fidgeting in his seat. She can see the sweat beading at his brow. When they get into the grocery store parking lot, she kills the engine and twists in her seat so she's facing Edward.
"Look at me," she whispers, her palm flat against his cheek. "Edward, you have nothing to worry about. My father will love you eventually, but I love you, and that's all that matters. If you're worried or nervous, there is no shame in taking the medication. Do you understand me? If you think you're proving something to me by not taking them, you're mistaken. You're strong, and right now, you're healing, Edward. Healing. You don't have to worry about anything, ok? If you want to take these, take them," she says, reaching into her purse to grab the tablets. "Either way, I want you happy, nothing else, and if these will calm you down so that you can enjoy today without panicking, then fine."
"I don't want to take them," he says. "Is that ok?" He looks so scared, so lost.
"Edward, of course it's ok. Baby, you don't ever have to take these. I brought them for you, in case you got too overwhelmed. I won't make you take them unless you start to panic."
"Promise?"
"Yes, Edward, I promise you."
"I don't want to disappoint you," Edward confesses, leaning into her hand and holding it closer to his face. "I never want to disappoint you."
"You couldn't, even if you tried. Just be you."
He calms down, slowly, and as they make their way into the deserted grocery store, they walk hand in hand, sunglasses on, coats pulled tight to their bodies. She knows Edward's faced his fair share of fan sightings, and doesn't want, nor need, today to be one of those days.
They push a cart together through the store, from proteins to produce, and grab some ingredients to make cookies for dessert. At the butcher counter, Bella orders some fresh tilapia and shrimp to grill. She gets some fruit for a fruit salsa from the produce section. She also got some squash and asparagus to serve with it the fish, hoping that her father wouldn't be so adverse to greens that he'd deny her lunch.
"Dad's not much of a vegetable person, but when I was little, I'd eat them like nothing, so he always bought them. I'm hoping that he'll eat this today, even though I'm sure he'd much rather like those steaks."
As the two of them stroll through the store, she grabs a bag of lemons and a bag of ice, so she can make fresh lemonade. They pay – Edward pays – even though Bella insists against it, and they head back to the car.
"I love fish," Edward says. "I didn't know you knew how to cook so well. I mean, sandwiches and pancakes are hardly pan seared fish and vegetables."
"I don't do it often," Bella shrugs, starting up the car after all the groceries are stuffed away. "Only on special occasions, and today, is a special occasion."
"Am I the first person you've brought home to meet your father?" Edward asks. His eyes light up and he looks happy. Bella thinks he should always look like this.
"Yes," she laughs, patting his knee. "You are the only boy I've brought home to meet my parents. My mom's kind of crazy, so we'll save her for later. Plus, she'd recognize you and tell Angela. She loves your music about as much as we do."
"Really? I'll make sure to sign something for her, maybe that will help her to like me."
"You won't need to get anything for her, Edward. She'll like you because you love me."
"I do love you," he whispers. "I don't say it enough. I mean, I know Carlisle's friend is coming soon, and I know you're worried, but I love you, Isabella Marie. I do."
She takes a deep breath, smiling sadly. "I know that, Edward. I know you do right now, and that's all that matters to me. We're going to get you over this stupid Complex, and we'll be stronger on the other side."
She tries not to think about her dream, especially right as they're pulling into the driveway of her father's house. "You ready?"
"As I'll ever be."
"Just remember, beer, guns, flannel, badge, and you'll be fine. He's a teddy bear when you're past his games. Just be you."
The minute they walk in, just as Bella predicted, Charlie stands, his rifle in his hands, the cleaning rag tossed over his flannel-clad shoulder. Edward, who's holding the grocery bags, reaches his hand out, shyly, and smiles. "Detective Swan? I'm Edward, it's nice to finally meet you."
"Edward," Charlie says, his tone bored.
"Daddy," Bella breathes, waiting for him to put his rifle down before she hugs him fiercely. "I'm so glad to see you."
"You too, Bells. I hope he's treating you right, for you to move all the way up here. I talked with your mother about it. She said it was all very sudden."
"Not now, Dad," Bella says, shaking her head. "Edward, let's take the bags to the kitchen. I'll get started on lunch. Put your guns away, Daddy. You're not fooling anyone with your cop act."
She hears Charlie sigh as she walks back toward the kitchen, Edward on her heels. He sets the bags down and automatically wraps his arms around her, his chin resting over her head.
"Are you alright?" she asks him, gripping the back of his shirt in her fists as she holds onto him.
"Yes," he sighs, rubbing at her spine. "I'm just nervous, like I should be. If we get started on lunch, I'll be ok. I'm ready for this."
She can see the look in his eyes as she pulls back to look at him. She knows what he's saying is really, "I'm not going to freak out like I did at Jacob and Nessie's." She smiles up at him and tip toes up to kiss his cheek.
The sound of someone clearing their throats interrupts them, and Bella pulls back to roll her eyes at her father, who's leaning against the door jamb, waiting for them to pull apart.
"I bought fish for lunch, do you still have your grill pan? If not, this shindig will have to go outside."
"I have the grill pan," Charlie says. "Not that I know why on Earth anyone would use it. Grillin' is for barbeques and outdoors, not for kitchens."
"It's freezing outside, Daddy, I'm not going to cook outside if I don't have to. Now, where's the pan?" She pulls all the food out of the bags and separates everything. "Edward, do you want to rinse all the vegetables? I'll get the fish prepared for the grill."
Charlie gets the pan out of the cupboard. It's dusty and gross, so Bella washes it before she does anything else, and then sets it on the stove top, letting it heat up before she pulls out the fish. She dices up the mangos, pears, and squeezes some fresh lime over it.
Edward washes up the asparagus and the squash and gets them ready for the grill pan, rolling them in light olive oil and some salt and pepper before he hands them off to Bella. He rests his hands at Bella's hips and watches as she simultaneously reminisces with her father and prepares their lunch. With the fruit salsa finished, she asks Edward to chop up some onion and cilantro for it, and has him toss it with the same olive oil. The veggies are turned and then the fish and shrimp skewers go down, all three filets going down at once, the three kabobs going right next to them.
The lemonade takes a few minutes, and is done right as Bella flips the fish over to the next side. She dips the rims of the three glasses into water, and then into sugar before she pours the lemonade in and hands one to her father.
"This looks great, Bella," Edward comments as she plates the fruit salsa down, the fish on top of that, with the shrimp and vegetables off to the side. "Smells good, too."
"Yeah, Bells, looks delicious," Charlie says, grabbing his plate and glass of lemonade as he walks to the kitchen table. "I haven't had a good meal like this in ages."
"You need to eat better, Dad," Bella sighs, rolling her eyes.
"Not now, Isabella," Charlie says, laughing the words she'd said to him earlier back at her. "Now, Edward, what is it that you do?"
"I'm a musician," he answers, his hand holding Bella's tight under the table. "I write and play my own music."
"A musician?"
"Daddy," Bella warns, looking at him pointedly as she spears a piece of asparagus with her fork.
"Yes sir," Edward answers. "Music saved my life, on more than one occasion. It's my passion."
"What type of musician?"
"I play in a band, mostly guitar and piano, but I'm a classically trained pianist as well. I've studied it for years."
"You're dating a rock star, Hells Bells?" Charlie says, laughing through his mouthful of food. "You have better sense than that."
"He's not just a rock star, Dad," Bella moans. "He's an amazing and talented artist."
"I'm kidding, Bells, I'm kidding. He looks at you like you hung the moon, Bella. I'm just kidding."
Bella looks over at Edward and smiles softly, grinning wider when she sees his face, beaming and proud.
"I love her," Edward says with conviction. "She's my best friend, and so much more than that… she's my muse, and I love her."
"I don't need the details, Edward," Charlie says, taking his last bite. "Just treat her with respect, and love, and we're square, got it?"
"Yes sir."
Bella rolls her eyes. "I'm right here, Jesus. At least wait until I'm busy with cookie dough before you start talking about me like I'm not."
"There's cookies?" Charlie asks, his surprised face reminds Bella of a child.
"There will be if you continue to be nice to my boyfriend," Bella says, clearing their plates. "So, do you approve?"
"Well, I mean, he puts up with your bossy attitude, so that's a plus." Bella rolls her eyes again. "And he dotes on you as you should be doted on, another plus. He's too quiet, so, there's one negative. But he's like another part of you. You work seamlessly together, in the kitchen, in conversation…" Charlie pauses, taking a slow pull of his lemonade. "Its nuts, but it's like I'm intruding on you two just sitting at the table, which is equal parts disturbing and relieving. He completes you, and you do the same to him. I watched you cooking, how he looked at you. If you keep her happy, Edward, you have my approval."
"Yes sir, I promise," Edward nods, as he shakes Charlie's hand. "She's special, and I promise I'll take care of her."
Charlie just nods, staying at the kitchen table as Bella and Edward go back into the kitchen to get the cookies ready. Bella knows he can see them from where he's sitting, so she keeps her distance from Edward, even though all she wants to do is kiss him until they're both breathless. She starts to form the cookie dough with Edward at her side, and calls her father in a bit later to lick the bowl.
The cookies turn out perfectly, gooey in the center, the chocolate chips just melting into the dough, with a firm outer layer. Charlie eats four before they've even cooled, and as Bella continues to bake, she slips the cooled ones into the freshly washed – it being as dusty as the grill pan was – cookie jar with a slice of bread to keep them moist.
After a long day of lunch, baking, and reminiscing, Bella and Edward get ready to leave. Charlie pulls Bella aside as Edward heads out toward the car.
"Does he treat you good?" He asks, his voice serious.
"Yes, Daddy, like a princess."
"I'm your father, Bells. If I didn't ask these questions I wouldn't merit the title. I love you, you're my baby, and I want to make sure you're being treated like you deserve. Are you happy?"
"Happier than I've ever been in my life," she tells him, looking up at him with complete honesty. "He's everything I ever dreamed a prince would be, Dad. I promise."
"I want you to call me if anything happens. I know you're living closer now. I want to hear from you more often. Next time you're up this way, stop by, you hear?"
"Yes, Daddy," she says, rolling her eyes, playfully this time. "I will. I'll call you when I get home so you know we made it back safe."
He kisses her on the forehead and holds her close for a second, sighing deeply as he lets her go. Bella pats his shoulder after the hug and heads out after Edward, smiling happily as she skips along.
"I'm so proud of you, Edward. So proud." Bella grins and reaches her hand across the consol to hold his in her own as she starts the car and backs out of the drive. "He totally approves."
"Thank god," Edward breathes, pulling her hand up to kiss the back of it. "I just want you happy. You look so happy right now," he tells her softly. "I want you to look this happy always."
"You make me this happy," she says, squeezing his palm. "And you didn't need the pills, either. Carlisle will be impressed."
"I hope Carmen will be too. I just want a clean bill of health so we can be through with this. After she clears me, I'll be able to be with you, always."
As Edward says her name, Bella swallows thickly. She knows she's just bidding her time, the borrowed time she's got until Carmen comes. What if Carmen thinks it best that Bella leave? What if she thinks that Edward needs to be alone? She couldn't know that Edward still hates to sleep alone, or bathe alone. She doesn't know him like I do, she thinks.
"Bella? Baby, what happened? You're shaking. Are you ok? Pull over, Bella, please. Are you alright?"
Bella shakes herself out of it, blinking rapidly. "I'm sorry Edward, I got carried away," she smiles sadly. "I'm just worried about Carmen's ideas, that's all. She's going to be good for us though, and as soon as she thinks you're ready, we will be together."
"I'm going to marry you, Isabella Swan. Just you wait."
---
a/n: This project is kind of my baby. The term "Superman Complex" (AS USED BY ME) is completely my own fabricated diagnosis. I have no medical background. Special thanks to the -glory-days, as always, for kicking me in the ass every time I stop writing. Updates will be few and far between, but because they're so much longer than my other chapter updates, I hope that's all right with you guys.
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