*NOTE* Stephanie Meyer owns Twilight.

Shout out to this week's newest readers; Ashisme, bmjtc4, carollouise, christyjr, corki17, houseofT, IAmAFactoryGirl, immortalwizardpirateelf-fan, itsthehat, jea28, kmarie5, limeylove, loutombeth2619, MrsHale09, Nikkerbockers, pcurrydiana, Ploomp, REDBALLOON, Tigereye101, Turmy, Twilight-n-Taylor Swift-luvr, Vampyerlover.

I am so sorry for the delay in getting this chapter posted. I had chapter 21 written ready to be edited when the cheap memory stick I was using corrupted the file and I lost it all. Thanks for putting up with me.

Enjoy!
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Chapter 21 – Archie Has Found His Betty

She wanted so badly to stay in Edward's arms, but Bella woke up needing to pee. After a few minutes of internal debated, needs won out over want and Bella did her best to slip out of bed without waking Edward up.

Moving as quick and as quiet as she could, Bella was sure that she'd make it back to the bedroom without being notice, but she was wrong.

"Cullen, wake the feck up!" a drunken voice slurred in the darkness.

Edward had forgotten to shut down his computer after the failed game of D&D and Garrett was very eager to talk. Bella sat down at the computer desk and flicked on the desk top lamp.

"Hi Garrett," she said in a low tone. "Edward's actually asleep. It's only four o'clock here." That meant that it was around nine in the morning in Ireland; a tad early to be as intoxicated as he was at that hour of the morning in Bella's opinion.

"It's not complicated Betty!"

"It's Bella," she corrected him, "and what's not complicated?"

"Katie," he moaned. "I went ta her Facebook page and her status used to be "it's complicated", but now it says that she's engaged to that eejit."

It was four in the morning. Bella's body was starting to shake from the lack of heat in the room, according to Edward the room had to be kept at a certain temperature to protect his collectables, and she was tired.

It was these three things combined that caused Bella to snap. After all she knew what it was like to have you heart ripped out by the person you loved.

"What exactly was she supposed to do Garrett? Wait for you to pull your head out of your ass?"

"You don't know what yer talkin' about," he defended himself before taking another drink from the half empty bottle that sat next to him.

"I know that she loved you Garrett. She loved you and you threw it in her face when you up and abandoned her. I mean you waited three months before you called her for Christ sake!"

Bella could see that her words stung judging from the look on his face.

"I had my reasons."

"And just what was so important that you had to break Kate's heart so badly?"

"My father died and I had to come home to take care of my family." Things between them remained silent for a few minutes as Garrett took another drink and Bella let his confession sink in.

"Do ya have any siblings Betty?" he asked when it seemed she was at a loss for words.

"I have a stepbrother and a stepsister."

"I am da oldest of seven. Tree brothers and tree sisters. My family weren't too well off to begin wit and after my da passed away we were stuck wit the hospital bills. I had to move back home to help me mom. Tings weren't easy for da longest time. We just sent Penny, that's my youngest sister, off to university. Ma even started seeing the fella who runs the news stand. I'm final ready to live again and it's too late. Katie hates me."

Listening to him was like watching someone kick a puppy; an inebriated puppy.

"I don't think you flirting with me would have bothered her so much if she hated you."

"Ah Betty," he sighed, "Yer a grand girl Bella, but yer Eddie's girl and my heart belongs to another...even if she doesn't want it."

"Can I ask why you wanted so long to contact her after you went home?"

"I came to America to get away from my family and lived wit my uncle. All da popular crowd taught I was somthin' because I was the shiny new student with da sexy accent. Dere was did girl, Irina who did her best to get her hooks in me and she almost succeeded. One day during a free period I was wasting time in da library when I heard Miss Irina saying the most god awful tings to someone. I rounded da corner and that was when I first saw my Katie. Christ she wore the tickest glasses I'd ever seen." Garrett laughed at the memory. "The look on her face caused somethin' inside me to just burst. I flew into dat bitch and told her if I ever caught her talkin' to my girl dat way again dat I'd ruin her in da worst way. She taught I was kiddin' till I threatened to post da pictures she sent me. Told her dat I had a whole other country to escape should da shit hit the fan."

"Seriously?"

"Irina got the message. Told me dat I had all but committed social suicide and stormed off. Katie was so cute. She was all worried about me. Telling me she wasn't worth the trouble. She told me to leave but I just couldn't. I needed to protect her. I even went as far as threaten the fella I taught was her boyfriend when he finally showed up. Told him he wasn't fit because he couldn't take care of his girl. I was quickly told by Katie that Edward was most defiantly not her boyfriend. They were just friends. She then got all brave and told me that I could hang out with them if I wanted. From that day on the tree of us were inseparable. It didn't take very long at all for tings to get serious between me and Katie." Garrett went to take another drink, but thought better of it and set the bottle aside.

"After I met Katie I swore I was never going home again. We were meant to be. I don't tink Eddie knows dis, but the night after prom me and Katie were together. Dat night I asked her to marry me. I was so fecking stupid back den. Not because I proposed, but because I had nothing to offer her. The next day I got the call from home telling me my dad had had a stroke and that I needed to get my arse home to say goodbye."

It was like the first time she saw the movie the Notebook. Garrett's story was heartbreaking. He gave up the only woman he ever loved all because he thought she was better off. Three months after returning home he worked up the courage to call Edward in an attempt to check up on his Katie, but when he called Katie answered the phone. She was hanging out with Edward trying to accept the fact that Garrett was gone and he was never coming back. Edward spent ten straight minutes cursing him out for not calling sooner. He then spent another fifteen cursing him out for being the reason Kate had been crying on his shoulder for the past three months. Then being a guy Edward forgave him for being an asshole. Before the call was ended Katie came out of the bathroom where she had locked herself after answering the phone and managed to tell Garrett that he hurt her and that seeing as how it was so easy for him to stop loving her that she would do the same. But for Edward's sake, she was willing to remain his friend.

It had been the most expensive phone call Garrett had ever made, costing him a full day's wages, but because it got him back in Katie's good grace's it was well worth it. Over the years they talked on the phone when Edward was available to act as mediator. When Garrett finally got an internet hook up in the house the three friends had their first video chat. The weekly chats morphed into weekly games of D&D that would go on for hours and consisted of game play and playful banter.

"Jaysus!" Garrett said after finishing his story, "look at the time. Here I am goin' on like an old biddy keepin' you awake."

"It's okay. I was up anyway."

"Yer a good person Betty. You tell Eddie that if he don't do right by you I'll come over dere and kick his arse."

"Take care of yourself Garrett," Bella said.

"I will."

Bella thought the conversation was over when Garrett caught her attention one last time. All he said was "tanks" then the screen went blank.

Shutting down the computer, Bella made her way back to bed where a very awake Edward was waiting for her.

"I thought you left," he sighed with relief.

"Nope," Bella climbed back under the blankets and into his arms, "I'm still here."

Bella went onto explain her bladders need to leave and then about the impromptu conversation with Garrett.

"Is there a chance that Garrett's a bit slow?"

"I don't think so," Edward laughed. "Why?"

"He kept calling me Betty."

Once again Edward laughed and explained Garrett's obsession with Archie comics. All throughout high school he always had one rolled up in his back pocket.

"He thought it was funny to call me Archie because of my hair. Tanya thought it was a compliment that he called her Veronica, but it was not. I have never witnessed a person have such a strong hatred for a cartoon in my life. He'd always go on about how Veronica only wanted Archie because someone else wanted him. Garrett always believed that Archie belonged with Betty because she loved Archie for himself. Don't even get me started on the fit he threw when they had Archie marry Veronica in a dream sequence."

Bella stayed silent at the knowledge that Garrett thought she was perfect for Archie...Edward.

Edward wanted to know exactly what his friend said and how he was reacting to Kate's big news. Telling him everything that was said Bella added, "He told me to tell you that if you don't do right by me then he's going to show up here and kick your arse."

"Well there's nothing to worry about in that department. I plan to do you right for a long time." Edward was silent but only for second when it occurred to him what he had just said. "You know that by do you right I meant treat you good and not have a round the clock sex romp right?"

"I got that," Bella yawned as the late hour began to take its toll.

"Don't get me wrong. There's going to be plenty of sex...I mean if you want to. We don't have to do anything if you don't want. I just thought that tonight was pretty great and that if you wanted to that maybe we could do it again...sex. We could have sex again."

"Edward," Bella interrupted his rant. "Shut up." Edward obeyed thinking he had embarrassed himself, but Bella continued. "I know that you will treat me right. You have the kindest heart of anyone I've ever met. Last night was perfect."

Her word seemed to put him at ease and he pulled her body into the cradle of his arms. Just as they were both about to drift off to sleep Bella added, "Oh and just so we're on the same page, there most defiantly be more sex...a lot more sex."

~CBG~

The smells of perfectly cooked bacon and brewed coffee filled the air and helped to wake Bella from her dreamless sleep. Why dream when all of your dreams had come true. She was in love with a guy who was perfect for her and loved her back. She was no longer a virgin. A fact she wanted to shout from the roof tops and probably would have if she didn't think she'd get arrested. The thought that Charlie might be the one to arrest her was enough of a deterrent. Where does one even begin to explain something like that to the chief of police/their father?

Instead, Bella slid from the bed and made her way toward the mouth watering aromas. Awaiting her on the other end was Edward. He saluted her with the spatula in his hand. He had made enough food for ten people.

"I wasn't sure what you like to eat for breakfast so...there's bacon, eggs, hash browns, toast and coffee." Edward was about to tell her about the fruit salad starter when he saw that Bella was wear just the t-shirt he had worn the night before along with the Thundercat underwear. When it came to choosing between the ways in which you can cut a strawberry to look like a flower or kissing the daylights out of his sexy girl Edward went with the obvious.

He swiped the dishes off the table and encouraged Bella to hop up and proceeded to kiss her lips. He then moved to her cheek to her neck then down to her collarbone.

Bella hands made their way into his hair holding him to her, letting herself just drinking in the sensations his mouth were creating in her body. They were both so focused on each other that they failed to notice the person who walked in until they spoke.

"Holy hell," Emmett bellowed, "are those Thundercat underwear?"

Bella scrambled off the table and ran into the bedroom to find her clothes while Edward dealt with his idiot brother.

"That key was for emergency use only," he growled as he watched the friendly giant prepare himself a plate and sit right down as thought he hadn't interrupted anything at all.

"Dude," Emmett managed to say around a piece of crispy bacon, "this is an emergency. I need to talk to you about something muy importante. You got any ketchup?"

Edward yanked open the fridge door and wanted so badly to hurl the bottle at Emmett's head. Instead he laid the bottle on the table where he had been making out with Bella only moments before.

"What's so important that you had to barge in here like a freaking moose?"

Emmett was about to tell Edward his reason for coming over, but chose to stuff his mouth when Bella re-entered the room, this time fully clothed. It became clear that Emmett was going to speak without encouragement Edward took matters into his own hands.

"Anything you have to say to me you can say in front of Bella," Edward said sounding annoyed with his brother.

Emmett stared at Edward, making sure to chew the hash brown he had stuffed in his mouth at least thirty times before swallowing.

"Alright...you planning on asking Bella to marry you?"

There was a show that Bella remembered watching as a child where the main character was a mannequin who would come to life when a special hat was placed on his head, but should he lose that hat he would freeze until the hate was returned and the magical words were spoken. At that moment Edward kind of looked like Jeff the mannequin without his hat.

"Not today," he finally sputtered, glancing at Bella to gage her reaction. She simply smiled. It was entirely too soon in the relationship to talk marriage. Her smile helped set him at ease.

"Cool cause I want to ask Rosie to marry me and I was planning on asking mom for Grandma's engagement ring. I wasn't sure if you wanted dibs or anything. You got any syrup?"

Bella sat across from Emmett and couldn't help but smile. He was so happy as he ate his syrup soaked bacon.

"I can't believe you're going to get married," Bella sighed.

"Rosie's the best thing that's ever happened to me," he beamed, "And I want to make her wife."

"That is the sweetest thing ever," Bella couldn't resist giving Emmett a hug.

"We are talking about Rosalie Hale right," Edward deadpanned. "The same girl who broke my baby toe when I answered my cell phone during a movie?"

"She told you to shut the thing off before the movie," Emmett defended his future wife's past actions.

"Whatever man. If you want to tie yourself to the control queen have at it. I give you my blessings."

Emmett stood and the two brothers gave each other a manly hug. When the male bonding was over Edward, Bella and Emmett sat in to have a civilized breakfast.

"Oh wait, there's another important thing I needed to ask," Emmett grabbed another slice of toast. "This questions actually for Bella."

"Anything I can do to help just ask."

"Those tighty whiteys you were wearing when I caught Eddie and you going at it...any chance you could tell me where you got them cause they looked hot on you...on Rosie they would be combustible!"

~)CBG (~)CBG(~)CBG(~)CBG(~)CBG(~)CBG(~)CBG(~)CBG(~)CBG(~)CBG(~)CBG(~)CBG(~)CBG(~)CBG(~

Personally, I'd like to see either Edward or Emmett in Thundercat underwear! THAT would be combustible! Did anyone pick up on my "Can't Hardly Wait" reference? That was one of Peter Facinelli's first movie role and was once upon a time one of my favourite movie, but now whenever it comes on I have to change the channel. It's difficult to watch Dr. Carlisle Cullen as a drunken teenage jock.

This week's rec is "Ladder To The Sun" by Rosybud (.net/s/5479529/1/Ladder_to_the_Sun). Story summary: Bella Swan's life has never been all that exciting. It isn't until she's told by her doctor that she only has a year to live that she actually starts to live. And of course this includes talking to the mysterious Edward Masen.

This was a sad story that has you coming up with all kinds of theories of what's going to happen and heads up, Edward has a secret, but it isn't that he's a vampire who can save Bella's life.