AN: A prompt I'd missed. Unbeta'd and quick, wrote it in 45 minutes. Enjoy.

Penname: ericastwilight

Original or Derivative (fanfiction): derivative

Rating/Warning(s)/Note(s): M

Disclaimer: All copyrights, trademarked items, or recognizable characters, plots, etc. mentioned herein belong to their respective owners. No copying or reproduction of this work is permitted without their express written authorization.

Prompt: Idea completion: Your best friend unexpectedly shows up at your home.

Bella dusted her bookshelves as she contemplated what the next day would bring. She shivered unexpectedly, feeling a bit put off by the cold feet she suddenly felt.

She was doing what was for the best. James offered her security, financial freedom and he adored her. She may have not loved him, but he loved her. It's all that she could ask for, plus she wasn't getting any younger.

It was what everyone expected; after all, they'd been together for over a year now. All her friends thought they were the perfect couple. Well, almost all her friends thought James was the right person for her.

But not her best friend, Edward.

It pained her that he'd refused to walk her down the aisle, since her father no longer with them, having passed two years previously.

Edward had refused for many reasons, most which he hadn't told her. On the top of the long list was that Bella didn't love James.

She was angry with Edward, her own best friend deserting her on the biggest day of her life.

Bella sighed and decided that the kitchen floor needed to be scrubbed. Cleaning was something she'd done whenever she needed to think.

There was nothing to think about, Bella thought. She was marrying James, and there wasn't anything that would change her mind now.

Bella walked into her tidy little bathroom and splashed some water on her face. In the mirror, she could see the dark circles under her eyes. She was tired, having unable to sleep for the past week. Having Edward angry with her was causing her more pain than she was willing to admit.

She was as stubborn as he was. He was the one that left angrily last week, calling her weak. He even hinted that she was settling for companionship instead of love.

What the hell did he know about love? He was with that cold-hearted bitch Lauren, how could he compare her to James? Idiot she thought, he was a moron.

He was one, because he never figured out that she'd give up everything for him. How could he not notice how she felt about him? Hadn't she'd been the one that sat beside him when he got infected by the Swine Flu.

Lauren hadn't, said he was gross. Didn't even bother to check on him the entire two weeks he was ill.

Bella rubbed her face and loosened the ponytail to brush her dark hair. She was pretty, James had told her she was everyday.

Edward never called her beautiful, no he used descriptions like cute or adorable. She didn't want to look like that to him. She wanted to look sexy, beautiful and gorgeous. She had never been self-conscious about herself, not until Edward entered her life.

She was five-foot-seven, curves in all the right places, big brown eyes with matching hair. Edward's type seemed to be model-type women with puny brains, both of which she was not.

"You look cute, Bells," he told her the last time they went to the movies together. She had especially dressed up for him, in a skinny jeans and off-the-shoulder blue top that generally drove other men wild. But not Edward, he looked uncomfortable and repulsed by her.

She had come home from the friendly night out and cried herself to sleep. That was when she had decided to commit to James, agreeing to marry him.

Bella fingered the hem of her favorite t-shirt she had stolen from Edward, sighing in both regret and sadness.

It was too late to back out now, she told herself. She was brought out of her thoughts when the doorbell rang.

She smiled in the mirror, because it had to be James. He'd been texting, begging to allow him to come over.

She ran to the door and opened it quickly with a smile.

"James you're not supposed to –"she cut herself off.

"I'm not James," Edward spat. He looked to Bella just as angry as he was the last time she saw him. A flare of resentment and anger ignited in her belly.

"No you're not," she hissed. "What are you doing here?"

Edward seriously wanted to stomp like a little boy and have a tantrum. She was expecting James, not that she'd expect him. She had no idea the pain he felt when she told him she was marrying that damn asshole.

He didn't deserve her. Edward eyed his best friend, from the tip of her head to her cute little toes. She looked sexy as hell and his infernal body reacted to her just like every time before this.

"Looks like you were expecting him," he said angrily. He hated that she was dressed so enticingly for James and not him.

"What?" Bella said confused, fidgeting with the hem of her t-shirt. "This is my favorite shirt, I stole it from you the last night I spent at your place."

Edward was dumbfounded. She was wearing his shirt, and it was her favorite. It wasn't one of James's shirts and his poor cock couldn't help but twitch at the idea of her sleeping his clothes.

"Why is it your favorite?" Edward asked dumbly, leaning against the doorframe. It hadn't escaped either of their notice that she hadn't invited him inside. Perhaps it was safer if he kept his distance.

"Smells like you," she mumbled, embarrassed of the heat that rose in her cheeks.

"Oh," Edward gasped, her blush adding to his desire for her.

"What do you want?" she asked, still angry, but it was now somewhat deflated. He looked at her differently, as if he was hungry. She'd seen this look before, in other men that vied for her attention. This confused her.

"You're still mad at me," Edward stated like a question.

"I have every reason to be," she whispered. "You made me cry."

Edward gasped, and another fissure cracked in his already broken heart. "I can't do what you asked of me, Bella," he pleaded, his eyes filling with tears. "I can't give you away to that asshole."

"He's been nothing but good to me."

Edward shook his head and took her by the shoulders. "Maybe, but its all an act, baby."

"I don't understand," she said, her anger rising again. He was touching her, his hands sending flames of heat. No, no, no! She told herself. She had to ignore what her body wanted, what her heart wanted.

"I've seen him with other women, Bella," he said softly, only because he wanted to soften the blow. "He's been cheating on you for months. I just needed to find a way to prove it." He held up his camera phone with James and a redheaded woman wrapped around him.

"Why are you doing this?" she cried out. She pushed against him, her fists thumping harshly against his chest. "He loves me. He said he loves me."

"Shh," Edward whispered, letting her hurt him. "I'm sorry. I just wanted you to know the truth."

"Nobody loves me," she said defeated as her knees weakened. Her parents left her, her best friend had too, and now James betrayed her.

"Don't be fucking ridiculous," Edward spat angrily. "What the fuck am I chopped liver?"

Bella smiled against his chest and laughed softly. "No, you're kibbles and gravy."

"Ah," Edward said, his anger instantly dissipating. "Premium brand, huh?"

Bella sighed as her arms wrapped around her best friend's waist. He hadn't abandoned her, he just needed time to explain. "What am I supposed to do about tomorrow?"

"I'll handle that," Edward said. A plan was already forming in his mind, one that involved his sister Rosalie, some friends and possibly the entire police precinct. Edward was positive that they'd all be willing to help stick it to that asshole James.

"I'm sorry for yelling at you last week," Bella whispered. She pulled away and walked toward her bedroom. Edward closed the front door behind him and followed right behind her.

Bella removed a suitcase from her closet where she started to pull out random bits of clothing.

"What are you doing?" Edward asked confused and scared that she would leave town.

"I'm going to use those two first class tickets to Barbados and go on my un-honeymoon."

"I don't want you to go," Edward said.

This is it, Bella thought to herself. She was going to make the first move. "Would you like to join me?"

Edward gaped at his friend and images of her clad in miniscule bathing suits ran through his lust-filled mind.

Bella sighed, hurt, as Edward stood in front of her in an awkward stance and silence. She had to save herself from further humiliation. "I'm sure we can get a room with two beds."

Edward shook his head and grabbed Bella by the back of her neck. "I don't want to be your rebound guy."

Bella's mouth fell open and incoherent words left her lips. Edward pressed his lips against hers, groaning at the sweet taste and fullness of her lips.

Much to his dismay, she pulled away. A smile graced her face. "Took you long enough."

This time Edward was left stunned and speechless.

"It's always been you, Edward," Bella said softly. "Why do you think I never fell in love with anyone else?"

"I always thought you saw me more as a brother than as a potential lover," Edward said, his lips desperate for another chance to kiss her again.

"Ditto," she said simply. "What about Lauren?"

"Broke it off weeks ago," Edward said. "If I told you then I'd have to admit that I was in love with you."

"Oh," she said as a smile graced her face.

"So," Edward said warily. "Is that invitation still open?"

Bella's smile widened a teasing tone colored her voice. "What invitation?"

Edward smirked and wrapped his arms around her small waist. His fingers splayed underneath the fabric of both her t-shirt and boy shorts. "The one where I can openly gawk at you half-naked."

Bella giggled and nodded. "I think we wasted enough time," she said. She pulled him by the lapels of his leather jacket. "Kiss me."

"With pleasure." He dropped kisses along her jaw and a few chaste ones on her full lips.

"Love me," she gasped as his tongue darted out to caresses her bottom lip.

"Always."

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