Rating/Warning(s)/Note(s): T, Duplicity
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Prompt: Originate

"And just why have you decided to buy me a car?" I hissed out quietly, my teeth clenched to keep from yelling. Alice and my mother were still dancing around the object of discussion.

"You don't have one." His reply was met with an arched eyebrow from me. I was perfectly aware I didn't have a car. "And I worry about you standing at the bus stop every evening. Anything could happen."

"The people who ride the bus are perfectly normal, Edward. What could possibly happen?" My tone hadn't improved and he noticed.

"Once you get on the bus, sure, but what about while waiting? What about when you get off and walk the rest of the way to your apartment?" If he wasn't so infuriating it would be almost sweet.

"Edward, Paul, the security guy? He lives over by me and walks me to my apartment. I'm perfectly safe," I reasoned, trying to ignore my mother who was calling my attention to the heated and cooled leather seats.

"No, actually he doesn't," Edward said, looking highly uncomfortable. His eyes were darting between mine and the ground, then over to the car, before returning to me.

"He's been walking with me for over a year, Edward. Yes, he does." My arms were now crossed over my chest and I was walking away from the noise. The salesman had gotten involved, showing the others all the bells and whistles. There was simply no way to have a quiet conversation next to them. That, and I had a sneaking suspicion that I was about to hear something that would make me even more upset.

"He's ridden with you and seen you home because I asked him to," Edward said behind me, following me as I walked. "How far do you intend to walk?"

"Far enough so that when I really get upset the others won't hear. How does Tacoma sound?" I ground out. My feet stopped dead when he chuckled, except to turn on him. "Are you laughing at me?" That was a bit louder, something I didn't want, so I forced myself to take some deep breaths.

"No, not at you," he said, his hands up in surrender. "Well, maybe a little," he added while lowering them.

"Well, as it seems we're about to have our first real argument, you might as well get everything out at once," I announced. My fists were now at my side. They would be easier to swing from that location.

"Fine," he said, the laughter in his eyes belying the strength of his tone. He took off walking again, moving even further away from our family members. At least it was in the direction of Tacoma. When he reached the edge of the lot he stopped and turned to me.

"One night Paul called up to me, saying there was an employee at the bus stop, you it turns out, and that he picked up on a camera that some guy was walking around the block, looking at you weird. He didn't like it, but since you weren't on company property, he didn't know what to do. I didn't know it was you, only that he said, 'A young woman who works for us,' but I didn't care who it was, just that my employee wasn't safe.

"Anyway, I asked him to call the police, ask another security guard to watch the cameras and go out and stand with you until you were safely on the bus. One problem, stalker guy got on, so Paul hopped on as well and basically followed you home. He told the lie that he lived nearby, but because he was there stalker guy never even talked to you. He's been riding with you ever since; I picked up his bus pass. Didn't you ever wonder why he never rode with you in the morning?" As he spoke the anger drained out of me. Fine, his reason was sound for why he had me followed, but it didn't mean I needed a car.

"Edward, why buy me a car now? In another month I won't be catching that bus anymore. To be honest, I pretty much assumed I'd be riding with you." Noticing that my tone was now more reasonable he reached out to pull me close. I didn't fight him, but didn't relax or give up my point either. "I can see how the idea would originate, but it's not likely that I'll really need it. Especially after we're married, I can just use yours." The way his face blanched was almost comical, so I pressed on. "I'm sure it will hold the groceries just fine, and I do know how to drive a manual. My old nineteen-fifties truck was one, and it can't be that different." That might have too much, considering how his jaw clenched and he looked back at the car. Crap, I may be a car owner soon after all.

"Trust me, it's quite different," he murmured as he looked down at me. He seemed to be assessing my statement, then came to a decision. "Is the problem that I'm buying you a car, or that I did it without talking to you first?"

"Both."

He looked into my eyes for another moment before continuing. "Fine, no more making major decisions without you…"

"Thank you!" I cried, cutting him off. He gave me an amused glare until I was quiet again.

"Just remember we might disagree on what constitutes 'major', so be patient." He wrapped his arms around me, resting his head on mine. "Is the problem that I'm paying for the car?" I nodded, at least as much as I could with his chin on my head. He sighed. "If you had enough money would you buy a car?"

Something told me to tread carefully. "Perhaps, but not that one."

"Because it's so expensive or because you don't like it?"

It was my turn to sigh. Truth was that it was a really cool car. The sad truth was that I had a picture of it as my computer's wallpaper and I had been saving ever since I started this job for just that car. I wondered if he had seen that the other day. He started to chuckle, so I had a feeling I was busted. "How about if I give it to you as a wedding present?"

"Too expensive," I said, shaking my head.

"Is there a budget?" His words were broken up by his chuckling. I got the feeling this would be a source of contention for us if we didn't clear it up.

"There's always a budget. Besides, I like practical gifts." He started to react so I cut him off. "Ones that don't cost over one hundred dollars."

"Is that my spending limit?" The surprise in his voice caused it to raise. "We definitely need to talk money, Bella, because you and I view it completely differently."

His arms tightened around me again. "I know you like the car. Let me give it to you." I shook my head. "Please? It shook again. "How about if I let you pay for part of it, would that make you feel better? Your job comes with a raise, I'll just make the down payment and you can make the monthly payments, although that is seriously a waste of money. All that interest…"

Dang, he knew he would get me with that argument. If there was anything I hated it was wasting money. That's all right, I still have my trump card. "Not buying it."

With that his put me out to arms length and narrowed his eyes. "You're being stubborn. Why?"

"Because I don't want to be a kept woman," I said. "I feel like I'm being bought, even though I'm the one that trapped you into this." That now familiar look of frustration crossed his face again when I said that.

"Bella," he growled. Actually growled! He must be really frustrated. "What do I have to do to convince you that I expect to keep you? Married people do things for each other; they surprise each other with gifts just because. This was supposed to be a happy surprise. I get that you see it as another decision I made without you, and I promise to work on that. What I ask in return is that you work on accepting the fact that you have money now and not be upset when we spend it."

I really hated it when he was reasonable. Thinking quickly I countered. "How about we go with the more expensive caterer, and don't buy the car?"

"I still want you to have a car, though. Think of it as giving you a way to get away from me when I'm annoying you." I chuckled at that. "If you agree, I'll go with the cheaper caterer and promise to not buy you another car until this one gets old."

"Why do I get the feeling we're going to argue over what is 'old'?" I teased, knowing I was relenting. He knew it too, and his smile became radiant.

"So cheaper caterer and we buy the car?" When I nodded he picked me up and swung me around, lowering me enough to kiss me soundly. In minutes all thought of our disagreement left as my hands wormed their way around his waist in order to grab hold of his shirt. My back met the side of the car next to us just as his tongue gently probed past my lips, asking for entrance. For all of the passion of the kiss, it was also soft, almost loving, as he placed his hands on my waist. In no way was he forcing himself on me. It was almost as if, having won this concession, he didn't want to press his advantage.

A few horns sounded on the road, making us separate with a laugh. "Are there any other large purchases you should warn me about? Just so we can fight, you can win, and we can get them out of the way?" I teased, but then hesitated when a shadow crossed his face in a flash.

"Nope, nothing," he said, not looking at me. "We should get back to fill in the paperwork. Alice will be upset if we miss the cake tastings." I looked at him carefully, but he never turned back to me, so I let it drop.

An hour later we were done with the paperwork and a lot boy was going to deliver it to Edward's apartment since he actually had a place to park it. Alice had called the bakeries, warning them we were running late, but still rushed us out as soon as the last detail was settled.

I rode with Edward, his front seat was much more comfortable than Alice's back, and we followed Alice to our first cake appointment. It wasn't until we were walking in and Alice said something that I thought again of that shadow that crossed Edward's face earlier.

"I don't know why you're so uptight about the car, Bella," she had quipped. "If you think that's bad, you should see how much he spent on the honeymoon."

In the over 20 years that Baboo and I have been together, I think I've actually raised my voice about 5 or 6 times when we've argued. Mostly because I know he's listening, even when he's not agreeing with me, just as I try to do with him. I've both won and lost those disagreements, but usually we reach a compromise. Then again, he does cheat. When I'm getting upset he hugs me. Totally wipes away all feelings of frustration and anger. Big cheater...