Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight. I am just using the names that she created for her wonderful story.

X-NessieCullen-X, as always, has preread and beta'd this little project of mine. She's fantabulous and keeps me sane :)

Chapter 38

Girl Fight

Bella swallowed hard as she caught sight of the way Tanya was staring at her fiance. Edward leaned down to whisper in her ear that she should relax. He wanted so badly to construe that Tanya meant nothing to him but he could see why Bella might doubt him when it came to his conviction that he wasn't the father of that baby. His Bella put on a good front for him but he saw the longing in her eyes when they were around small children. He had vowed to himself that he would give her a little one of her own but he knew they weren't ready for that yet. Still, he hated that Tanya was parading herself around, thinking that the baby in her belly would rip him and Bella apart.

Edward held tightly to his bottle of water, drinking only water and some soda had been the norm for when they were out with friends and he was okay with that. Still, he knew that all of his friends felt guilty for drinking around him. They even attempted to not drink for his sake but that made things even more awkward for him. Eventually, he bought them a round of beers and told them to get drinking. He didn't need a pity party.

His second visit with Dr. Reiner had gone well and had mainly been about his drinking. It didn't take a trained professional to figure out that guilt made him want to drink and it was something he had discussed with Bella while Lanie was at the homecoming dance the night before. He knew that if he walked over to talk to Tanya, Bella would be livid. He couldn't help but wish he had a drink in his hand. He should have called Tanya weeks ago when she had tried to call him and eventually called Bella about the baby. He should have nipped the whole damn situation in the bud. Instead, things were left unsaid and on the night that Rosalie had decided to invite everyone out for an informal engagement celebration, Tanya had appeared-and obviously wanted to get some words in.

"She's going to want to talk to you," Bella whispered.

"I know. Bella, that baby isn't mine."

"I swear to God if you tell me that one more time, I'm going to start doubting you. She doesn't even look pregnant. Maybe she lied about the whole thing."

"This is a night to celebrate our engagement with family and friends. Hell, your mom and dad were even here for a little bit. Don't let her upset you."

"She's walking over..." Bella muttered, looking over Edward's shoulder. Suddenly, Edward felt Bella push past him to stand between them. With her arms were crossed, she looked like she wanted to murder the blonde.

"Tanya, how are you?" Edward asked as calmly as possible, trying to bring some calm to the situation. He didn't want Tanya to hurt her and he knew that Bella wasn't exactly a fighter.

"Can we talk?" Tanya asked, her hand coming up to play with her hair. It was obvious that she was nervous and that shocked him a little. He expected her to come at him swinging.

He opened his mouth to tell her no when Bella spun around to face him. Gripping his shirt, she pulled him down to her and stuck her tongue in his mouth during one of the most intense kisses they'd ever had. He forgot about his ex and everyone else in the bar by the time she pulled away and he could barely breathe. His lower anatomy had sprung to life and he had to literally force himself to let go of Bella's hips as she stepped away and left a dazed Edward and an annoyed Tanya behind.

"Very tactful," Tanya muttered, rolling her eyes.

"I think she acted with tact," Edward smirked. "Given the situation. I do believe the definition of tact is acting in a way that fits the circumstances. You completely deserved that."

"I tried to call you. I needed someone to talk to. Jimmy's not exactly my go-to for issues such as those."

The sadness in her eyes worried him. He expected her to be angry and full of hatred but she really just looked lost. Now that she was closer to him, he agreed with Bella. The girl in front of him was thin. Too thin. "Are you back on the drugs? You know it's not good..."

"No. I'm done with that. Jimmy threatened to kick me out. He's the only family I have and he's threatened it before but this time I know he's serious."

"That's good to hear."

"What? That Jimmy hates me now, too?"

"No. That you're off the drugs. I don't hate you, Tanya, but what you did was wrong."

"Which part?" she asked, sighing and shaking her head.

"The part where I didn't answer my phone so you called my girlfriend. That was fucked. We haven't had sex since before I met Bella...two years ago. That baby is not mine."

"I never said it was!" she protested.

"Bullshit," he shot back, stepping closer to her. "You called her and told her that you were pregnant and just far enough along that would make me prime suspect number one concerning the father of your child!"

"I never told her it was yours," Tanya said again.

"You sure as hell implied it!" Still, Edward wondered just what was said. It was very possible Bella had overreacted but that didn't give Tanya the right to orchestrate it.

"Well, now she doesn't have to worry about it."

Edward was just about to ask what that meant but Bella was back at his side and stepping between them again. "Okay, you're done here, Tanya. Please just leave us alone."

When Bella brought her left hand up as if to say for the other girl to back off, Tanya caught a glimpse the diamond shining on Bella's ring finger. "Y...y...you're engaged," Tanya stuttered, the look on her face was one of absolute shock.

"We're celebrating. That's why we're all here."

"What did you mean about the baby? Did something happen?" Edward interrupted them.

Standing as tall as she could, it wasn't lost on Edward that her eyes were still tearing up despite the display she was trying to put on. "I...took care of it."

"What the hell does that mean?" he ask, cocking his head to the side as if that would help him understand.

"I had no one, Edward. Who was I supposed to raise it with? Jimmy? Yeah right. I never even told him about the baby! I had an abortion. I tried to call you but you wouldn't call me back and I was running out of time. I know you didn't get me pregnant but you were raising Lanie and thought you'd have some advice for me. They told me if I waited any longer, it would be too late. Some offices will only perform them if you're under a certain amount of time along and...I couldn't get a hold of you so I went on my own and had it done. They told me it was safe but I ended up with a ridiculous infection and..."

I'm part of the reason that baby is dead? Edward's head began to spin. Bella looked back at him and before he knew what was happening, his little school teacher lost her temper. "Don't you dare fucking put this on him!"

"Bells," he began but she swatted his hand away as he tried to take her by the arm.

"You know what, you little whore?" Tanya spat at Bella. "He was one of the only friends I had! We fucked and it was fun but he was it. He was the only person besides my brother who I could talk to! I called you because I knew it was your fault that he wasn't calling me back!"

"Calling another woman to tell them that their boyfriend got you pregnant is not something that would help the situation if that were the case!" Bella fired back.

"I never said he got me pregnant! I told you I've been trying to get a hold of him because I was pregnant and needed someone to talk to! I didn't even say I needed him specifically...I just needed someone! I had no one else! You let him help me through rehab but you hated it! You're insecure and you're afraid you're going to lose him because you're too damn perfect to be able to cope with the way he is! You ruined a friendship because you couldn't keep your legs closed long enough to let him have his own fucking friends!"

Edward grabbed Bella around the waist and pulled her back to him as his girl stepped forward a little. They were definitely drawing attention now. "Bella, don't..."

"I do plan to keep him and I have the fucking ring to prove it! What did you ever get from him? A few nights of mind blowing sex? A few visits in the hospital while you were puking your guts out from withdrawal because his girlfriend was allowing it to happen? Well guess what, Tanya? All that lingerie you wore for him that you picked out yourself and probably wore for a bunch of other men? He fucking buys me my lingerie and it's only for him. You mean nothing to him!"

Edward understood why Bella was so mad but she was being insanely cruel. Before Bella hurt the other girl any further emotionally, he opened his mouth to say something when Tanya's inner bitch came out and erased every feeling he'd ever had about helping. Patrons were watching them and the college girl working the bar was looking over at them, nervous as all hell. Edward could feel the tension and Tanya just added fuel to the fire.

"He's only attaching himself to you so that you can raise the little sister he went and got himself stuck with. He doesn't want children because he doesn't want them with you! How could you ever be fucking good enough for him? You think he's being faithful to you? That's a total fucking joke! Edward Cullen is not a one-woman man. He likes it rough and considering that you're still with him and you still want more, I'm willing to bet he doesn't get what he needs from you. You're just a little school teacher who only teaches kids like Edward and I who don't stand a fucking chance at ever becoming someone. Look at Lanie..."

Edward had heard enough and was just about to say something when Bella flung herself away from him and right at Tanya. Grabbing the blonde by the hair, Bella yanked the girl backward and they slammed into a high table. "Out or I'm calling the cops!" the barmaid yelled at them, trying to take control of the situation as Edward and Rosalie stepped in. Rosalie grabbed Bella but not before Bella's fist connected with Tanya's nose. Blood spilled to the floor and Bella struggled against her friend. Edward had never in his life seen a woman so mad. He also never in his life expected that woman to be Bella.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Rosalie asked in surprise while Edward hoisted Tanya up off the floor and towards the doors to get her away from Bella. If the police showed up, Bella would be charged.

The last thing he heard his fiance yell was, "You will not fucking guilt him like this! You killed your baby because you chose to!"

There was that word again. Guilt. Tanya was breathing hard and she pushed herself away from him to lean into the building. "A real fucking winner you got there, Edward," she bit out.

"I expected this from you but I didn't expect this from her. She's a hundred times better than you'll ever be. Leave us the fuck alone, Tanya. When the cops get here, tell them you won't press charges."

"Why the hell would I do that? The bitch broke my fucking nose!"

"It's not broken or else you'd be in a lot more pain."

"Ha! How do you know how much pain I'm in? I can tolerate it, remember?"

Edward shook his head and looked away. "Do this for me. I was there for you during rehab and if she hadn't allowed it, I wouldn't have done it. Don't bring charges against her. Please."

Tanya looked away and shook her head; blood continued to poor and he did feel a little bad for her. "I really don't want to deal with the police right now but if you haven't noticed-my nose is gushing blood."

Before he had the chance to respond, she slid down the brick wall and began to cry. Jasper came to join them and Edward gave him a helpless look. "Alright," Jazz eventually spoke, "do you need to go to the hospital?"

"I don't know..."

"Let me see." As Jasper squatted down to look at her, Edward knew he had to get back in there and check on Bella. She hadn't been hurt but he didn't know if Rosalie had gotten her to calm down or not.

Bella couldn't believe that he was outside at that very moment with the girl she'd just clocked a good one. She was absolutely shocked that it had happened but she felt good about it. Tanya had deserved that for a long time. To his credit, he wasn't outside long and when he returned without Jasper, he strode right to her and said, "I don't think she's going to press charges. We should leave, though."

"Charges?" Bella blinked, realizing the severity of the situation. She'd never been in trouble with the law before. Her father was the law. "Oh, God."

The fight died out in her and she leaned into Rosalie while looking up at him. Tears were wetting her eyes by the time he put his arms around her and pulled her away from her best friend. "Let's go home, come on."

"I...I hit her," Bella said as they exited out the back and took the long way around to avoid Tanya.

"Yeah. You did. Really hard."

"Is she okay?"

"Not right now but in a few weeks the bruises should go away." He sounded amused but also a little irritated.

"Are you mad at me?"

"No. You were defending yourself and Lanie. Although, I do think you may have over-reacted just a little. I've never seen you like that before."

"It's just...I've had so much anger built up against her since I started dating you and I just couldn't...take it...anymore. She wanted you to feel bad, Edward. She wanted you to feel guilty for what happened with her kid and that's not fair. I just kind of lost it."

He opened the door for her, grateful that the barmaid told them she hadn't actually called the cops. Apparently, she thought Tanya had up and left anyway. "Are you alright?"

"Nice of you to ask now," she said dryly but gave him a smile.

"I know you're not hurt. I mean are you...calm?"

"I really just want to go home."

"Lanie's out with Sarah's family so she'll probably end up spending the night there. Want to stay with me?"

"Yes. Should I be worried that the police are going to show up and arrest me?"

"Your father wouldn't let that happen. Tanya's an addict and she's been picked up for it before, as well as an assault a few years ago. Who are they going to believe: an elementary school teacher or an ex-druggie. I think the chances are slim of you going to jail tonight."

"That not fair, though. I mean, yeah she had it coming but if she wanted to press charges...I mean...she should be able to..."

"Bella..." he sighed, knowing she was gearing up for a save-the-world speech despite the situation. She could tell he was definitely amused now, though.

"No. Just because she was an addict doesn't mean that she still is!"

"It's the same with Em. He stays on the straight and narrow because he knows he has a past. It's just the way it is."

"It's stupid. Is it that way with you because of being...questioned...about your parents?"

"Baby, I don't want to talk about all that tonight but I don't think it's as bad with me. Although, if they find a dead body in my apartment than I'm probably pretty fucked. Come on, Mrs. Cullen, let's use that adrenaline you have going on for something else."

"Ugh..." Bella half groaned, half grunted. "Edward...fuck..."

Shifting to get a better grip on the duvet cover, Bella let her head fall back and pushed her core further into Edward...where he was currently licking...and had been for at least ten minutes. Bella never thought men truly liked to go down on women but Edward seemed to crave it. Who was she to deny him the opportunity to indulge? He was kneeling on the floor, still fully clothed except for the fact that his button up shirt was hanging open exposing just enough chest hair to make her girly parts tingle. Now, they were tingling for other reasons.

It has been ten minutes and it wasn't because he wasn't good. Usually, she'd have come within seconds of his tongue touching her but tonight he just wouldn't let up. She knew he didn't want to stop and every time she got close, he'd slide up to a different spot and she'd be lost again, never able to actually climax. Looking down at her hand, the left one with the new shiny item on it, Bella's girly parts exploded in what was possibly her favorite orgasm ever. There were no words-she couldn't even make any noises to let him know how much she enjoyed it.

Her body lay limp on top of the bed and she only shivered as his hard body laid down beside hers. The length of his arousal pressed into her side and she felt him wrap an around around her as he pulled her into him and kissed the spot between her breasts. "You still alive, Mrs. Cullen?"

"Ung..."

"That's all you have for me?"

"Ung..."

"What if I," he began, licking up to her right nipple and sucking hard, "did this?"

Already out of breath and feeling over-sensitized, she cried out and arched her back. All that managed to do was grant him more access. "I'd want you to take your clothes off. I always want you to take your clothes off..."

Edward chuckled and unbuttoned his shirt the rest of the way before working on his pants. When he was only down to his boxers, she grabbed them and pulled. That image alone almost made her come again. Her brain was now firing on all cylinders again and she bit down on her lip as her mind went to something she was completely unsure of. He'd asked her to marry him and she wanted to do something special for him. Still, there were very few things the two of them hadn't done together in bed and it wasn't like he was new to all of that before her. Deciding to go for it, she kissed his neck and climbed up his body to position herself for him to take her. He was inside of her, thrusting as she leaned over him, before she knew what was happening.

He seemed content to just stay that way but Bella went against every bit of her woman's sense and forced him to stop when he was just starting to really get into it. "Baby...stop..."

"Huh?" he squeaked out. Yes. He fucking squeaked. Bella had to try to not laugh at him, remembering she was the one who was causing his desperation. She'd never done this mid-fuck before. He'd never had to stop and she almost felt bad for it. To his credit, he quit thrusting, but she could feel him moving his hips underneath her, desperate to keep going.

"I want to try...it..."

"Bells, baby, I have no idea... Can we please just finish this and then we can discuss anything. Anything. We'll negotiate world peace as soon as..."

"Anal," Bella blurted.

"For the love of God, Bells, your killing me here! Let's just keep... Holy fuck! What did you just say?" Suddenly, she completely had his attention.

Biting down on her lip, she nodded, knowing he heard her the first time. "I want to." She could tell he was struggling. Her boy desperately needed release.

"I can't...I can't think straight when I'm...inside..." She chuckled before sliding up and then off of him. "Are you sure about this?"

"Yeah. I mean, why not? Why do you look so nervous? I'm the one who's never done...that...before."

"Bella," Edward laughed a strange laugh and looked away from her, still out of breath. "I just...it's not something that I'm quite comfortable with. It's...intense. I mean, it would be for...you...and...I..."

"Hey, stop," Bella whispered softly, seeing how distressed he was over this. She felt awful for even bringing it up as he'd gone from desperate for her to trapped in his own thoughts in a matter of minutes. She just started to ask him why he was so upset when it hit her, an idea that made her feel slightly sick and...angry at the people who hurt him when he was just a child. "Edward, I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking."

"I'm not like, completely against it. It's actually kind of ridiculous that I'm this uptight about it considering the way I can be with you but..."

"It's not ridiculous," Bella interrupted, snaking her arm around a pillow and laying her head down so she could look at him more comfortably. "Believe me, you keep things plenty interesting in the bedroom. I don't need...that. I just thought... I mean, I've heard guys talk about it and some of them like it. I thought you might, too. I guess I kind of completely ruined the mood, huh? Is it okay that I...touch you still?"

Whatever had him staring at the wall behind him and holding the blanket tightly left as soon as the words were out of her mouth. He looked almost startled. "Bells, you don't have to ask me that. You of all people never have to ask me that."

"You just seem like you have the fight or flight thing going on and I'd rather you not try to fight me for trying to hold your hand. How has work been?"

Edward seemed unfocused and confused as he answered her. "Okay I guess. The boss still likes me."

Seeing as changing the subject didn't seem to help matters, Bella maneuvered them both so they were under the covers and cuddled into his side. "I hate what happened to you. Edward, I'm sorry. You didn't deserve any of that." To her relief, he seemed to relax with the contact and she felt him start to rub her back.

"We're going to have a better life. I won't let anyone hurt you...and I sure as hell won't be the one that does it. I really fucked us up in the beginning but I'm going to try to make it right. I love Lanie and all of our friends but you're the best part of my life. I can't take that for granted anymore."

This is one of those chapters that flew by but still made me smile. I'd love your opinion! Letzy xx