Word Prompt: Fancy

When the door swung open and I saw Alice practically bouncing I let out a squeel. It took both Edward and I by total surprise to see her, but our excitement was real as we walked inside.

"How did you get here? I thought you were in Texas for the New Year?" I asked with a huge smile on my face as we embraced. We'd only been seperated for two weeks, but it was two weeks too long.

"I begged Jasper to leave and, of course, he had to give in to me," Alice explained with a smirk. "I love his family, they are so sweet, but the guest house? Well, that damn house was killing my soul."

I laughed, more at Edward's bewildered look than what Alice said, but we all started moving towards the kitchen anyway.

Esme was grabbing something out of the refrigerator when we walked in, and to her credit, she greeted Edward with a smile as if nothing had happened over the break. I heard voices in the living room and nodded my permission for Edward to join the rest of the guys. In truth, he didn't need my permission but his glances back and forth were enough of a hint that he needed me to give an okay.

"What can we help with?" I asked Esme, keeping my tone even so Alice wouldn't see the hint of nerves I had when walking into this house.

"Actually, nothing," Esme answered as she placed the wine bottles she just took out on the countertop next to appetizer trays. "I have it all finished and we should start receiving guests in the next few minutes."

"That's good. Edward said this was a small party?" I questioned, and she nodded.

"Only a handful of people, we like to keep it simple," she relayed. "In fact, you can join everyone in the living room if you want, I think I'm going to freshen my face up really fast."

I decided against arguing with Esme that she looked amazing and settled on a smile before she disappeared to the stairs quickly. I glanced at the porch and saw a crew of people waiting for the party to start...I assumed servers? One guy was definitely a bartender.

Esme said a small party, but I didn't see how it would be with an actual staff running it however I chose not to think about it.

Edward was sitting across from his uncle, a beer in his hand as he listened to a story Jasper was telling from their Christmas in Texas. I didn't catch the joke, but the guys all seemed to laugh. Rosalie and Emmett were side-by-side on the couch closest to the fireplace and didn't appear to be listening to whatever Jasper had just said. When Rosalie looked up and saw me standing there, she stood and smiled.

"Hi Bella." Rosalie walked over and embraced me, and in that second, I knew she knew. I didn't know how she knew or how detailed she knew, but somewhere along the lines Emmett must have figured something out.

"How was your Christmas?" I asked to pull the subject away to something neutral. I glanced over at Edward to see him studying us with his eyebrow raised. You could see he was on to something, but he wasn't going to make a move especially with Alice and Jasper in the room.

"It was good," she launched into everything she had been up to over the holiday and even touched on her excitement to get back to school for her last semester. It was a harsh reminder that Emmett and Rosalie would be off the campus next year and in their own place, away from campus, and Greek life.

The doorbell rang shortly after I turned my attention back to Edward and placed my hand out to reach his. He stood up and embraced me, with his arms around my waist he pulled me closer.

"Did you..." he trails on as people round the corner, but I just look up and shake my head no. I would never dare mention a word of his paternity to my best-friend or his cousin, that wasn't my place. His lips pursed for a second before he sighed with a nod. A moment later his lips brushed against my face before he released me from his hold.

While his hand reached for mine as I prepared for a few introductions, I could almost see the invisible mask snapping onto Edward's face. That same mask would take up residence for the rest of this evening as he's talk about himself, his plans, and make small talks with all of the guests.

I'd fine out over the next few hours that most of people attending have known Edward since birth and quite a few were not shy about funny stories regarding his childhood antics. There were also a few who placed a large weight into listening to him talk about his future career and his plans for after school. Some focused a little on me, but Edward was the start between us much in the same way I was the star back in Forks. It was an odd shift, though not an unwelcomed one. To be honest, the only reason why I wished for more attention was only to give Edward a break.

When we talked about coming here for New Year's, Edward explained over and over that he didn't really want to come but the idea of crushing his aunt was more than he could bear. He simply couldn't do that to her, so while he attended and while he put on a brave face, I knew it was exhausting him. Still, I stayed brightly at his side not wishing to cause him anymore stress than he was already in.

Dinner was a quiet affair with music playing on the porch. In the main room, the TV showed re-runs of the ball dropping in New York City just a two hours prior. Being on the West Coast was challenging because we didn't have any huge festivities and by the time the New Year reached us the East Coast was passed out drunk or sleeping.

I had been watching the TV for a second too long and missed Alice approach me, "This is all so fancy isn't it," she chatted and I chuckled with a nod. "One day, this will be us hosting dinner parties though."

"You host, I'll attend," I correct earning me an eyeroll.

"You say that now," she teases, but I shrug. "Where are you two sitting for the fireworks?"

"What fireworks?" I ask as my eyebrows knit together.

"Edward didn't tell you?" she questioned with an odd look but I just shrugged. If he did, I didn't remember, but I didn't fault him for not remembering himself. "Oh well, I guess his aunt and uncle do a huge firework thing over the water. Apparently it's amazing and the best seats are by the water."

"I'll have to ask Edward, are you heading out there now?" I ask and glanced past the porch and towards the docks. Esme was smart enough to add heater's to the porch area keeping it shielded from the blistering cold, but outside of the screens wouldn't be quite the same.

"I think so, Jasper was getting blankets with Emmett. I guess that is where they sit too. Everyone else stays on the porch I think," she says before I tell her I'll find Edward and meet them out there.

By the time the gang has headed out of the porch, I had checked the kitchen, porch, living room, dining room, and even the bathroom without so much of a trace of Edward. I'm half tempted to pull out my cell phone and call him for his location before I hear a door open in the hallway I'm in and turn around on instinct.

I see Edward's stoic face first as he and his uncle walk out of an office of somekind. Carlisle is still talking though it's too low to hear and judging by Edward's face I don't even think he's listening. He takes whatever his uncle has handed him before leaving the office and folds it into his trouser pocket.

I smile once they spot me and while Carlisle smiles, Edward's face remains unchanged until I get closer.

"I hear you put on the best fireworks," I tell Carlisle to break their tension but it doesn't fully work. However, Carlisle does go into the show they put on, how many fireworks they use, and how it's a full ten minutes this year with the finale scheduled to start thirty seconds before the New Year hits. "That sounds amazing," I gush as he walks away with the promise to see us outside in a few minutes.

Edward and I are left there standing and I feel like the Edward I came with is replaced by the same one I found lost and confused on the bench at the cabin. I give him a few seconds to snap out of it, but I don't see it happening so I took his hand in mine.

"Where can we go to be alone?" I ask.

"Upstairs," he practically whispers as I tell him to lead the way. He nods and takes me to the stairs unseen by the guests.

When we arrive at a bedroom on the second floor I realized he's taken me to his old room at his aunt and uncle's house. It's decorated in blues and reds with a few pictures from his youth still on a board by the window. One glance out the window shows me we're facing the backyard and the bay window will provide us enough of a set to watch the fireworks from here.

I pull the comforter off the bed and bring it over to the seat before I push open the windows allowing a gush of freezing air into the room.

"Bella?" Edward questions.

"We'll watch the fireworks from here," I explain and he nods in understanding.

He walks to the window and takes a seat before pulling me into his lap. He quietly and efficiently wraps the blanket around us to shield the cold. I can feel the warmth emiting from his chest and melt into him.

"They know," he whispers after a second. "Emmett, I mean, he knows."

"How?" I ask.

"He came home to talk to my uncle about something and he was busy tearing his safe apart. He didn't hear Emmett come in," he explained.

"What was in the safe?" I push quietly.

"A test my uncle ran when I was younger. The results have been sitting in his safe for years waiting for me to want them," he answered. "When Emmett came in he asked his dad was he was looking for and without thinking Carlisle told him it was a test he needed for me. The test was at the top of some paperwork on his desk and Emmett held the envelope up and asked if it was that since the envelope had my name on it. Emmett backed him into a wall after that and well, he knows."

"I'm sorry," I say, though it's not enough. "I know you wanted to talk to him on your own terms."

"It doesn't matter now," he says quietly as I steal a glance at the clock. We have roughly two minutes until the fireworks start and twelve minutes until the New Year is upon us.

"I love you," I tell him. I look up at him with a smile and he lowers his lips to mine. As he pulls away I tack on, "I know tonight has been hard for you, but you're pulled it off. I'm proud of you."

"What do you have to be proud of?" Edward questions with his eyebrows knit together in confusion.

"I'm proud of you for putting your family first, even though it was hard, and for not running away from Esme. I don't think she could handle losing you," I explain. He just nods his head and I go back to putting my head on his chest.

The first bang happens a minute later as red and blue sparks lights the sky.

Edward hand is rubbing up and down my arm, then up and down my back, goosebumps left in it's wake.

I don't know how long we've sat watching the fireworks together before Edward speaks again.

"The envelope is in my back pocket," he says outloud, though I'm not sure if it's really meant towards me or he just needs to say it. "He said it's mine to do as I wish."

I remain mute but shift so that I can look at him.

"I should just burn it," he says, his eyes on the sky. The fireworks are causing the water to light up as they fall. "But a part of me wants to know. I know I shouldn't, and I've tried this past week to justify why it doesn't matter, but it does matter. It should matter, right?"

"Edward," I croak unsure what to say to that. "Honey, whatever decision you make is the right decision for you."

"Bella," he says as his eyes turn towards me. I can see the pleading look in them, much in the same way I saw in the kitchen earlier. He wants my permission for whatever route he's going to take, but can I give that to him?

I take a few breathe and rack my brain for what to say in this situation, but I feel so ill prepared so I just start talking and I hope it's the right choice.

"No matter what a piece of paper says, you will always be Edward Anthony Masen. It's who you are, who you were always meant to be and that is what matters. But, knowing for sure also has it's benefits too because you'll never have to question this again," I spill out like word vomit. I glance at the clock and see that we now have two minutes until the New Year is upon us and it gives me an idea. "Edward, this envelope is the answer to a question you didn't even know you needed to ask. This next year is going to be amazing. You're going to graduate and go to Medical School and achieve and learn so much. You'll have me all summer long and even on our cruise. This year may not end on the best note, but don't taint next year...we have sixty seconds left of this year," I justify and the booms from outside are intensifying outside as the time ticks by second by second. "Read it now, finish this year, and leave it in this year. Next year will be too great to bring this into."

Edward remains quiet the entire time I speak and pauses to study my face even after I'm done talking. I watch his eyes shift towards his watch before I see the shift in his eyes.

We both lean up so Edward can read the envelope. His pulling it open as I say the only words that I hope matter right then, "You're still the Edward I feel in love with, this is just an answer."

Time feels like it freezes as he tosses the envelope aside and opens the folded paper. His eyes study the wording, but his face gives no indication of the answer. I'm hoping and praying desperately that I gave him the rest answer and I'm silently hoping and praying that whatever answer that gives is the one he really wanted.

I can hear everyone yelling out the last ten second countdown from the backyard, but it's just full background music even as Edward folds the paper back up and tosses it to the side. The tension between us is thick as he digests what he just learned and I wait unpatiently for any indication of what it says.

"Edward," I call out as my body moves to completely turn in his direction despite the cold air that is now hitting me. The last few booms from the fireworks rattles my heart and the three is screamed out, follow by the two second mark...

"I'm a Masen," he finally says as the final fireworks are shot into the air. A huge 'Happy New Year' can probably be seen from miles away.

"You're Edward," I correct. "My Edward."

A faint smile plays over his lips and I swear I can see a ton of bricks lift from his shoulders. Instead of waiting for him, I lean forward and press my lips to his. I try not to be greedy with my affection, not knowing how much he wants but knowing that I wanted my New Years kiss. However, Edward had other plans as hungry lips enclosed mine and my body was pulled flush against his. I pant his name as we seperate, but he comes back in for more.

If he weren't in his aunt and uncle's house, I have no doubt that we would have spent the next several hours together in bed, but reality hit us as a gust of cool air caused my spine to stiffen. Edward tried, in vain, to fix the crumbled comforter that was one around us, but it was too tangled and twisted within us to really give me any protection from the cold.

"I want to go home," Edward says and I can see exactly what is on his mind, so I give a nod and work at putting the bed back to how I found it.

As we descend down the stairs, I can hear everyone funneling back into the houses and goodbyes already going out. I glanced over to see Edward with his phone in his hands and he's texting someone but I can't see it.

"There you guys are," Alice says as she rounds a corner. "We waited for you, but you never came."

"Yeah, sorry, Edward actually has this tradition with watching them from his old bedroom," I lied with a convincing smile before Alice doesn't question me. She does side eye the new wrinkled in my dress, but she's smart enough not to say a word. I'm pretty sure I know what she's assumed and who am I to correct her?

It only takes about twenty minutes for us to say goodbye to everyone. Before we leave, Edward pulled his uncle aside and gave him the test results back. He said he didn't need them and he was free to do with them what he wanted, but he had his answer.

As we pulled away Edward's phone alerts with a text, but I know he won't touch it while driving so he asks me too.

"All it says is good," I tell him a bit confused. All I see is the alert and not the whole message. Edward accepts my answer and tells me I can look at the full message if I'm confused.

TO: Senior

I am biologically your son.

From: Senior

Good.