Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or its original characters. No copyright infringement is intended with the posting of this story.

A/N: These outtakes are not beta'd. They're just something I do as a writing exercise to help me get into the heads of other characters and build on the plot a little more through their development/inner thoughts. You'll want to read each one *after* reading it's corresponding chapter to help them make sense as they won't flow from one to the next the same way the main story does.

****ANNOUNCEMENT****: I will be updating Roadies tomorrow after what has been quite a bit of a hiatus. Writers block is a hell of a thing. I know FFn isn't sending out alert emails for PM's so if you reviewed the last chapter (27) please check your inbox for that outtake. I look forward to updating tomorrow. Especially now that these characters have been talking to me again. *heart*

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Chapter 24

OUTTAKE

...Edward…

"Spill, Cullen. What's the deal with the crack-rock princess still blowing up on your phone?"

When I hear Emmett's newest nickname for Irina, I snort out loud and then tug at the back of my neck.

"Nothing. She's just being Irina, refusing to accept reality so she can move the hell on."

"Bro, you better set that girl straight. I can tell you this much, now that we're all off that bus, Bella won't play those games anymore."

"I know," a frustrated sigh forces itself past my lips, "And I'm not playing any games. Irina asked if she could see me once she's sobered up. Her brother took her back to her parents' place in Michigan to detox before checking her in at some swanky rehab."

"You'd be a smart man to never walk that line again," Emmett snickers under his breath while reaching into the back of Charlie's truck to start pulling out our bags.

He's not wrong, but I'm already determined to stay far away from Irina and her clan, so his warning isn't something I need to hear right now.

"You can relax. I have zero desire to see Irina, and I made that fact crystal clear with my response. If she doesn't leave me alone, I'll slap her with a restraining order. Bella is my priority now."

Emmett laughs to himself and slowly shakes his head, "Well, that's good to hear because she requires a lot of attention when her feet start to get too high off the ground. Case in point, Felix. Dude had me scared for a minute. I'm still shocked he turned out to be a pretty decent guy, but I do hope you realize just how nuts that entire shit show was. For Birdie to even go there with him, but turn around and pull the breaks the way she did—"

My hand lifts from my side to shut Emmett up. I cringe at the memory of what it had been like, seeing Bella in bed with someone else and then quickly square my shoulders, "I should've trusted her more. I'm still kicking myself for how I handled things that morning."

"Don't, bro. It wasn't your fault. Liam is a master at messing with Bella's head, and he'd clearly gotten into yours too. You coming back was what mattered. That meant a lot to her… the way you didn't run and give up and how you forced her to listen but not react. She needs that kind of stability in her life."

"Well, I'm not going anywhere. Not after all this. She's become too important to me."

Emmett smirks and nods his head, "She's important to a lot of us, but you're the first guy I've ever thought might actually be good for her, so don't fuck it up now, Cullen."

"Liam and Irina never made it easy, but with them out of the picture, Bella and I will be able to focus on what matters now. Us. A few days without any distractions is exactly what we need."

"Sounds like a plan, my man, just don't get too cozy. I can all but guaranteed we haven't seen the last of Brennan. He doesn't handle losing. It's not in his DNA."

I'd already figured as much, so I've come to Austin prepared.

My goal is to leave here with Bella smiling on my arm, and I'd love nothing more than to be able to introduce her to my family as my girl.

I'll do whatever it takes to make it happen.

Even if it means putting her ex in the hospital with his mouth wired shut for months.