A/N: Top o' the morning!

Happy St. Paddy's Day All to my fellow quarter Irish (and to half and full as well, lol).

Beta'd by my little leprechaun Michelle Renker Rhodes.

Most characters belong to S. Meyer.

Chapter 22 – Learning to Make the Good Outweigh the Bad.

EPOV

Mel's been quiet and moody since I got home from work this afternoon.

Now, we're making our way through the traffic under the Gowanus Expressway on our way to Bella's to pick her up and then head to Staten Island to her parents' place for this…family dinner I'm honestly not looking forward to. My hands grip the truck's steering wheel tightly, and for a second I wonder what Mr. S will think about my showing up at his place in this beat up, old truck with his beautiful daughter in tow, when she could easily be driven around town in sleek, pricey sports cars and trucks.

I scrub a hand down my face while I wait for the light to change from red to green. The late afternoon sun is setting over the river; it peaks in from between battered buildings as we drive down the slow-moving traffic. This is what Mel's been staring at for the past five minutes, and again I wonder what has her so out of sorts today. Off the top of my head, I'd think she'd gotten a whiff of the shit that went down yesterday, but I don't really think that's the case because she was all smiles when we left Bella's place last night.

"Uncle Edward, why didn't Grandmother and Grandfather Brandon like my dad?"

"Because parents can be assholes too. Because money makes the world go round, and when you don't have it…"

Out of my periphery, I see Mel jerk her head back.

Aw fuck.

I sigh. "Look Mel, forget that. I've been…that was a shitty answer. I apologize. The truth is it was…probably more complicated than that."

"So what was it?"

"Didn't your parents explain it to you?"

"They just said that my grandparents didn't understand a world outside of what they were used to and that they'd explain more someday when I was older, but…" She trails off.

Fuck.

As much as I hate getting into this subject with her, I'm surprised she's brought up Al and Jasper to begin with. Apparently, she's been thinking about her parents today, which explains the pensive mood.

I think about what Bella and I have discussed, about getting Mel to open up more about Alice and Jasper.

"Mel, did your parents ever tell you how they met?"

"Of course they did." I can hear the eye roll in her tone – but I also think I detect a smile in it. "Mom used to tell me about the night they met, on her sixteenth birthday in a restaurant where Dad was a waiter. He was eighteen, and they fell in love almost instantly," she says breathily. "But then she'd always explain to me that life isn't a fairytale," she adds with a wry chuckle. "She always used to tell me that though she and Daddy loved each other so, so much…real life love stories take lots and lots of work and don't have the kind of happily ever after's she used to read to me in books. In real life, she used to say, you have to work to make the good outweigh the bad…that's when you can make your own fairy tale."

I swallow thickly through the lump in my throat.

"Yeah, that sounds like something your mom would've said."

"You still haven't answered my question," Mel says after a minute. "Was it really just about money? Because Mom's parents have so much and Dad didn't?"

"Well…" – I shift in my seat – "Like I said, I think it was more complicated than that. Sometimes…sometimes money means control, Mel. Some people allow themselves to be controlled by it, and some people use it to try to control others. But your mom and dad weren't those sort of people."

"What do you mean?"

I sigh heavily.

"You see how your grandparents live - their position, their wealth. They're used to setting every single rule in their lives, used to molding their own world. I think they were used to doing that with your mom too, but…once she met your dad, they couldn't control her anymore. If she'd met someone from their world and married him, it would've been easier for your grandparents to shape her into the kind of person they thought she should be. I think that's what upset them the most: not that your father didn't have money, but that your mom became her own person and not who they wanted her to be."

"Grandmother says I should be living with them, not with you. She says I'm a Brandon, not a Cullen, and I belong with them."

My chest constricts. A surge of heat seeps into my veins, yet when I glance over and see that Mel is crying, fucking crying, something which I haven't see her do in months, outrage quickly morphs into horror. I'm already pulling up in front of Bella's loft, so I swiftly put the car in park and pivot my entire body towards Mel.

Her head is down, and she sobs on and on and as much as the sight makes my chest ache, I can't help thinking that somehow, this is good. She's talking. She's reacting.

"What do you want, Mel?"

When she doesn't answer right away, a twinge of fear tightens my lungs.

Does she want to go?

Have I really fucked it up that badly?

"Have you ever seen the inside of their place, Uncle Ed?" she asks in a tense whisper, glaring at her lap.

"No, can't say that I have."

Mel's never spoken to me about what goes on during her weekends at her rich grandparents. Whenever I've asked, her answers have always been short and vague.

"It's so…big. Like three times as big as Bella's loft. It takes up three floors. My room alone is about the size of our entire apartment. It's right across the street from Central Park. There's a man in a suit and white gloves that opens the door for me when I get to the building. He calls me Ms. Brandon and even presses the elevator button for me. There's a lady, Mrs. Cope, she's part of the…help. I'm supposed to tell her whenever I need anything. We eat dinner at this long table, and another lady and a man serves it to us. I have my own flat-screen and laptop and…a closet full of all these…clothes. Everyone picks up after me, and I don't have to wash my own dishes, or scrub the bathroom. Sometimes we go to these fancy shows and Grandmother introduces me to her friends as Melody Brandon, Mary Alice's daughter, never as Mel Cullen, Jasper and Al's daughter." Mel looks up at me. "I mean, it's only one weekend a month. How could people live like that every single day of their lives?"

I snort. "A lot of people do, Mel."

"Well, they're stupid assholes!"

The tears start falling again. I watch one slide off her cheek and spatter onto the denim skirt she picked out to go meet Bella's parents. And reprimanding her for her language is the last thing on my mind.

"I don't want to live there! I hate them! Maybe if they would've been nicer to Mom and Dad, then they would've still…they would've still been here."

She starts sobbing hard, and I pull her against me, wrapping her small, little frame up in my arms the way I used to when she was younger and I'd let her watch those scary movies Alice would tell me not to let her watch.

And the past twelve years flash before my eyes, and I'm so fucking ashamed because just a couple of months ago…

A couple of months ago, I may have considered given her up. Not in those first few months after Jasper and Alice's deaths, but if I'm being honest with myself, I think it was more a matter of pride then. She'd been given to me and nobody was going to change that.

But when my head cleared up…and I realized what the fuck I was now responsible for, what Alice and Jasper had gotten me into...

My heart pounds painfully against my ribs. I picture Mel getting ready in the mornings, treading lazily between her small bedroom and smaller bathroom, fighting with me over her clothing choices, her makeup, her language, about having to clean the bathroom once a week, bitching about her lack of privacy in our crappy apartment, rolling her eyes at Heidi…

I picture her practicing the steps she learns at Bella's, making me red beans and rice and the way her face lights up when I tell her it's delicious, grinning happily down from the small loft at Bella's place, rolling her eyes when I kiss Bella.

I picture the three of us having dinner together around Bella's kitchen counter.

"Listen to me. Are you listening?"

"Mhm," she mumbles, her face pressed into my shoulder.

"It hasn't been easy, and there are still days I want to friggin' kill you, but unless you want to leave, Mel, you belong exactly where you are." I feel the moisture from her tears seeping through my sweater and into my shirt, the button down I wore to impress Mr S and his wife.

"And don't start thinking about how things could've been if your grandparents had been different with your parents. Al and Jasper never wasted time moaning about that. They had a great life together; they shared a goddamn love I'm only starting to…" I sigh. "And I know you don't like talking about it, but yes Mel, they're gone. They're gone but I know that wherever they are, they're together. And they'll always be together, and maybe someday not too soon, we'll see them again."

She cries harder, and I shut my eyes tight because fuck, I guess I've made it worse.

But her sobs begin to wind down, and soon, she's gasping unevenly; quietly.

"Do you really think they're together?" she asks.

"Yeah, Mel, I really do."

And I close my eyes, choking back the lump in my throat.

OOOOOOOOOO

Despite the scene in the car, when Bella opens the door, I'm still struck by her beauty. If anything, gazing at her is like a soothing balm to my spirit.

She's wearing a red dress that looks more like a long dress shirt with a thin, black belt around her slim waist. The dress clings in all the right places, but not because it's tight, just because she's got such a great body.

She's smiles from me to Mel, but the smile quickly fades as her eyes flash between my face and Mel's red, swollen eyes.

"What happened?" she asks anxiously, reaching out for Mel and pulling her into her arms.

I shrug one shoulder, and open my mouth to explain…but nothing comes out. I have no idea where to begin.

Bella frowns. With her arms still around Mel, she leans in and gets on her tip toes to give me a quick kiss.

"Are you okay?" she whispers lowly.

"Yeah, I'm fine. She's…" I jerk my chin towards Mel.

Bella searches my eyes, and then nods and looks down at Mel.

"Mel, Princesa, come on, let me help you wash your face."

I watch her lead Mel away towards her bedroom, murmuring soft words I can't quite hear. A few feet away, she stops and looks back at me.

"Edward, Babe, make yourself comfortable, okay?" She puckers her lips and blows me a silent kiss, and yeah, she's a balm alright.

I will," I smile.

I step into the living room and sigh tiredly. If it was up to me, we'd just hang out right here for the rest of the night, just the three of us.

Instead, I remove my shiny, black oxfords and shuffle towards the large windows, staring out at Bella's great view, hands deep in pockets. After a few minutes, I turn on the TV; then I sit back on the couch and channel surf. Then I wander into the kitchen for a drink of water. There are a couple of gallons in the fridge, so I pull out the open one and then search a couple of her cabinets for a glass. I find them easily, but something else about the contents in Bella's fridge and cabinets catches my attention. So I open up the rest of them, and then rummage carefully through her pantry…

"Everything okay?" I hear said behind me and pivot around.

"Yeah," I smile, holding up the glass in my hand, "just looking for this."

She nods, and though she seems curious, doesn't ask anything else.

"Want some?" I ask. She nods again, so I pour us both some water. I lean against her counter, and she stands in front of me. I circle her waist with one arm while we both drink our water, eyes on one another. And then she sets her glass down and wraps her arms around me.

"Come here," she whispers, and a long, heavy breath escapes me. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine, Bella." And it's true. When I'm with her, when she holds me this way, it's all okay.

For a long while, I just stand there with my face buried in her hair, inhaling her sweet, honey scent.

With a deep sigh, I pull away and look at her. "So what happened?" I ask. "Mel's been in a serious mood all day."

"She's got…a lot of things on her mind right now," Bella shrugs. "She's starting to open up a bit more, and I guess with that will come…you know…different reactions and emotions. She told me she misses them."

I nod. "Yeah, she was talking about them on the ride over. Had all these questions that kind of took me for a loop. I mean, I'm glad she's opening up, but shit…" – I rake a hand through my hair – "I'm not sure how to handle it, you know?"

"I guess all you can do is let her get her feelings out. Listen to her. Be there when she needs you, and give her space when she needs that," she breathes. "She was talking about her birthday next month and how she and her parents used to go into the city to ice skate at Rockefeller Center every year to celebrate."

"That's right," I nod and look away thoughtfully, "I'd forgotten about that. Alice used to say it was one of the few traditions her parents instilled in her that she kept." I bring my eyes back to her. "You think that's something she'd like to do this year?"

"I don't know, Edward. I was going to ask her, but I thought maybe it would be better if you asked."

Again, I nod. "Would you…come with us?"

A soft smile tugs at the corners of her pouty mouth. "If you and she wanted me there, of course I'd come with you."

"She wants you everywhere," I tell her. "And…so do I." The admission comes surprisingly easily.

Bella sighs unevenly, gazing at me for one long moment before pressing her mouth to mine. "I love…skating at Rockefeller Center."

"I've never done so," I chuckle, "but I guess I could give it a try. Or better yet, just watch you and Mel."

She laughs softly.

"I wonder if that's what got her thinking about her grandparents too."

"What did she say about them?" Bella asks.

"She said they tell her she's a Brandon, not a Cullen, and that…they want her to come live with them. Fucking assholes," I scowl.

Bella sucks in a low, fast breath, and her eyes widen. "You wouldn't let her go, would you?"

"If she ever went with them, it would be her choice, not mine," I say. "A few months ago…I don't know," I shake my head, running a hand through my hair, "Maybe. I was overwhelmed, Bella. Between taking care of her and…sobriety."

She nods and looks at me with this sad expression, not pity, but like she feels me.

"But now…I mean, Jasper and Alice made their choice, damn it, and those fucking Brandons have to accept that. Besides," I slide both hands around her hips and pull her in close, "I've got you now…helping me."

Bella cradles my face in her warm hands. "You know I'll help as much as I can. She means a lot to me too."

"I know she does. You're so…God, Bella, what would I do without you?" I breathe against her mouth, kissing her pouty lips once, twice, and then sliding my tongue inside. She wraps her arms around my neck tightly this time and her kisses feel full of desperation and a total desire that I haven't felt from her since our weekend alone together – because Mel has always been around and she's usually worried about getting busted.

"So where is Mel?"

"She's taking a cat nap," Bella says, eyes closed, mouth on mine. "I gave her something for her cramps. She'll feel better in a little while."

"She's not feeling well?"

"It's just that time of the month."

"Time not to feel well?" I frown.

Bella opens her eyes and rolls them at me, much like Mel.

She chuckles. "Edward, Baby, your one-month-shy-of-thirteen-year-old niece is moody and cranky, and crampy today."

"I know," I snort. "What else is new?"

She purses her lips, folding her arms against her sweet breasts. One of her eyebrows shoots up while she stares at me…

"Oh," I finally say – and then grimace. "Oh. That time. Shit. Now what?"

Bella giggles. "Edward, she's a young girl going through a moody age to begin with; this'll just make her a bit…moodier a few days a month. No big deal."

I draw in a deep breath. "Easy for you to say. You don't have to live with it."

She snorts. "Hey, are you sure you're okay? You look like you've had a long day already."

"I have," I admit.

"Do you want to just stay in tonight? I can call my parents and-"

It's what I've been hoping for. What I've been wanting all day.

"No, Bella." I pull her against me again. "Your parents are expecting you. I'm fine."

She studies me, her deep, brown eyes holding my gaze. "Okay, if you're sure. We'll just let Mel nap for a little while…"

"And what do we do in the meantime?" I grin crookedly, letting my hands fall to her plump backside and kneading both cheeks firmly and God…God she feels good. I want her so badly I can barely breathe anymore because my cock literally aches with every breath. I'm not sure how long she wants to wait, but it's fucking killing me. But I'll wait. For her, I'll wait as long as she needs to.

She chuckles huskily. "It looks like you've already got an idea."

We laugh and kiss and touch and thankfully grind quietly for a few precious minutes while Mel takes a nap, and with Bella in my arms, the shit from yesterday and in the car ride with Mel almost feels non-existent; like it never happened. That's what Bella does to me…she soothes; she calms; she takes the sting off of every bite. She makes me believe that maybe, just maybe, if we navigate this just right…the good will outweigh the bad, just like Alice said, and these evenings with just the three of us…can lead to so much more.

OOOOOOOOOO

A woman in about her early forties opens the door to the white colonial on the quiet cul-de-sac in one of the better areas of Staten Island. She's a bit stout, with dark hair and dark eyes that are a completely different shade from the dark hair and dark eyes that in those few shitty minutes yesterday I noticed Bella and her dad share.

"Izzy, Honey, you're here!" The woman grins excitedly and pulls Bella into a tight bear hug that makes Bella groan. But she's smiling too.

"Momma Sue, I've missed you," Bella sings.

The woman chuckles. "Then maybe you should visit more often."

"Yeah," Bella responds quietly, "maybe I should."

Sue pulls away, and both women look at each other, as if communicating without words.

With an uneven sigh, Bella moves back. "Sue, this is my boyfriend, Edward Cullen. Edward, this is my Momma Sue."

"Hey, Edward," Sue smiles kindly. "So good to meet you."

"How do you do, Mrs. Swan?" I respond, shaking her hand.

"Just call me Sue." When she grins, she's got these deep wrinkles running from her eyes to her temples, but somehow, they make her look younger and even more jovial.

"And this is his niece, Melody." Bella wraps an arm around Mel protectively as she introduces her, and for some reason it makes my chest swell with pride.

Mel shakes the woman's hand. She's still a bit withdrawn tonight, and now she surprises me because she's got this shy smile thing going. Not sure where that came from, but between the cramps and the sudden shyness, maybe they'll keep her quiet and behaved.

"Wow, you weren't kidding, Izzy. She is a beauty. Welcome, Guys! Come in!"

"Izzy?" I mouth to Bella as we walk behind Sue. Bella's cheeks flush in that gorgeous way of hers.

"She's always called me that," she whispers. "She's the only one who does."

As we walk through the house, I'm feeling fractionally more relaxed than I did on the way over here. Sue seems like a pleasant woman, and her greeting has put me a bit at ease. Bella did say that her stepmom was very down to earth and easygoing, but then again, she also said that her dad was a fair guy, and from the way he looked at me yesterday after Bella introduced us, I'm not getting that vibe.

But we'll see. I'm keeping an open mind…for her.

The house is pretty good sized and well kept. The entryway leads to a short hallway which opens up into a massively huge kitchen with dark, modern cabinets and a patio door to what looks like a big, back yard. But it's dark out, so it's hard to see what's out there.

"Charlie, Izzy's here!" Sue calls as we make our way around the kitchen and walk into a step-down family room with a wood-burning fireplace and a flat screen over the mantel. A few picture frames are over the mantel, and from here, they seem to be mostly of Bella at various ages.

"Your dad's just in the basement toying with some new tools."

"You've got a beautiful house, Sue," I tell her.

"Thanks," she gushes. "I love it too. The kitchen's my favorite room."

"Sue likes to cook," Bella informs me.

"Yeah, can't you tell?" Sue laughs, pointing at herself.

"You look beautiful, Momma," Bella tells her.

"You've always been the beauty in the family, Izzy." Her dark eyes shine with overflowing affection.

Sue looks at Mel. "And now we've got another beaut. Do you like cooking, Mel?"

"Bella's taught me how to cook a bunch of things," Mel says, still with a touch of sheepishness, but like me, she seems more relaxed than she did by the door.

Sue claps her hands together once. "My Izzy loves to cook! When she was about your age, we used to spend hours and hours together in the kitchen, trying out new recipes for her Dad while he was at work."

"It's where I got my love for cooking from," Bella confirms.

"And now she's an even better cook than I am. Has she cooked for you yet, Edward?" Sue asks me.

"A few times," I chuckle. "And yes, she is great at it."

"She really is. But she's good at so many things."

I stare at the way this woman practically beams at Bella. It's…strange to me. I mean, the only mother I've ever seen beaming at their child this much before was Alice with Mel.

I look at Mel, and she's watching Sue as well, her head tilted sideways, and I'd almost bet she's thinking of her mom too.

We stand around and make some more small talk for a few minutes, and I'm really thinking that maybe, just maybe, tonight won't be so bad after all, when a door opens towards the back of the kitchen, off to the side. I hear a couple of heavy steps, and then Mr. S – Charlie – walks into the kitchen.

Like me, he's out of the work clothes and hard hat today, dressed in khakis and a polo that I'm sure Sue must've picked out for him because he looks uncomfortable as hell, tugging on his pants and pulling on the collar of his shirt.

His eyes dart between Bella, Mel and me, and he approaches us slowly, his face set in a blank expression that I emulate. I'm not going to kiss this guy's ass, especially when I know he wants his daughter, my woman, with another motherfucker. I'll be respectful for her sake, for Emmett's sake because he deserves that job, for Mel's sake because things 'll be easier for her if we win that bid – but I won't kiss his ass. I don't think I could, even if I wanted to.

He goes straight to Bella and gives her a hug, and they mumble some greetings.

Then he looks at me.

"Edward."

"Mr. S."

We share an awkward handshake that we release quickly.

"Dad," Bella says, "this is Melody, Edward's little niece I told you about. We call her Mel."

Mel greets Bella's father with that same touch of shyness with which she greeted Bella's stepmom.

"Little niece," Charlie repeats with a snort. "Bells, you made it seem like she'd be a little girl. This right here is a full grown young lady."

And now Mel's blushing. I want to roll my eyes, but I withhold.

"How old are you, Mel?" Charlie asks.

"Thirteen," Mel answer proudly.

"Twelve," both Bella and I correct simultaneously.

"I'll be thirteen next month," Mel clarifies, "so I might as well get used to saying it or else I'll still be saying twelve when I'm thirteen!"

Charlie nods. "Got a good point there. Twelve going on thirteen. That's pretty big as I recall. Sue, you remember how excited Bells was to turn thirteen?"

"'Course I do," Sue replies. "I bought her first lipstick. She took it everywhere," she grins.

"Bella bought me a whole set of lipsticks. Light ones because she says if I wear too many dark colors on my face now, I'll be pale as a vampire by the time I'm twenty."

"Then you should absolutely listen to my daughter," Charlie says with only slightly exaggerated solemnness. "Look at her skin. It's perfect. You don't want to get wrinkles or pale skin at such a young age, do you?"

Mel shakes her head, wide-eyed.

"Good. It's good to meet you, little niece," Charlie says. "Or should I say, young lady?"

And despite the admittedly cool greeting towards me, I can't help being grateful at the way that Charlie Swan has put my niece at ease.

And so the evening begins.

OOOOOOOOOO

We hang around the kitchen for a bit while Sue and Bella catch up, and Bella helps Sue put some finishing touches on dinner. They get Mel into the act as well, and though she stays close to either Bella or me, she appears to feel much more comfortable as the minutes go by. I watch her carefully because I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

Charlie and I hang around at the periphery of all the action. Sue and Bella try to include us both in all interactions, but it's obvious to anyone paying attention that while we're interacting with them, we're strictly avoiding each other. He doesn't say a word to me; I don't say a word to him.

At the dinner table, Sue asks Bella how the dance thing is going, and Bella tells her about the audition she went on a few weeks ago that she didn't get, but then she tells her that she's got an audition coming up next weekend for a production over at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

"That sounds promising," Sue smiles encouragingly. "Just watch, you'll be at Radio City before you know it."

Bella smiles and looks around the table sheepishly, and I grin at her. She's told me about her dream to be a Rockette. In my mind, I love picturing her up on that stage I've only ever seen on TV, kicking those sexy as hell and talented legs up, and I can't help but agree with Sue. She'll get there. She has to. She's too good not to.

"I wish I could go on auditions," Mel says, interrupting Sue and Bella. "Maybe I can be a Rockette someday too."

"Maybe you can," Bella grins.

"Do you dance, Mel?" Sue asks.

"Mhm," Mel responds, swallowing and wiping her mouth before answering. I'm grateful that someone, either her parents, or probably those fucker grandparents of hers, apparently taught Mel some table manners. She sits up straight, holds her utensils perfectly, sips her water quietly. I'm starting to realize that I haven't been much of a manners instructor for the past few months. I'll have to see if Bella can help me with that as well.

"I dance at Miss Bella's Baila School of Dance," Mel giggles.

"Oh, is that how you two met?" Sue questions, her eyes flashing curiously between Bella and me.

"Yes, it is," I confirm with a nod.

"Yeah, that's how we met," Bella beams my way, her dark eyes so bright it makes my chest ache.

"Uncle Edward used to pick me up late, and Bella told him off for it," Mel shares with a chuckle.

See? She's feeling too comfortable here.

But Bella and Sue chuckle along with her.

"Sounds like there's an interesting story behind that," Sue says, raising an eyebrow in both Bella's and my direction.

"You have no idea. Remind me to tell it to you one of these days," Bella smirks playfully at her stepmom before turning to give me a wicked wink.

"It worked out well though, didn't it?" I grin crookedly because Sue's easygoing manner is contagious, and when Bella blushes and looks down at her plate, Sue laughs louder.

"Edward, you're making my daughter blush! It's not easy to make her blush!"

"Isn't it? Cuz she blushes for me all the time," I say. "It's one of my favorite sights."

At this point, both Sue and Mel start giggling, while Bella gazes at me through piercing eyes, and we're all having a pretty mellow time.

And for the first time all evening, Charlie decides to join the conversation.

He glances at me darkly. "So let me see if I have this straight: You used to pick up Mel late from my daughter's dance studio without letting my daughter know about it?"

All is suddenly silent around the dinner table.

A/N: Thoughts?

The next chapter will also by EPOV. (Yeah, I'm sure no one minds too much). ;)

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See you all Thursday!

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