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Chapter 58

Bella

I look over at him for what feels like the hundredth time this drive. The first time we did this, he was calm about meeting my family. This time he looks like he's headed towards his execution. After the last time I can't really blame him. However he can't blame them either for how it turned out. We have done nothing but discuss how to approach them since our reengagement. We finally came up with an idea for a gift for each. Now, I don't condone bribery but it really is kind of Edward's forte. And I was out of ideas.

He pulls curbside in front of the house.

"For a quick getaway." He explains.

I laugh, though it's nervous in its delivery and slowly get out of the car, looking at my childhood home which for the first time seems rather imposing.

"I'll go in first and you just stand outside the kitchen door."

"Good idea." He seems eager to place me in the line of fire. "Give me the flowers." I grumble.

He grabs them from the backseat and hands them to me then grabs the other two gifts. We trudge to the door and I take a deep breath. "Wish me luck."

"Luck. You're gonna need it."

I plaster a smile on my face and walk into the kitchen. My Ma is already there, starting lunch for Pops. She hears my entrance and jolts a little when she sees me staggering under the weight of these dang flowers Edward went overboard on. I place them on the counter with a small grunt.

She looks from me to the flowers. "Who died?"

"No one, Ma."

"But they're from a florist."

"It's February. You wanted me to grow some to pick?"

"Okay, yeah. They're beautiful. What's the occasion?"

"A daughter can't bring her mother flowers just because?"

"Well I saw you about a month ago and these days it's usually longer than that."

"Ma…"

"I'm not guilt tripping you. I'm just saying."

I shoot her a look.

"You look pale."

"Again, it's February."

"There's pasta in the fridge." She offers, as she pounds out the dough for her next batch.

"I'm not hungry."

"You so upset you can't eat? Your company went bankrupt?"

"No, BAR is fine."

"Oh, then it must be about that rat of a so-called husband of yours."

"Well, yeah, but…"

"When you were here last time I said to you that all that talk of giving up his day job and concentrating on the music and you was a set up." She starts assaulting the dough as I try to get a word in edgewise. I shoot a worried look towards the door. "Oh I wish I had my hands on him and wring his little neck!" She starts to wring the pasta instead. I put my hands on hers to stop her.

"Actually. You know what? I have a surprise for you."

"You did him in yourself." She looks hopeful.

I smile weakly then walk out to get Edward. He is backing away quickly and it's a struggle to get him in the house but I prevail, pushing him out in front of me. The look on her face…

"Hey, Ma." He croaks out weakly.

She looks between the two of us. "Tell me this doesn't mean what I think it means."

"It does." He confirms.

"I wasn't talking to you." She focuses on my face and I keep it straight. "Bella Marie."

"I'm giving us another chance."

"Why?"

"Because it's what I want."

"No, he convinced you it's what you want. He is relentless. He told you he was a changed person. And after all he did to you, you are going to forgive him?"

"Yeah."

"Can I say something here?" Edward asks.

"No." We both answer.

"I love him." I tell her.

"And I love her." He chimes in.

"And that's supposed to make me happy?"

"If I'm happy, isn't that supposed to be what matters?"

"For how long?" She challenges me.

"I don't know. He should give me a written guarantee?"

"No, it's called a marriage license. And if the company doesn't honor it, it's no better than the paper it is written on. The man broke your heart! Has he given any promises he won't go and break it again?"

I move out from behind Edward and go face to face with my Ma. "He has been proving himself since this whole fiasco happened."

"You mean he's been justifying himself."

"Ma!"

"No, she has a point."

Bewildered, I look at Edward. "She does?"

"We walk in here, we drop this bombshell on her. I mean how is she supposed to react? This reconciliation has been a long and hard process that she wasn't there to witness. She didn't have those months of preparation. So of course she has doubts. I could stand right here and swear my love for Bella until I am blue in the face and it would be nothing more than words to you at this point. Am I right?"

"What do you think?" She deadpans.

"I have to prove myself to you."

"And how exactly do you plan on doing that?" She scoffs.

"By making this marriage work. If you see me in the months to come making your daughter happy, by being the husband she deserves then will you at least give us your blessing?"

"On your golden anniversary, maybe."

"Ma!"

"You're invited."

"She'll be dead." I point out. They both look at me.

"I'm like an elephant. I never forget."

"So am I. That's why I learn from my mistakes."

Ma casually reaches for her knife and waves it around. "So do I."

"Ma!"

Edward hastily reaches for it. "Let's just leave it at that. I am on probation. How do you like the flowers?"

"Oh, those were your idea? Smells like a funeral parlor."

"Well, not unless you're using garlic as an embalming fluid." I shoot him a WTF look. "Making pasta?"

"If I ever finish." She mutters, getting back to it.

"You know, this must be so time consuming for you. All the cutting and rolling out. You know I just happened to have brought along a peace offering. Be right back."

She waits until he is gone and glares at me. "Are you crazy?"

"You told me to follow my heart." I hiss.

"I didn't think you'd actually do it!"

"For my mother in law!" He puts a wrapped gift in front of her.

"Looks suspiciously like a bribe."

"Nothing suspicious about it. It's totally a bribe." He eagerly unwraps it.

Her eyes bug out. "A. Pasta. Maker?"

"Yes, a professional grade one. Top of the line."

"Because my homemade, hand rolled pasta isn't professional enough for you?"

"No, no. Your pasta is fabulous." He reaches for a kneaded ball of dough. "I dream about this pasta." She glares at him. "Help." He hisses to me.

Naw Buddy Boy, you're on your own here. No sense in adding my size eights in with your size elevens in that mouth of yours.

"A machine is just a machine, a tool. You know what they say, garbage in, garbage out."

"Pasta is garbage?"

He closes his eyes. "No, that's what they say about computers. Not pasta, never pasta."

"Ma, cut him some slack. How many times have I heard you complain about how much time it takes to cut and roll your own pasta? Hmmm?"

"That's because that's not the creative part. This is your incentive to make pasta for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I'd think I died and went to Renee's Pasta Heaven."

"You're good, aren't you?"

"For Bella." He pleads.

She sighs. "Hand that monster over. I'll make lunch for you two. If you can try and convince me you're not the jerk I think you are. Bella, the artichoke hearts are in the pantry. I'm watching your Pops' cholesterol. Oh God, your Pops."

"Ma, one step at a time, okay?" I take Edward with me to get the ingredients. We're rummaging around when I hear Pops ask 'who died.'

Ma responds with, 'no one, yet." I look at Edward and we both take a deep breath and walk out to face the music.

"Hiya, Pops."

He takes one look at us then walks over to grab the phone, dials, waits a beat then says, 'Jake, guess who's here?"

"Oh mother of God." Ma mutters.

I grab the phone from him. "Hey Jake. It's just me. I'll catch up with ya later. Bye." I glare at my Pops. "Is that any way to resolve things?"

"Definitely. A couple of broken legs should slow him down."

"He's kidding." I assure Edward though I'm not even sure I believe that.

"That's not funny."

"Do I look like I'm laughing? Some of us think this weasel should be taught a lesson."

"He is my weasel and I love him."

"Love? There are some people who love booze and drugs and it ends up killing them."

"You are reaching, Pops."

"This louse committed bigamy."

"I thought he was a weasel."

"Louse, weasel, what's the difference? He lied to you, to us, for months. He's probably still lying."

"No sir." Edward interjects.

"Shut up."

"So, he's not perfect. I married him for better or for worse."

"But not in a church and not before God." Ma chimes in.

"I meant it all the same." I say through gritted teeth.

"So how come his promises don't mean anything and yours do?"

"I'll stand by every promise I ever made to your daughter. Bella is my one and only wife and my commitment to her is for life."

"And I believe him."

"Well, I don't."

"Tough, Pops. You are not Mrs. Edward Cullen. Please, Pops."

"I don't expect you to accept me with open arms and I know I will be on probation with this family."

"Well, I got death row."

"I got a second chance with your daughter and I don't intend to blow it."

"So this is it. This is a done deal?" Pops asks, searching me out.

"Yes." Edward answers. "But I understand that Bella comes with a family and I won't come in between you. So that means I have to earn your approval."

Pops scoffs. "Good luck."

"Thank you. But I won't rely on luck. As I see it , the only way to get back into your good graces is to make your daughter sublimely happy."

"And he does. He makes me happy." I entwine my arms with Edwards and look imploringly at my father. "Can you just give him a second chance? Please?"

"I brought a small token of my esteem." Edward says, leaving my side to go grab Pop's gift. "A peace offering."

"Watch those peace offerings." Ma warns him.

"I have confidence in this one." he says as he ducks out.

"I know it's hard, Pops, I do. It took me a long while too but yet could you just give it a try. For me?" I bat my eyelashes and hug his side. He visibly melts.

When Pops sees the fancy golf clubs, he tries to hide his glee. But I see it.

He takes them out and looks at em. Then looks at Edward.

"Out of respect for my daughter, I'll try to confine my fantasies to just whacking a golf ball with these."

"Graphite shafts, real soft flex, really gets the ball up in the air."

"It also guarantees to eliminate your slice, Pops."

"I don't think any club can do that." Edward whispers out of the side of his mouth.

"Shut up." I hiss.

"What slice?" Pops looks between the two of us. "You play golf, Edward?"

"I have a handicap between ten and thirteen right now."

"Then you know it's not the club but the golfer." He pauses. "You really think it could help?"

"It couldn't hurt." Edward hedges.

"You realize you can't buy our approval."

"No, I already tried that with your daughter and she handed me my head. So I intend to follow this up with things of far greater value; loyalty, honesty, worthiness."

"Just because you're a golfer doesn't mean you're a good human being."

"No but it's a start right? And while you're trying to make up your mind about me, maybe we could meet up for a game of golf one afternoon."

"That wouldn't mean I would be relenting. And besides you'd have to tear yourself away from that fancy job of yours."

We look at each other.

"Actually, Mr. Swan, I quit Cullen, Inc."

Both parents whirl around to look at him in disbelief.

"You quit your job?"

"Yes."

"Isn't that great?" I gush.

"How is he supposed to provide for you now?" Pops asks.

"The one thing I liked about him was that he was employed." Ma agrees.

"Wait, what?" I put my hands on my hips. "First of all, I don't need any man to provide for me. I do that quite well all on my own, thank you very much. And he is going to focus full time on me and his music."

"And that is supposed to pay the bills?"

"Pops…"

Edward pulls me back. "Let me handle this."

"I did quit my job. It made Bella unhappy. I loved my job, or at least I did until I met your daughter. But I don't love anything more than I love Bella. But if you're worried about our finances, I have a significant amount of money in a trust that I acquired on my thirtieth birthday. I also have money in savings, stocks, bonds… I am still a Cullen, I just don't work for the family business anymore."

"Not that money matters." I add.

"You're right, it doesn't. Sorry." Pops mutters.

"Well I think I'll go set the table for lunch. I think it's safe." Ma busies herself with finishing lunch.

We eat and though it's a bit tense and we get out of there early afternoon, no worse for wear. We're chatting about how it went when his phone goes off. He glances at it, then hits a button to shut it up.

"Still avoiding Mr. C's calls?"

"Yeah. Grandfather is still a bit angry about my abandonment of the family business. I think he called me a traitor in one of his voice mails."

"It's still early. Let's head over there."

"Why?"

"You just slayed the dragon that is my parents. I think it's my turn now. If this is gonna work, we need everyone on board."

"I don't know…"

I put my hand on his cheek. "Don't worry. I can handle your family. Now whether they can handle me or not… remains to be seen."

Edward

We arrive at the mansion around five in the evening. My wife squares her shoulders and walks in without knocking where we are greeted by Waylon.

"Lonnie!" My wife exclaims giving a blushing Waylon a big hug. "I feel like I haven't seen you in months! How've ya been?"

"I've been good, Ma'am…" She throws him a warning glance. "Mrs. Cullen… er… Bella."

"There we go. The family in the usual meeting place?" She asks.

"Yes, they're in the den awaiting dinner. Cook is about thirty minutes from completion. Shall I set a place for you two?"

Bella looks at me then back at Waylon. "Yes, just in case we don't kill each other in the next half hour. Why don't you go ahead and announce us?"

"As…"

"Mr. and Mrs. Edward Carlisle Cullen the third." She smirks.

And with that, I relax just a bit. I hate when she has to deal with my family but she is in pure Bensonhurst Bella mode tonight.

Waylon opens the doors. "Mr and Mrs. Edward Carlisle Cullen the third to see you." He steps back and Bella takes my hand and the lead and practically marches in the room to the shock of most of the family.

"Hiya, Family. Any murders since the last time we all met?"

There are some snorts and it seems to be an ice breaker for most though Grandfather glides right past Bella and stops two inches from my face.

"You have avoided me long enough, Boy. What do you have to say for yourself? Making a mockery out of my company in front of employees. We are the laughingstock of the business world."

I stare him down but say nothing. I said everything that had to be said when I quit. Nothing I say now is going to make any difference to him.

"Excuse me, Mr. C, but I believe the correct greeting in your circles are 'hey Edward and Bella, how are you? How's the family and dem?' Oh wait, that's improper Southern. But on any account, my family is fine." She looks the room over. "We just got back from telling them the news. It went… about as expected but no one died. I think they might accept Edward before we hit ten years." She smiles brightly which Grandmother returns.

"That's great, Dear. I haven't seen you in so long. You look beautiful as always."

"I guess you could say I wear happiness well, Mrs. C."

"I would be happy, too, if I managed to manipulate Edward as you have."

Her head snaps to meet Grandfather's eyes head on.

"If I really wanted to manipulate Edward, all I would have to do is watch you. With all due respect, I had no influence on his decision. Did I want him to leave Cullen, Inc? Yes. Would I ever ask that of him? Also yes. But I spent most of last year with little power over much of my life so hindsight being what it is, I only want him to be happy. Because I love him. Can you say the same?"

"Now, I don't think I like what you're implying, young lady…"

"It's Bella and like it or not, I am your granddaughter in law. Edward chose me. Not Angela, not Cullen, Inc. Me. And I know I'm not what you expected to get but tough. I'm not going anywhere. I plan on being a permanent fixture in this family. Some of you, I know better than others. Some I don't really know at all, like Esme and Carlisle. And I'd like to fix that."

My parents nod and I see my mom smile as she takes a sip of her wine.

"You don't have to like me, or even accept me, but you're damn sure going to respect me and my place in Edward's life and new career. You got me?"

"I don't appreciate…"

"Oh, blow it out your ear, Mr. C. Put Emmett as your right hand until he's ready and move on."

"Emmett with a mob widow and Edward is a rock n roller; how the hell did this family come to this?" He mutters.

"You really asking this with a straight face? With all the secrets and 'accidental deaths' that pop up around here… sorry, James."

"No apology needed and I, for one, welcome you to the family. I'll pray for your soul."

"Thanks. Anyone else have anything to say?" She asks.

Everyone shakes their head.

"All in favor?" She sasses.

Everyone raises their hand except Grandfather but then she stares him down and he reluctantly raises his hand. "You have the makings of a real Cullen." He shakes his head but smiles.

Bella blushes but tries to hide it.

"Damn right, now what's for dinner? I'm starved."

And that is how my wife took on my family and won.

No music this chapter. I may go back and add it but not feeling quite inspired today. If you have any suggestions, leave them in a review.