Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight.
"… Isabella Marie Swan, will you marry me?"
Bella took in a deep breath, closing her eyes. Deep, calming breaths she reminded herself. When she opened them again, she fixed her eyes on the green ones that were looking at her filled with hope and love.
"No."
She grabbed her purse, stuffed her iPhone in it and walked the hell out of his apartment. She had a long drive back to Reno ahead of her and she wanted to get home before it was dark out.
Stunned, Edward didn't immediately run after her.
Had she just…? Said no? No to marrying him? He felt faint. Was he going to pass out from the shock? It certainly felt like it. He could hear his heart beating frantically in his ears. He'd literally just poured his heart out to the love of his life and she'd… walked away.
He looked at the open door, eyes seeing trained on the hallway that connected the apartments. Could he even call it a hallway? What was the right word? The wall was waist-high, so he could see some of the parking lot.
A strong wind blew in; it put all the candles out, and then it shut the door with a slam.
Shit. His neighbors were going to complain about the thrown door.
As planned, Bella left for Reno and Edward for California. There were a lot of tears involved, especially whenever Bella realized she wouldn't be there for Nathan McCarty's first everything (though by some miracle she managed to be there for his birth just a few days before she left). She wanted to take Angela with her to Reno, and she sure as hell almost kidnapped Emmett. Just a few days into October Bella had called Edward crying her eyes out, which had nearly put him on a plane out to see her.
"Hello?"
"Edward?"
"What's wrong, Bella? Are you crying? Is something wrong? Are you ok?"
A snot-filled laugh.
"I'm ok, physically. But inside… Edward, was this a mistake? I've never been away from home for so long, and I don't mean from mom and Phil. I got used to not seeing them in college, but… But I can't just go to Denny's and see how Missy's doing, or plan to meet up with Emmett in the tree house after a long week, or have breakfast with Angela, or see Nathan's first words, or see Jason and Maddie and Rachel during one of their birthdays. And it's so cold here, Edward! I never thought I'd miss the sweltering heat but I do and it sucks," Bella cried, and even though he knew she was bordering hysterical, he let her cry it out. "And I miss you so fucking much. I know we just saw each other last Sunday, but I miss waking up next to you and kissing you and your funny shirts and even your dorky glasses and…"
A sharp intake of breath.
"Was it a mistake, Edward? Tell me honestly. Don't you feel like this?"
A pause.
"I think you're overwhelmed. I would be too if I hadn't brought my piano with me. You left almost all your comics home, right? Maybe you could buy a few online right now, and I'll bring you some physical ones next week. Just to take your mind off of it; maybe go for a walk, remind yourself Reno's pretty nice too."
"But was this a mistake, Edward?"
"I don't know baby. All I can tell you is if you don't want to go through with this you have my full support. Remember you're there because you want to be, not because you're forced to. And you're doing what you love, right? You were having fun with your field experience, right? So have fun. Phoenix will still be there on Thanksgiving break. Don't think about what you're lacking or you'll miss what you do have."
A sniffle.
"Do you miss me?"
His heart hurt.
"Of course. Every day. I even dreamt about you last night; want me to tell you about my dream?"
Calming her down had been hard, but by the end of the conversation, he had his girlfriend back.
One of the best parts of growing up together was that Edward managed to see how his girlfriend kept changing. She wasn't as aloof with strangers as she'd been in high school, and was even friendlier than she'd become in college. She'd told him she wanted to go out more, to make more friends, and so she had; already, every time he called her she was either on an errand with a friend or hanging out with someone if she wasn't in class or doing homework or working. He was glad because this meant more people got to see what an incredible person she was, how funny and charming. The first semester though, he'd had trouble reigning in his jealousy every time that she was hanging out with a male friend; he hadn't known or cared if the guy was good looking, swung that way or was even interested in Bella. The mere fact that a man other than him had the opportunity to enjoy Bella's presence and he didn't had made him upset. The feeling eventually faded away, making both of them happier; Bella wasn't the kind of person that felt flattered whenever Edward showed jealousy. She'd made it very clear that she wasn't the heroine of a romance novel that felt how much he loved her with every show of jealousy; she instead felt it to be a sign of mistrust —in her and in the relationship. He'd thought that she was right and had never let his jealousy shine through if it ever arose. Not that he'd complain if Bella ever got jealous over him; in all their time together she'd never once been jealous, not even when he'd gone out with Lennie. Kate hadn't been a jealous person either, but she'd had a moment or two where she hadn't been happy with how he'd talked about Bella.
Time went by, and eventually Bella got used to life in Reno. She had a handful of friends she was always talking about over the phone —that was, if he managed to get a hold of her. She was constantly yapping away with Emmett, Angela, Rose or Alice. Renée got a call once every three weeks and Charlie once every two —Renée's being longer and Charlie's more frequent to balance things out. He knew the highlight of Bella's day was when Emmett got Nathan on FaceTime so Bella could coo away at the little creature.
On his end, things were good too. Stressful. Being in traffic so much wore him down far more than any of his classes or work. Thankfully, he could work from home the days he had classes so he didn't need to drive two hours from Sacramento to San Francisco. Friday nights he would drive out to Reno so he could arrive near midnight, managing to escape most of the worst traffic; he wanted to wake up next to Bella. Then he'd drive back Sunday night. When he was too tired to drive out Bella would leave bright and early Saturday morning and drive back Sunday afternoon so she could be back in Reno just before the sun set. Even though Bella complained he drove too much, he preferred making the trip than Bella making it; if he did it, he'd have more time with her. Once or twice they'd manage a three-day weekend if one of their classes got cancelled, and in those cases Edward would greet Bella while crying.
While Bella had become more and more social, Edward had also worked towards a healthier social life. He'd never lacked friends, and he'd always gone out a lot more to parties and things like cook-outs than Bella, but during his last year of college he'd nearly stopped socializing outside of class. He'd felt overwhelmed back then, and even though he had a lot of shit to do now, he also had the will to go out more. It made him feel better, too; he enjoyed hanging out with some of his master's friends, even though he had little time to spare for them. Usually they'd go out for a drink at a nearby bar and hang out for a while; well, his friends would drink. Edward was still abstinent. Though it wasn't frequent, he and Bella were comfortable cancelling their weekend meet-ups every once in a while in favor of plans with friends, or they'd invite the other to hang out with their group. To Edward's relief, Bella had gotten better at talking over the phone with him; in the beginning of their relationship they'd talk for five minutes and then she'd make up some excuse to hang up. Not because she didn't like talking to him, he knew, but because she had a hard time finding things to say and felt like it was her responsibility to keep him entertained. He also chucked it up to not living within ten minutes of each other; she seemed to have a lot of stuck words every time they talked.
Edward thought that the best part of being together with someone for so long was seeing their mask fall away.
The Bella he knew was almost nothing like the Bella he'd known in high school. Nowadays he'd hardly describe her as cool, for instance. She was just stoic when she wasn't comfortable, which came off as 'cool and aloof'. He'd seen her not shower for three days straight (which honestly wasn't that bad; somehow she wasn't someone who smelled bad without a shower, though he didn't know if three days were the limit), had endured her drinking straight from the milk carton and even caught her once using his toothbrush —he loved her, but that was a no no. He'd also taken her to ComicCon once and boy had that been an experience. She'd dressed up as an anime character —he didn't remember which— and it had been such a good costume that she'd been asked everywhere to have her picture taken. Worse still? His girlfriend, usually so against pictures, was ecstatic to have her photo taken. She was a geek, through and through. She'd played it off in the beginning of their relationship, but ever so slowly she started revealing herself —and he loved it. He found her to be just all around adorable.
She also stopped being so hesitant about them as a couple.
Maybe it was because he was her first boyfriend, or maybe she was just born that way, but she'd been really afraid in the beginning of saying or doing the wrong thing. It hadn't felt that way then, but seeing how carefree she was now, he saw the difference. Even how slow she'd been on the uptake with sex was history; nowadays he had to stop her from stripping the moment she stepped into his apartment.
Then again, she was still the same Bella.
It was odd, thinking about how much she'd changed and at the same time remained the same. She was still a lightweight. She still sang random, off-pitch songs while she cooked and she still fought with Emmett for shotgun. She still told him she didn't want kids even though she'd told literally everybody else that she actually did want them. She still loved psychology and once he got her talking about that there was no stopping her. She still asked him to play the piano for her while she read comics. She still only went to parties every once in a blue moon. She still liked pretending she was a Debbie Downer even though she was an easy-going person. She also still liked debating him on subjects she agreed on him with just for the sport of debating.
She still had a heart of gold.
She was still the most beautiful girl he'd ever met, and man had he seen pretty women in San Francisco. When he'd first moved he thought he'd find all these operated or super fit women and think they could compare to Bella's beauty, but he'd been sorely disappointed. Not because he wasn't aware that other beautiful women existed, but because he realized he hadn't been biased at all —his girlfriend was just that much of an extraordinary beauty. When he'd first realized this a few months in after having moved, he'd called Bella.
"Hello?"
"Hey baby."
"Edward! I'm so glad you called. I want to bring cookies tomorrow; what do you want them to be?"
"Chocolate chip of course," was the instant reply.
"So, what's up? You usually don't call before heading in to class."
"I just realized something, and I need to share it with you. But only if you promise not to get mad."
"I promise nothing. Out with it."
Chuckle.
"I'm in campus. I was just… thinking. You know, I thought when I got out of Phoenix I'd suddenly find that there were women as beautiful as you out here in the West coast. You know, since all the actresses and models live around here. But even though there's all sort of beautiful women, none hold a candle to you. And I know you don't like me talking about how outstandingly beautiful you are if I'm comparing us, but I need to ask. Don't you feel like… there's a better looking guy out there for you?"
"Out here in Reno?" Laugh. "Well, I don't know. Maybe. Sure. I'm done getting mad over you talking like that, though if you ever ask again I can't promise what I'll do."
"So you do think there's hotter guys out there?"
Another laugh.
"Not for me. I love how you look, and I love your style. I don't know how to explain it, but I'm kind of weird in the sense that I've never lusted after a guy I don't know or think badly about. I didn't like you either until I knew you had a heart of gold. But when I did? I haven't liked anyone since."
And that was somehow all he needed.
Sometime after their first year apart, they were hanging out in his room while drifting in and out of sleep. They were talking about marriage for the first time in a while, and to his surprise, Bella hadn't shut him down immediately when he'd told her he wanted to marry her when they were done with their master's degree. She was speeding to get hers done, and he was going at a normal pace.
"So, I'm thinking it should be a spring wedding," Edward told her. He had his head lying on her stomach, looking up at the ceiling. Bella was reading a comic.
"What wedding?"
"Ours. Next year, when we're done with school."
Bella snorted.
"With what money?"
"Well, we both work. Your apartment's really cheap, and my rent's nearly nothing since my boss is practically lending it to me. And neither of us buys a lot of things —well, you your comics, but you haven't been buying as many lately. So, if we take out a loan we'd be able to put together a nice and small wedding. Not to mention your mom's told me she put aside some money for your wedding since college cost her nothing."
Bella groaned in annoyance.
"Edward… What about an apartment? Where would we live?"
"Well," he said excitedly, thrilled that she hadn't just shut him down. "That depends on just a few things. First, do you want to stay in Reno?" Pausing, Bella shook her head no. She liked it, but everyone she cared about wasn't there. "Do you want to go back to Arizona?"
She paused even longer this time.
"I want to be wherever you are so long as I can put my degree to use. I love Phoenix, everyone's there, but I don't want to go back if you're happy in San Francisco. I imagine you have more opportunities here."
Heart warm, he answered smugly.
"See? You do want a future with me."
She gave him a funny look though he couldn't see.
"I've always wanted a future with you. It's just the marriage part that scares me."
Damn, he loved her. He told her so, then went back to his original talking points.
"Well, I think I want to gain more experience here. There's stuff I'd like to make better in Phoenix, but I'd like to make the most of my time in California. Plus, Reggie likes me, and I like working for him. If I can, I'd like to stay here five more years or so. Think you can handle that?"
Bella nodded to herself.
"The only reason I've survived this year is how often we see each other. I have no doubt I'd miss everyone dearly, but… it's not like they're not all living their own lives. I want us to live together, wherever that may be."
Edward smiled.
"See, you do want to marry me!" Edward turned his head to look at Bella, who didn't seem amused at all. He sighed. "Come on, love. Tell me what it is about marriage that scares you so much."
She pursed her lips, looked sideways and then back at him. She sighed.
"Fine. I'm scared that we'll make this big thing out of it, and then we'll get divorced just like my parents. I'm scared that you could fall in love with someone else and serve me divorce papers some day without even an explanation, and I'd be forced into this custody battle with you over silly objects. I'm scared of some day losing my identity because all people see me as is a wife, not a person. I'm scared, Edward."
He sat up and turned to face her. This was the most real she'd gotten with him over her fears, and it sounded to him like mostly she was scared of divorce.
"Alright. First things first: you're you. Bella. If you want to keep your last name, I'm not gonna try to change your mind. You're a lot of things —my girlfriend, a daughter, a friend, psychologist, a student. Being a wife or a husband is just one more thing to be; I don't know how other people see this, but that's the way I look at it. You'll never be just a wife, you'll be Bella who happens to be a wife. Second of all… I'm not bailing on you at the first sign of trouble, baby. Nor are you bailing on me. I'm not gonna say I'd never ever divorce you because I don't know what the future holds —but I do know us, and we're not calling it quits without a fight. If, God forbid, we should, it's because we tried everything and still couldn't make things work. Third of all, I'm never falling in love with another woman if I can have you, I know that for a fact. Starting from how you're high maintenance enough—" he got smacked, and he chuckled, "—kidding love. Look, we've seen each other at our worst —we've broken up— and we haven't been that type of people. We didn't fight over who should keep what, and you and I share pretty much everything. Love, I wouldn't push you to consider marriage if I thought we were doomed from the start. I think I have with you what my parents have —a solid partnership that overflows with love. Marriage gives couples stability, both mentally and legally, and also for kids it speaks of a solidity in relationships. I might not be as religious as Emmett, but I do want to marry you in the eyes of God surrounded by our family and friends. I know it might seem like it, but it's not just me being capricious and wanting to have things go my way. It's practical, and an expression of love."
Bella didn't say anything for a long time, just looking down at her closed comic book.
"I want to think about this, Edward." She'd looked up at him with watery eyes. "Is this a dealbreaker?"
It took him a moment, but he shook his head.
"No. Having kids is a lot more important to me than getting married."
That conversation had happened six months ago, and it was now almost March. So when he'd seen her eyes had started lingering more and more on wedding dresses or things like wedding halls, he'd decided to strike while the iron was hot. He'd fixed up his apartment with flowers and a lot of chocolates (more candy than flowers in fact), bought a shitload of candles and had taped another shitload of comics to the wall behind him —arranging them so they read Will You Marry me? He'd even recorded himself playing her lullaby, and it was playing in the background while he gave her a speech of how much he loved her once he'd led her inside the apartment. How much he needed her, and how much he was looking forward to starting a life with her.
And then she'd left.
What the fuck are you doing, man? Run after her! You know she's not playing games, dumbass.
With that pep talk from his subconscious, Edward ran like the trained athlete he was after his girlfriend. What had he been doing, reminiscing all this time instead of going after her? Sometimes he questioned his intelligence, really.
His feet had just hit the parking lot when he saw that Bella's death trap was still parked in place. He slowed down, noticing that even though it had been a couple of minutes since she'd left she hadn't even started the engine. Sighing, he walked over to her.
He knocked on the glass, startling her.
Go away, she mouthed.
Rolling his eyes, he easily opened her door. The locks weren't automatic on her car, and she always forgot to lock it when she was inside.
"Bella, talk to me."
Looking at her, he realized she'd been crying. Shit, that hurt. Face falling, he couldn't keep himself from flinching when he talked.
"Are you that upset I asked you to marry me?"
He'd honestly thought they were on the same page by now. That hadn't been the only conversation they'd had about marriage in the last year and a half, and the most recent one had happened just two weeks ago. They'd already established where they wanted to live, the fact that Bella did want children (after actually very little pushing from Edward), how they'd organize the finances and even who they wanted as best man and maid of honor —Seth would be the best man and Emmett the maid of honor. Bella was confident Emmett would have a hoot with planning her bachelorette party. So after that conversation, Edward had been confident Bella had finally come around to the idea of being married to him; he wouldn't have asked her if he'd thought otherwise. Not to mention, he'd thought he'd finally made her see all the things he'd been talking about —made her truly want those things for herself. Felt like she'd say yes not as a compromise to make him happy but because it was something she'd like for her own future.
He could live in sin, but he couldn't live without her.
To his surprise, Bella shook her head no.
"Then what is it? Did you not like the proposal?"
Bella gave a shaky sigh.
"I-I was just… overwhelmed. Surprised. I didn't think you'd do a cheesy proposal like that, but figured it'd just be a given when we had one final talk and decided to go ahead with it. S-So when I came in and you just started t-talking I felt my fight or flight instinct take hold and I… well, I fled."
Edward frowned.
"But you know me, love. I'm always cheesy if you let me."
Bella let out something that sounded like a cross between a sob and a laugh.
"True," Bella sniffled.
He had one question left. Two, actually.
"So why didn't you leave?"
Bella took a few calming breaths, in and out, long and slow.
"I couldn't do that to you. Even as overwhelmed as I was, I knew I'd never forgive myself if I just drove back without saying anything."
Leaning forward, he wiped away the tears that kept slipping with his thumbs. He loved this ridiculous, kind woman.
"Thank you. I would've forgiven you, but I can't say I wouldn't have been hurt," Edward admitted. He grabbed Bella's bag which was resting on her lap. "Come on, let's go inside. You're in no condition to drive."
As he helped her down, she joked.
"What? Just because I wouldn't be able to see the road?"
She shut the car's door behind her with a thud, slipped her hand in Edward's and quietly followed him back into the apartment.
They went into the apartment, finding that all of the candles had been blown out. Figured; that had been a pretty harsh wind that blew in.
Quietly, Edward went down to the middle of the floor and picked up the abandoned velvet box. He tucked it into his back pocket.
"Want some hot chocolate?" Edward asked her, and sniffling, Bella nodded. He disappeared into the kitchen, and she stayed in the living room running her eyes over the decorations she hadn't seen before.
She saw the marry me spelled out with comics. She saw that it wasn't just flowers strewn about but also a shit ton of Cadburry chocolates, her favorite. The candles smelled like vanilla, her favorite scent. There was a framed picture on the piano —the picture that had led her back to Edward two years ago. She finally processed that the song playing in the background was her lullaby.
And then she saw the man she loved, stronger than anyone she knew, peacefully making her hot chocolate while she'd just broken his heart. She thought about how lucky she was that her first real crush was her first boyfriend, and that her first boyfriend would be her last if she had things go her way.
Walking into the kitchen, she was glad she hadn't driven away.
"Edward?" He hummed, mixing the chocolate into the hot milk without turning to look back at her. "Let me see the ring."
His mixing stilled for a moment, then resumed.
"Bella, you don't have to spare my feelings. No is no, I won't bring it—"
"Just show me the ring Edward," Bella snapped, feeling like if he didn't do it now she'd lose her nerve.
Sighing, he turned around and pulled the velvet box out of his front pocket. He walked towards where she was standing and opened it.
It was beautiful, Bella thought. Classic. It had an intricate but simple design with a small diamond in the middle.
"It was my grandmother's. Grandma Cullen. Grandma Platt's engagement ring was sold to pay off their debts, so—"
Impatient, Bella frowned up at him.
"Aren't you gonna put it on?"
He stopped rambling and snapped his head up to look at his girlfriend.
"Put it… on?"
"Well, yeah. It's the proof of engagement, right? So put it on me silly," Bella said, shoving her left hand in his face.
He was, for once, speechless.
"Edward? The ring?"
He blinked.
"But you said no."
She shrugged as if it was a common occurrence for her to change her mind about marriage on a whim.
"And now I'm saying yes. I do. I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you."
It took him a couple of minutes to process what she was saying, but once he had, he put the ring on Bella's finger like his ass was on fire.
"You'll marry me?" He yelled, and Bella briefly thought she should've been scared by the crazed look in his eye.
"Um, yes. I will."
Instead of ravaging her like she'd expected (wanted) Edward grabbed her around the waist, carried her to the bedroom and laid on top of her to cry his heart out.
"You're gonna be my wife?" He cried, squeezing her for all he was worth.
"I am."
He cried harder.
"You're not saying that just because you think I'm pushing you right? You know I'll stay with you even if you say no, right?"
"I know that. I'm still saying yes."
His crying intensified.
"And you know I'm gonna cry even uglier than this at our wedding, right?"
Bella laughed.
"I'm aware."
He kissed the spot on top of her heart.
"And you also know I'm gonna have to go call everyone now before we have celebratory sex right?"
She laughed even harder.
"Yeah, I suspected so."
And she loved him for it.
o
"Oh God I can't do this," Bella wheezed, ten minutes before she was set to walk down the aisle.
Alarmed, Emmett whipped back to look at his best friend. She couldn't be getting cold feet. No way.
"Why? Tell me you're still on board with marrying Edward. I didn't bring a back up plan in case I needed to sneak you out of the wedding, although I could always use Nate as a distraction. Or fake a heart attack. Can I have a heart attack at almost twenty-five?"
Despite herself, Bella snorted. He was ridiculous as ever.
"Probably. And no I'm not re-thinking the wedding," Bella confessed, surprised by her own admission.
"Then what's up?"
Looking at herself in the mirror, she locked eyes with Emmett through her reflection.
"Edward's going to cry like a broken water tap, and I'm so going to cry just as hard if he cries that badly. My wedding photos are going to be so ugly."
Emmett guffawed.
He had to admit his best friend had a point; she looked the most beautiful he'd ever seen her, and he'd seen Edward cry when she'd just barely fixed herself up for his own wedding.
"You have a point, Swan." He sighed sadly, nostalgically. "That's the last time I'm gonna be able to call you that, isn't it?"
She'd decided to change her last name, after all. She thought Isabella Cullen had a nice ring to it.
"Emmett… thanks. For being with me through it all. You're the brother I never had, the best friend a girl could ask for. I promise that when Edward designs our first house I'll make sure it has a tree house where you and I can hang out. Even if I'm not a Swan anymore, I'll still be your best friend."
He smiled. Bella had always had this uncanny ability to read his mind.
"I'm happy for you, Bells. You came a long way. I'm surprised you didn't marry Eddie right out of college with how head over heels you two are for each other, but I'm glad you waited. You two were made for each other."
Bella almost cried right then; Emmett was never sweet with her, and this meant the world to her. She missed him terribly the last two years and a half, and she really hoped some day she and Edward would move back to Phoenix.
"Thank you, Em. Really."
A knock broke their moment.
Charlie poked his head in.
"Baby girl? You ready?"
Bella smiled even wider when the door opened more and Phil was behind her dad. The two would be walking her down the aisle —Charlie as the first man who'd held her heart and Phil as the one who'd stuck around. Not that Charlie had left, but in her heart Phil had always been there for her. They both had their faults —no one was perfect—but between the two they'd made one functional father.
"I'm ready."
Then things were a little fuzzy for Bella, but suddenly she was walking down the aisle with two fathers on each side, watching as Edward's crying figure came closer and closer.
Edward had a brief flashback to Riley's wedding —everything happening almost exactly like he'd envisioned it. Her long hair was pinned up and showing off her neck; the dress hugged her in all the right places, making him cry even harder with how much he wanted to fuck her after marrying her. She gave him a wobbly smile and mouthed that she loved him, and that made his tears intensify. How could he be so lucky to have found her? No. She found him. She didn't give up on him even when any other girl would have.
When Charlie gave Bella to Edward, he also handed over a handkerchief with a wink.
"Bella thought you'd need this."
He said it in a normal volume, but he said it near the microphone —so the whole Church heard, and everyone started laughing at his expense. Not that Edward cared; the whole world could laugh at him if it meant he got the girl.
Bella really couldn't have known what was said during the whole ceremony —she and Edward were making googley eyes at each other the entire time and only snapped back to attention when it was the time for their vows.
Edward went first.
"I realized I loved you after dating officially for just about two or three months; you've made me happy ever since our first date and haven't stopped since. I remember thinking that everything was so easy with you. And then the years went by, and I realized that our relationship was like any other —not easy. Loving someone is thrilling and scary, at times as easy as breathing and other times as hard as pushing a boulder uphill. I vow to you, love of my life, to laugh through the good times, hold your hand during the scary moments, relax together on the easy days and share the weight of whatever rock you have to carry. We're in this together —not because it's easy, but because you're the only person I want to worry over, love and grow old with."
Bella was visibly shaking with the effort not to break down crying.
I love you, she mouthed.
She cleared her throat. She couldn't cry; her makeup would run.
"When we were in high school, I had the biggest crush on you. Everything you were was the best —the best athlete I knew, the best joker, the best friend. And then we started dating in college, and imagine my surprise when you were even better than what I thought. Sure, you insisted on calling to wake me up before eight in the morning, but no one can be perfect. For our master's you drove about five hours each weekend just so we could see each other. When you proposed to me, you forgave me even though I ruined all your efforts. All I can give you, Edward, is this—my promise to return to you tenfold all the patience, kindness, love and selflessness you've shown me until I'm old and gray and can't even remember anymore why it's not a good idea to let you use the microwave. I promise to never stop getting butterflies in my stomach whenever I realize I'm dating my high school crush, and that to top that off, I married him."
Fuck that, Edward wasn't resisting the urge to cry like a broken water tap —he cried and he did it without keeping himself in check. The Church was torn between laughing at him and awing at the vows. Everyone had a moment where they wondered if they should be uncomfortable by how much the groom was crying, but the fact that the groomsmen (Seth, Jake and Marcus, who'd returned to Arizona two years ago) and bridesmaids (Emmett, Angela and Alice) were also bawling their eyes out let everyone know that they shouldn't care for it. In fact, Seth had surprised himself by being unable to stop crying every ten minutes; he was just so glad that things had worked out for his brother, who loved the woman he was marrying with a frightening intensity. Seth had had one or two girlfriends since the time Edward had brought Bella home (he was about to enter his second year of college, so it was just how things went) and he'd never looked at one of his girlfriends the same way his brother looked at his almost-wife. Like they were the reason the sun rose every morning.
Shit, Seth was ecstatic that his brother had found someone as amazing as Bella. Now, being nearly twenty, he realized that he'd been wrong to think that the mighty Bella Swan had graced his brother with her love. No, both were equally lucky to have found each other. Bella was the best thing that had ever happened to his brother, but he also couldn't imagine a cooler, kinder, more patient man than Edward for Bella. In middle school he'd thought of his brother as a too-nice dork who had stupid good luck with women; now, he saw his brother was nothing short of amazing. It had taken him a while to see it, but now that he did, he couldn't help but feel extra proud of Bella; she'd seen the great in Edward even when Seth hadn't been able to. Plus, he was pretty sure she actually thought his brother was attractive, though that was beyond him. He'd finally knocked it off with the ridiculous hairstyle, but his glasses were still these square, broken things that had seen better days, and his t-shirts could honestly get annoying after twenty years. Worse still, Bella was constantly giving him more. Every birthday, anniversary or holiday Edward got a new graphic t-shirt along with another gift. Seth thought his brother was kind of like a cartoon —he always wore the same jeans, hoodie and shoes, only changing his shirt. When he'd visited his brother in California and seen his working outfit, he saw all of his ties and socks were either of comics (Bella's gifts), cartoons (Bella) or some fantasy movie (Edward's doing).
Seth was snapped back to reality when he saw that Edward and Bella were saying I do, and suddenly Bella was in Edward's arms before the priest could even pronounce them husband and wife. He'd swung her around so he was holding her by the waist and she was resting her weight on his arm, her hands holding onto his neck as he kissed the life out of her.
They were meant for each other alright.
-.-
"So this is Tokyo," Bella breathed, watching the city lights from her spot. "I can't believe we're here. And for cherry blossom season too!"
Chuckling, Edward put down their carry-ons. He had to hand it to his girlfriend —the woman could pack light. They'd be in Japan for two weeks and all they'd each brought had been a carry-on, both liking to travel light.
Not girlfriend, stupid. Wife.
Right.
He got a stupid look in his face, unable to contain how happy he was. Nor did he have to —he was a dork and his wife knew it.
Watching her be so fascinated with the city, Edward was really thankful for all the people who made it possible. His father traveled so much for medical congresses that he had a fuckton of mileage, so he'd given the newlyweds the tickets for their honeymoon. Charlie had given them the money for the hotels, which had been a huge help and the difference between staying in hostels and proper rooms for the two. Emmett had given them a new microwave and Rose (armed with her father's credit card) had given them seven hundred dollars as a gift. Their closest friends —Alice, Jasper, Jake, Marcus and two more people from their college circle— had helped pitch in with nearly the rest of what they needed. So altogether, Edward and Bella would be spending 2k between the two tops (though Edward seriously doubted they'd use even 1k with how cheap they both were).
They were glad they had people who cared so much about them.
"Well love," Edward said, answering his wife. "I told you we should get married in spring for a reason. This was why."
Whipping around, Bella turned to see he was deadly serious.
He'd thought this far into things?
Lip wobbling, Bella walked towards Edward and buried her face in his neck.
"I don't deserve you. Even our honeymoon is to make me happy. You're like the cuter version of Buddha."
Edward laughed.
"My grandfather, who loves you more than he loves me, would kick you if he heard you compare me to something non-Catholic."
Bella giggled, knowing how true his words were. Grandpa Cullen was a hardcore Bella fan, but he was also Irish Catholic.
"Alright, alright. Like a hotter Jesus," Bella said, laughing when Edward grabbed her by the waist and threw her down on the bed. The very soft bed; this was the nicest hotel they'd be staying in. Japan was expensive as hell, and the only reason they were here was because everyone had insisted their first night as a married couple should be spent in luxury.
"How about, you just say I'm hot and call it a day?"
Bella pretended to think about it.
"Honestly, the only reason we're not in Korea is because I figured it'd be awkward if I spent our honeymoon chasing after K-pop boy bands. So like you're hot, but not k-pop-boy-band-member hot."
Edward groaned, lying down on top of his wife.
"You torture me. So much." Edward rolled away so he was shoulder-to-shoulder with her. "So, what do you say? Missionary?"
Bella laughed until she couldn't breathe.
"You're so… not romantic." Bella couldn't believe he'd asked her about what position she wanted for their first time, but she supposed it was nice he'd asked. It was so him.
"Hey," Edward suddenly said, losing a bit of the smile he'd had while watching her laugh at him. "Are you… ok with this?"
"Ok with what?" Bella frowned, not understanding. Japan? Missionary?
"The wedding, getting married. You're not gonna wake up tomorrow and tell me we could've done without it?"
Bella rolled her eyes. Silly man.
"A little late for cold feet, Mr. Cullen. And no, I'm not. I'll wake up happier than I am now because I'm in my dream holiday with my dream man. Life hardly gets any better than this."
He smiled, because somehow Bella always knew what to say to calm his anxiety.
Relieved, he turned to face her.
She turned her head too.
"So, missionary? Or should we get frisky?"
Bella thought about it far more seriously than she should have.
"I'm feeling like both."
"So, sex against the window?" Edward wiggled his eyebrows. That idea was shut down quickly.
"Absolutely not. I said frisky, not risky. Imagine someone looks up? Or worse, takes a picture? I'd die, and then I'd have to kill you."
Edward laughed. That was true. Bella wasn't the type who liked doing risky things —he'd try to finger her once under the table and she'd gripped his hand so tightly that it ached two days after. And then another time he'd suggested doing it in his dad's office, which had meant she'd withheld sex for two weeks. So she was open to a lot of things, but never outside of four walls with a vision in or outside.
While he'd thought about this, Bella had started singing softly Etta James' At Last, the song they'd danced to for the first time as husband and wife. Bella had tried convincing him of letting her play a Jonas Brothers song (they'd reunited a few weeks before their wedding), but Edward even in his infinite love for her had sworn he'd make her get up and run every morning for the rest of their lives if she had that as their first dance. So, she'd stopped pushing.
"At last my love has come along, my lonely days are over and life is like a song…"
And even though she was terribly off-pitch, was still has tone-deaf as the day he'd met her, he was charmed. She was singing it to him —for him.
Leaning closer, he kissed her.
"I love you, Mrs. Cullen," he murmured, overcome by warmth and happiness and so much love he was surprised he could even still feel this way. They'd been together all of their adult life — six years in August, a month before Bella turned twenty-five— and a part of him felt like his love should've mellowed out. It should've been something he remembered every once in a while, how much he loved the woman he'd chosen to spend the rest of his life with. Instead he felt like every time he saw her he still got a little shock. Sex was never dull and the pleasure they both got never faded. Perhaps it had to do with how conscious they were of the easiness with which they could forget they loved each other. It was easy to forget you were in love with someone you were comfortable with; the two spent a lot of time going out (hiking, the movies, museums and the like) in order to remember that everything wasn't about sleeping or fucking the day away, however tempting it might seem.
"I love you too, husband," Bella whispered. "So much. I used to be so scared when I thought of how much I loved you, and I think what I'm most proud of myself about is that I didn't bolt within three months of dating. I'm glad you held onto me, and I'm so happy you convinced me of this marriage business."
Edward felt like he might as well make a confession.
"You remember that day Mike took me to Denny's?" Edward asked, and Bella instantly nodded. "You were the image of an icicle. I remember thinking that you had this wall up, impenetrable and a hundred feet tall, and wondering who would be able to knock it down. And, if I can be honest, I also remember being surprised by how good you made the Denny's uniform look. So what I'm trying to say is, I think that wall wasn't so high, and it certainly wasn't as hard to tumble down as I'd thought."
Bella grinned.
"And also that I looked hot right?"
Edward laughed.
"That too."
He kissed her again, and this time they didn't talk again. Neither could, neither wanted to.
Piece by piece their clothes came off. They had an unhurried pace, both unburdened by time or need. They had all the time in the world, and their need for each other was always great. A few moments wouldn't make a difference.
Foreplay was brief, neither needing much encouragement for the moment.
"Ready?" Edward asked, lying on top of Bella to take her in —surprise— missionary. He was at her entrance ready to push in.
"Yes. I love you."
Saying he loved her too, he pressed forward and buried himself inside of her.
Neither could say how long they kept up the slow pace. Bella had her ankles locked behind his ass, helping him push in every time he pulled out. Every time Edward felt he was close to coming he'd lock his dick in place, take a few deep breaths and then resume. He wanted their first time to be dragged out as long as possible. In, out, push, pull. He felt at home inside of Bella, felt like nothing mattered so long as he could be inside her. Feeling her warmth, her wetness, her tightness.
"Come for me," Bella whispered, clenching her muscles. She couldn't even count how many times she'd come already, knowing that Edward wanted her longer and that she'd only be too happy to comply.
"I…" Edward shuddered, and thrusting twice more, emptied inside of her.
Both breathed in deep, smelling sex in the air. Silently, Edward laid another kiss on Bella and then rested his weight on her, keeping himself locked inside. Wanting to rest, but also not wanting to crush his wife (heh) he flipped them so instead Bella was lying on top of him, her head tucked beneath his chin.
"I'm so glad I wasn't on my period for our wedding night," Bella suddenly said, making Edward burst out laughing. It was entirely possible that could have been an option, but to be truthful the couple had tried to plan around it.
"I'm glad too. I love you, but blood and I don't get along."
Understatement. Bella had broken a finger the first few months of doing her master's while she'd been with Edward, and he'd fainted. So she'd had to wait for him to wake up so they could drive to the hospital, hiding from him the broken finger so he wouldn't pass out while driving.
Laughing, Bella burrowed closer into her husband. She'd been planning for a lot of wild sex, but suddenly she was only too aware of how long the day and the flight had been.
"I think I'm gonna sleep…" Bella murmured, and chuckling, Edward flipped them so instead they were spooning.
"Go to sleep. I'll be here when you wake up."
Her eyes fell shut, and it didn't take long until Edward followed suit.
20 years later
"Hey Em, a little hand or something?" Bella snapped at her best friend, who was all too busy taking pictures of her struggling. Like she needed the reminder that she was weak as hell.
"I'll help you with that," a smooth voice said beside her, and smiling, Bella let Nathan McCarty take the box away from her.
"Thanks, Nate. Have I told you I like you a lot better than you ass of a father?" Bella asked, knowing the answer to that.
"Only every time we see each other," Nathan laughed, blushing. Laughing, Bella returned to taking out another box as Nathan took the box to the living room.
"You know it's very disturbing that you have a crush on my mother, right?" A voice whispered behind him, and spooked, Nathan turned around with a pounding heart to find Alyssa Cullen.
Lissa, Nathan's mind hissed.
Alyssa Cullen was the bane of Nathan's existence. She was a seventeen year old high school student who spend way too much time annoying him whenever they met. She was captain of the cheerleading squad, so as the athletically-challenged man he was, it was Nathan's duty to abhor everything she stood for. Emmett might've been a football player in high school, but that was as far as his relationship to sports went. Nathan had been part of the chess club in high school, and the chess tournaments was the only time where his heartbeat sped up (and when going up stairs). Not to mention, Lissa was mean. Worse still, only to him. She was daddy's little girl, Emmett doted on her and Bella thought she'd hung the moon and stars.
"What's it to you?" Nathan gave the redhead the stink eye. Clasping her hands behind her skirt, she shrugged.
"Nothing. Just thought you should know your father probably has a better shot with mom than you do." Lissa cocked her head to the side. "I mean, that's assuming my dad would ever let mom out of his sight."
Nathan scowled. Edward Cullen was the dorkiest guy he knew, but also his biggest rival. Every time he saw the old guy he'd be wearing a stupid ass shirt and Converse as if he was't a forty-five year old dude. To make matters worse, Edward always treated him as a kid even though he was twenty-two. To make things doubly worse? Bella (his godmother and love of his existence) never looked at anybody else, and Edward always gravitated around her. Besides, Nathan doubted something would ever happen between his father and Bella —those two fought like kids despite their age.
"Again, what's it to you, brat? Why're you a picking a fight with me so early in the morning?"
Lissa shrugged again.
"I'm bored."
He glared at her.
"You could try helping your family unpack."
Lissa pretended to consider it.
"N—"
"Lissa! Stop playing hooky and get your butt over here so we can finish early!" Bella called from the moving truck.
Sighing, Lissa gave Nathan a look.
"Smell ya later, McCarty."
Nathan glared after the eldest Cullen, feeling like he should be able to hit girls. Annoying girls he'd known nearly all his life.
He felt someone tap his waist, and looking down, he found the youngest Cullen.
"You shouldn't hit girls, Nate," Joseph Cullen reminded the college student, curly brown hair falling over his brown eyes. Nathan raised an eyebrow in silent question, and the eight-year-old elaborated. "You said you should be able to hit girls. You shouldn't. Also, dad would tackle you if you touched Lis."
That was true.
Edward Cullen was wrapped around his children's little fingers.
"I won't hit Lissa, but I sure want to," Nathan sighed, ruffling Joe's hair. "Where's Val and Adam?"
Valerie and Adam Cullen where the fourteen-year-old twins; they were always getting in trouble, so keeping an eye on them was of utmost importance.
"I think they're with Aunt Rose," Joe said, and was about to say something else when Edward and Emmett came down the stairs.
"Joe, why aren't you with mom? She needs help with all of your toy boxes," Edward reminded his youngest son, who upon hearing of someone handling his treasure, ran out of the house and to the moving truck.
Chuckling, Edward came to a stop in front of Nathan.
"Nate, thanks so much for helping us out. I know this isn't the best way to spend a Saturday just a few weeks after graduating from college, but thanks anyway."
Nathan had graduated in Chemical Engineering, and in the fall he'd be getting his master's. Like his father, he was gifted with numbers.
"It's fine, Uncle Edward. I'm here for the dinner anyway," he joked, referring to the monstrous dinners Bella could whip up.
Nodding, Edward clapped Nathan's back lightly.
"I'm glad. That way there won't be leftovers," he said, and was about to say something else when he remembered seeing him with his daughter. "Also, sorry about Lis. I think she has a little too much fun at your expense, so don't pay her any mind."
Paling a little, wondering how much Edward had heard, he simply nodded. Grinning, Edward walked out to the moving truck.
Bella was handing over a box to Emmett when she noticed him coming out.
"Hey! Did you find Val and Adam?" Bella asked, making her husband stop suddenly. Shit. "You forgot why you went in, didn't you?"
Grinning sheepishly, Edward stepped into the moving truck to be eye level with his wife. Placing a hand on her waist, he pulled her closer to give her a kiss.
"I got distracted," Edward said, unwilling to admit he'd gotten a work call and had been taking care of it. She wouldn't be happy since he'd promised to shut off his phone for the day.
"I got distracted my ass. Come on, help me with this box."
After half an hour of nonstop bringing in boxes, a bright red Camaro pulled into their driveway. Seth stepped out of it, a radiant smile aimed Bella's way when he caught sight of her.
"Bell! Edward!" Seth called happily, then saw a bunch of heads poke out from inside the truck.
"Uncle Seth!" Valerie and Adam suddenly ran out of the house, having seen their uncle's car arrive.
"Val! Adam!" Seth let the twins barrel into him, grateful that he was still the cool uncle. "How are my favorite troublemakers doing?"
Eyes shining brightly, they started rambling about something when suddenly they felt someone latch onto their ears.
"Now, where have my pair of teenagers been hiding all this time?" Bella wondered, then turned a blinding smile to her brother-in-law. "Seth. Thanks for coming to help."
He gave her a wink.
"You kidding? My only brother and his family are finally coming back to live in Arizona after twenty years. I'm psyched."
It had taken them a while to get here, but Bella and Edward were glad they managed to move back to Phoenix. They loved Sacramento —their children had grown up there— but their closest friends and family still lived here. Carlisle and Esme still lived in their old home, and even though Renée and Phil now lived in Florida, they still owned their old house. Seth still called Phoenix home even though he was always traveling; he became a professional photographer, so it came with the job. He'd never settled down, either, though he fathered a daughter with one of his many conquests —Kelsey was five years old and absolutely adorable. This had forced him to remain closer to home, though he hadn't established a relationship with Kelsey's mother. He got her on the weekends and on holidays, and he seemed happy with the arrangement.
Emmett and Rose never left Phoenix, and they'd made due with Nathan, stating they were happy with just one kid. Angela and Ben got married a year before Edward and Bella, and their son was Alyssa's age. Hank Cheney was actually pretty close to Lissa; even if Bella was only just moving back to Arizona she'd never lost contact with her friends, so Hank and Lissa would hang out every time they got together. Jake and Vanessa had called it quits for a few years, and when they got back together they got married —Ryan Black was thirteen and had been born the day after the wedding. Their youngest, Raymond Black, was nine —he and Joe couldn't stand each other, much to Jake and Edward's dismay. As for Alice and Jasper… they got married, but they never had kids. Alice didn't want any, and Jasper hadn't wanted them that bad; they'd remained in New York, so sadly enough the Cullen kids didn't have much of a relationship with them. Nathan did, but only because he saw them in every family reunion.
Charlie had unfortunately been unable to meet Joe. He'd died before Bella was even pregnant with her youngest; apparently, he'd eaten a little too often at the diner and forgotten about taking care of his health. He'd seemed healthy as a horse, and then a heart attack took him; Bella had a hard time recovering from that blow. Despite everything, she'd loved her father. She'd gone back to Forks for the first time in over a decade to bury him. Leah had disappeared for good and Sam had remained in the reservation, so she knew there wasn't any danger of running into any of them. Sue had been heartbroken of course; she'd been widowed twice, and once had to be enough for anyone. All Bella could do was promise Sue they'd still meet each other, and so they had; Sue loved her kids like crazy, and to be honest Bella was sure they liked her better than they liked Renée.
Now, Edward and Bella were finally back for good. Edward was opening his own architecture firm in Phoenix, putting all of the years of experience and gaining contacts in Sacramento to use. The children had actually been quite on board with the idea —they liked being close to their family, and they all were adaptable. Alyssa was the one who was having the hardest time since she'd be doing her senior year of high school in a different place, but she was excited to get out of the horrible traffic that plagued the West coast and getting to know new people. She had confidence in her people skills, and she felt better knowing that Hank would be there. Valerie and Adam were only glad they could start over in high school —they had a bit of a reputation in their middle school as troublemakers. They'd only pranked a teacher once, and it was April's fools! What else were they supposed to do? Send flowers? As for Joe, he was the friendliest of the bunch —everyone knew he'd do well no matter where he went.
"So?" Bella asked her kids, returning to the matter at hand. "Where were you?"
"Um, with Aunt Rose," Adam said. "We were—"
"Hiding out!" Joe interrupted, never missing a chance to screw over his siblings.
"Joe, you tattle-tale!" Valerie scowled, green eyes glaring at her annoying little brother. "You're never playing with us again."
Ignoring her, Joe ran into his uncle's arms, wanting to be swung around like always. He didn't pay the twins any mind; they were always threatening him and they never came through with anything.
"Munchkin! I've missed you, little man," Seth said, blowing a raspberry on the kid's cheek. He loved all of his brother's children equally, but Joe was the most attached to him. As such, he spent a lot of time entertaining the youngest one.
"Uncle Seth, can I see the pictures of the rhinos?" Joe asked, knowing already what the answer would be. Seth winked, putting the kid down.
"Of course, but not right now. I'm still missing one Cullen kid, and then I've got to help your parents unload the truck."
Pouting, Joe let his uncle go; not fair.
Leaving the trio to their mother, Seth went to find his niece. He had to admit the house was a work of art; his brother was a talented architect, and he rather liked how the house was planned. It had a lot of windows, but most of them were facing the East so the worst of the sun wouldn't hit them. He knew Edward had put a lot of thought into making a heat-friendly house, though he wasn't really sure how he'd done it.
He found Alyssa in her new room rearranging boxes.
"Hey Lis," Seth knocked on the door, and whipping around, the cheerleader ran to jump into her uncle's arms.
"Uncle Seth! Hi! I thought you'd be getting here a little later," Alyssa admitted, smacking a kiss on his cheek. "How are you?"
She pulled back, noticing that his uncle was looking her from head to toe in admiration. She grinned, striking a pose.
"I'm good, kid. And you look beautiful. I mean, you look just like your mother but with your dad's coloring. You might just be even more beautiful than your mother was at your age," Seth guessed, making Alyssa laugh.
"Everyone's always so hung up with how beautiful my mom is," Alyssa rolled her eyes. "You too?"
Seth pretended to be surprised by the question.
"Me? Baby girl, everywhere your mother went pretty much all boys had a crush on her. I was no exception. Then she started dating your dad and, well, I've been waiting for her call since," Seth joked, laughing when Alyssa made a disgusted grunt.
"You know dad would break your camera if he heard you say that," Alyssa pointed out, something which was entirely too true. Edward had declared himself done with people lusting over his wife many years ago and now threatened bodily harm to anyone who dared speak of it.
"Don't tell my brother."
Alyssa sighed.
"What's wrong, Lis?" Seth asked, thinking it was odd for the teenager to have a troubled look.
"Promise not to tell anyone?" Lis asked, and he nodded immediately. The only way he'd break his promise was if his niece was in danger. Accepting his sincerity, Alyssa went to her bedroom door and closed it.
"What's up?" This seemed serious, Seth thought, and like something he wasn't prepared for.
"Nathan still has a crush on mom," Alyssa scowled, thinking back to their conversation. "I think all he sees me as is some dumb cheerleader, too."
Seth's eyebrows shot up.
"You still like Nathan?" Seth whisper-yelled, and flushing, Alyssa nodded. "Why? He's as moody as college students get."
Alyssa couldn't deny that.
"I don't know. He used to be nice to me when we were younger, but ever since I grew boobs he stopped talking to me like I have more than two brain cells," Alyssa frowned, upset. "I'm not stupid, am I?"
Seth was bewildered by the question.
"Lis, you're so smart it's a wonder you're my brother's daughter. I mean, Edward was never bad at school or anything but he never had a 4.0 GPA like you do, nor was he as gifted in piano as you are. Don't you dare think you're less than you are, and what you are is an amazing girl who'll get as far as she wants to."
Alyssa smiled, thankful she had such a cool uncle.
"Thanks, Uncle Seth."
He hugged her.
"As for the matter of crushing on your mom… It'll blow over. Edward would kill Nate if he ever touched Bella, and Bella would die before ever looking at Nate. Not to mention, Bella thinks of Nathan as an extension of Emmett, and nothing happened between them in who knows how many years of knowing each other. I mean, without even mentioning how ridiculous it would be for a forty-three year old to even want a twenty-two year old brat she saw in diapers. Nate just needs to realize his crush has nowhere to go."
Which was true, Alyssa guessed, but it didn't make her feel much better. She'd liked Nathan McCarty ever since he'd picked her up after sneaking into a bar two years ago and the night had gone wrong —she hadn't wanted to call her dad, feeling like her skimpy outfit would make him pass out, and her mother hadn't picked up. She hadn't had a problem with admitting to her parents she'd sneaked into a bar (they weren't the type to punish her for that, although they might've for lying), but mostly she hadn't wanted her parents to see her crying. A guy had tried feeling her up and a friend of Hank's had defended her, but the confrontation had gotten ugly. So when she'd called Nate and he'd gone to pick her up in record time, she'd felt for the first time what it was like to be cared for outside of her family. He'd been angry, and worried, and he'd let her crash in his dorm after calling to tell her dad she'd be sleeping in his place.
The problem was, Alyssa wasn't cute. She was flirty, and confident, and she was assertive —but she wasn't the type that could bat her lashes at a guy she truly liked. And oh, how she liked Nathan. Enough that she didn't care he liked her mother, though that would've been enough of a turn-off if he'd been anyone else. Enough that every time they saw each other she teased him, not knowing what to talk to him about. Enough that here she was, on moving day, wearing a skirt and a tank top even though her thighs were sticking together because of the sweat and she had to keep pulling up the shirt. She was even wearing makeup even though she didn't care much for it.
Sometimes, she really resented her mom —Alyssa wanted to hate her for being so beautiful, for capturing hearts so easily, but… She honestly got what everyone else saw. Her mom wasn't only beautiful on the outside, she had a heart of gold to match. Mom was the closest person to her; she always listened to what she had to say and was absolutely always on her side. Even though everyone knew her in school as the cool cheerleader, her closest friends had always known Alyssa was a family girl. She enjoyed hanging out with her family; the weekends were usually reserved for watching a movie in their parents' bedroom. She'd once caught someone trying to corner Valerie, who was a little socially awkward, and she'd scared everyone within a half mile radius. Joe was a fan of insects, so Lissa spent Sunday mornings catching critters with him before tapping out. And Adam loved drawing, so Lissa usually drove him to new places every week so he could have new things to sketch; she'd take something to study or read and would let her brother draw as long as he wanted. Sometimes Val would go with them and the two girls would talk about anything and everything. And Lissa loved her dad, even if she thought he wasn't as cool as mom; she could always rely on him, and she'd grown up going to sleep hearing him play the piano. Thanks to him she loved the instrument as well and planned to become a singer-songwriter. She remembered the family had struggled financially when she was a kid, but happiness and unconditional love were things she'd never lacked. Her parents had seen to that.
Thinking of how much she loved her family, Lissa hugged her uncle again.
"Thanks, Uncle Seth. You're right. I should also go see if they need more help."
Smiling, Seth swung an arm over his niece's shoulders and walked with her down the stairs.
"You're gonna do great things, kid. If that kid can't see it, it's his loss," Seth said, kissing the side of her head. He was about to say something else when he noticed Emmett was chugging down a beer. "Dude! Not cool, you should offer some!"
"Fuck o— ouch, Rosie!" Emmett whined, holding the back of his head. "You made me spill."
"I've told you to watch your language in front of the kids," Rose pointed to Alyssa and Joe, who'd manifested in the living room.
"Lissa knows me, doesn't she?" Em winked at his goddaughter. "She knows it's all in good fun."
Alyssa laughed.
"You're putting me on the spot, Uncle Em." She felt a little body hug her and looked down to see it was Joe looking up at her with his doe eyes. "What's up Joey?"
He blinked innocently.
"Give me a piggyback ride?"
Rolling her eyes, Alyssa bent down so her little brother could climb up.
"Where to, your highness?" Alyssa asked, putting her arms below his knees. He bounced up and down.
"The truck!"
Jogging ahead, Alyssa followed her little brother's orders, coming to a stop in front of the U-Haul.
"Mom? Someone's here to see you," Alyssa called out, and Bella emerged from the shadows to see what was up. "Hi."
Bella smiled back.
"Hi, my little hoodlums. What's up? Did you come back to help?"
Alyssa nodded, but Joe scrambled down quick and disappeared to the back of the house. The two women laughed.
"He's good at running away from helping out," Bella observed, not that she minded. He was eight, so the moving business was too tiresome for him anyway. She'd get him to start with unpacking his room, she supposed.
Lissa went up inside the truck, and she went straight to hugging her mother tight. Already Alyssa had two inches on Bella, so Bella's arms went around her daughter's waist while Alyssa's around her mother's neck.
"What's up, baby?"
Alyssa sighed.
"I just love you mom. It's no wonder dad has so many rivals."
Bella laughed, hugging her daughter tightly.
"I'll have you know I've known of a woman or two who've thought they could take your father away from me. So you're stuck with two awesome parents," Bella chuckled, resting her chin on her daughter's shoulder. She rubbed her back up and down. "Are you ok, Lis?"
Alyssa thought for a moment before nodding.
"I am. Just… feeling a little gloomy."
Pursing her lips, Bella released her daughter and sat down against one of the walls of the truck. She patted the spot between her legs, and rolling her eyes but grinning, Alyssa sat down. She leaned back into her mother, who wound her arms around her.
"Tell me what's up," Bella said, glad her daughter always let her hold her this way. Alyssa wasn't at all self-conscious; she was always asking her mom to pick her up from school, and it never mattered how many people were around Alyssa always hugged and kissed her parents hello. Bella hadn't cared what people thought, either, at her age —but she'd never have been so close to Renée. She was glad this was her daughter though.
"I'm nervous about school," Alyssa admitted. "I mean, I know it's a few months away, but it feels like it's too soon. And I'm… frustrated. I still can't say anything nice to Nate."
Bella knew of her daughter's feelings for Nathan —everyone but the kid himself knew. Emmett and Bella had already started saving for the celebration party they'd have when Nate got his head out of his ass. They knew he had to; Alyssa would be the best thing to happen to his moody (but likable) ass ever.
"Well, as for school… I don't really know what to tell you baby. Nobody knows what the future holds. I think you'll do better than fine; you're much better at making friends than your dad and I ever were, and neither of us lacked friends. Worst case scenario, you've got Hank already, so you won't be facing this alone. And you'll be working this summer at the Barnes and Noble, so hopefully you'll get to meet future classmates of yours." Bella sighed, looking straight ahead. "As for Nathan…"
She struggled to find the right thing to say for a moment, then continued.
"I think it's a matter of when he'll be aware you're a woman worth looking at. I'm sure Uncle Seth has told you of how he used to have this crush on me in middle school, right?" Alyssa nodded. "The first time your dad introduced us Seth was fifteen, so to me he was a little kid. He still is, in a way. But when you're in your twenties and you meet someone in their teens, all you can think about is how young and innocent they are. I think, if you give him time and let him know who you are… things could change. Women tend to grow up fast, and sometimes men catch up a little slower. He needs to finish growing up to realize he's not as mature as he thinks he is, and that you're not a brat like he thought."
Lis laughed.
"But you just admitted Uncle Seth was a kid to you."
"Yes, but he was around your age when thanks to him I pulled my head out of my ass and went running back to your father."
Shocked, Alyssa turned to look at her mother.
"You broke up with dad?"
How come nobody told her these things? What was next? Uncle Emmett had dated Alice?
"Well, yes," Bella laughed, not sounding repentant at all. "We both needed to pull our head out of our asses. He was in a bad spot emotionally, and I wasn't in a good enough place to help him. It was too much. Your uncle though, he reminded me of what was important. Ever since then I never thought of him as a gullible kid. But, you know, he's still my husband's little brother, so that was as far as it got."
Alyssa sighed, turning back around.
"It's so weird to think you and dad had lives before us. Even weirder when dad says he used to be a geek and you were the most popular girl in school. All of those old Hollywood movies make it seem like it was a rule for that kind of thing not to happen, and that if it did, it was some huge thing that rocked the whole social structure."
Bella giggled.
"Yeah well, the rules don't apply to us, do they? I crushed on your dad hard and he made me the honor of liking me. And he was far cooler than I was, really. I just lucked out."
Alyssa rolled her eyes.
Her parents were so head over heels in love with each other it was weird sometimes.
Bella kissed the back of her daughter's head, squeezed and let her go.
"Now go help your uncle bring in the last boxes. We're nearly done with the first part."
Nodding, Alyssa left to go find her uncle. She felt lighter, something that usually happened after she had a heart to heart with her mother. She didn't see one Nathan McCarty watching her from the distance, thoughtful.
She might be a brat, but she's nice to her family. Plus, she might be a little cuter than Bella. A little. Not enough to compensate for being a pain in my ass, but still. She's got potential.
He went back to transferring boxes inside the new house.
Having witnessed the mother-daughter moment, Edward got up on the moving truck and went to the back (front?) to find his wife. She was resting behind a stack of boxes, probably trying to escape people for a moment or two.
He slid down beside her.
"Everything ok with Lis?"
Bella nodded.
"She's worried about school and Nate. I did my best, but I don't know if I said the right thing."
Edward rolled his eyes.
"I know you love. Even if you didn't, Lis won't hold it against you —she knows you only have her happiness in mind." He opened his arms, silently telling his wife to crawl into his lap. Happily, she did so, laying her legs across his.
"I feel so lucky that all of our children talk to us. I wouldn't have known what to do if they'd been as stoic with me as I'd been with my parents."
Smiling, Edward tilted her head up so he could see her eyes.
"I told you I'd help you make the family you always wanted, didn't I?" Edward gave her a tender grin that spoke volumes of his love for her. "We helped each other grow, didn't we. And we're doing the same for our children."
Sentimental, Bella let a couple of tears slip. She still wasn't a cryer like Edward, but with every year that passed she found herself able to cry more freely. It was nice.
"I'm so glad you convinced me of all this. I love calling you my husband, and those four kids are in every breath I take. I know we've fucked up a few times in this parenting business, but I'm so thankful it's you I've fucked up with."
Edward leaned in and kissed her. His heart still beat like crazy any time his wife was cheesy —the years had made them more comfortable, but they still did little things that drove the other the best kind of crazy. Edward's thing was Bella being cheesy. Bella's was when Edward suited up and gave her a personal piano concert.
"There's something I forgot to tell you," Edward said.
Leaning back, Bella raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
He gave her a shit-eating grin.
"The walls for our bedroom are soundproof."
The meaning dawning on her, Bella's grin mirrored his.
"If I weren't already married to you, I'd marry you again."
Snorting, Edward hugged his wife tight.
"Me too, even if you did name 75% of our children after the Jonas Brothers."
Edward hadn't known, back when he'd agreed to the names. Only until Joe was born was he made aware; Valerie was a variation of one the brother's daughter's name, and apparently Adam was the middle name of one of the band members. Bella played her cards right by not making it too obvious, but when she latched onto the name Joseph for their youngest... he should've suspected. It was his fault he hadn't.
Bella shrugged sheepishly; she regretted nothing.
"Hey, stupid couple! Stop flirting and help us finish up!" Rose called out from somewhere outside.
Laughing, Edward and Bella stood up.
"Make us!" Bella challenged, emerging from behind the stack of boxes hand in hand with Edward.
They went to stand at the edge of the U-Haul.
All of their kids were gathered at the bottom in different stances of exasperation, and everyone else started tricking into the front yard.
Teasing, Edward turned to his wife.
"Oh Bella, how I love you!" He said dramatically, letting go of her hand to instead hold her cheeks. Bella followed suit.
"Oh husband, how I love you too!"
Four pairs of kids, one young adult, an uncle and two parents scrunched their faces up as they watched a Mr. and Mrs. Cullen kiss each other. To show their displeasure, they all chorused one word.
"Ew!"
The end.
So, this is the end. What a wild ride. I hurried to make the epilogue so I could at least finish this story by March. I also nearly forgot to write in the reasoning behind the kids' names, so boy am I glad I remembered that in time. This was a very interesting story to write. You know what was funnier still? Yesterday I went with some friends to karaoke, and I was talking to one of them on the ride there (we Uber'd together). He recently went through a breakup which was rough (they dated for three years); she's half Japanese and he's Mexican, and she takes after her dad in the emotionally-dry department. So he needed someone to unburden himself with (he was going through a lot) and she couldn't respond in kind, unable to understand he couldn't keep his troubles to himself even though to her that was the norm. So basically, he had a rough semester and no help. Neither could take it, they broke up. Now, my friend has been taking the last few months to himself and repairing his wounds. Yesterday, we were talking and he told me there was a girl he was interested in that he wouldn't have looked at six months ago.
"She's out of my league," he said. "She's awesome and really pretty."
And I thought of all I wrote here, and I asked him. "And what are you, an ogre?" But we were arriving to the restaurant so I didn't say much more. He's a sweet guy, and he looks a lot like Seth Rogen; not bad looking at all. (I also have a hard time giving compliments so I didn't outright say he was handsome) So then we were eating, and a friend of ours arrived, so he was telling her some part of the stories again. Again, he said the girl was out of his league six months ago. Our friend and I disagreed.
"This is real life, not a Hollywood movie," I told him.
"There's no such thing as out of your league," she said.
"What's the difference with six months ago?" I asked.
"Fifteen kilograms," he replied. (Like thirty-five pounds for my US readers)
Baffled, I frowned. Did he really think his weight was tied to anything? His ex was a pretty girl and he'd always been overweight.
"So, what? Are you a different person now? Are you funnier or something?" His jokes suck, which is why it's the first thing I thought about. But he likes his jokes, which is adorable.
"No, but I feel better now."
"Ah," my girl friend said. "That's a whole other matter. Being in a better place emotionally does make a difference."
"All people want is to be happy," I told him. "And everyone can sense if they're with someone who's not. Happiness is very attractive."
So yeah, this was more or less our interaction. It made me realize how badly some people need to hear this: there's no such thing as out of your league. If you need to lose or gain weight, it's not because it'll make you hotter but because it'll help your health and it's something you're doing to feel better with yourself. Liking yourself is essential, both for starting and keeping a happy relationship. I hope, if nothing else, you leave with this.
Leah.
P. S. Thank you SO much to everyone. All my reviewers, everyone who followed and favorited this story. This story has overflowed with niceness and I can't even begin to say how much that means to me. I hope we see each other again soon.