Happy Friday! This week was chaotic for me since my semester started and I took a major tumble on the sidewalk on Wednesday. I'm fine, but I have a little road rash on my knee.

This chapter went through a lotttt of development

Huge thank you to my beta, Sunflower Fran, who read the original version and very kindly was like "no." Enormous thank you also to prereader Mariel who very nicely held my hand through this rewrite.

To all the reviewers with birthdays around now: Happy Birthday! If you have PMs on, I probably replied saying so, but if not, this is me saying so!

Thank you for all your well wishes. My birthday was quiet but nice. I had brunch with my grandma and the restaurant had fancy mimosas that added Grand Marnier, so I really can't complain!

"So," I said, sitting up a little. "What do you wanna do?"

His ears tinged slightly pink, and he paused for a second before he said anything. "What would you normally do on a Tuesday night if you didn't go out with Rose?"

"Probably curl up in bed and binge something on Netflix."

Edward grinned. "Would you get ready for bed first?"

I nodded, a little confused.

"Then that sounds perfect."

I hesitated. "You don't want to watch on the big TV? I don't have a TV in my room. Just my laptop."

"This is a perfect opportunity to cuddle up with you in your bed with your rosy sheets and the little shorts you keep taunting me with."

"Okay," I mumbled, flushing.

He tugged me tighter into his arms and kissed me thoroughly before releasing me. He borrowed my keys to run down to his car and grab his bag. I went and brushed my hair and washed my face. I'd brush my teeth later. I had a feeling we'd snack a bit while we Netflixed. When he came back in, I let him use the bathroom as I changed quickly into the requested sleep shorts. I hesitated over my bra. I didn't want to be curled up in bed in a bra, but I also didn't want to snuggle up with him and end up looking like a Picasso, with boobs flapping in a distinctly not sexy manner. I finally settled on doubling up on camis. They were tight and stretchy. They'd hopefully keep my boobs somewhat contained. If I got cold, I'd have an issue, but it was a warm night and the apartment was pretty comfortable. I was going to risk the nips.

When I was changed, I stood at the foot of my bed awkwardly. Should I get in? Should I sit somewhere else? Should I … I didn't know my other options.

They all felt weird.

I compromised by walking to the window and opening the blinds a bit to peek at the courtyard. I saw a girl walking a dog.

"Hey, beautiful," that smooth, sexy voice murmured in my ear as warm arms wrapped around my waist.

I leaned back against him and jolted when my shoulder hit skin. I froze and tried to turn around in his arms but tripped over my own feet. I managed not to go down because Edward tightened his arms and hauled me back up against his bare chest, which was now directly in front of my face. He was shirtless, in a pair of Batman sleep pants. Just what I needed?

"Oh, fuck," I muttered.

He laughed. "Well, I'm glad I was here, or you would definitely have landed on the floor."

I rolled my eyes. "No, 'cause that fall was your fault."

"What?" He chuckled. "Did you just say that was my fault?"

I flushed and shut my eyes. "Yeah. Well. Uh. I wasn't … um … Iwasn'texpectingyoutobeshirtless."

That earned another chuckle. "I guess I can't say I wouldn't have fallen over if I realized you were behind me, topless."

Whelp, now the blush was definitely here to stay. I couldn't look at him, and I couldn't have him look at me. The only option I had left was to hide my face … in the perfect chest in front of me. Oh fuck, it smelled really good.

Edward shifted his arms a bit, freeing my hands, which were trapped between us, and encouraging me to wrap my arms around his waist. He settled one hand on the back of my head, stroking my hair.

"You're welcome to stay wrapped around me, sweetheart, but you don't need to be embarrassed."

I shrugged.

He shifted and leaned down to kiss the top of my head. "We were gonna watch something?"

I shrugged again. How was I this awkward?

"Baby," he nudged my chin, so I had to look up at him. "You know I'm not expecting, you know, Netflix and chill, or anything, right? I'm happy just to hold you and spend time with you?"

I nodded. "Yeah. I know. I just … You're here, and you're gorgeous, and I'm awkward, and I really don't want to screw this up."

"Bella…" he frowned. "Fuck. Um. The other day, when you figured out who I was, you said I wasn't "your" Masen anymore, and … well. I don't know, I feel like you're … well, intimidated I guess. So…" He hesitated. "I guess what I want to know is, are you disappointed? That I'm … me?"

"What?" I exclaimed. He thought he was disappointing me? "No! God no! I … um … I don't know how to put this. I guess…. I feel like you're miles out of my league, but it's not that…. It's just. Gah. In the DMs, you always seemed to know what to say. You have always felt perfect and unattainable from the time you followed me. That you're a movie star isn't part of it. Well, isn't a big part. I'm not even sure being gorgeous is that much of a part of it either, although that is definitely related…" My voice trailed off. I wasn't making sense.

"Is it possible that any guy you liked would seem unreachable?" Edward asked quietly.

I squeezed my eyes tight and nodded.

"Oh, sweetheart. Mike really did a number on you, didn't he?" He sighed. "All right, tell you what. I like you. I really like you. If you like me too, which I think you do, because you said so, then that puts both of us directly in the attainable column for the other, okay? So. I'm not gonna make you deal with this anymore tonight. Let's just cuddle and watch something. How's that sound?"

I nodded. "Do you want something to eat? I brought home some day-old stuff from the bakery."

"Did you make this stuff?"

I nodded. "Most of it."

"Then yes, absolutely," he grinned.

"Okay, um, I'll… be right back." I ran out of the room awkwardly. When I came back, he was in my bed, my comforter nestled around his hips, with his broad, chiseled chest and shoulders on display, happy trail peeking out of the covers. It really shouldn't be legal for a human being to look that good. He looked like a statue of a Greek god. It just seemed excessive.

I picked up my laptop and climbed on the bed next to him. I didn't have a chance to get comfy with the pillows before he'd pulled me over to him and settled me against that perfect chest.

"What do you want to watch?" I asked.

"Whatever. Nothing of mine and nothing heavy?"

"Okay, so not Tears in the Door?" I joked, referring to the incredibly depressing movie he'd made a couple of years ago about a family falling apart.

"Yeah, no. Definitely not."

"If I weren't in the James Alden movies, I wouldn't mind them, but I don't like watching myself. And … uh …"

"What?" I asked when he didn't continue.

He sighed and spoke very quietly. "I just…" He trailed off, hesitating. "I don't want to watch myself have a romance with someone else."

Shit. That was a good point. Was I ever going to be able to watch his movies the same way again? The pirate movie Rose and I had watched Friday night didn't have a lot of romance in it. Edward's character had a couple of kissing scenes, but they were with a character he was already involved with. The love story wasn't a very big part of the plot.

I shook my head. "I don't want to watch that either."

"Why don't we watch Emmett blow stuff up?" He suggested. "We can watch The Dragon's Nobody."

I searched the title on Netflix and hit play. I'd seen it before, but I was pretty sure only once. It was a very funny, fantasy action-adventure movie where Emmett was a Viking-esque knight-type character who bumbled around and saved the day by accident every time. He seemed to have a knack for blowing things up by accident. He reminded me a little of Danny Kaye's character in The Court Jester, except with explosions instead of hypnosis. There was even a scene where he and a few other characters talked through a quick and confusing rhyming riddle.

"Do you think that's inspired by the 'vessel with the pestle' from The Court Jester?" I mused as the characters chanted about a maid who made an owl growl and listed something about nine wines, four doors, three trees, seven heavens, ten hens, and two shoes.

"You know, I don't know," Edward replied. "You can ask him. He might not know, but he probably does. He likes Danny Kaye."

Halfway through the movie, we'd made our way through the leftover cupcakes, and Edward was very definitely nuzzling my hair.

"Your hair smells like strawberries," he murmured. "I like strawberries." His voice was a low growl that sent a shiver through my body. "Are you cold?" he murmured when I actually did shiver.

I shook my head. I couldn't speak. He went back to nuzzling, and I tried to focus on the movie.

A little further along, Edward had his face buried in my hair. One hand was wrapped around my waist, stroking my side through my tank top; the fingers of his other hand ran along my forearm. His mouth shifted over and his tongue ran along the outer shell of my ear.

"Do you want to keep watching?" I whispered.

"No," he murmured. "I would like to kiss you, though."

"Um, hang on." I sat up away from him and paused the movie. He growled in displeasure. "I'm just moving the computer, impatient boy," I chuckled. I shut the computer and stuck it on my bed table. I had just started to turn back to him when he grabbed me, and suddenly we were lying down in my bed with his arms wrapped around me and his mouth pressed to mine.

He kissed me thoroughly, exploring my mouth with his tongue, tugging my lips into his mouth to suck and nibble before lapping at my mouth again. When I was gasping for breath, he moved to kiss along my jaw.

"I've been dreaming about you in your pajamas," he murmured, his mouth latching onto the spot on my neck he had already marked. He stroked his hand up and down my side slowly, almost hesitantly, before settling on my rib, just below my boob. "Can I?" he asked gently.

I nodded.

I guess my affirmative response was all he needed because, like a magnet, he was cupping my boob, squeezing and kneading gently. He rolled us over, so he was over me and settled both hands on me, one on either breast. I moaned as his palms skated over my aching nipples and moved to catch his lips back on my mouth.
I was just starting to wonder how far he wanted to go and how far I wanted to go when the door buzzer went off.

"What the fuck?" I mumbled. "Who is here at—" I reached over to check the time on my phone. "—ten o'clock at night?"

"Could it be Rose, and she forgot her keys?" To his credit, Edward sounded a little frustrated at the interruption but not angry or anything.

I shook my head. "I saw her pick them up. Plus, she'd have texted me. I guess if she'd lost them and her phone, maybe, but…" I sighed. "I'm sorry, I should see who it is."

He nodded and gave me a small smile before kissing my lips gently and rolling off me. "I've got all night, baby. Don't worry about it."

I sat up, adjusting my top where Edward's hands had mussed it. As I stood to check the door, my phone buzzed.

Bella, let me in. I need to talk to you.-Jacob

"It's Jake," I whispered, staring at my phone.

"What." Edward's single word didn't sound like a question.

I shrugged. The door sounded again. "No idea, but if he's texting me and leaning on the buzzer, he won't go away until I talk to him."

Edward's mouth narrowed into a line, but he nodded tightly. He took my hand and followed.

"Yes?" I said, pressing the button.

"Open the damn door, Bella," Jacob growled.

"What the hell, Jacob!" I exclaimed. "What do you want?"

"I need to talk to you! I texted you. Let me up."

I sighed and pressed the button to open the door as I looked up at Edward.

"Can you please, please, stay in my room? If he knows Masen is here, he'll demand to meet you."

"And we're not ready to go public, and you don't trust him?" Edward asked, a sad but understanding smile playing on his lips.

"Well … yeah," I nodded, sighing.

Edward sighed. "Yeah. I hate it, but … you're right. Please be careful?"

"Of course."

I followed him back to my room and grabbed a sweatshirt. Edward raised an eyebrow at me.

"I'm not wearing a bra, and Jacob doesn't need to see this," I gestured at my chest.

"You got that right, baby," Edward growled, wrapping me in his arms.

I chuckled and pulled the hoodie on as I heard Jake pounding on my front door. I moved to close the bedroom door behind me but Edward caught it. I rolled my eyes but let him keep it ajar. You couldn't see the front door from the entrance to my bedroom, so as long as Jacob didn't come into the apartment, wouldn't really need to hide behind anything.

I took a deep breath and opened the front door enough to stand in the opening, but not enough to make Jake think I was inviting him inside.

"What do you want, Jacob?" I glared at him. He looked frazzled. His eyes were wild, and his long hair was a mess.

"Your dad told me and my dad that that Masen douche is visiting," he sneered. "Dad told me to check on you."

I raised an eyebrow. Billy was relatively reasonable, even if he spoiled his son and couldn't keep a secret. My dad might have wanted Jacob to check on me, but he'd probably have mentioned it. The odds were pretty good that Jacob was talking out of his ass.

"Jacob, I'm a grown woman. I don't need anyone to check on me."

"Is he here, Bella?" Jacob huffed.

"That's none of your business, Jake." I wasn't going to lie to him, but I also didn't particularly want to be in a position to have to introduce him.

"So, he's here then." Jacob glared for an instant, taking in my outfit. "You're ready for bed. Is he sleeping here? What the hell, Bella?"

"I repeat, this is none of your business, Jacob!"

"Let me in; I want to meet him."

"No," I said, holding the door firmly. "You can leave."

Apparently, that wasn't good enough. Jacob wrenched the door out of my hand and pushed it open to storm into the apartment.

"Masen!" he bellowed.

"What the fuck, Jake? I have neighbors!" I cried.

"Masen, where the fuck are you?" Jacob repeated. "I want to meet you."

"Hey, man," Edward strolled out of my bedroom wearing a Chicago Bears T-shirt over his sleep pants. He was also wearing dark-rimmed glasses. He was hot in glasses. He held out his hand. "Masen Platt."

I froze. There was no way this was going to work.

Jacob narrowed his eyes at him as he took the outstretched hand. "Jacob Black," he said coldly, looking like he was gripping Edward's hand much tighter than necessary. To his credit, Edward didn't flinch. Actually, he gave a little smirk. "Why was he in your bedroom, Bella?" Jacob asked, dropping Edward's hand but keeping his eyes focused on him. "Isn't this your first date?"

"For fuck's sake, Jacob!" I exclaimed. "This is my life! What the hell is your problem?"

"My problem is this bastard who thinks he can weasel his way into your pants!" Jacob spit. "What the hell kind of little slut are you?"

I gasped. "Get the fuck out of my apartment, Jacob Black. Get out and don't come back."

"Oh, give me a break," Jacob said, not moving. "We both know when he's tired of you, you'll come crawling back to me. You came back when you left Mike, and you'll come back when he's done with you too."

I was dangerously close to tears now, but I refused to cry in front of Jacob.

"Charlie said you'd come back; he said this was nothing!"

I stared. Had my dad really suggested Jacob try to win me back? What the hell?

"We all thought you were coming back to Forks after college! You were supposed to come back and marry me, but looks like you'll date everyone else! Even Mister Instagram here. What the hell kind of name is that anyway, Masen Platt? Sounds like a fake name if ever I heard one." Jacob kept spewing insults towards me, towards Edward, ranting about my dad insisting I was coming back to Forks any day now.

I was frozen to the spot, trying desperately not to cry. Edward stepped forward.

"I think you should leave, Jacob," he said quietly but firmly.

"What the hell are you gonna do about it, pretty boy?" he sneered.

"I shouldn't have to do anything. Bella asked you to leave. This is her home, and now, you're trespassing. Or should we call the cops?"

Jacob rolled his eyes. "I'm here on request of the Chief of Police of Forks."

"Nice try. Get out." Edward nodded at the door.

"What the hell is happening here?" Rosalie was standing in the open doorway taking stock of the apartment—the two guys facing off, me struggling to keep the tears at bay. "Jacob," she added coldly. "Bella told you she didn't want you in her life if you couldn't respect her decisions. Based on this—" she waved her hand at the practically visible tension radiating off the guys "—you're not respecting her. Now, I heard Masen offer to call the cops. I heard you try to invoke Charlie Swan. I heard Masen say get out. If you don't get your ass out of here in three seconds, I will call the cops. I don't care what Charlie Swan has to say about it."

Jacob glared at her, taking in her expression. I'd never seen someone not cower when faced with the patented Rosalie Hale glare of terror. Jacob stalked to the door before turning to look at me.

"You could do better, Bella, and when you're ready, I'll be waiting." And then he was gone.

I collapsed into Edward's arms as the door swung shut, crying into his chest.

"What are you doing back already?" Edward asked Rose quietly.

"Got bored," Rose answered. "Seems like a good thing, though. What the hell happened?"

Edward quietly explained as he led me to the living room. He sat down on the sofa and pulled me onto his lap. I stayed clutching him and buried my face in his neck. He rubbed my back and shushed softly.

"Charlie told him to come here," I said, my voice breaking. "I told him you were coming and that I didn't want him talking to Billy and Jacob about it, and he sent Jake to check up on me! It's like … he promised not to tell them your name but figured saying you were here and getting his foot in the door wasn't breaking his word. Even if it was." I shut my eyes against a fresh wave of tears, and Edward gathered me back into his arms.

"Why don't you call him, sweetheart," Edward murmured. "You won't know anything if you go off Jacob's word."

I nodded, wiping my eyes on my sleeve, before patting my hoodie pocket. No phone.

"Where's my…" my voice trailed off as I saw Rose coming back into the living room.

"Kitchen counter, babe," she said, holding it out to me.

Phone in hand, I called my dad. It rang.

And rang and rang and rang and rang.

"Hi, you've reached Charlie Swan, Chief of Forks PD in Forks, Washington. If this is an emergency, please dial 911. To reach me at my office, call…"

I hung up before Dad recited the familiar Forks police office number and his extension.

"Should you have left a message?" Edward asked gently.

I shook my head.

"We have a system," I mumbled. "Missed calls aren't emergencies. Voicemails are."

Edward hummed softly, still holding me tenderly on his lap.

"What were you guys up to before the notorious Mr. Black?" Rose asked.

"Movie," Edward replied.

Not strictly untrue, I supposed. We'd paused the movie, but we'd still been watching it.

"Bella?" Rose began. I looked up at her. "Why don't you go finish it? Call your dad in the morning."

"Yeah, okay," I said. "Is that all right with you?"

Edward smiled down at me. "Of course."

We stood and headed back into my room.

"Night, babe," Rose said, moving to deadbolt our door. She looked like she was considering throwing in some innuendo, but she didn't. She just smiled at me. "Have a nice night."

Back in my room, Edward stood next to my bed, playing awkwardly with the hem of his shirt.

"What's up?" I asked. This was the first time he'd been awkward since he'd arrived.

"I just…" he hesitated. "Are you okay?"

I nodded. "Mad at my dad, pissed at Jake, a little worried our night was ruined, but I'm okay." And I was, I realized. I mean, I had cried, which meant I now had the universal exhaustion that comes with crying, but I had already known I was at a crossroads with my dad. If it turned out he hadn't completely gone against what I had explicitly asked, we would be okay. If he had … well, I couldn't go there now.

"Nothing is ruined, baby," Edward murmured, wrapping me up in his arms and pressing a kiss onto the top of my head. "We're still here, we can finish the movie and go to sleep and I can hold you all night, just like I've been dreaming about."

I nodded. "Okay."

I started to climb into bed and Edward walked around to his side. How wonderful was it I hadn't even noticed before that we had drifted to our own sides of the bed? Had we talked over DMs or anything about liking left or right? I couldn't remember. I didn't think so.

He was still wearing the Bears T-shirt.

"Oh."

Oops. Didn't mean to say that out loud.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing, it's stupid," I mumbled.

He raised an eyebrow quizzically.

I sighed. "You just, you're still wearing the shirt," I said, not really enunciating but giving myself away as I flushed bright red.

Edward chuckled. "Does the blush want me shirtless?"

I rolled my eyes. "I had just gotten used to it," I retorted, determined to hold my own against my desperation to have the hot, sexy, half-naked man back and not have my every thought completely given away.

"Beautiful girl, you know I would give you just about anything you ask for. You want the shirt gone, it's gone."

And he whipped it over his head, dropping it surprisingly neatly on top of his open bag.

"You have glasses?" I asked, suddenly remembering the obstruction on his face. They were incredibly hot. They blocked his eyes from me. The glasses were definitely a conundrum.

He nodded. "I usually wear contacts. Swapped so I could try and Clark Kent for you."

He climbed into bed, now blessedly shirtless, and held out his arms to me. I grabbed my computer and snuggled into him.

Opening the laptop and making Netflix full screen again, I smiled up at the boy in my bed.

"I'm really glad you're here," I said quietly.

Edward kissed my hair. "Me too, sweetheart. Me too."

I turned the movie back on. The ending was good. Emmett's knight won the day and got the girl. I put my laptop away, and we brushed our teeth together over the bathroom sink. It felt … domestic. It felt wonderful.

We crawled back into my bed, both plugging our phones in, as I turned off the light on my bedside table before Edward wrapped me in his embrace. I couldn't remember ever feeling safer.

I didn't dream that night, but I didn't need to.

I woke up to shining emerald eyes instead.

So? I've seen a lot of predictions about Charlie. What do you think? Do we believe Jake?

And, yeah, I kinda cockblocked them. I'm sorry! When they do get down to the business, it'll be good though, I swear.

I can't take credit for that Picasso reference. If you didn't pick up on it, that's from Robin Hood: Men in Tights. And if you haven't seen it, go watch it. I freaking love that movie.

Also, The Court Jester is a classic and 10/10 recommend. Danny Kaye, Angela Lansbury, Basil Rathbone, and Glynis Jones (the mom from Mary Poppins).

Anyway, like Edward's Batman pants? My FB is full of Rob as Batman rn so it felt appropriate! Speaking of-if you want the occasional inspiration pic or teaser, friend me! Cherry Cullen :)