DISCLAIMER: Stephanie Meyer owns Twilight not me. I just love playing around with the characters we all know and love. :-)
Authors Notes:
***REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW The record to beat is 40+. I didn't get many responses last chapter. :-(
***Nice long chapter, longest one yet.
***Time to meet the parents. One hell of a weekend for our favorite couple...
CHAPTER #23: Familiar Interaction
BPOV
"I really think you're panicking over nothing." We were at the grocery store so I could pick up a couple quick things before we went back to my place so I could get dressed into something nicer... Something to meet Edwards siblings... and his parents.
Oh God
"Easy for you to say." He chuckled while following me through my regular grocery store. It felt so weird to do something like this with him, something so normal. Despite how odd it seemed though I couldn't help but love every second of the simple domestic task.
"Bella, they're easy going people. You don't need to inconvenience yourself."
"Edward..." I pursed my lips and flashed him a pout, trying to show my dislike of how casually he was taking all of this. He smirked before standing behind me and pulling my hair off to the side. Then he kissed my neck, and for one split second I closed my eyes and got distracted by his overly tempting self... but then I remembered the main reason for this pit stop.
"Bella" He whispered into my ear seductively.
"Are you going to help me or not?" I tried to sound firm as I pulled out of his clutches and tried to find the right item.
"I would love to help you but I have no idea what we're looking for." I gave him a glare before straightening my tiny 5+ foot self against his well over 6 foot form and pointing to my bruised neck with purpose. "I need something to cover this." He watched me for a moment then his eyes moved to my neck. His only response was to then give me that perfect smile followed by a wink before then proceeding to pretend to help me. He browsed through the makeup section, at complete ease over marking me right before I have to meet his ENTIRE family.
"This should work." I was mostly speaking to myself as I grabbed the first concealer I saw. I'd never needed the stuff before but with any luck it would be enough.
…...
"Do you like this one?" We were at my place now and I was irrationally tearing apart my entire closet trying to find the perfect outfit. I had already gone through all my pants and blouses for almost an hour before deciding that one of my dresses would be better as they were at least comforting to me. Edward was in my bedroom with me, laying on my bed, happily watching as I try on something just to strip out of it a moment later
...He was definitely not helping me... but judging by the smile on his face, he was greatly enjoying himself, what with me being half dressed in just my underwear. "Perfect, wear that one." I hadn't tried it on yet so it was still on a hanger so I held it away to appraise the glossy white and pink dress that was so beautifully unique...
"It's pink though..."
"So...?" I looked up at his face and it was unreadable as he asked his question.
"Pink is... juvenile." I whispered my observation and looked up to see Edward fighting laughing at me.
"Juvenile?"
"I want to look elegant." What I really wanted was to look... shall I saw mature. Hopefully Edward didn't see right through my answer though. I turned back to my closet and I heard Edward sigh deeply. A moment later I felt his arms wrap around my waist before he kissed my cheek.
"Bella, you are the most beautiful woman I've ever met."
"You have to say that..." I repeated the conversation we'd had awhile ago. It felt so long ago now.
"Do I?" His arms wrapped tighter and I smiled at the whispered words in my ear.
"You're my boyfriend. It's your job to charm me."
"I'm also an attorney, beautiful. It's my specialty to look at all the facts before forming an opinion, and you're absolutely stunning."
"Doesn't affect how young I look though." I lowered my face as I uttered the confession. It was so hard not to confide in him, even over my biggest insecurity. Despite putting the silent obstacle of our age-difference behind us I was still worried that people in our lives wouldn't like it. Rationally I knew there was nothing anyone could do about it but it still left me feeling a bit scared involving what his family would think of me. I wasn't one of those women that had the ability to look both younger and older, capable of pulling off 20 or 30 simultaneously. My short stature, soft features, and just about everything else just screamed 'YOUNG'.
"Bella look at me." I obeyed and turned to see Edward giving me an unreadable expression. "Your age means absolutely nothing to me." Before I could say anything he continued. "I'll be the first to admit that when you first told me how old you are I was more than a little... concerned."
For some reason the look on his face as he searched for the word made me giggle a bit. "Concerned?" We had started seeing each-other so seamlessly after Edward finally asked me out, that we never actually stopped to discuss the why's behind it not happening sooner for us.
"Okay perhaps that's a minor statement." I smiled as he rolled his eyes at me. His gaze went back to me and he gave me the softest look before stroking my cheek with the back of his fingers. "I may have let some years hold me back at first but I wont be making that mistake again."
"Smooth talker." He smirked as I softened under his words. He leaned down to give me a small kiss. "That doesn't change how others see us though." He seemed to consider that for a moment before answering.
"Angela already knows and my sister has met you. Neither of them seem upset in anyway."
"True." His sister doesn't know my actual age though.
"Plus I told my brother how old you are. He doesn't care."
"What? When did that happen?" He never told me that.
"When we were at the gym awhile ago. I was talking about you and your birthday came up." He shrugged it off like it was nothing.
"Really? He didn't... react... at all?"
"Well..."
"Oh God." I buried my face in my hands and Edward laughed.
"Beautiful, he was surprised. I wont lie and say he wasn't, but he didn't care about the difference and he certainly didn't judge it."
"You think your parents will feel the same?" In my experience the harshest judges in our lives are our parents. Their intentions may be well-meaning but regardless of that they have a masterful ability to guilt all of their children to their way of thinking.
To my tremendous surprise Edward started laughing hard. "The only judging that will happen will be 100 percent directed at me and I highly doubt any of it will be with regards to our age difference."
"Why not?"
"I really can't emphasize this enough, but I do not share my romantic life with my family at all. I've always been very private so my mother will simply be thrilled that I'm willingly bringing you over to meet them. Simultaneously she'll be pissed at me for keeping you from her." He chuckled and I smiled.
"So she'll like me?" If I had to categorize Edward when it came to his family I would say he's a 'mamma's boy'. Not in the creepy weird way but it's obvious that her approval means a lot to him. Whenever he speaks of her it's always with a sense of pure respect and love... and maybe a healthy dose of fear.
I really want her to like me and approve of me for her oldest son.
"Beautiful, she will love you."
…...
I had narrowed down my choices to three dresses after a lot of second guessing. My first choice was a simple black dress that was very conservative plus warm which was a big plus since it was going to be a cold night. My second choice was a very thin but beautiful ivory dress that was the most casual of my options. Lastly was a purple one I had pulled from the back of the closet. It was a Grecian cut, which was my favorite style, and it was very airy and soft. As soon as I pulled it from the closet Edward grew more than a little eager. He had been laid back against my headboard but when he saw it he sat up at attention.
"Wear that one." His voice sounded more order like than observational. I shook my head and went to put it back in the closet. It was to bright. I wanted something simpler. "Baby..." He stopped me from putting it away by grabbing my arm that was holding it, apparently having walked over to me to stop my dismissal of the dress. He grabbed it from me and as he glanced between it and me a few times I saw something dance behind his eyes. "I think I recognize this color." I immediately turned bright red. It was the same shade of purple as my underwear had been last night. The dark purple that had matched the flowers on my nightie he'd loved so much... The ones Edward had taken off me...
Clearly he remembered too.
I could feel so much heat coming off me as I tried to tug the dress back from him with zero strength. "Look at how red you are." I couldn't look at whatever expression he wore because I was so shy now. My mind was back on last night, on every sensation that he'd caused. Feeling his hands on me, everywhere as he slowly stripped everything off and took in every inch newly exposed. I swear my body still tingled from the way his eyes had held me and the way his lips never left me for long.
"Shut up." I tried to sound playful as I weakly got the dress back and tried to hide my embarrassing embarrassment. How can I still be so ridiculous with him? God I slept with him last night... gave him... and then this morning I actually initiated...
"Bella?" He pulled me from my thoughts.
"Yeah."
He didn't answer but instead took the dress from me and I released it without a fight. He tossed it aside onto my bed and held my face between his hands, steering my eyes up to meet his. "Are you okay?"
His eyes were honest as he held me with that same intensity I was beginning to associate as his protective side. "I'm just... being me."
He leaned down and kissed me, lightly sucking first my lower lip then my upper one before moving over to whisper in my ear. "Good, because I wouldn't want anyone else."
"Even if I was more... experienced? Or confident?" Oh God that came out wrong...
"Experienced?" He looked at me with a look of heavy doubt while sporting a wide smile. "As in experienced with other men?"
"Oh God..." I clapped both hands over my eyes.
"My beautiful Bella." He laughed while prying my hands away and I starred at him while fighting how awful this conversation felt. "Have I told you how fucking cute you are?"
"No." There he goes again, charming me.
"Well you are. Insane, but so very cute."
"Insane?"
"Baby in what universe would I want another man to have ever touched you in anyway?" His eyes were quite serious as he asked.
"I didn't mean that, not really. It's just wouldn't you prefer me not to be so awkward?" I was honestly worried about it. While our 14 year age-gap seemed like the biggest difference between us on paper, in reality his confidence compared to my self-doubt was the real obstacle.
He grabbed my hands in his so that we were palm to palm with our fingers interlaced. "Do you know what I thought about you when we first met?"
I bit my lip and shook my head as my only answer. He smiled and used our embrace to pull my body flush to his, he even wrapped my arms around his neck. He brushed my hair aside and watched my eyes for a moment. "When I stepped into your classroom and saw you I thought you were the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen." I couldn't fight the smile at his words. "Then you introduced yourself, not just to me but to Lizzie." He continued lightly tracing my hair as I watched his eyes. "You were sweet, precious." He smiled as he remembered something from that day, but I didn't know what it was. "Watching you with Lizzie, then tripping over your own words with me... and that blush of yours." He smirked at me as I tried to hide my blushing smile, not that he was letting me budge even an inch from him. "I couldn't take my eyes off you, Beautiful. I didn't ever want to. There isn't a thing about you I would ever change."
"Why?"
Rather then answer he just smiled and wrapped his arms around me. My body responded without him needing to pull me up to his level. I raised myself up as much as I could so he could kiss me deep. He pulled me to my bed and never stopped kissing me as he did. I followed obediently because when this man kissed me, all I wanted to do was obey him. We more or less fell onto my bed, with me on top of him and we both laughed. I was pretty sure he forgot how much smaller my room was then his and therefore misjudged where my bed was. Despite the laughs his hand held my head to him so that we could keep kissing. I felt his hand trace the small of my back, over and over again and it made me tremble.
How can a spot so simple feel this good?
***Ring Ring***
"I am not answering that." Edward whispered the words before kissing me again as I giggled in response.
"What if it's your brother?"
"Who?" I laughed harder as his hands slowly started to travel up my back, following my spine in that way I swore he just knew would render me powerless. God it feels so good when he does it.
"Your sister?" I laughed into his mouth as he ignored my words completely. "Your mom?"
"I'm going to have to ask you not to speak of my mother while half-naked beautiful." I laughed outright at his whispered order and he took my distraction as the perfect opportunity to twist us so that he was on top of me.
"We're supposed to be getting ready." My words held no weight and we both knew it. I wasn't exactly putting up a fight, what with my hands all over him and pulling him as close to me as I could. Luckily the ringing stopped and I smiled as he sighed in relief.
"We have time."
"No we don't." My laughs continued as he again ignored my words.
His mouth switched to my neck and my body trembled with the light sucking he started doing. "Do you want me to stop?"
"That's not fair..." I whined as he continued his tantalizing seduction.
"I never said I play fair."
I heard Edward's phone ring again and him groan before checking the screen. Also I thought I heard something else but couldn't be sure over the sounds of us. "It's my dad. I'll shoot him a text really quick." He started to do just that, not removing himself from on top of me just as I definitely heard a voice, sounding far away.
"Edward..." I was about to tell him that I think Angela's home when my bedroom door slowly started to open. I wanted to yell for her to stop but everything happened so fast while also in slow motion.
"I think she's home. I saw her purse on... OH MY GOD!"
"Angela!..." I somehow quickly extracted myself from Edward and pulled myself to a sitting position with my arms wrapped around my legs, trying to cover as much of myself as possible.
OH MY GOD!
"Uhhhhh..." Now the normal thing to do in this situation would be to make a quick exit or at least apologize, but in Angela's defense it took a lot to surprise her and she clearly wasn't prepared to handle THIS level of shock.
I glanced at Edward through my mortification and took in his confused face as he glanced between myself and Angela who was still frozen in the doorway. In true Edward fashion he looked back to his phone while pulling himself back up to standing, keeping calm and collected the whole way. Nothing could seem to rattle this man. He seemed to finish his text before stuffing his phone back into his pocket and turning to face Angela, his normal charmingly sexy smile in place. "Good evening Angela. It's nice to see you again." Angela's eyes had followed him looking like the quentessential deer in the headlights. Her phone was still hanging at her ear as her eyes shifted to me. As soon as our eyes met her smile grew wide.
Oh God...
"Edward! It's so nice to see you again too." She gave him a quick hug while shooting me a look that screamed 'We are SO GONNA discuss this.' He hugged her back politely and just as they parted Angela seemed to remember she had someone on the phone.
"Hello? Yeah sorry I walked in on Bella... anyway she just startled me is all." I blushed and buried my face in my knees. "Bella?" I looked up and she was holding her phone out to me while watching Edward with a mischievous grin. "It's your dad."
KILL ME NOW
Wordlessly I reached for the phone. She brought it over to me then took her place right next to Edward. "Hey dad. What are you doing home right now? I thought you guys were going to the rez tonight?"
"Edward?"
"Dad..." Oh GOD... "...I told you about him. He's my boyfriend." I couldn't bring myself to look up at Edward as I spoke. This is absolutely mortifying. What was Edward thinking right now.
"That's also the only thing you've told us. He's spending time at your apartment, alone with you?" It was a question but not REALLY a question.
"Dad... yes." I love my father and I respect him to much to lie to him but at the same time I'm an adult and I don't have to explain myself. Of course knowing that and actually feeling that are two different things. No matter my age I will always be his little girl and this had to be a tough pill to swallow... whatever conclusions he was drawing.
The silence on the other end of the phone was deafening. I mustered up the courage to look up and Angela mouthed 'sorry' to me not that I blamed her for this. It was obvious that my father had heard Edward speak, after knowing Angela was looking for me in our apartment... in my bedroom.
"Your mother and I just needed to confirm that you're still coming up next weekend." My dad did not sound okay. He was always quiet but this was almost deadly calm.
"Of course I'm coming... Late next Friday." I could almost picture that wordless head nod he did but no sound came out. "I love you."
"I love you too Bells. I'll see you next weekend." We hung up at the same time and my eyes met Edward who looked deeply concerned by whatever expression I wore.
"I'm so sorry B. Charlie called me just as I got off the elevator and said he couldn't reach you and wanted to know if I was home... and if you were" She trailed off as her eyes flashed between us.
"It's fine..." I tried to smile but I felt weird and maybe a little guilty, even-though I shouldn't.
"Angela, would you give us a minute please?" Edward spoke calmly and respectfully. She nodded eagerly and made a quick escape, closing my door behind her.
As soon as I heard the door click I apologized to Edward. "I'm so sorry about that. I'm sure it was weird. With Angela coming in..." He walked over to the bed and pulled me up so that I was standing, chest to chest, with him.
"Are you okay?" He was ignoring my attempt to dodge my own discomfort.
"I'm okay."
"With your father?" It was clear that he picked up the tension between my dad and me.
"He's not exactly used to me..." I was trying to find the word.
"...being grown up?" He supplied the words sweetly. I nodded and he tilted my head up to him. "You can tell me all this stuff Bella."
"It just feels stupid... Me having to... hide I guess... some aspects of our..."
"...physical relationship?" He supplied the words again and I smiled at his understanding. "No parent lets go easily sweetheart."
"Yeah but it's weird." He brushed my hair aside and I watched his eyes as he followed the strands for a moment. "Is it annoying to you?" Is it childish nonsense to him? I knew what Edward had said about my age not bothering him anymore but something like that phone call had to pull the difference to the surface. After all did Edward ever have to explain 'adult time' to his parents? Of course not.
"No." He smiled at my doubtfully worried expression. He leaned down and our lips met in a sizzling kiss that caught my breathing off guard. It was intense but it didn't linger. He pulled back and smiled at me "I love you." The words weren't there as just our normal greeting for one-another, it was an answer to how worried I was. I didn't want my dad's discomfort to make me seem to young for Edward. I didn't want anything outside to put a strain on us and his words told me he felt the same. He wouldn't let any of this bother him, so long as I did the same.
"I love you too." We kissed and just held each-other for a moment before Edward pulled away from me and smiled. "What?"
"I told my father I'd call him back, work issue he needs help with. And I know of a certain room-mate who's probably dying for some answers from you Ms. Swan." I blushed while groaning and covering my face. He chuckled and gave me a reassuring hug. "May as well get it over with while I'm here to whisk you away fairly quickly."
"You have this all planned out, don't you?" I looked up at him and had to laugh at his expression that said 'Of course I do.'
He held me around the waist and kissed right where his mark is before moving up to my ear. "Wear the purple one beautiful. I want to think about that color tonight."
And just like that he makes everything better while turning me completely red...
…...
Edward 'excused' himself to Angela under the pretense of needing to make a call. She eagerly jumped on the opportunity to come barreling into my room with the single happiest face I'd ever seen on her. Almost as soon as Edward closed my door I heard her, in a much to loud voice, yell
'Oh My GOD... LOOK AT YOUR NECK..."
I closed my eyes and tried to will myself not to blush. "Ummmm." I tried to cover the plainly visible bruise not that it wasn't way to late for that.
"Oh no you don't..." She walked right up to me and examined Edward's handy work. Her eyes absolutely danced with mirth as she traced the mark briefly before looking back at me. "So... Mr. So-incredibly-beyond-cute likes to bite does he?"
"Ummmm." For some stupid reason I couldn't stop a large smile coming through the massive embarrassment I felt.
"Look at that smug smile. You liked it didn't you?" And she calls me smug... Her face was positively triumphant right now.
"Maybe...a little." Or a lot... Who's measuring?
"So I take it the first night together went...well..." Her head bobbed a bit waiting for me to use her slow sentence as a jumping off point to I suppose 'spill my guts'.
"We spent the night together before." Her eyes narrowed in a 'you know exactly what I meant' way and I sighed while turning a bit darker.
"Everything was perfect." I lowered my face and quickly wrapped my throw blanket around myself, using the small bit on the top to shield my neck.
"B..." She grabbed my hand and sat us both on my bed.
"A..." I smiled at her eye-roll.
"Come on you have to spill."
"No I don't."
"Please."
"Please?" I gave her a small bitch brow. The woman wasn't known to ask for what she wanted.
"Come on B. Did you...you know..."
"Come again?" I smiled just a bit wider at her narrowed eyes.
"I dunno did you... come again? Or at all?"
"Oh God." I immediately dropped all pretense and hid my face.
"Oooohhh that's a yes!"
"OH MY GOD. Shusssshhh" I clasped my hand over her mouth. "Edward is right out there."
"And we both know how much you'd rather he was in here." She winked at me. "I saw him all over you when I came in here."
"Not...all over me." What a stupid statement... I really should never play poker
"Bella you're in your underwear and he was quite literally on top of you and between your legs." Now it was her turn with the bitch brow.
"Yes and thank-you for revealing that I had my boyfriend in my bedroom with me... directly to my FATHER."
"I did not. All I said was 'Oh my God'."
"Yes right after telling him you were going into our apartment and that you knew I was home somewhere."
"Soooo."
"Soooo he heard Edward's voice, he had to."
"Again not my fault. Plus it's not like Charlie knew we were all in your room."
"My father's not an idiot."
"No and you aren't a child. You can entertain men if you want."
"Seriously... entertain men...plural? This is the first time I've ever...entertained anyone." Her big smile alerted me to the fact that I'd just said way to much.
"So there was... entertainment."
"Not here." I mumbled the words and she jumped in place on the bed a bit. I just tried to silently remind myself to get this over with quickly.
"But there was at his place?" I closed my eyes and glanced at my bedroom door. That stupid smile wouldn't leave as I thought of last night and this morning. The way Edward had taken care of me each time. The way he had touched me, kissed me, assured me, and everything else I'd needed him to do. The lust in his eyes and the sheer need he showed for me, all of it was still with me and I doubted I'd ever forget even 1 second of it.
True that I'd never been so nervous as I was last night but this morning I doubt I'd ever felt so powerful. When he'd first shown me his bathroom and asked me point blank if I'd be open to showering with him, at first I'd been really scared but then I saw... I mean really SAW how excited he looked. Knowing that he'd clearly fantasized about me in that shower with him, it made me WANT to do it, for him. I WANTED to fulfill that dream for him. When the opportunity came I hadn't even needed to think about it. I just told him I wanted to and the next thing I knew Edward had never looked so thrilled and completely open to me. My strong Mr. Cullen was so vulnerable as he fought with the desire to have me and the need to make sure I was okay. His two sides that I loved equally. The strong side and the eternal protector.
"Look at that faraway smile. You're thinking about it aren't you." She sounded more than a little crazed in her excitement.
"Sort-of."
"Sort-of? Come on..."
"I was thinking about after..."
"What happened after?"
"He was...good to me. Sweet. He took care of me." I wasn't willing to give up any more detail than that. Those details belonged to Edward and me. No one else.
"Did it hurt a lot?" She was already a lot calmer. Happy with what little I gave her. A lot of people probably thought Angela was a bit much but she was truly my best friend and just wanted to be a part of the important things in my life. There wasn't much that could be more important than the man I've fallen hard for.
"Only at first."
"I take it that's where the bite falls into place?" She was still trying to wiggle out some details.
"I don't actually remember him biting me. I just saw it this morning."
"You didn't feel that?"
"I guess I was focused on other things." I blushed even redder.
"With a man like Edward who the Hell could blame you."
…...
"Make-up isn't exactly your specialty." The concealer I got was apparently the wrong color or something because Angela was digging through her own makeup for something better.
"What's wrong with this stuff." I held up the unused concealer that she had disregarded without even trying.
"For one it's to dark."
"Isn't concealer meant to hide stuff? It's supposed to be dark."
"B you're one of the fairest skinned people I've ever met. That stuff would stick out almost as much as the hickey."
Eventually she found this stuff that I honestly thought was to light but after she used that and some foundation I couldn't see the mark anymore. She took the opportunity to have me at her mercy to do the rest of my make-up as well and since I'd needed her help with the cover-up I humored her.
"Big weekend for the two of you huh? First one alone together, meeting his family for the first time. Other firsts..." I smiled at her prodding but ignored her attempts.
"The first time he told me he loves me."
"What?"
"He told me he loves me." That was the one detail of the night I was happy to blurt out.
"Seriously? He said it first."
"Kind-of." I told her the basics of that story and she laughed while shaking her head and going over to my closet to look for an outfit. "The purple one on the bed." I blushed as I pointed to the dress Edward had insisted on. God I may never look at purple clothing again without blushing thinking of where the color would undoubtedly steer Edward's mind.
"Oooh, bold. I love it." She brought it over, oblivious to my reasons for picking it. "Good choice B. Beautiful just like you."
…...
"Jesus Christ." Edward took a shameless perusal of me after we left my room and I loved his clear approval more than I probably should. I loved when he looked at me like that. He gestured for me to walk closer to him while watching me with victorious need.
"I wore the purple one." I stated the obvious cutely as his hands naturally went to hold my sides once I was close enough to him. He nodded in clear approval as he stepped closer to me and took my hands before leaning down and kissing me.
"You look amazing."
"Good enough to wow your family?" I tried to sound playful but it was hard to hide my nerves.
"Beautiful, you look good enough to eat."
Thank GOD he whispered that...
…...
"So fidgety." He was mocking me as he drove to his parents house and
I sat next to him, completely incapable of holding still.
"I can't help it. I get twitchy when nervous. I can't hold still." He reached over the consul for my hand and brought it to his lips, giving me a sweet kiss while still watching the road.
"Baby for the millionth time, my family are all very cool. They'll love you."
"If they weren't would you honestly warn me?"
He laughed at my remark and kissed my hand again. "If I knew otherwise I would simply not bring you until Id had words with them all. Something along the lines of 'Fuck off'." I blushed at his honest response. It was crude words but also sweet that his loyalty would stay with me even if his family didn't approve of us.
"Does your mom know much about me?" I was mostly worried about his mom's approval. Siblings were the least of my concern. Mothers on the other hand held a lot of pull over their sons. If I didn't earn her vote I was in bad shape.
"She knows you're Lizzie's teacher and they all know about your car accident."
"That's it?" I wasn't sure if that was a relief because it gave us lots to talk about or if I was worried because she might find the lack of information troubling.
"My brother probably knows the most. He knows you're in college, and he knows what you look like as does Alice..."
"He also knows I'm 21."
He heavy sighed and glanced over at me. "Yes he knows. Sweetheart it's nothing to worry about."
"I'm not trying to make an issue where there isn't one." I took a deep breath. "I just keep worrying that it's going to upset someone."
"Well let that problem be for another day. We're here." I looked up as Edward parked us in the driveway of a beautiful house with a wrap around driveway that could park 8 or so vehicles. It looked like we were the last ones here because I saw 2 other cars in the driveway as well as 2 in the open garage. The house was smaller than Edward's but just as beautiful plus since it was closer to the city it was probably a lot more expensive.
I made no move to open my door but Edward was more than happy to walk to my door and open it. I looked up at him through my nervous eyes and he smiled kindly before crouching down and taking my hands in both of his. "Baby you have nothing to be nervous about."
"This is just a first for me."
"What is?"
"Meeting the parents. I've never done that before."
"Never?" He seemed surprised.
"I told you my longest relationship was 3 months and it was never serious, at least on my end." No need t elaborate that I already knew the guys family since his dad and mine are best friends.
"That sounds like an interesting story." He laughed before standing up straight, taking me with him.
"I love you." I felt the need to say it as I stood on my toes to kiss him, needing the comfort before everything else happened.
"I love you too beautiful." He deepened my innocent intentions and I laughed when he pulled me closer.
"Hey you have a lawyer on your face." I jumped back immediately at a very loud and deep voice speaking from much closer to us then I thought possible.
"Emmett shut the hell up." Oh God...
I looked up and standing at the large truck in front of us was an absolutely huge guy. He was so bulky with a ton of muscle. He was at least Edward's height, adding to his intimidating form. He walked right up to us jovially and stopped in front of Edward before doing that bro hug thing guys do. Yeah he was Edward's height but looked almost twice as wide. So this is Edward's brother/best friend...
"You made it. I was kind-of expecting you to go AWOL." He laughed while Edward rolled his eyes.
"I told you we would be here. Here we are." He wrapped his arm around my middle as he spoke and it comforted me like it always did... having him close.
"You must be the fair maiden Bella who my brother has told us all absolutely NOTHING about."
I blushed at the funny statement and nodded. "That's me." He reached for my hand and I took it, smiling at his kind face.
"You are way to good for my brother. Blink twice if you're here against your will." I laughed at how absurd he sounded pretending to whisper that to me. I somehow doubted this guy even knew how to whisper.
"Emmett stop torturing your brother." I looked up as a blonde woman stepped out from inside the truck's passenger side. My eyes may have bulged slightly at the sight of her. I had thought Tanya was gorgeous but compared to this woman she was at best average. This woman was tall, maybe a couple inched over 6 foot and had gorgeous curly blonde hair that was a beautiful light shade she wore down and natural with just a few silver clips on the left side, positioned to keep the golden curls out of her face. She wore black leggings, heels and a silver top that was beautiful and shimmery. She looked amazing. This must be Edward's sister-in-law.
"Hello." She held her hand out to me and I accepted it with a nervous smile. "I'm Rosalie, feel free to call me Rose. This goof here is my husband. A ten year old boy stuck in a 30year old man's body." Emmett shrugged before pulling her close and kissing her cheek cutely with a loud smack, making her roll her eyes.
"You love your immature husband."
"Most of the time." Edward laughed before kissing the top of my head and leading us towards the house.
…...
"MOM I'M HERE. THE PARTY CAN START NOW!" I jumped a bit at Emmett yelling that as soon as we entered the house. Edward hadn't knocked and instead just let himself and the rest of us right in. I smiled at that. For some reason I found it comforting.
It was a two story house with a huge window on the back side that we could see from the foyer. As much as Edward seemed to favor darker colors in his house his parents seemed to like the opposite. The flooring was flawless cream colored wood and all the furniture was in various light shades.
I was looking around at everything as Edward took my coat and Emmett took Rose's. As soon as it was off I felt like my armor was gone too. I rubbed my arm a little nervously as Emmett leaned in to say some things quietly to Edward.
"You look nervous?" I looked up at Rose as she smiled kindly.
"I was hoping I wasn't so obvious." She laughed before giving my hand a quick reassuring squeeze.
"I still remember when Emmett brought me to meet all of them when we were first friends. I was so nervous but I promise you will love Esme."
I stared at her for a moment, surprised she knew I was most anxious about meeting Edward's mother. She laughed at my face. "All women are nervous to meet in-laws but the mother-in-law is simply terrifying."
"She's not my mother-in-law." I blushed at Rose's off-hand wording. She smiled at my expression before leaning in to whisper in my ear.
"She wasn't mine either."
…...
"Oh by the way I kind-of forgot to tell Mom that Bella was coming." Emmett says the words like it's nothing before starting to stroll past the rest of us. Edward immediately grabbed his collar and pulled him back. It would have been amusing if it wasn't for how scared I suddenly was.
She didn't know I was coming?
"What?" Edward did not look amused. "You told me that you were calling her after you and I got off the phone. You expressly told me that you would tell her."
"I forgot. We were talking about the rental property I need designs for."
"Emmett I swear to God..." Edward was lecturing his brother in a very father-like tone and I wished I could laugh at such a big guy getting scolded.
"What's the big deal?" He honestly seemed to not understand.
"Well for one have you met our mother? And for another,... HAVE you MET our mother?"
"Oh don't be so dramatic. She'll be happy you finally brought your girl to meet us." I blushed as Edward wrapped his arm around my waist while glaring at his brother.
"Emmett..."
"MOM, we got company!..." With that yelled statement, Emmett strolled off with Rosalie mouthing sorry to me before following him.
"Oh God."
"Baby..." He grabbed me and kissed my temple. "I'm sorry beautiful. I should have just called my parents myself. I was just a little distracted this morning by a certain sleeping beauty next to me." He was trying to charm me to make it better.
"I'm not intruding am I? What if she just wanted family time?"
"Bella stop." He held my arms at my side and rubbed them up and down before grabbing my hands. "You could never be an intrusion."
…...
Edward led me into the large living room where Emmett had already taken up Rosalie into his arms while he spoke to another man. He was facing away from the entrance Edward and I had walked through so I couldn't see the mans face. "Dad?" Edward spoke and he turned around. He was tall just like his sons and had pale blonde hair. His eyes were green just like his sons and daughter. The famous Cullen eyes I've grown to love so much... He smiled at Edward before his eyes went to me. I held Edward's hand in a death grip as we stood there. Luckily I didn't seem to be hurting him because he made no effort to pull away from me. I could feel him stroke my hand with his thumb though as we stood there.
"Edward." He smiled kindly and walked up to us.
"I'm sorry for lack of communication..." Edward shot his brother another glare that Emmett shrugged off before smiling at me playfully. "... this is Bella, my girlfriend." He released my death grip on his hand and stroked the small of my back. "Bella this is my father, Carlisle."
"Hello." I sounded so small as I spoke. To my relief he didn't seem put off by me at all. He smiled encouragingly and reached gently for my hand. I took it with a soft smile. He had a kind face, much like Emmett and Alice.
"Hello Bella. I've heard such wonderful things about you." I blushed before looking at Edward questioningly.
He laughed at my accusing eyes and shook his head. "Not from me beautiful. That would be the youngest Cullen who never stops bragging about you." I blushed but smiled thinking of Lizzie.
"Lizzie speaks about all of you all the time. She's even drawn me a few pictures of you all." Carlisle laughed.
"My artistic grand-daughter is a talented little lady." I nodded at his sincere words. She's such a lucky little girl to have such a loving family. I felt a lot of relief over how easy it is to bond over Lizzie. I missed her though, wishing she was here to make me feel better.
"Just like her dad." Edward spoke with mock arrogance and I laughed.
"More like her uncle. All her best traits come from me." Emmett puffed up his chest and Rose rolled her eyes while shaking her head at me. I smiled at her mock irritation with her goofball husband. She was sweet, already accepting me, at least enough to try and make me feel like I'm part of the family. I could see why she meant so much to Edward.
"Who's best traits?" I looked up as I saw Alice come into the room with a couple glasses of some kind of iced drink. She looked up at me and immediately handed off the drinks to a surprised Emmett and came over to me quickly. "OH MY GOD... Bella" She sounded so excited as she pulled me away from Edward and into yet another of her amazingly strong hugs, just like during the fundraiser. I couldn't resist hugging her back though despite my surprise. She was just so bright and easy to respond to. She was wearing black pants similar to Rose and a green top that drew out those verdant eyes. "You're here." She pulled back, somehow having a hold of both my hands as she appraised me. "And of course you look sexy and perfect."
My eyes widened at her description and I could hear Edward chuckle from beside me. "Thank-you Alice." What else could I say?
"I love that dress. Purple is definitely your color Bella." I blushed dark red but before I could get embarrassed, Edward almost knowingly pulled me from his sister and into his side, kissing the top of my head. I would have loved his comforting embrace except for his ulterior motive for pulling me so close.
"I agree. You should always wear purple my sexy girl." He whispered tight into my ear and I got darker. Does he really have to do this to me right now?
"Thank-you. I love your top too." I tried to ignore his velvety smooth talk and what it did to me as I smiled and talked to Alice, who was oblivious to what her brother was doing.
"Awww." She smiled and pulled me away from Edward again. She put her arm through my elbow and steered me towards where she'd walked in. "Mom." She practically squealed as she stopped near the entrance.
"Yes Alice?" I heard a beautiful chime like voice, similar to Alice's call from the other room.
"Come here."
"Sweetie I'm cooking." Alice heavy sighed before smirking at me.
"This is so worth it mom!" I lowered my head. Nothing like having all eyes on me...
"Alice you don't need to yell across the..." A woman walked in now and she was... WOW. I knew that Edward's mother had to be about 60 years old but she did not look it. She was gorgeous. Her hair was the exact same shade as Edward's and she had his strong facial features. Clearly he got all my favorite traits from his mother and I suddenly felt way more intimidated than I had before. The whole family, except Rose of course, had the same green colored eyes but these two had something else behind them. Just like her son, her eyes were powerful and near impossible to look away from.
Said eyes went to Edward, somewhere behind me, and narrowed infinitesimally. Yikes. It was subtle but I could feel the motherly scold from here. Her gaze shifted back to me but they were purely kind now. "Hello, you must be Bella slash Ms. Swan." She stepped forward and like her daughter had she hugged me instead of shaking my hand. I was caught off guard for a moment but recovered fast enough to hug her back. When we pulled apart her eyes held support. "I'm Esme, Edward's mother."
"It's nice to meet you." I brushed my hair behind my ears... I should have worn it up so that I looked more put together. She looked flawless. "I'm really sorry for intruding like this..." I stuttered out the words.
"Oh no you don't." She cut off my apology with a shake of her head and further narrowed eyes on her son. "If anyone should have told me it should have been my son. You don't need to apologize for anything. We're all happy to meet you."
"Before you go blaming me you may want to speak with your other son." Edward came up to me and wrapped both arms around my waist. Esme immediately crossed her arms and looked to her opposite son that was about twice her size, with clear judgmental purpose. He shrank under her glare and mumbled an apology. Rose rubbed his neck with her hand before hugging her mother-in-law.
"Honestly Emmett. How long were we on the phone for?" He was about to answer but she wasn't done. "...and Edward." Her eyes went back to us and she held the same displeased look. "You know how your brother is. Why on earth didn't you tell me that you were FINALLY going to bring your stunning girlfriend to meet us?" I blushed at her description of me as she shook her head at him. She didn't even seem to realize she'd complimented me.
"Well I am sorry Mom." His hands rubbed my abdomen and he gave me a small kiss on the head, making me smile. "It was a last minute decision though." I looked up at him, difficult from this angle considering his height but I managed. He was smirking a bit at her and her eyebrow raised and she didn't lose the glare as her eyes bounced between both brothers.
"So last minute that you couldn't spare a simple phone call so poor Bella here didn't feel like an intrusion?" Before Edward could respond she waved her hand dismissively at him and instead pulled me in gently and gave my side a reassuring rub as she led me to the kitchen.
"Nevermind my impolite sons..." She spoke loudly to ensure they heard her displeasure. "... I hear you are a tremendous cook?" She asked naturally and I blushed while following her lead as she more or less dismissed everyone else so the two of us could talk alone. No asking just leading. Edward is clearly his mothers son.
"I try."
"Oh you're modest too." She laughed as we entered the kitchen. It was big, just like everything else in the house but there was a lot of customization in here I'd never seen before. She had a huge fridge and 3 ovens alone in the space. There was also a built in griddle and cutting block among other cool details.
"I really am sorry for the surprise." She shook her head and led me to sit at the counter before sitting down as well.
"No need to apologize." She waved off my apology with a kind smile. "Truthfully I couldn't be happier to meet you." I read no insincerity in her voice making me smile right back.
"Really?"
"Of course. I think in the 35 years of having my reclusive son..." She rolled her eyes and I smiled at her word choice for Edward. "...I've only had the 'pleasure' of meeting about 4 or 5 of his girlfriends. Most of which were when he was a teenager." She rolled her eyes when she said the word pleasure so I took that to mean she hadn't been impressed by Edward's past choices.
"I take it you weren't a fan of them?" I had no idea why but she made me feel comfortable and relaxed as she spoke. Maybe it was the location as I always felt at home when in a kitchen or maybe it was the company. Esme's intimidating self wasn't lessened right now by any means but her honest nature was somehow comforting to be around.
"Am I that obvious?" She spoke conspiratorially and I laughed. She's fun too, underneath the intimidation. She really is a lot like Edward. "Honestly they were fine... most of them."
"I'm sensing you didn't really like Tanya."
"God no. I hated her." I was a bit thrown by her words, not expecting her to blurt her feelings like that.
"I've only really met her once." I shook my head and gave a weak smile.
"I'd be surprised if it was more than that." She huffed. "She doesn't really associate herself with 'the help'." She used air quotes and I blushed. "Oh sweetie I didn't mean it that way." She stroked my hair through my blush and I shook my head.
"I know it's just I actually only met Tanya yesterday... officially." The fact that Tanya hadn't seemed to even find me a little bit familiar went right along with the visual Esme was painting of her former daughter-in-law. Esme seemed confused by what I said. "She never actually came to meet me at school, you know as Lizzie's teacher." I explained briefly what happened at Edward's house and to my surprise she laughed.
"Oh that's just to rich. That stuck up... " She caught herself before saying something that I knew would be colorful. I smiled and she cleared her throat. "So she never burdened herself with even meeting her daughter's teacher but ironically managed to meet you anyway as her ex husband's now girlfriend."
"It was pretty weird." I chuckled nervously, still remembering how I felt yesterday when faced with Tanya. "Especially when she didn't realize who I was."
"What do you mean?" I explained how even-though Tanya and I had never met directly we'd been in the same room before but somehow she didn't recognize me when we met at Edward's house. "Again I can't say I'm surprised. She's always been stuck-up." Her face was annoyed for a moment before she stood up and went to the oven to pull something out. There hadn't even been an timer. I guess she was just that good. "I'll never know what Edward saw in her."
I blushed wondering what he sees in me, especially by comparison to someone like Tanya. We're stark opposites. "They had a lot in common at some point." I didn't know if I was asking or stating the observation.
"If an unhealthy obsession with work counts as something in common I suppose you're right." She pulled out some garlic bread from the oven that smelled way better than mine. After she laid that out she went to the stove and opened a pot to stir something.
"That smells really good." She smiled at my timid compliment.
"Lizzie said you're nice." I blushed. "She also said you make the best salads." I laughed and shrugged my shoulders. "Perhaps you can give me some tips. I can't get that girl to take even a bite of mine."
With that any tension I'd felt with Esme just about vanished. I offered to help her make a salad and teach her the recipe for the dressing Lizzie loved. She was ecstatic and gave me tips for the bread in return. Edward was right, his mom is amazing.
"Okay I refuse to be out of the gossip." Out of nowhere Alice walked into the kitchen with Rosalie behind her. I flushed and averted my eyes back to the task of grating cheese for the salad.
"No gossip my sweet daughter." Esme smiled innocently at Alice who narrowed her eyes.
"Do you honestly expect me to buy that?" I laughed at the back and forth between the two of them.
"No gossip to be had. Just some catty trash talk." Esme shrugged and Rose laughed this time.
"Oh gee with Edwards new girlfriend I wonder who you could be trashing mom?" Rosalie laughed and Esme shrugged.
"Uggg I hate Tanya. Vapid self righteous..." It was fairly obvious that Alice was about to use the same word Esme had caught herself on before Esme threw a dishcloth at her head to silence her.
"No need to waste our breathe on her."
"I'm just glad Edward finally has a good girl." She sounded so relieved as she spoke the words, like a literal weight had been lifted off her shoulders.
"You all only just met me." I came here tonight expecting at least a small amount of concern from them but instead they were accepting me with open arms. "How good can I be?"
"Don't take this the wrong way but even if it wasn't such a low bar to beat I've seen how my brother's been since meeting you." Alice spoke honestly nudging my shoulder as she drank her tea.
"How has he been since he met me?" My curiosity wouldn't allow me to not ask.
"Happy."
…...
"Dinner is ready." We all left the kitchen together and all the men were standing together near the couch talking. Whatever the topic was, it stopped the instant we entered the room. I went to follow everyone to the dinning room but Edward held me back. He waited until everyone left before speaking.
He held my hand in one of his while the other stroked my face. "What was that conversation about beautiful?" He watched me with a joking amount of accusation and I laughed.
"Your mom and sisters were just giving me all the dirt on you." He laughed then pulled me closer, whispering into my ears.
"Baby they don't even know the half of my naughty capabilities." I pushed him away playfully and shook my head. He chuckled before his face turned serious. He stroked my temple and watched my eyes. "Do you like them?"
"I love them." I blushed and he kissed my cheek.
"I told you that you would."
"You know saying 'I told you so' isn't very nice."
"I never claimed to be very nice." I felt the warmth of his whispered words right before I felt him kiss my neck. I was prepared for his onslaught though... barely. I pulled away from him before I could get completely pulled in.
"Behave."
"You should really give up on that request gorgeous."
"Never. I have faith that you can."
"Your faith is incredibly misplaced Ms. Swan."
"Maybe..." I kissed him and thankfully he kept it innocent.
"So what did you ladies talk about?"
"A little bit of this and that." He was very curious and I was enjoying keeping him in the dark.
"Beautiful don't make me force the answers out of you."
"I'm not afraid of you."
"You will be." There he goes again with those kisses on my neck. "I can be quite thorough in my torture methods."
Those lips pressed more firmly into my neck and I fought closing my eyes. "Do not mark me again." I tried to laugh through what his lips were doing to me. I don't think he bought it though considering my heavy breathing.
"Of course not. That's for later." He spoke with an evil grin and I blushed deeper.
"They just wanted to talk about how great you are... happy." I didn't want to get into anymore detail than that. I wouldn't know how to. I felt significance in that simple word she spoke... 'Happy' but I wasn't sure why. How can a simple description like Happy mean so much? Edward didn't seem to read to much into what I said though. He laughed off my wording before giving me a sweet kiss.
"Of course I'm happy. I have you."
…...
"I'm sorry for the interrogation Bella but my son is a secretive man so I'm afraid we are forced to put you under a spotlight tonight." Carlisle chuckled after the millionth question I'd been asked tonight. Most had come from Alice, some of which had made me blush.
"It's okay. I don't mind." And I didn't. Most of the questions were pretty basic such as where I went to college. What do my parents do. Things like that.
"Awesome my turn." Emmett rubbed his hands together greedily and I had to laugh at his expression. "What does a sweet girl like you see in my boring as hell brother?"
"Thanks so much Emmett..." Edward rolled his eyes as he drank some wine. We were eating chicken alfredo and it was amazing. Edward claims I'm a great cook but I don't hold a candle to his mom.
"Maybe I like boring men."
"Thanks beautiful." Edward spoke dryly before smirking at me mischievously. He tickled my side and I squeaked just a little in my surprise. This of course turned me red from embarassment and Edward steered my red face into his chest while he chuckled and kissed me. I pulled away and noticed his sister smiling wide at our display. This of course made me blush harder.
"What courses do you still need to take for your degree?" Emmett asked a serious question now so I answered. I loved talking about my degree as I'd been working hard at it for awhile now.
"Oh I didn't realize you're still in school?" Esme smiled encouragingly.
"My masters yes. Honestly teachers always have more to learn. Curriculum changes as well as information." I was a bit nervous this would lead to my age but no-one steered it that way.
"It sounds very rewarding." Carlisle spoke now and was genuine. Edward reached over from under the table and intertwined our fingers together. I smiled at him and he leaned in to give me a small kiss. I was surprised he did it in front of his family but it would be a lie to say my heart didn't skip a beat knowing he didn't mind doing so.
"Maybe Bella should get a turn to ask us something?" Rosalie smiled at me, probably noticing my nerves.
"Oh... I can't think of anything." At least not on the spot like this.
"Come on. There's gotta be something." Alice laughed.
"Ummm, what do all of you do? What branch of medicine do you want to get into?" Basic question really but I was curious. I looked around at all of them as I asked. "I only really know what Rose does."
"I'm a property investor. Nothing to exciting but the common terminology is that I flip properties. I buy realty cheap, then fix it up to sell." Emmett shrugged off his career. "I'm more into my free-lance stuff. I help at shelters and with building/repairing low income housing."
Edward had told me that Emmett had met Rose at a women's shelter but I hadn't known the details behind it. I'd thought maybe he was a social worker. He seemed really good with people.
"I still haven't decided on my major yet unfortunately." Alice rolled her eyes like she was irritated with herself for this. "I'm torn between a few right now." I could understand her difficulties deciding. If I had ever gotten into medical I honestly had no idea how I would have ever decided on a specialty. All of it seemed amazing.
"Edward has probably told you that I'm on the board for our family's hospital. My specialty is in cardiology" I blushed at the reminder that this family owned an actual hospital. I can't even imagine what kind of money they all had to manage something like that.
"Sounds stressful." He laughed at my comment.
"Only sometimes. Thank God I have the best legal expert possible on the board." He smiled at Edward who laughed heartily in response.
"What do you want Dad?" I was confused. Edward's on the board in the hospital?
"You work at the hospital too?"
"I'm on the board so yes. I only go in a couple times a month though. I just monitor any potential major legal issues the hospital can encounter."
"You work to hard." I spoke softly as I rubbed his neck and jaw. He leaned in to kiss me on the cheek in response to my concern before pulling back to smile at me.
"That's exactly what I keep telling him." Esme nodded at me. "Chief legal officer at the firm. Serving on the board at the hospital. Full time father... Something has to give Edward."
"I enjoy being busy." He shrugged off her concern but kept a hold of my hand, rubbing it with his thumb. Knowing how busy he really is makes me amazed at how much time he does spend with me. I honestly have no idea how he manages his time to be able to be with me as much as he is. I felt a bit guilty now for taking up so much of his free time.
"Spread yourself to thin and how will you keep a girl like Bella interested?" Emmett laughed while eating more.
"I've managed up to this point." He raised a challenging brow to his brother who smirked at him. Edward had his arm on the back of my chair now, playing with the tips of my hair without seeming to notice he was doing it.
"Still how much attention can you possibly give?" Emmett's words were deliberately worded, leaving little to the imagination on what he was hinting at. I blushed at the innuendo.
"I'm a very attentive man."
"Sure you are." He rolled his eyes at Edward playfully.
"I have no complaints." I reached down for the courage to muster those words before I leaned over to kiss Edward's cheek just once. Hopefully my words sounded confident despite making Emmett laugh.
…...
"Bella what are you doing next weekend? I'm sure Lizzie would love to have you here for family night and we'd love to see you again." I smiled genuinely at the acceptance from Edward's parents. I had not been expecting an invite from his mom.
"Oh well..." I stuttered not knowing what to say.
"Bella will be out of town next weekend. She's visiting her parents." I looked over graciously to Edward who smiled before rubbing my thigh under the table.
"Do you get to visit them often?" Alice asked eagerly.
"Not really. I work a lot and they work a lot."
"I imagine your father keeps pretty busy. Chief of Police right?" Carlisle spoke up again.
"Yes, it's a small town though." I was grateful that my father had rarely ever been put in a dangerous situation.
"And your mom manages a daycare?"
"Yeah she took over a few years ago from her boss who retired. That was my first job, working there." I smiled and Edward rubbed me more. I held his hand as he did, encouraging the touch. I loved the feel of him.
"Starting your love of children early?" Rosalie smiled.
"I loved children long before that. I've wanted to be a teacher for as long as I can remember."
"What do you do for fun in a small town? I've never lived out of the big city?" Emmett asked eagerly. "Cow tipping? Small town diner? Do they still have drive-in movies?" I laughed at the images in his head.
"Uhhh no drive in's and Forks doesn't really have farming."
"That's to bad. I always wanted to go cow-tipping."
"I'm fairly certain that's illegal Emmett." I laughed while Edward shook his head while rolling his eyes at his goofy brother.
"One of the main things we did for fun was go to 1st beach. It's beautiful there and bonfires are pretty common, along with surfing and stuff. Other than that hiking's popular and we actually get a lot of tourist backpackers through town."
"Sounds relaxing."
"When the teenagers aren't causing trouble I guess." I laughed thinking back to some of the antics played over the years. Because of what my dad does I've heard it all.
"1st beach, that's the reservation you told us about?"
"Yep. My dad spends most of his free time there, fishing. It's beautiful and the beaches are incredible to just relax at."
"Is there a casino?" Emmett looked eager again.
"No the Quileutes are a small tribe."
"Do you spend a lot of time on the reservation?"
"I used to but not really anymore."
"Why not?"
"Ummm." How do I explain that I had a weird break-up with someone there that has made all interactions since a little awkward.
"Sadly I've just grown apart from most of my friends there since I'm hardly able to be home anymore. I've lived in Seattle since I was 16, only being back home on breaks from school."
"That's to bad. Are you doing something fun with your parents next weekend?" Esme was so sweet in her interest.
"My mom and I have been planning a big party for my dad for his birthday. She's pulling out all the stops and he's going to probably hate every second of it." I laughed and they all joined in.
"Why will he hate it?"
"He just hates attention and prefers the quiet life. My mom on the hand loves to blow everything to the extreme and since it's his "Fabulous 40th" she absolutely can't be stopped."
It took me a minute to realize what I just said and why for a very long moment everyone got very quiet. I just admitted my dad's age, which of course revealed how young I am. I looked around and everyone seemed unreadable, glancing between myself and Edward. I looked to him as well and he sat perfectly normal, not responding in any way to the tension I felt. He really does have an amazing poker face.
Without warning Emmett started laughing hard while gesturing to Edward. "Dude your girlfriends dad is only four years older than you." He was the only one laughing but his mirth was more than enough for all of us.
"Yes he is and I'm surprised you could do the math without a calculator." I couldn't tell if Edward was playing with Emmett or was actually annoyed by the comment as I had my head hung a little low. I wanted to kick myself for making things feel like this after we'd had such a great night.
"Ha Ha." Emmett didn't seem to be picking up any animosity from his big brother, nor did he seem to notice the silence coming from the rest of us.
"Are you going to be able to do anything he does like for his birthday?" Esme asked casually and I breathed a sigh of relief that she was skating past the elephant in the room. I smiled up at her and she gave a little wink.
…...
"I told you everything would go great." Edward and I were curled up together in his parents family room, snuggled up together on the love-seat, off in our own world as his family talked and moved about.
"More 'I told you so's'?" I tried to look stern but I was to happy. I loved his family and not a single one of them had made me feel out of place for being with Edward.
"Hmmm." It wasn't an answer but he brushed my hair behind my ear and started kissing me, so now I was to distracted to care about an answer. His hand was lightly stroking down my side and leg and I could feel the warm trail, making me giggle just a bit as I felt him smile through our kiss.
"Geez Eddie let the girl breathe." I pulled back with a blush and saw Edward shoot his brother a death glare.
These two...
…...
"What are your plans for Thanksgiving Bella?"
"Well I'm working through Wednesday then the school is out until the following Tuesday."
"Will you be going back home for the holiday?"
"Maybe." I honestly didn't know yet. I usually did but it would require a lot of traveling plus the idea of being away from Edward for the entire holiday break wasn't appealing to me.
"What are you doing for Thanksgiving?" I looked to Edward as I asked softly but he just shrugged, seeming uninterested in the holiday.
"We usually do a big family thing but Edward is being mopey because Tanya will have Lizzie for Thanksgiving this year." Alice laughed and Edward rolled his eyes at her. I smiled to myself as I saw Edward's clear irritation for not having his little girl for the holiday.
Such an amazing dad as always.
I leaned forward and gave him a kiss on the cheek while also stroking his face softly. Those eyes that had pretended to barely register his sisters words, met mine and held me for a silent moment. We just watched each-other for a silent moment that was only interrupted when his sister started giggling at us.
"Awwww. You two are so cute."
"Shut-up Alice." Edward kissed my temple but didn't pull away from me. Instead he readjusted me so that I was nestled into his side and he could wrap his arm around my side.
"It's so sweet though." Her eyes held knowing but Edward ignored her and I just blushed and tried to be invisible. Were we being to touchy? I honestly didn't know. When I'm with Edward though touching him just feels so natural. Moving with him, smiling at him, all of it feels right.
After a small amount of talking Edward shook my shoulder lightly to get my attention. I looked up at him and he was smiling with bright eyes. "Did you want to see my piano?"
I couldn't have hidden how eager I was for anything in the world. I'd forgotten that Edward said his parents had one of his 2 pianos. "Yes." I couldn't even be embarrassed by the triumphant smile on his face as I practically yelled.
"Wait a minute she HASN'T heard you play yet?" Alice looked shocked as her eyes bounced between us.
"How would she have Alice? My piano is being repaired remember."
"Oh you're in for quite the treat Bella. Edward is an amazing muscian."
"If you do say so yourself." Edward laughed at his mothers praise.
"I do, but I also don't have to. Julliard, the orchestra, every musical talent scout, and absolutely everyone else all say it for me."
"Thanks mom." He laughed while I eagerly waited for him to show me the piano. Mercifully he took my hand and led me through the house to the opposite side of where everyone was relaxing. The whole first floor was pretty open except for one large wall that didn't connect on either side. As he pulled us to the other side of that I saw a second living space, fireplace and... a pitch black piano.
He didn't pause before leading me to the piano wordlessly and sitting down on the bench. I would have been content to stand and watch but he had other ideas. His eyes looked up at me and he held out his hand for mine. As soon as I placed it in his he led me to the bench next to him. The keys were beautiful and looked completely flawless. It was obvious Edward takes very good care of his instrument.
"Any requests beautiful?" He leaned in to whisper and despite the fact that I could feel how smug he was I was to excited to care. Finding out that Edward had a creative talent and outlet was amazing to me. I wanted to experience it.
"Anything you want. I just want to hear you." He smiled before reaching to stroke my hair out of my face and just watch me for a moment.
"Classical or something modern?" He was still watching me and I blushed under the intensity there. What was behind those eyes? Why was he looking at me like that?
"Don't you need to see the songs to play them?" He smiled at my question, or maybe it was my puzzled face since he wasn't pulling out any sheets to look at. I didn't even see any.
"Pick a song beautiful."
"Surprise me."
And he did...
END NOTES:
-Meeting the parents... Poor Bella. Lol
-Even at his parents house, Edward is a bit of a naughty boy. ;-)
-Show me the love in the reviews.
-CAST VOTES- I have the next couple chapters planned out for the big stuff but please comment on anything you'd like to read about. Whether for the couple or our supporting players.
