Faking It Chapter 17: Who Needs Shelter, a twilight fanfic

I know you're all chomping at the bit for the Academy Awards. It's the next chapter. But it turned out to be such a big night that it wound up being two chapters. More to love.

Thanks as always for the reviews. You're all amazing!

Disclaimer: Twilight's not mine.

BPOV

I leaned my head back against the smooth black leather seat of the SUV and closed my eyes, trying to ignore the sounds of shouting outside the dark windows. Sam was slowly, carefully navigating the car through the mass of paparazzi clustered outside of Edward's front gate. No matter how dark the windows were, somehow they knew it was me inside. I could hear my name, echoed over and over outside. "Bella, are you moving in with Edward?" "Bella, how did you get Edward to give up the women?" "Bella, did you tame him with sex?" "Bella, are you in love?"

Shut. The. Fuck. Up.

I knew I shouldn't care what they said to me or about me, but honestly, it was hard to pretend I didn't hear them. And to hear them now, when I was still vibrating inside from that moment in Edward's kitchen…Christ.

He still wanted me. I hadn't been sure. Since the night at my house, he'd been so distant, so painfully polite. I was sure he regretted what happened, and was possibly regretting ever wanting me in that way. Because all traces of it seemed to be gone. But then, he'd said that, then he'd looked at me that way, then it felt like the air between us caught fire. No, he still wanted it, wanted me. He was just holding himself back, I guess for all the same reasons I'd been keeping my distance from him. This is complicated, that would just make it more of a mess.

Except I didn't care anymore. No matter how it might blow up in my face later, I still wanted him now, whatever small part of him I could have. I hated my weakness, but that wouldn't stop me from throwing myself headfirst over the cliff with him at the slightest urging on his part. I just hoped I could put myself back together once I hit the bottom. If he ever decided to touch me again.

"Miss Swan?" Sam asked quietly. He'd been so silent during the drive that I completely forgot there was another person in the car with me. I felt like an ass for not being friendlier, although he didn't seem like much of a talker. "We're almost there. I'm going to pull up to the door. Stay put until I come to get you out of the back, okay?"

I nodded my understanding and slid my sunglasses into place, shouldering my bag securely. Sam exited the SUV and calmly moved through the shoving, jostling hordes before coming around to the back door to help me out. He was certainly better at getting me into the studio than John was, and John looked nearly faint with relief that he didn't need to worry about it anymore.

It was the first time I wasn't absolutely terrified of the paparazzi, and it may have been my imagination, but with Sam there, they seemed to back off a bit, and not act so aggressively. He quietly, calmly escorted me into the building and I bid him goodbye and headed to the back, wondering what "my" security guard would be like, if he would make me feel as safe as Sam did. I liked Sam. He was so quiet, almost eerily so, but there was still something warm and reassuring about his presence. Even if he wasn't monstrously huge, which he was, I think he still would have made me feel safe. I liked watching him with Edward, too, for the few minutes they were together this morning. They seemed to have a quiet, understated sort of friendship going. I had only ever seen Edward around Alice, or that guy James, on the night we met and he didn't seemed like much of a friend. I liked knowing that he had people like Sam in his life.

Rose and Emmett were already inside, chatting with Butch, and there was no sign of Jasper yet. I had debated all the way over what, if anything I should tell them about last night. There was really nothing any of them could do to help, and it would probably just worry them unnecessarily. And I was a little afraid they'd be mad that I called Edward instead of them. I still couldn't quite explain to myself why I'd done it. I just knew in that moment it was Edward I wanted, and no one else, and I'd been right.

It seemed best to not mention what had happened, at least for now. Of course I would have to explain the sudden appearance of a bodyguard this afternoon, but I had all day to figure it out. I'd come up with something.

The door to the studio swung open and admitted Jasper, his arm draped around Alice. She was telling him something, her little face turned up to him her voice racing along high and excited. He was looking down at her smiling, his features soft. They were adorable together, and clearly head over heels in love. I felt a little pang of jealousy, although I would never begrudge Jasper, or Alice for that matter, any happiness they found. Even so, for a split second I wondered what it would feel like if Edward looked at me like that. But that was a dangerous path to go down, even in my head, and I knew it.

They looked up mid-laugh and spotted the rest of us.

"It's the little lovebirds!" Emmett boomed. Rose rolled her eyes and stalked away, but she was smiling.

Alice swung free of Jasper's arm to come throw her arms around me.

"Are you okay?" she asked, her face growing serious.

Of course she knew. I'd forgotten Edward's note this morning. Alice went and got my clothes last night.

"I'm fine. Much better today. It just sort of freaked me out last night."

"What freaked you out?" Rose asked, rounding on us.

"Um…I tried to go out for something last night and there were a bunch of photographers in my yard."

"A bunch?" Alice squealed, "I was there at midnight, over an hour after you left and there were still probably thirty of them hanging out. It was insane."

"Bells, why didn't you call us?" Emmett was standing up, his face a mask of concern.

I shot a glance at Jasper. He was watching me, his face intense, but he was saying nothing. He knew that I'd called Edward, of course. He was probably with Alice when Edward called her. I couldn't tell what he was thinking.

"Umm, it wasn't so bad. I just needed help getting out."

"How did you do it?"

I took a deep breath and strained to keep my voice light. "Oh, I called Edward and he sent his bodyguard over." I left out the part about Edward himself coming and sweeping me away to his house.

Rose and Emmett said nothing; they just looked at me for a long minute.

"Well, as long as you're okay," Rose said briskly, before turning away. She'd clearly decided to back off and let me handle it myself. I sighed in relief.

"Hey, Emmett," Alice was calling to him from across the studio, "You up for a re-match tonight, big man?"

Emmett snorted and rolled his eyes at her. "Bring it on, little girl. Bring. It. On."

Rose looked from Emmett to Alice, "Don't tell me you kicked his ass at Guitar Hero, too?"

Alice nodded and Rose let out a peal of laughter while Emmett pouted.

"You're my hero, little woman," Rose said through her chuckles. Alice pumped her tiny fist in the air in triumph.

"Hey, Rose," Alice bounced on to a new topic seamlessly, "I forgot to tell you, I went yesterday and test drove the Nissan GTR."

Alice had decided she was getting a new car, even though the one she had couldn't have been more than a few years old.

Rose's face lit up with excitement. "And?"

"You were sooo right. It practically purrs! And so fast! I like it so much better than the BMW."

Rose rolled her eyes, "I can't believe you were actually considering buying that piece of trash."

"I'm going back this afternoon. I need to pick a color and the options. Want to come?"

"Fuck yes! But only if I get to test it out, too."

Rose and Alice sat down on the sofa together, making plans to go buy Alice's new car this afternoon. I stared at Alice another moment, just amazed.

A month ago we had no idea who she was and now it's like she had been one of us all along. After eighteen years of the four of us, in a few short weeks, Alice had made it the five of us.

I looked over at Jazz and the soft expression on his face as he stared at her told me he was thinking pretty much the same thing. He looked up at me and I smiled at him. He looked away momentarily, as always, embarrassed to show his emotions, but then he glanced back at me and returned the smile.

Jasper cleared his throat to break the mood and said, "Butch has some stuff he wants us to clean up on First Sight. Okay?"

"Alice's song?" I said, absently. I swear I didn't do it on purpose, but ever since Jasper had come in the morning after meeting Alice with the new song, Rose, Emmett and I had referred to it amongst ourselves as Alice's song. I hardly even remembered it was called First Sight. Jasper knew we called it that, but he never did.

At my words, Alice spun to face me, her huge blue eyes alight. "What??"

Jasper was giving me the glare of death. Oh, I was so done after this.

"Well, um, it's just this song that…"

"Jasper came in with it the morning after he met you. So we call it Alice's song since it was clearly about you," Rose said flatly. She fixed Jasper with a stare, daring him to make an issue of it with her. I sighed in relief. Better her than me.

Alice's whole face softened as she turned to Jasper, arms outstretched. "Oh, Jazz!"

The two of them disappeared into a tender little embrace. Rose and I shot each other a look.

"Well, we might as well get some coffee," Rose said, "This looks like it will take a while."

We headed out to the booth, giving Alice and Jasper their private moment. I was looking back over my shoulder at Rose, thanking her for falling on her sword for me like that when I ran smack into a wall of massive man. He had dusky skin and jet black hair and in spite of his impressive height, a boyish face and amused, almost black eyes. He had a broad smile that lit up his whole face. He was laughing as he grabbed me quickly to keep me from falling over.

"Miss Swan?" he asked.

"Um, yeah. That's me. But it's Bella."

"Okay, Bella. I'm Seth. Sam's agency sent me?"

"Oh, yes! Right. Hi!"

Rose looked at me with her eyebrows raised.

"Rose, this is Seth. He's going to be my…um, my bodyguard."

She shot me a stunned look. "You're getting a bodyguard?"

I sighed. "Rose, you didn't see what happened last night. It was awful."

"Why didn't you call me, Bella? I would have come."

"And then you would have just been trapped in the house with me. It's not just last night. You've seen the way it is when I come and go here. When I go anywhere…I'm finally figuring this out, Rose. Things have changed. And at least for now, I think I need Seth."

Seth had been standing quietly through our exchange, trying to not listen even though he was only two feet from me.

"Sam told me about last night. It won't happen again, Miss Swan. You'll be safe," he said, serious and scowling. But his face was so young and open and eager that he had a hard time mustering much gravitas.

"I'm sure you're right. I thought you weren't coming until this afternoon?"

"I wanted to familiarize myself with the environs, since you spend a lot of time at this location. And I thought I could spend the afternoon patrolling the perimeter, to keep the undesirables at an acceptable distance."

He said it all with an absolutely straight face and as much of a scowl as he could manage. I tried hard to stifle a smile and I nodded in solemn understanding. He must have only been a few years younger than me, maybe 20, but he seemed younger. Not that I didn't trust him, his size alone made me feel safe. And I liked him immensely so far. If I had to have a guy trailing me around full-time then Seth suited me just fine. I had a feeling that once I got him to relax off the "familiarizing myself with the environs" stuff, that we'd have fun.

"Hey, Em!" Rose called back into the studio. "Come meet Bella's bodyguard. He's bigger than you!"

Seth was dutifully showed off to all my friends, because let's face it, a bodyguard is kind of a cool novelty, and then we released him to go "patrol the perimeter" or whatever he was up to. Alice floated out of the studio, blissfully high on Jasper, kissing my cheek and promising to come meet me at three, since we had more dresses to look at. I groaned in anticipation of another long boring afternoon filled with formal wear.

Then Jasper cracked the whip and we finally got to work on Alice's song. Our time in the studio was drawing to a close soon, and Jazz, being his usual anal retentive self, wanted every note perfect. No matter how good it sounded, Jazz and Butch always found tiny imperfections, things to fix, things that could be done better, so our days here were packed and we were working like dogs. But it would all pay off when they put that first CD in my hands. I couldn't wait for that moment. I felt like I'd been working towards it my whole life and it was almost here. It would make putting up with everything else absolutely worth it.

Alice showed back up to the studio at three, fresh from a round of meetings with designers, and she rode back to Edward's with Seth and me. Her "get-to-know-you" with Seth mostly consisted of chattering away at him about all the details of the genius new dresses being sent over for my consideration. Seth's eyes looked glazed, but he nodded and "um hmm-ed" in all the right places, just like me. I felt his pain.

But her monologue allowed me a little time to think, which was good. I still hadn't addressed, to myself or anyone else, the issue of my house. I had been turning the problem over in my head all day. I couldn't go back there, could I? At least not right now. It was likely completely overrun by paparazzi. I couldn't crash at Rose and Em's, because the same scrum of media would follow me there and no one was supposed to know about the two of them being together yet. Jasper's place was out, too. I was supposed to be Edward's devoted girlfriend, how would it look to be photographed coming and going from my single male band mate's place? I think it all meant that for the moment I was sort of homeless. I figured I'd head to a hotel, I just wanted to talk it over with Seth first and see what he thought, where he thought I should go. But that would have to wait until after this afternoon's round of dresses.

Jesus, I was tired of all of this. The pretending, the false fronts. I just wanted to be able to do one thing without having to think carefully about all the implications for publicity. But then again, if I stopped all the pretending, then there would be no more Edward. And I'd do just about anything to be close to him, even in this stupid, false context, even if all I'd ever get to be was the fake girlfriend.

As Seth spent more time with us on the drive over, and more specifically with the force of nature that is Alice, he began to loosen up and get chatty. He loved music and, although publicly he was too cool to watch a reality show, he secretly confessed to me that he'd seen every one of our performances and was a huge fan. He couldn't believe he'd been lucky enough to score a gig guarding me. He also confessed that this was only his second "big gig" on his own. Up until now he'd only helped out on other jobs as backup. He only got sent over to me today because the situation cropped up so quickly and they needed someone immediately. I loved how young and eager he was. And I loved that he was a tiny bit star struck by the band. I decided on the spot that I didn't need to interview anyone else. Seth was a keeper.

When we arrived at Edward's, Alice begged off for a few minutes to return a bunch of phone calls from designers. So while she negotiated the delivery of yet more dresses, I headed to the kitchen, hoping that Edward was exaggerating when he said he had no food on hand, because I would need sustenance before today's round of dresses. I wondered hopefully if Edward was here someplace. I hadn't seen or heard him, but the house was huge. He could be anywhere.

I blinked in confusion as I opened the refrigerator. It was fully stocked, top to bottom. Everything was fresh, unopened. I was sure this morning that Edward had said he didn't keep food here because he never cooked. I closed the fridge and was turning to go see if the pantry was equally well-stocked when I heard Edward's voice, just inches from my ear, "Hungry?"

I gasped and spun around, flushing to the roots of my hair, both from the surprise and the implication of his word, spoken in that low, sexy voice.

"Geez, you scared me! Make a noise or something before you sneak up on someone!"

He shot me his killer crooked smile, "Then it wouldn't be sneaking."

He didn't embrace me like he did this morning, but he casually ran a hand up and down my arm, "How are you?"

"Fine," I lied. Really, I was weak in the knees and brain dead because he was touching me, but I took a breath and tried to focus, "I got a brand new body guard today. And I mean brand new. He's adorable."

Edward scowled. "If he's too young or not experienced enough, we should have them send someone else."

"Oh, no! I'm keeping him! Seth is awesome."

"So Seth is awesome? And adorable?" he asked darkly.

"Like a Great Dane puppy. All big ears and legs and feet that are too big for the rest of him."

Edward visibly softened. "Hey, I need to talk to you about something."

My stomach clenched in dread. This couldn't be good.

"I think you should stay here, at least for the time being. Your house isn't safe."

"Oh." My face went blank. That was not what I was expecting. Stay here? Yes. I could absolutely do that. There's nothing I'd like to do more than stay here with him.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing, it's just not what I thought you were going to say."

"What did you think I was going to say?"

"I have no idea. I expected something bad, but that's…well, thank you. For letting me stay."

"Of course, Bella. You don't need to thank me. That's why…um," he waved an awkward hand at the fridge behind me. "I had the kitchen stocked today for you. I know you like to cook."

"This is all for me? Edward, you didn't have to…"

"Um, there's something else," Edward interrupted, looking down at his feet, rubbing the back of his neck with his hand, which I had figured out by now meant he was nervous about what he was about to say. "While we're talking about your house, I, ah…I bought it for you today."

I must have been really stressed or overworked or something because Edward's words were making no sense to me.

"What? What do you mean you bought my house?"

"I mean, I bought it. Well, not yet. It'll be a couple of weeks to finish up the legal stuff, but the agreement is in place and for all intents and purposes, it's bought."

"What...wh-why would you do that?"

"Bella, I told you, that house isn't secure. It needs a fence, it needs a gate and a serious security system. And you were renting. You couldn't do any of that to it. And I know how much you like it there, so I had my lawyer contact the owner and make an offer. My security company is already over there getting started, so the work can get done as fast as possible."

The reality, and enormity, of what he'd done finally burst on my poor overwhelmed brain.

"Edward, you can't just buy me a house! It's a house! That's…it's…well, it's crazy, and inappropriate and way too extravagant, and…"

"Bella, it's a very little house. And it was cheap. Seriously, this is not a big deal. And none of it would even be necessary if we weren't…well, you know. So will you just stop? And let me do this for you?"

I opened my mouth to start another tirade but Edward took another step towards me, his eyes turning dark. He raised his hand and gently tucked my hair behind my ear. He didn't take his hand away, he just settled it lightly on my shoulder.

"Please, Bella?" he said oh, so softly.

Ungh…. and I was done. I just let Edward Cullen buy me a fucking house. I couldn't even begin to ponder what that said about me and I didn't want to. I wanted to focus on the warm and fuzzy feeling that was now growing in my chest. Edward bought me my house. Sure, it was probably a completely insignificant amount of money to him, but it wasn't about the money. He did it for me, because he knew I liked my house. I was about to take a step closer to him and …I didn't even know what I was going to do, when I heard Alice's voice as she careened into the room.

"Oh my God, Bella! Alexander McQueen is sending over two dresses for you! I don't think he'll be right for you, but just to try them on…!" she trailed off as she found us in the kitchen, practically standing against each other. "Ooops! Sorry! I'll just…"

"No, Alice!" I slipped out from in between Edward and the refrigerator and hurried to her side, "We were just talking. I'm good."

"Oh…okay. Well then, let's go! There are some amazing things to look at today!"

I threw a smile back over my shoulder at Edward as Alice whipped me up the stairs. He was just standing quietly where I left him, his face unreadable.

Alice was flipping through one of her racks while I sat on a chair in nothing but my bra and underwear, waiting for her next choice. A month ago I would have felt awkward, embarrassed, out of my element, but Alice had beaten all of that out of me. There was no fight left. I just stripped off my clothes and put on whatever she handed to me. I had discovered, with Alice, it's better if you don't fight.

"Hey, Alice?"

"Hmmm?" she was distracted, a million miles away.

"So Edward bought me my house today." I said it casually, figuring I could gauge from her reaction how significant this was.

Her hands froze over a pile of taffeta, her eyes grew wide and she swung around to face me.

"What?"

"He bought my house. For me. He said it needs a fence and stuff and that I couldn't make it safe as long as it was a rental, so he…"

"He bought it?" The stunned was wearing off and the disbelief was kicking in, apparently.

I sighed and closed my eyes. "See? I knew it. It's crazy, right? So ridiculously extravagant. I can't let him spend his money on me like that."

Alice waved her hands frantically. "No! No! Not the money! Who cares about the money? I've seen your house, Bella. He won't even notice that kind of money."

"So what are you freaking out about? Because you're freaking me out a little bit."

Alice waved a dismissive hand in front of her face and shook her head quickly, "Nothing. It's nothing. He's just being nice, that's all. The paparazzi stuff wouldn't even be happening to you if you weren't doing this thing with him. He probably just feels bad, that's all."

"Yeah, I suppose," I shrugged, "That's what he said."

"See? He's always gone a little overboard when it comes to gift-giving. It's what I love most about him. Now," she said, charging ahead, "put this one on. I bet the color looks great on you."

I dutifully stood up and shrugged into another ridiculous pile of lace and turned to be zipped up. But I noticed that Alice stayed distracted and her eyes looked far away for the rest of the afternoon and I couldn't figure out why.

EPOV

"Edward?" Alice's voice came soft and tentative on the other side of my door. I was sitting at my piano, the first time in….I can't even remember, and I wanted to avoid any uncomfortable questions as to why, so I quickly closed the lid over the keys and moved to the couch before I called for her to come in.

"What's up, baby sister?"

The Academy Awards were tomorrow and Alice was so far gone into full-alert mode that I hadn't expected to see her surface until next week for sure, so I was curious as to what brought her to my room now. It also made me idly wonder where in the house Bella was if Alice was here. Having her under my roof this week had hardly done me any good since Alice had monopolized her completely when she was here.

Alice came over to the couch and curled up next to me.

"So, Edward," she began.

"So, Alice?"

"Um, Bella told me about you…buying her house."

I raised my eyes to Alice's. Her expression was tentative, uncertain.

"And?"

"It seems a little out of character for you, that's all."

"It seemed like a nice thing to do."

"Exactly."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean, Alice?"

"Don't get pissed, Edward, you know it's true. You're not exactly known for being nice to women. And buying a house for someone is a whole lot of nice."

"What are you getting at?"

Alice looked at me another beat and then dropped her eyes to her lap and exhaled. When she finally spoke again her voice was soft and fragile.

"I like her, Edward. I really like her. She's my friend now…outside of all this." She waved her hand at me. "I know how this thing with you guys started, but I…I'm getting the feeling that it's headed somewhere else now."

I sighed and closed my eyes, pinching the bridge of my nose. I really did not want to be sitting here discussing this with my baby sister.

"Alice…"

"No, let me finish. I'm just worried. You don't have exactly the best track record with women. They aren't always so warm and fuzzy about you after the fact. And I just…" she sighed and squeezed her eyes shut tight before finishing in a hurry. "Don't break her. That's all. Whatever happens, I want to be her friend afterwards. Please don't make that impossible for me."

I raised my head to look at her. I didn't really know what to say. Was she asking me to promise I wouldn't fuck up? Because I couldn't. I really wanted not to, and I was going to try my best, but this was completely uncharted territory for me, I had no idea what to do and frankly, I was terrified. Finally I settled for the one thing I did know, hoping it would be enough to comfort Alice.

"I like her, too, Alice." I said softly, "I think I love her."

Her eyes abruptly brimmed with tears and she smiled. Then she flung her tiny body across the couch at me and threw her arms around my neck.

"Oh, Edward. That's great! I knew you weren't completely hopeless!"

Then before I could respond in any way, she was scrambling off the couch and over to the door.

"Wait till you see her tomorrow!" Alice said, now fully re-engaged as the Stylist Nazi. "She's going to take your breath away!"

And she was out of my room in a flash. I laid my head back on the pillow and spoke to the ceiling. "She already does."