Thanks everyone for reading, reviewing, recing, and adding this to your alerts, favs, and communities! Thanks to MC for your beta skills and funny chapter title among other things.
Reminder: Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight and its characters; this all human story, however, is mine.
Enjoy.
Chapter 22: Close Encounters of a Third Kind
"Turn left here," I instructed. "It's the last house on the right. You can just pull past the driveway and park at the end of the street."
I noted that neither Jake's nor my dad's cars were there, but Jess' new vehicle was already parked in the driveway.
This might be good. I thought optimistically. Ease Edward into the crazy.
I didn't want to assault him with it all at once because I couldn't allow myself to hope that my family would surprise me by acting even remotely normal.
Edward followed my directions and shut off the engine.
"Remember, I warned you," I told him again before getting out of the car.
"You warned me," Edward nodded with a laugh, pulling his hand through his hair, still not understanding how serious I was about what he was getting himself into. Unfortunately, he was about to find out.
We got out of the rental car and Edward came around to meet me, taking hold of my hand as if he was the one trying to reassure me when it should have been the other way around.
"Breathe Bella," he reminded me, sliding his fingers through my hair and gently tucking it behind my ear, then kissed me softly.
I nodded and took a deep breath as I wondered why I was the one who was so nervous.
"I love you," he whispered stepping into me again and dipped his head down. I could feel his warm breath on my skin and then his lips as they brushed the curve of my neck.
I felt a thrill go through me hearing him tell me he loved me and I couldn't help but smile like an idiot because it wasn't just that he said the words, I could feel them. His words were like something tangible that I could hold onto, they felt true and real. And it was like he knew exactly what to say to calm me down, the effect from his touch and words were almost immediate; my breathing became easier and I felt my body relax, melting into him.
"I love you too, Edward," I said as he pulled away to look at me. "And I apologize now for anything any of them do or say."
Edward laughed lightly, "I doubt it will be nearly as bad as you think it will be."
I looked up at him doubtfully, knowing it was going to be at least as bad as I envisioned and began walking up to the house with my one hand firmly clasped with Edward's.
Here goes nothing.
I opened the door and walked in ahead of Edward.
"Hey Mom?" I called hearing my voice quiver lightly and sound not quite normal. "I hope it's okay, I brought someone with me."
"Is Rose with you?" she called excitedly over the commotion of Jess and Mike arguing over whether or not to feed Riley something.
"I'm still mad at you, Bella for keeping himfrom me!" Jess yelled to me from the kitchen and then resumed the conversation she and Mike were having.
If I wasn't so nervous, I would have laughed knowing Jessica wasn't going to stay mad at me for much longer.
"Of course it's okay Bella, you know that your friends are always welcome!" Renee continued. I could hear her get up from a chair and begin walking towards us from the kitchen, as we made our way in from the entryway and past the living room. "Did Rose bring Henry? Oh, I haven't seen them in what feels like forever! And you know you're father always orders more than enough—"
My mom's sentence cut off the moment she saw Edward and realized it wasn't Rose who I'd brought with me.
"Oh!" she breathed, stopping short, as her eyes bugged out and her mouth dropped open for a brief moment before she recovered. She shot me a reproachful look for surprising her with something like this. Then she smiled warmly at Edward, her eyes distractedly flickering to our hands intertwined.
"As you can see it's not Rose," I said stupidly as Edward smiled, pulling his free hand through his hair and shoving it in his pocket.
Catching his nervous cue, I realized then that he was more anxious about this than he had let on.
"Mom, this is Edward. Edward, this is my mom—"
"It's Renee," she interjected over my introduction, not waiting for me to get to add her name. She reached out to shake Edward's hand looking slightly star-struck.
I could hear Jessica grumbling about something in the other room and Mike talking to Riley, none of them hearing our exchange.
"Nice to meet you, Renee," Edward said pulling his hand from his pocket to shake hers and then ran it through his hair again and grabbing a fistful before shoved it back into his pocket. I gave his hand I held a gentle squeeze of reassurance feeling a bit guilty for finding his nervousness adorable.
"Come in," she insisted waving us past her as she attempted to shake off the shock. "Jake and Leah are on their way and Charlie will be here shortly with the pizza." As soon as we passed by her she put her hand on my shoulder to catch my attention. When I looked back, she flashed a look of impressment to Edward and then back to me mouthing, "Wow."
Yes, Mom, I know. Believe me, I know. I thought as I gave her a tight smile and nodded, not wanting to encourage her. Then I flashed her a look, begging her to not to do or say anything to embarrass me. She raised her hands in submission and mouthed, "Okay."
I was only slightly mollified by her wordless promise, part of my mother's problem was she didn't seem to realize some of the things she did or said.
I had a few more steps to go before I walked around the corner into the kitchen that would put Edward in view of Jessica. I took a deep breath, bracing myself, feeling like I was walking into my doom.
"Chee-os!" Riley demanded excitedly, standing next to Jessica who was crouched down in front of Riley's diaper bag digging through it and didn't see us immediately. "Chee-os! Chee-os! Chee-os!" he sang, trying to jump with his excitement, but hadn't yet figured out how to get his feet off the ground, so he was bending his knees then launching himself up onto his tip-toes and back again like a grounded pogo stick that just couldn't get airborne.
"Mommy's looking for them," she told Riley sounding flustered as she shoved things around the bag because she knew our mother never remembered to have them on hand. Every time Jess was over with Riley, since he was about six months old, she would mention that she should get some Cheerios for him, but every time they came, she had forgotten to buy them again. It didn't take long for Jess to just make sure to have them in Riley's bag, knowing despite our mother's good intentions Renee was just never going to remember to have them.
Thinking about it, I realized it was a small miracle she'd had those kinds of things on hand when we were growing up.
"Hi Mike," I greeted my brother-in-law and he looked up at me from Jess and Riley. His eyes barely paused at me giving him a small wave before his wave stopped short, registering I wasn't alone. He stared at Edward for a beat, as the realization of who was with me sank in.
Mike's shoulders sagged and he looked back at me giving me a defeated look that said, "Are you fucking serious? You've got to be kidding me."
I mouthed, "Sorry," to him, took a deep breath, relishing in the last moment of peace I would most likely have for the rest of the time we were here and then tore the bandage off.
"Mike, Jessica? I'd like you to meet Edward," I said biting my lip, bracing myself for Jess' reaction. The moment Edward's name crossed my lips I saw Jessica's back, which had been stooped over the bag, straighten sharply. Then she slowly began to turn around as if she was trying to act cool, suspicious I was just messing with her. "Edward, this is my sister, Jessica, and her husband Mike."
Mike immediately—although reluctantly—stood and shook Edward's hand, shaking his head dreading, just as I was, Jess' reaction.
When Edward spoke to Mike, exchanging pleasantries, Jessica's slow-motion movement snapped into warp speed. Her head whipped around so fast it was a wonder she didn't hurt herself in the process. When her eyes landed fully on him, they bugged out and she dropped the container of Cheerios on the ground. Riley, excited for the snack, cheered, picked them up and began shaking them. He giggled at the noise they made and walked over to his dad to open the container for him, shaking it the whole way.
"Oh my God," Jess breathed looking too shocked to freak out in high-pitched screams like I'd expected.
"Hello Jessica," Edward smiled an easy, amused smile as Jessica righted herself. "It's nice to meet you," he added stepping forward, holding out a hand in offering to shake.
Jess tried to look cool and casual as she walked across the kitchen over to him, though unsuccessfully as I could see her shaking. She held out her hand as she unsuccessfully attempted to stifle a giggle.
"Oh my God!" Jess said again through a face cracking smile when her hand met Edward's. The volume of her words was just barely more than a whisper, but her voice had also jumped a couple octaves, making her words come out in a squeal.
Oh shit. I thought as I eyed her warily debating with myself on whether or not she was going to go into hysterics. Please don't freak out. Please don't freak out.
Her free hand went up to cover her huge, giddy grin while the other refused to surrender Edward's.
"I'm such a huge fan," she gushed and I cringed for her.
"Thanks," Edward said simply, smiling calmly.
"Can I ask you a huge favor?" she asked, her eyes lit up. To her credit, she hadn't screamed or jumped and latched herself onto him yet; for that I was impressed. She was keeping her cool far better than I'd ever thought she would—so far anyhow.
"What's that?" Edward asked, smartly not agreeing to anything before knowing what it was.
"Could I get a picture with you?" she asked. Her eyes were wide and bright with hopeful anticipation and her body bouncing up and down, with the excited anticipation of his answer. I could only imagine the willpower it took her to contain herself to just that.
I flashed Edward a look of apology.
"Um, sure," Edward chuckled lightly and cleared his throat. His surprise with her request made his compliance sound like a question rather than a statement.
Jessica bounced a little higher and let out a squeal of excitement before she finally surrendered Edward's hand, dashed from the room and out of the house to get her camera.
"Thanks a lot, Bella," Mike grumbled in a chuckle under his breath.
Riley's ears perked up at the mention of my name. He looked up from his beloved Cheerios, previously too occupied by them to realize I was there before, and spotted me. When he did, his eyes lit up.
"Aunnie Bewa!" he cheered, quickly sliding off of Mike's lap. He began to toddle across the kitchen with a big chubby-faced grin, holding up a handful of Cheerios, dropping several on his way. I couldn't help but smile back at him.
Jess burst back into the house, distracting me from Riley, her pace too fast to pull off her poor attempt to look cool and nonchalant.
"Here Bella," she said shakily, shoving the camera in my hands. Then she wedged herself between Edward and me, giving me flashbacks of the night I'd formally met Edward at the concert.
Edward reluctantly surrendered my hand he still held, as I stepped away to take the picture.
"I usually look cuter than this," she insisted and then shot me a look as I turned the camera on, as if it was my fault she had a ponytail in and was wearing stretch-waist pants and one of Mike's t-shirts to accommodate her rapidly growing stomach. "And I'm not fat; I'm pregnant," she clarified to him.
"Oh, congratulations, that's great," Edward told her politely.
"Thanks," she glowed and then quickly followed up, "It's twins. That's why I'm so huge."
"Ready?" I quickly interjected, saving Edward from figuring out how to reply to that comment.
"Make sure you don't get my stomach in the shot," Jessica ordered.
"Of course, Jess," I said, rolling my eyes and shook my head. I couldn't help but grin widely when I saw Edward holding back a laugh.
"Uppy!" Riley demanded pulling my leg as I snapped the photo.
"Just a second Riley," I told him as I held out the camera for Jessica to take from me so I could pick up my nephew.
"Take another one," Jess said quickly, sounding slightly panicked, realizing if I was done with pictures, she'd lost her reason to snuggle up next to Edward. "I think my eyes were closed."
Her eyes were definitely not closed. She knew that as well as I did, and I could have proved it in two seconds by pulling up the picture, but I dutifully took a second picture deciding it wasn't worth it to argue.
"There," I said putting the camera in Jess' hand and letting go of it, not allowing for argument this time.
Jessica looked like she was going to pout, not being able to think of another excuse to keep her arm around Edward, but then she turned the camera back on and pulled pictures up on the display to look at, letting out a muffled squeal and a tiny little happy dance as she did so.
"Thank you so much!" she gushed at Edward and threw her hands around his waist excitedly in a tight bear hug. After a beat of surprise, he lightly hugged her back giving a few pats looking a bit uncomfortable.
Jessica's eyes rolled back as she held him, her head resting on his chest, and mouthed to me, "Oh my God!" looking like she was dipping herself into heaven.
Then Jess met my eyes, narrowed hers and mouthed to me, "I hate you."
I had to hold back a laugh at her comically dramatic display because I felt like I shouldn't. I mean, I of all people, knew the effect Edward had, but really, her overt reactions seemed a bit much. But then a beat later I started to worry about how I'd acted around him at first—other than the unintentional blowjob reference and nearly falling on my face walking down the stairs, that was. Those were mortifying enough; I seriously hoped I'd not been anything like this and tried to reassure myself that I hadn't.
I was grateful that I was standing between Jessica and Mike, though, so he hadn't seen her mouth those things to me. I knew her obsession with Edward—"Anthony"—was already a sore spot with him; I didn't want to have any arguments between them stem from my bringing him here.
I wasn't sure who I felt worse for at the moment; Mike or Edward.
Edward gingerly extracted himself from Jessica's grasp, ran his hands through his hair and then shoved them back into his pockets.
"Uppy Bewa! Uppy!" Riley demanded at me again, this time tugging impatiently at my pant leg, tired of waiting and upset that I hadn't picked him up yet.
"Okay, Riley," I said indulgently as I crouched down and picked him up and settled him on my hip. As soon as he was within reach, he put his hand to my mouth, pushing a Cheerio between my lips.
"Mmm, thank you Riley," I said as he grinned, looking so proud of himself for sharing the joy of his favorite food with me. Then he shoved the remaining few that were still clenched in his fist, into his own mouth and grinned as he chomped on them.
"This," I told Edward when I cleared the Cheerio from my mouth, "is Mike and Jess' son, Riley." Riley looked over at Edward, curious about the new face. "Riley, can you say 'hi' to Edward?" I asked him.
"Hey little guy," Edward smiled; taking one of Riley's chubby hands and doing a playful shake.
Instead of saying "hi" as I'd requested, the moment Edward dropped his hand, Riley threw his body towards him with such force I almost dropped him as I let out a sound of surprise. Edward's hands jutted out in response, to not let him fall, but I had secured my hold on him in time and Edward, seeing this, dropped his hands.
Riley didn't like that though and attempted to launch himself at Edward again, trying to leap into his arms, frustrated with his lack of success since I had a better grip on him now.
"Eh!" he insisted, reaching out to Edward. "Eh! Uppy!" he said again, clenching and unclenching his fists at him, like he was trying to grab ahold of Edward.
"Did you want to come here?" he asked skeptically.
Riley dove again to Edward.
"Woah! Okay," Edward laughed catching Riley and settled him into his arms. "Hey there little man. Is this what you wanted?" Edward smiled.
Riley sat there, tipping his head, studying Edward for a minute while Edward smiled amusedly back at his serious little face. Then, Riley reached out grabbing ahold of Edward's nose, making Edward and the rest of us laugh. Riley giggled in return, impressed with himself and his ability to produce a reaction from everyone. Then he placed his chubby little hand on Edward's cheek wearing a look of anticipation that almost asked, "what will you do with my hand here?". Edward broke the expectant filled silence by attacking Riley's hand, pretending to try to bite it, accompanying the action with playful growling sound effects. Riley jumped, jerking his hand back and squealed with delight, giggling excitedly making all of us laugh hardily from Riley's contagiously jubilant laughter.
When Riley's fit of giggles settled, he put his hand back on Edward's face, excitedly waiting for him repeat the game. When he did, Riley's giggles erupted again just as exuberantly. After several replays, Riley smiled winningly at Edward and then turned to me. The happily satisfied look he gave me was as if he was giving me his approval of him.
It was watching the exchange between Riley and Edward that a strong, unfamiliar feeling pricked at me. A feeling I tried to swat away. But like an incessant insect, it kept nipping back at me until it succeeded in breaking through, producing an image. It was one of Edward playing around with another little boy like he had been doing with Riley, but the little boy in the vision looked like a carbon copy of Edward in miniature size.
I felt my world twist, turning on its side, as I took in this image and the realization that hit me with an almost violent force; I wanted that. I didn't just love Edward and want to keep him forever. I wanted to have children with him someday; to be a family.
And I wanted it badly.
I grappled with the knowledge, trying to come to terms with it.
The sudden desire was so altering to my reality; I was surprised I was still standing upright. The shockingly strong feeling that derived from the image, was so opposite of the way I had always felt on the subject, that it jarred me.
I'd never before wanted to have kids. Ever. Children had never appealed to me in that way. Having kids was something other people did; like Jess, who seemed to have been made to have kids. I never minded being around children—obviously or I never would have nearly become a teacher—but I happily handed them back to their parents. I had never had that yearning so many women claimed to have when it came to wanting a baby. I had just figured it was yet another thing about me that made me different than most women. The lack of desire to have kids was so definite when I was with James, in fact, that I'd asked my OB about getting my tubes tied so I wouldn't have to deal with birth control. But she wouldn't let me. She said she wouldn't do a permanent procedure on someone as young as I was who had never had any children. She had said that if I still felt the same ten or fifteen years later, she would possibly be willing to discuss it as a potentially plausible option then, in the meantime, temporary methods would have to suffice.
Now, to my shock, I found myself feeling overwhelmingly relieved that she'd not agreed to do the procedure. I was glad that I had the possibility of it, even if it was something that never happened.
Where the hell was this coming from?
Edward looked up from Riley, still wearing the smile he'd been giving him, and turned to me. When his eyes met mine, his smile faded and his face turned serious, just like it had earlier when he'd told me he loved me for the first time. My heart leapt and took off racing with worry that my thoughts were written all over my face and it had scared him. I bit my lip and felt myself blush with the fervent hope that they weren't, earning a curious look from Edward.
"Eh! Down!" Riley demanded diving away from Edward, for the ground and almost succeeding. But Edward quickly grabbed ahold of Riley with his other hand to prevent him from getting his wish head first, and then set him down on his feet.
"Who has the Mercedes parked out front?" Jake's voice boomed as I heard him and Leah open the door and walk into the house.
Edward stood back up as Riley toddled away from him and I grabbed a hold of his hand firmly. I wasn't sure if I was trying to reassure Edward it was going to be okay, or if I needed his hand to reassure me, but I found myself able to take a breath as soon as I could feel the familiar current race through me again from his touch.
"Jess, did you get Mike to buy you another vehicle?" Leah called with a laugh.
Here we go, round two. I groaned nervously in my head.
Oh God. Breathe.
Please let Jake behave. Please let Jake behave.
Edward began rubbing his thumb against my hand soothingly and I flashed him an apologetic look. My mother, Mike and even Jessica had behaved far better than I thought they would have so far, but I had a feeling that Jake wouldn't be quite as painless.
I prayed to every deity I could think of that I was wrong.
"Very funny!" Jess called back sarcastically to Leah in the other room.
Leah walked into the kitchen. Spotting Edward immediately, her eyes went wide with surprise, and then she covered her mouth, holding back a laugh with the realization whose car it was parked in front of the house and her husband's potential reaction to it. Her shoulders shook with laughter she held back before she recovered, leaving a knowing smirk plastered on her face.
Two steps behind Leah came Jake, his jovial smile dropped instantly as his eyes landed on Edward. Then they shot to me incredulously.
Oh shit.
"The car in question would be mine—well, my rental anyhow," Edward spoke up.
"Leah, Jake, this is Edward," I piped in, using introductions as an excuse to look away from Jake's penetrating gaze. "Edward, this is my brother Jacob and his wife Leah."
Leah was quick to shake Edward's hand and warmly greet him and then walked to the fridge and pulled out a soda. I relaxed for a second, seeing how normal she was acting around him, just like I was introducing her to anyone.
Thank you Leah.
I looked back over at Jake to find him glaring at Edward and my hands clasped together, he was staring so hard he could have bored a hole right through them. But more than that, he was shaking his head incredulously, almost like he wanted to be pissed but wasn't sure if he should be or not.
"So what brings you here, Edward?" Jake asked as if in challenge, his eyes flashing to Edward's, ready to pick apart any reason he was going to give. He didn't shake Edward's hand; instead, he leaned against the wall, crossing his arms.
"My family was getting together in Seattle," Edward replied sounding completely unruffled by Jake's unfriendly actions, intimidating demeanor and confrontational tone, "and I asked Bella to join me in spending the weekend with my parents."
"Bella, you met his parents?" my mom gushed, raising her eyebrows, impressed.
"I know right?" Jessica complained to Mom, throwing her hands out in frustration. "That's something you tell your family! Not something your sister has to find out, oh, gee, I don't know, online," she griped as she glowered at me.
I closed my eyes and pulled my free hand up to my face in mortification then braved a peek up at Edward who to my surprise didn't look like he wanted to bolt from the room as I feared. Instead, I found he was smiling and chuckled silently at my family's exchange as if he found it amusing rather than horrifying. He let go of my hand, slipping his arm around the curve of my waist, pulling me closer to him, rubbing reassuring circles in my side with his thumb and then he pressed his lips to the top of my head. When he pulled his head back so he could look at me, the expression he wore on his face looked like… like he loved me.
My chest tingled with the warmth Edward's look sent through it and I could feel myself relax despite my siblings' behavior.
"Seriously Bella," Jessica continued her chastising as she sat down at the table and pulled Riley onto her lap, "that's just not cool."
Mike rolled his eyes at his wife. Leah laughed as she leaned against the counter adjacent to where Edward and I stood, in front of the sink and took a sip of her soda, enjoying the entertainment. And my mom looked a little confused, probably not knowing about the most recent article Jessica had found on Edward.
"You didn't find out that online," I defended weakly, knowing she didn't know about my meeting Edward's parents from the internet.
I couldn't help but feel frustrated; Jessica knew that I was never the sharing type. Did she seriously think that that part of me should just suddenly change now that I was dating the celebrity she was obsessed with?
Wait. That was a stupid question. Of course she thought that it should change. In her mind, it was only logical that it should change because it was "Anthony" and in turn I should suddenly share everything with her.
"Technicality," Jessica scoffed sourly. "Had I not found out online that you were with Anth—Edward this weekend and called you out on it, you never would have told me you met his family. Which, by-the-way, I'm sure you didn't mean to divulge," she said, talking about Edward like he wasn't in the room. "So it's not really a defense."
Edward chuckled amusedly beside me and I chanced a glance at Jake who, despite having his arms folded across his chest, no longer seemed to be angry. Instead he looked deep in thought, like he was turning something over in his mind as he stared at Edward and me.
I allowed myself to feel the relief that came with that observation, hoping he'd be civil the remainder of the night.
Edward's phone sounded with a text.
"Excuse me," Edward said unwinding his arm from around me and pulled his phone from his pocket. Then he smiled indulgently and let out a chuckle, shaking his head. "I know you got Alice's number this morning, love, but would it be alright if I give her yours?" he asked me. "Apparently half a day is as long as she can go, to wait for you to call or text her first."
"Yeah, of course," I told him, more than fine with Alice having my number, but confused as to why she wanted to get ahold of me.
"She wants to talk to you about possibly getting together sometime in the next few weeks," he elaborated as if reading my mind, but then realized, my confusion must have been written all over my face.
"Oh, I'd like that," I said honestly, realizing how much I would like that. I really liked Alice; it would be nice to see her again. Plus it would give me a link, however obscure, to Edward while he was away.
I suddenly realized the room was deafeningly quiet and I felt very aware that everyone in the room was watching Edward and me, listening to our conversation instead of conducting their own.
"Impatient little pixie," he laughed affectionately as he texted her back.
Edward no more than slipped his phone into his pocket when mine chimed out, from my purse that sat on the counter behind me, with a new text.
"I think I should have given you better warning about what you were agreeing to," Edward admitted sounding a bit sheepish as he glanced in the direction of the sound. "She's taken to you. You'll be right lucky to escape her now," he said not quite managing a laugh.
"No need for escape, I like Alice," I assured him, nudging his side lightly with mine. "I'm glad she wants to get together."
"Hey Jake?" I heard my dad called from the door as he noisily made his way through it. "Wanna grab these so I can go get the beer from the car?"
Jake stood up from the wall and walked out of the room.
"Hey, do you know who has the flashy car that's parked out front?" my dad asked Jake in the other room.
I heard Jake answer him, but he spoke too low for me to hear what he said.
"What?" I heard my dad exclaim before he controlled the volume of his voice and I couldn't make out what they had said over Leah, Jessica and my mom who'd begun chatting, so I went to pull out plates and napkins, frustrated.
"Stop undressing him with your eyes, it's creepy," I whispered in Jessica's ear seeing her staring at Edward, nearly drooling.
Jessica flashed me a pointed glare, covering up her embarrassment for being caught. "You realize you are the luckiest person that ever lived, right?" she whispered back through her teeth.
"Oh believe me, I know," told her honestly even if it was for completely different reasons than she'd meant and stepped away from her.
"Can I help?" Edward asked.
"Nope. All done," I smiled at him setting the stacks of paper plates and napkins on the table and walked back to him, finding myself blush with the way he watched me.
A crooked smile crossed Edward's face at the sight of my blush, which only made me blush even deeper. I dipped my head in a poor attempt to hide my blush as he wrapped his arm back around my waist. He chuckled, and then kissed the top of my head.
Jake came back into the kitchen, setting down four extra-large pizza boxes and two containers of garlic bread and garlic cheese bread on the table.
"I swear, I don't know why Charlie always buys so much," my mom exclaimed clicking her tongue and shaking her head watching Jake open up the boxes.
"Sure you do," Mike laughed. "He knows how much guys eat. That and he looks forward to the leftovers probably more than he does the first round."
"Ain't nothing better than leftover pizza," my dad chimed in as he entered the kitchen, carrying a case of his favorite beer.
"Dad?" I interjected, getting his attention. "I'd like you to meet Edward. Edward, this is my dad, Charlie."
"Chief Swan," Edward greeted, offering his hand. I was surprised, trying to recall when I'd told him that my dad was the chief of police and then trying to figure out if I hadn't even remembered mentioning it, how Edward would have remembered me saying it.
"Edward," my dad said gruffly. It wasn't lost on me that my dad didn't correct Edward to call him Charlie. He met his hand, eyeing Edward up and down shrewdly, still in his uniform—gun included.
I eyed the gun warily as my dad walked to the refrigerator. I wondered if my mind was playing tricks on me, but could have sworn that my dad's hand twitched toward the gun, making me jump when Edward put his hand on the small of my back.
I was glad that the first thing my dad usually did was change out of his uniform; the gun was putting me on edge.
Jake and Mike had already dished up and were heading out to the living room, beers in hand. Jessica was busy cutting up a piece of pizza into little bite size pieces for Riley who was eagerly bouncing at her feet. And my mom was asking Leah when she was going to start giving her grandchildren—for the hundredth time that year.
After Edward and I grabbed some pizza ourselves, I moved to sit down at the table, but Edward began to walk out of the kitchen. My eyes went wide with alarm and I started to rise from my seat but Edward waved me off and shook his head. I felt like I was letting him walk into his doom; my dad hadn't changed out of his police uniform. In fact, he was still armed, never even removing the gun belt when he went to join the guys in the living room, not to mention what Jake would do or say to Edward with me not in the room.
Edward smirked and rolled his eyes lightly as if I'd said my fear aloud before he left the room—I must have looked as petrified as I felt—and it took everything in me to not bolt after him. Not because I couldn't handle being outside of touching distance from him, but because, no matter how irrational a thought it was, I somehow felt I needed to protect him. I resigned my thoughts with a sigh and ate my pizza while Jessica gushed to me about Edward and how much she hated me for getting to be with him.
"Some warning should have been called for," Jess sniffed.
"No, warning you wouldn't have helped anything," I disagreed.
"I could have at least made myself cuter!" she shrilled loudly enough it made Riley who was sitting next to her jump. I couldn't help but laugh as she took a hasty breath.
"Why do you need to impress him?" I asked taking a bite of pizza.
Jess just looked at me like I was an idiot because it should have been obvious. "Anth—Edward is someone you need to look good for," she said tersely.
"But you're married," I pointed out.
"So?"
I just shook my head realizing I needed to shut up because I was never going to be able to decode my sister.
"But oh my God, Bella, you were right, he is totally hotter in person," she gushed, quickly dropping her petulance, and the sighed dreamily. "Mmmm,he's totally and completely YUM," she practically moaned, her eyes rolling to the back of her head.
"And he's totally and completely mine," I said back matter-of-factly, feeling my stomach warm with the satisfaction of saying it out loud for the first time.
Edward was mine. As impossible to believe as it was, I knew it was true, and knowing that felt amazing.
"Urgh, I hate you," Jessica spat back with jealousy.
"Yeah, I'm good with that," I retorted with a smile.
XXXXX
I slumped against the seat as Edward pulled away from the house realizing how on edge I'd been the whole night, now that I let myself relax. I suddenly felt exhausted; feeling how much my stress over the evening with my family had worn me out.
"Are you alright, love?" Edward asked.
"I'm just glad that's over," I breathed.
"Do you regret bringing me?" he asked in a light tone, but I could hear the real fear of the answer to that question he tried to hide behind it.
"No, of course not Edward," I assured him. "I just couldn't relax between wondering about what Jake would do or say and my dad keeping his loaded gun on him the whole night. God, you would have thought I'd brought home an ex-felon or something; I think they forget my age."
"Yeah, I have to say an armed father was a first for me," he admitted with a laugh. "And I see you weren't kidding about your brother being intimidating; he must be even bigger than Emmett," he marveled sounding impressed rather than intimidated. "He's definitely taller than him and probably just as built. But as for their actions, they're just looking out for you, love."
I laughed once in annoyance.
"You don't think they are?" Edward challenged.
"Oh I'm sure they think they are and I am also sure they mean well, but I'm not as helpless as they think I am," I bristled.
"Being surrounded by people who act in a way because they love and care about you doesn't qualify as a weakness. Nor does it necessarily mean they think you're helpless; you just mean a lot to them," he explained. "And meaning a lot to someone isn't a bad thing. So if they're not so friendly to me at first because they love you that much, how can I let it bother me?" Edward paused as if considering the question he posed and shook his head. "I can't. Try to not take it negatively; they just want to make sure you'll be alright."
"Yeah, well sometimes they show that they care just a little too much," I disagreed stubbornly knowing they never used to be this overbearing. I knew it was because of James and their perception that it was their fault they didn't weed him out before he had hurt me. Maybe that was why it bothered me so much; it was an unwelcome reminder of James when I was realizing more and more how horrible he was to me with the more Edward showed me just how good things could be. I wanted to forget about James, not be reminded of him.
Edward laughed. "Well, I must admit, I'm starting to see Alice's petulance with Dad, Em and me trying to look out for her. And why it took her so long until she finally brought Jasper around to meet us."
"It sounds like the two of us will be able to compare notes," I said dryly.
"Well, I can't say any one of us were ever armed, but I'm sure she has her own list of things we did that aggravated her when we felt we were just looking out for her," Edward smiled.
"Regardless, they didn't need to be so rude to you," I griped.
"Bella, honestly, I'm not bothered by it," he disagreed. "Really. Give them some time. Besides, your family wasn't nearly as bad as you led me to believe they'd be. They actually all seemed pretty normal."
"Uh, huh. Interrogation with a loaded weapon. Completely normal," I said in a tone that said I thought he was a bit crazy himself.
Edward laughed shaking his head.
"And the way you talked," he added, "your sister was going to be like this super crazed fan or something. She wasn't like that at all."
"I have to say she completely floored me. I thought she was going to freak out screaming and go into hysterics—no exaggeration. But still, she completely groped you!" I challenged.
"You know you're adorable when you're jealous?" he smirked.
"I'm not jealous, I'm embarrassed," I clarified.
Edward laughed like he didn't believe me. "Either way, your sister got excited and gave me a hug, she didn't grope me. It wasn't like she nearly tackled me to the ground like someone else had, when I showed up at her doorstep a few days ago."
"That's different," I muttered, blushing deeply.
"Yes, it is," Edward conceded with a smile, grabbing ahold of my hand. "It's very different. And it's something I hope will never change."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, that I hope you will always be that excited to see me," he explained. Then as if an afterthought, he tagged on, "Though it probably wouldn't be a good idea for you to jump on me like that when we're in our eighties, broken hips are terrible to recover from I hear, especially at that age."
Eighties? My heart did a flip.
"Eighties?" I breathed staring at his heartbreakingly beautiful face, feeling my breathing and heart pick up their pace as if trying to race one another.
"What? Does that frighten you?" Edward asked glancing over at me looking worried.
"No," I told him. "Not even a little."
Because it didn't.
XXXXX
"I am going to be a complete zombie tomorrow for work," I complained weightlessly as Edward, who had just climbed back into bed, dragged his fingers through my hair, pulling tendrils from my face and neck, and then began trailing soft kisses along the skin he exposed as I laid curled up facing away from him.
He hummed against my skin. "I'm not starting anything…this time," I could feel his smile against my neck. "I'm just enjoying this while I can," he corrected.
But the problem was my body was quick to respond to his electric touch, wanting more. Always wanting more.
I turned over, lying on my back.
"How long?" I asked looking up at him, my eyes meeting his. It was the question I had purposely been avoiding and refused to hear until that moment. I didn't want to know, but the time had come that now I needed to know.
Edward sucked in a breath and he squinted his eyes knowing exactly what I was asking. He sighed deeply.
"If you don't come to see me, it'll most likely be a few," he paused, swallowing hard, as if saying it was going to physically hurt him, "months."
My breath let out as if his words held the physical weight they felt emotionally. They landed hard on my chest, knocking the wind right out of me, weighing me down. I struggled to pull in my next breath as I choked on the lump in my throat and tears stung my eyes.
How was I ever going to survive months without him?
There was a long stretch of silence that filled the space between us as I digested this fact. I stared into Edward's eyes in the dim light of my bedroom as he stared back into mine.
"You could come with me," he offered quietly, breaking the silence, beginning to draw designs on my skin with his finger.
"I can't," I managed to breathe out after a few beats.
Edward nodded looking like he'd held hope that I might have considered that option and now that hope was shattered. Disappointment colored every last feature of his face and it broke my heart seeing it there.
I wanted to fix it, to take away the pain I saw there in his eyes, but I couldn't just leave my friends, family, job... I couldn't leave who I was to tag along after him like some accessory without a personality or a life of their own. I couldn't give up being me. I wanted to go with him more than anything, but not if I had to sacrifice my identity. I knew Edward wasn't asking that, but I also knew that if I sloughed off my commitments here, to follow him around, it would happen. I'd only just begun to realize who I was, what would I become if I abandoned it now?
"I want to Edward, I really do." He had no idea how badly I wanted to. "I just can't."
"It's okay," he murmured, forcing a small smile as he stroked my hair. "I know. I just had to ask."
I nodded, understanding. It was the same for me with wanting to ask him to stay; I knew he couldn't, and in a way I didn't want him to, because acting was a part of him. But yet I was selfish enough to want it anyway.
"Besides," I said, turning on my side, facing towards him, "you'll be so busy you wouldn't have time to see me anyhow." I'd said it to try to make myself feel better about not going, but not really succeeding.
He'd told me most days while he was filming were long and tedious where he'd spend all day on set, only having enough time at the end to maybe go over the scenes for the next day, before collapsing in bed until it was time to get up to do it all over again. I knew that my being there wouldn't work for that reason alone, but it still didn't make it any easier to stay.
"Well, not properly anyhow," he conceded as a flicker of mischief flashed through his eyes.
"I think the wrong person has been tagged as 'insatiable'," I teased, dragging my fingers down his chest and stomach, hoping to lighten the mood.
Edward caught my wrist when my fingers began to drift below his bellybutton, just before I reached him, and flashed me an impish smile.
"Oh no, love," he admonished, "we can't have you showing up to work a zombie, now can we?"
I looked up at him through my eyelashes and gave the best pouting face I could.
"Completely insatiable," he marveled, shaking his head at me. "At this rate, I think I'm going to need the next few months just to recover from this weekend."
I pursed my lips and narrowed my eyes, trying to look mad at him for the comment; glad the darkened room hid my blush that would have ruined the little effect I succeeded with.
"Very impressive," Edward mock commended, sliding his hand along my face and tipping my chin up until my lips met his, kissing me tenderly for a moment and then pulled back.
"It's going to be completely miserable," he admitted with a sigh, pressing his forehead to mine.
"Yes, it will be," I agreed, my voice cracking, breaking through my barrier I'd been trying to hold up to prevent the realization of just how hard it was going to be without him from hitting me. I would have thought the knowledge that Edward loved me would make facing being apart easier—having that reassurance. But it wasn't easier at all.
"Bella," Edward said softly, his eyes intently locked with mine, beseeching. "I know you can't come with me for the entire time. I understand that. But would you at least reconsider letting me buy you a plane ticket to come see me, even if it's just for a day, even if it's just once."
I sighed, feeling my resolve on not letting him spend that kind of money on me weaken with the knowledge of just how long it was going to be until he could come back to see me again painfully fresh in my head. I knew that even if I could get off work for any amount of time, I didn't have the means to buy airfare to go to him because I'd exhausted my spending money to go to New York. I knew waiting months to see him again would be unbearable so I didn't see any other option but to concede.
"Okay," I whispered laying my hand on his cheek.
"You'll let me?" Edward asked in disbelief.
"Yes," I nodded and pulled him to me for a kiss. My fingers curved around his jaw and drew themselves along the underside of his jawline to his chin. Then my hand slid against the stubble that was breaking though from his shave earlier in the day, along the side of his neck and around the back of his head, my fingers twisting into his hair, grabbing a fistful.
My body seemed to be pulled by some invisible force that rolled my hips, pulling my body flush against him. I quickly found it wasn't enough and my leg began drifting over his.
Edward groaned and grabbed ahold of my thigh, hitching it higher and then pulling me over him as he rolled to his back.
"I'm going to miss you, Bella, so much," he breathed grasping my hips in his hands.
I sighed feeling downtrodden; missing him already
"I know. Me too," I told him. "I love you," I confessed as he slid his hands up along the sides of my body and hooked them around my shoulders, pulling me flush against him.
"I love you too," he murmured as his lips met the skin under my jaw, and began working their way down my neck, as his hands slid forward and curved around my breasts, gently pulling me up taking one into his mouth greedily.
Oh God.
And then the other.
A moan escaped my lips and Edward let out a groan in response that shot straight through me.
Edward slid his right hand down the length of my body and I pulled myself up off of him to allow room between us as he drifted it inward and between my legs.
I arched my back trying to press my chest against his mouth and rolled my hips, pressing myself against his hand, wanting more. Always wanting more. Needing more. Needing him. Just him. Always him.
I groaned with a mixture of pleasure and frustration. I needed him in me, but I didn't want to surrender his very talented hand.
Edward rolled me to my back, solving my conundrum for me by taking control. His lips trailed openmouthed kisses down the length of my body down to my hipbone. He then traveled across the sensitive skin at the juncture of the waist and over to the other hip. His hands pressed against the insides of my thighs, opening me up to him further as his lips trailed along the inside of my knee and began traveling inward.
Oh God.
I felt a strange twinge of conflict; Floozy Bella moaned and urged him on, while another part of me cringed at the memory of the one time in my life I'd experienced this before, distracting me from my want.
Angry at the reminder, I shoved aside the horrible memory that had me vowing "never again"; Floozy Bella hip-checking the image out of my head; finishing the job leaving me shocked but quite satisfied with myself.
Now with nothing left but want and Edward, I rolled my hips and begged for him to keep going in breathless pleads. Floozy Bella took a seat, letting me take over, with a proud look on her face.
I gasped as Edward's lips brushed against me.
When his tongue made its first sweep across me, I sounded out and my breathing turned heavy. He hummed at his first taste and the sound mixed with the vibration of his mouth pressed against my sex nearly sent me over with the intense feeling that burst through me. Instead, my body shivered with a burst of heat and I let out a deep throaty moan I couldn't have kept in if I wanted to.
I should have known it would be mind-blowing. It was Edward. It was us. It was everything. Just like all the rest.
After I came, he crawled up my body leaving another trail of kisses in his wake. When his lips met mine, they were rough with raw need and I could taste the tang of myself mixed in with the familiar taste of him as our tongues twisted together. I was surprised to find not only did I like it—the taste of me on him—even better than the taste of him alone, I found it was a huge turn-on.
We joined together one last time before falling asleep, exhausted, tangled up together. I knew morning would come too soon and it was only for one last night before a painfully long time apart, but I fell asleep feeling contented, because in that moment, I had him here with me and everything was perfect.
Phew! Bella's family wasn't nearly as horrible as she had anticipated. I don't know about you but I'm relieved. ;)
Love to know what you think. Leave a review and let me know.
TJE