*edited as of 9/2017

Chapter 14

Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.
- Aristotle

Isabella's POV

"Well if that isn't the look of someone who's been freshly fucked." Diego's voice scares me as I enter my apartment, causing me to nearly trip over one of Pattinson's cat toys. I blindly search for the light switch on the wall and manage to turn it on without falling on my face.

"Jesus Di, you couldn't have turned on a light?" I clutch my hand to my chest and glare at him.

"What are you even doing in my apartment let alone sitting on my couch in the darkness?" I ask. I take a seat down beside him. Diego wryly smiles at me and runs his hands through his curly tresses that was beginning to curl around the nape of his neck. It's shorter than the last time I saw him reminding me of just how long it had been since we last hung out.

"I do recall you giving me a key." He grins, swinging the single key ring on his pinky finger. I roll my eyes at his tone.

"Yeah for emergencies."

"Well this is an emergency. Where have you been Isa? I feel like I haven't seen you lately." Diego questions.

"Maybe because you've been too busy shoving your tongue down Bree's mouth." Diego glares at me and wraps me into a headlock. I squeal suddenly feeling like a little kid and swat at his hands until he releases me. My hair is now in tangles and I brush a few wayward curls from my face to give Diego a nice scolding when I notice the look on his face. It was no longer playful but an expression of deliberation.

"You know what I mean. I barely see you at work anymore since you changed your hours. When you leave, I come in and vice versa. Hell, Bree sees you more than I do and I'm supposed to be your best friend." He growls.

"You could just come over when she does," I add trying to be lessen the tense mood that was quickly rising.

It doesn't work.

"Right, so I can listen to the both of you gush over frilly things and topics that don't relate to sports, beer and hot women? I don't think so. Every time I come over to visit, you're gone. I text and you don't respond. What's up chica?" Diego rambles and I could see that he was honestly hurt by this.

"What? I don't have to be here all the time." I retort.

Okay…so maybe Diego did have a point. I may have been a little wrapped up in all things Edward these past two weeks, which also just happened to include sex, sex, and more sex. Of course there was talking between the two of us and hanging out but that just usually led to more sex.

"I'm not saying you have to be here all the time. I just think it would be nice to visit my best friend and have her be here for once." Diego sighs.

"Excuse me for trying to have a life." I respond. I startle a little as my two furry babies curl themselves around my feet. Stewart rests his head upon my sock clad feet while Pattinson hops onto my lap and begins mewling. They usually weren't this clingy but considering I was rarely at home anymore (occasionally spending my nights…..well most of my nights with MG), I could understand why.

We sit there in silence for a few minutes when Diego speaks again.

"So Bree told me about your little boy toy." I swallow tersely and try to keep my face neutral. Diego tends to give me a hard time when it comes to the men I may date or have dated in the past. Granted it had its reasons but I knew a lecture was coming my way.

"Um yeah, his name is Edward." I focus my attention of rubbing Pattinson's silky coat.

"Yeah I know his name….. Bree told me… and that's a problem." He states solemnly with a bit of jealously in his tone.

Here we go.

"How is that a problem?" I question.

"It's a problem that I found it out from my girlfriend and not you. I thought we told each other everything."

"I'm not supposed to tell you everything that goes on in my personal life." I defend.

"Well you used to. I had to hear it from Bree that this Edward guy practically showed up every night at the restaurant to see you and then tracked you down to your apartment. Please tell me that you have enough common sense to see that it's crazy. You know better than that chica." Diego argues throwing his hands up in frustration.

"Yeah I know it was a little crazy at first, but we talked through all of that. Don't try and insult my intelligence like that by thinking I would just go without having any reservations….Hell, that's all I did when Edward and I first met." I defend angrily getting up to stand in front of him. Pattinson scurries from my lap and into a corner at the sudden change of motion.

"I don't want to see you get all sucked up into one guy. You're acting weirder than normal. You have the habit of getting so caught up in a guy that you ignore any and everything around you."

"I'm acting happy. Is that such a surprise to you? And by the way, I do not get caught up in the guys I date." I cross my arms and began pacing back and forth in front of him.

"Of course I want you to be happy chica; I want that for you sometimes more than I want it for myself. I just want you to see it from my side of things. I was there when shit hit the fan not once, not twice but three times and I had to pick up the pieces. No offense to you, but I'm not trying to do it again." Diego admonishes.

"And you think I do?" I question. Diego turns his face in the other direction and lets out a deep breath. I stop my pacing and contemplate his words.

Diego wasn't lying when he said he was there for me every step of the way. Through every breakup, drunken binge and complete disregard for my life and myself, he was there to pick me back up and put me back together. I mean he practically moved across the country and back to help me escape my troubles, so I guess he did deserve some honesty from me. I reach out and grab his hand but he makes no move to acknowledge me.

"Look Di, I know you have the best intentions for me, I know you do. However, please just trust me on this. I know you were there for me every step of the way, and I'll be forever grateful but I need you to let me take the reins for myself." He looks at me with sad dark eyes.

"You don't think I'm afraid of being hurt for the millionth time? I mean I'm just beginning to get to the point in my life where my cynicism about relationships doesn't cause me to go into full-blown panic mode. This is new to me, just like your thing is with Bree. I'm nearly thirty and you're already an old man who needs to stop worrying about little ol me." I joke in attempt to once more relieve the tension between Diego and I. I succeed and pat myself on the back when he smiles back softly at me although I could see some residual concern evident in his eyes.

Diego stays silent.

Finally after a grueling five minutes of silence, the hand that's grasped in mine tightens.

"Huhhh…..Okay chica. I guess I can cut you some slack, although I'll never stop worrying about you. Isa you're my best friend; my annoying pseudo little sister although I do think I've been replaced by a certain raven haired, blue eyed girl of mine." He grins, shaking his head at me, random black curls falling over his eyes.

"No one could ever take your place." I sit down an curl against his side.

"You do know I want to meet him right? Gotta make sure he's perfect for you and treats you right." Diego boasts and lightly rests his head on top of mine.

"I wouldn't have it any other way."

…WLTYAS…

"So this is it." Edward announces as he shows me around his "little apartment". Apartment being the understatement of the century, since it looked more like a penthouse with how large it was. It wasn't as if I paid attention the first time I came here, since I was otherwise preoccupied with his wandering hands and lips, along with the shedding of clothes.

Ironically, despite it being that we were now trying to make things work between us, I still had not managed to make it over to Edward's place except for that one time. Usually we just hung out at my place, which usually led to late nights and even earlier mornings. Eventually I asked him about it, to which he just shrugged his shoulders, claiming I never asked.

Ugh…men.

I didn't think I was supposed to ask, I thought it was obvious.

With that aside, I finally made it over to his place one weekend, when Edward took me out to lunch and stopped at his place on the way back. It was surprisingly homey and comfortably stylized with warm colors adorning the wall, which he credited his aunt who was an interior designer.

There were random pictures strewn across the living room, showing various family members and friends including a few of Jessica, Angela, and the other women and children I'd seen at Jessica's bridal shower. I found it somewhat odd that he had so many pictures of them, since Edward rarely spoke of them. From the time I'd spent with him, I've come to realize that he was a very private person. He loved his family, but certain aspects of his life he liked to be left alone. While this normally would have bothered me with anyone else, I was glad that Edward was being private and let whatever needed to be said come naturally.

I didn't want to ask and push him too much; not for fear of whatever he was going to say, but in fear of novelty wearing off.

The sexual tension was there…there was no doubt about it.

Ignoring that, there was so much left to learn between the two of us and I worried it was all going to end soon if we "bared our souls" all of a sudden. Those things came eventually with time.

We finish the tour of his apartment, concluding it with a quickie in his bedroom where we succumb to our exhaustion on his now rumpled bed. We laid there in silence, the only sound being our labored breath and the thump of his heart against my ear. I could tell from the shift in Edward's breathing that he was beginning to fall asleep. While I should have been doing the same, all I could think of was Diego's conversation and his words kept invading my mind.

While I knew he was being protective, he had made some valid points in his argument. It made me question many things I thought I had come to terms with.

Was I really looking through everything with rose-colored glasses and was just moving things along in fear of being alone?

I mean…. I've made it this far without a relationship and all of a sudden, the first guy I'm attracted to, I hop into bed with and ignore everything?

Was I even his girlfriend?

I mean I guess I was after everything, but did he even label it?

Oh my god, what if I was still his fuck buddy!

What if I just over analyzed this whole thing when there was nothing ever there?

What if….

"Are you going to tell me what's going on in that head of yours?" Edward asks suddenly, kissing my forehead.

"You seem breathless over there and it's not because of me. Care to share?" He continues, grabbing one of my hands. He kisses my palm.

"Do you think we're moving too fast?" I blurt. Edward drops my hand as if I shocked him.

"I don't know, do you?" He whispers. I grab his hand again and intertwine his fingers with mine.

"Honestly?"

"It would be appreciated." Edward pleads.

"Sometimes. One moment I think everything is perfect and then my mind catches up to me and wonders where in the hell did the old Isabella Swan go? This "Bella" is new and taking risks and I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing. It didn't help that Diego put some things in my head and…" I continue confessing.

"Wait, who is Diego again?" He asks.

"One of my best friends. You've seen him plenty of times at the restaurant."

"Oh you mean the curly haired surfer looking dude?" I feel the corner of my lips curl up in a smile.

"I'll be sure to tell him you said that but yes. He was a little angry with me for not being around as much and not telling him about us. Diego is being over protective of me and he has every right. I know it isn't right bringing up past insecurities; especially with this new relationship that's building between us but now they wont go away.

"And is this a problem….what we have going on with us?" I let go of his hand and raise myself on my elbows to look at him.

"Edward, what is this things going on between us? Can you DTR please, because I'm honestly lost?" His eyebrows furrow in confusion.

"DTR? Is that some acronym I should be aware of?" I roll my eyes. That's what I get for picking up some of Bree's jargon.

"Defining the relationship. Are we boyfriend, girlfriend? Fuck buddies?" I inquire. Edward sits up, flipping our positions so that it was now me lying on my back and him hovering over me on his elbows.

"I thought I made it clear the night you threatened me with your shoe." He smirks. I kept my face blank.

"Look, I may not be perfect at this whole relationship thing, since I'm used to women wanting something out of me, mainly money…" I glare at him. "Not to say that's what you're after that but I wouldn't have gone through all of this trouble; practically stationing myself inside the place you work if I didn't think this was going to lead somewhere and not make you my girlfriend." He explains.

"Does your family know about me, aside the fact that we slept together? I don't want to be no one's dirty secret." I ask . Edward sighs and lowers his head, resting it between the valley of my breasts. I begin running my fingers through his hair and watch as he closes his eyes in content.

"My family….well its complicated. Of course they know of you, but not that you're my girlfriend, exactly. My family is extremely noisy and prodding; very much in each other's lives and as if you haven't figured out, I'm a very private man. I love my family, I really do, but some things I want to keep to myself for a while, so when they decide to intervene and trust me they will…you won't go running for the hills." Edward chuckles, brushing a finger under the underside of my breast.

"I already did remember? Right out of your sister's bridal shower with everyone watching." I blush with embarrassment.

"Yeah and it changed both of our lives." He continues and I could feel his chuckles reverberate through his body onto my skin.

"Now does that answer your question?" Edward asks looking up at me, his eyes bright and shining.

"Yeah, I'm good." I whisper.

"One more thing." I look at him in confusion, wondering what he was going to say next.

"Although we've already "DTR" as you call it, I would like to formally ask. Bella Swan, would you do me the great pleasure of being my girlfriend?" I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding and smiled.

"Yes, I would love to be your girlfriend if that makes you my boyfriend." I grin. Edward leans forward to press a chaste kiss to my lips and lays his head back down on my chest where I resume running my fingers through his hair until his soft snores fill the silence, eventually lulling me to sleep.

Edward's POV

Walking into the hospital room with a two large blue balloons and a brown teddy bear in my hand, I enter to see Jane and Marcus, along with my father surrounded on either side of her bed. Jane offers me a bright smile and looks down at the squirming bundle that is my second nephew.

"Well look here. Is that who I think that is?" Jane coos to the baby. "It's your uncle Edward." Jane looks visibly tired, the small dark circles under her eyes evident from hours of labor but the smile on her face was radiant. I wave the balloons and bear I held in my hands and place it onto one of the overflowing tables of gifts she had already received.

"Where's mom and the girls? Ben and Ang? Jess and Mike? I was sure they'd be the first ones up here." I laugh. My father rolled his eyes and lets out a grunt.

"Your mother, Jess and Mike took the girls to the cafeteria to get something to eat and then will probably head over to gift shop as if Jane doesn't have enough stuff as is." He gestures to the overflowing table of stuff and continues.

"They were getting a little too excited fawning over their new baby brother so the girls took them out for a bit. Ben should be on his way with Joham, since Ang is at work and will be by later and of course the rest of your aunts, uncles and cousins." Dad appears to contemplate something for a moment. "Geeze, our family's huge. Maybe we should have gotten a bigger room." He looks around the room with an horrified expression and I fight the urge not to burst out laughing.

I walked around to Jane's bedside where I looked down at my nephew. He looked like all babies do when they're first born...wrinkly, red faced, and grumpy at being thrust into a strange world. He actually appeared to look like Jane for once, having her nose and a few blonde strands peeking out the corner his hat whereas the twins were all Marcus.

"What's his name?" I ask, turning briefly to see my mother enter the room sans the twins, Jess and Mike.

"Vasilli Volturi, although we going to call him Val." Jane grins and I try not to blanch at the name, no doubt a homage to Marcus' Italian roots. "Wanna hold him?" She asks. I raise my hands in surrender and attempt to back away.

I tried to stay away from the newborn stage; I wouldn't hold any nieces or nephews until they were at least a few months of age. I mean they were mushy and fragile and...

"Oh man up!" Jane huffs quickly sitting forward and setting Val in my arms. He squirms immediately afterwards and opens his eyes revealing the usual newborn blue color that hinted toward the dark brown of his father.

"See he likes you already." Jane smiles and gestures for Marcus to help her to the bathroom. My face breaks out into a smile at my nephew when he grabs one of my fingers with his tiny hand. I feel a small hand on my shoulder and turn slightly to see my mother grinning wildly behind me.

"Isn't that a sweet sight? Doesn't that make you want to have one?" My mom coos and it doesn't take a genius to realize that she's scheming….again. I knew where this conversation was about to lead and I don't think I was going to like it. I handed Val over to my father as Marcus helps Jane get back into bed. I turn back to my mother.

"Really mom, can we please go a day without you hinting towards my love life or my nonexistent children." I groan. Mom's smirk gets even wider.

Fuck I was screwed.

"Oh my sweet baby boy, I wasn't, but now that you've planted the seed, how is that Bella girl?"

Panicking, I look to my dad for assistance. The bastard grins at me and walks to the other side of the room near Marcus who was now holding Val with an amused expression on his face. Even Jane had sat up and despite her tiredness, was looking at me expectedly for answers.

"What do you mean?" I blanch, inching towards the door, but my mother being the clever and coy woman she was, blocks the doorway.

"Well you did run after her at Jess's shower, which by the way we are still waiting for an explanation as to why and…" she pauses to hit the back of my head.

"Ouch what the fuck!" she hits me again on the shoulder, causing me to dodge her flailing hands and take cover behind the table of gifts.

"That's for not being around the past couple of weeks. Is it too much effort to put your poor mother out of her misery and call or stop by to make sure her youngest is alive and breathing! I mean look how skinny you've gotten! I need to fatten you back up" She exclaims and lets out a breath.

Crazy woman.

"Now back to what I was saying, have you spoken to that Bella girl? You two would make the cutest couple and even the cutest babies! Ooh a little boy her eyes and your coloring…no, no a girl with your eyes and her hair, yeah that'll look perfect!" My mother continues dreamily. I just stand there and look at my mother in astonishment and a bit of fear.

How did my father put up with her when she was like this? Angry one moment and then planning out her future grandchildren. Women were crazy sometimes or maybe it was just the ones in my family. I was broken from my reverie, as a small stuffed bear flies past my head. I looked at Jane in explanation. She rolled her eyes at me.

What is up with the women in my life hitting/throwing stuff at me?

"Hello, we're talking to you and we want to know what happened between you and Bella. I've never seen you run after a girl before." Jane cheers.

"Yeah me either, it was a little shocking. My new friend and my brother." Jessica pipes in, scaring the crap out of me.

When did she get here? The twins and Mike were near my father and Marcus, cooing over baby Val, leaving me to be cornered by three of the women in my life.

"Why do I feel like I'm being interrogated here?"

"We're not interrogating you, we're just merely curious." Jane agrees and Jessica and my mother both nod like bobble heads.

"Can we not do this here; I mean you just gave birth less than twelve hours ago." I growl.

"Just answer us this. Are you seeing someone?" My mother pushes. I let out a deep breath.

Might as well just do it like a Band-Aid, the quicker the better.

"Yes, I'm seeing someone okay." The three of them began squealing and bouncing, starling Ben and Joham who had just walked in.

"Yes! My baby boy is dating someone! He's not gay! Wait, it is a she right? Although if it's a boy I'll completely understand, although it might put a damper on the whole grandchildren thing, but there is adoption right and sur…." She rambles.

"No mom, I'm not gay!"

"Ah, finally spilled the beans about Bella, about time you told." Benjamin adds, adding fuel to the fire.

If only I could wrap my hands around my brother's neck.

Fucking Benj and his big ass mouth.

"So you are seeing Bella." Jessica grins. The twins suddenly realizing that I'm here, run over; both of them grabbing onto a leg and gushing about their new brother. I try to block them out as the voices of my family continue.

"Told you Jess, I mean did you see the way she looked at him and him at her…" Jane fawns dramatically fanning herself with her hand.

"You knew!" my mother gaps, coming over to stand in front of Benjamin. Seeing the look on her face tried to deflect her attack and pointed towards our father but it was too late. Mom hands Joham off to Mike and grabs Benji's ear for yelling.

"Dad knew too! Ouch Mom!" Benjamin whines.

My mother gapes at the news of my father keeping something from her and goes over to stand in front of my father…while also still holding on to Benj's ear who was trying to find the nearest corner to hide in. It was still amazing to me how my mother could bring a man as big and demanding as my father and brother to their knees. Jane and Jess are still yabbing away about Bella and I and completely ignore my presence.

Marcus stands there looking around the room in amusement with Val in his arms, sound asleep, unaware of the crazy family he was just born into.

Using the twins as a cover, I manage to get to the door and exit, quickly waving goodbye and escaping before they realized I had left.

And this was the exact reason I didn't want to bring Bella around my family just yet.

Thoughts? Leave it in a Review!

xoxo Sylvia Cullen