*edited as of 9/2017

Chapter 16

"You can never control who you fall in love with, even when you're in the most sad, confused time of your life. You don't fall in love with people because they're fun. It just happens."

- Kirsten Dunst

Edward's POV

One week before the end of Bella's POV...

"So you know dad's birthday is coming up soon." Jess suddenly says from beside me, scaring the crap out of me. For most people… this would be an easy incident to blow off having a voice wake them up but for me not so much. Considering it was nearly six in the morning and I was currently in a state of undress and in my nice comfortable bed, having your sister wake you up was not the best way to start a morning. I roll over and pull the covers over my head.

"Really Jess? The man is my father I think I know when his birthday is." I grumble trying to get comfortable again but it seems futile when there is an unmoving, talking body beside me.

"Why in the hell are you in my place, especially this early in the morning?" I ask, moaning as Jess pulls the covers from off my head and turns on the lights. I immediately shut my eyes and mentally plot ways of making my sister disappear without causing a disturbance.

"I was in the neighborhood." Jessica huffs flopping back down beside me. I reach for one of my pillows so I can hit her over the head with it. She immediately catches on to my train of thought and grabs it before I could use it on her.

"Jessica, being "in the neighborhood" is reserved for someone who actually had a purpose in heading this way. You don't work on this side nor live this way. In fact, you have to go out your way to come visit me and I know for a fact it's not just to remind me about dad's birthday,

so get rid of all the extra jargon and tell me what you want so you can get the hell out and I can go back to sleep!" I growl out in one breath.

"Well then, someone's not a morning person. I was just trying to be a good big sister and check up on her big baby brother but someone is acting ungrateful." She sniffs.

My back is turned away from her so I cannot be sure if she is faking or not but even then, she knows I can't handle tears. Letting out a small growl of discontent, I roll back over onto my back to look at her. Jess grabs onto my arm and holds it while she grins at me mischievously at her triumph of getting my attention.

"Come on Jess, what do you really want?" I ask really looking at her. Despite her perky demeanor, Jess looked a little rough and out of it making me wonder if something bad had happened. She begins wringing her hands together roughly.

"Well you know the wedding got pushed back and now the new date is coming up soon …" She starts and I immediately cut her off.

"Don't tell me you came all the way here to tell me you got cold feet."

"No not all. I mean Mike is the woman of my dreams and I could never do that to her or myself." Jessica finishes and I push for her to continue so I can go back to sleep.

"Okay you know Samantha…."

"Please tell me you're not trying to set me up. Damn it Jess you al…" She cuts me off by placing her hand over my mouth.

"Edward let me finish! I hate when you do that." Once she's sure I won't speak again continues.

"As I was saying…" she starts dramatically, "my BRIDESMAID Samantha has a family emergency. Her father broke his leg and with her mom gone needs someone to help him recover."

"And…" Jess swats my head with a pillow.

"I'm listening…"

"Well anyways her father stays in Denmark and she's leaving the states for the foreseeable future."

"And by future you mean…"

"Like tomorrow night."

"Okay." I respond and once again, she hits me with the pillow.

"Could you at least be a little more sympathetic?" Jess whines.

"It's sad about her father. Really sad, but no offense what does this have to do with me?"

"She was your walking partner stupid! And with her gone you have no one, which messes up the whole sequence I had planned and I can't have an even odd number of bridesmaids and an even number of groomsmen. That just doesn't look right! There are table arrangements for freaking sakes. I spent a month working on that plan. That cannot be messed up!" she screeches and I cover my ears in agony.

"Then I won't be in the wedding, now problem solved." I reply hoping to pacify her.

"You wish brother. You will be in my wedding even if I have to drag you down the aisle while dad walks me down." Jess growls and I admit she scares me a little bit at her tone.

"Okay so what do you want me to do about it?" I ask.

"You being the best baby brother ever is going to ask Bella if she wouldn't mind being her replacement. " She grins as if that's the easiest solution she could muster.

"Why not ask her yourself? Do your own dirty work."

"She's your girlfriend. Besides, I think she might be a little iffy of me. I do tend to come off strong sometimes." Jess adds.

"Sometimes?" She hits me with the pillow again.

"Geeze, stop hitting me. I can try but I make no promises. She may not even fit in her dress." I add. Jessica pulls her legs underneath her and ponders it for a moment.

"Hmm…that's true. I think Samantha is two sizes larger but it's nothing a seamstress can't fix. I mean Jane already has to get hers altered since the baby…and….great…you gave me something else to worry about jerk." Jessica huffs and begins hitting me all over with the pillow in her hands.

"Okay, okay! I'll try but I make no promises!"

"Thank you! You're the best baby brother ever!" She presses a sloppy wet kiss on my cheek causing me to groan.

"I'm your only baby brother now will you please get out so I can go to sleep. It's my day off and you're ruining it." I grumble as she hops off my bed.

"Whatever brother. You know you love me." Jessica giggles leaving as I roll over and flip her the finger.

I really needed to change my lock.

…

"So I want you to meet my family." I blurt out suddenly in the midst of our post-coital bliss. Bella freezes beneath me. She turns silent. The only sound being the white noise of the television from the living room and our ragged breaths.

Granted it wasn't the most appropriate time, but I was a man who spoke his mind and when I had something to say, I said it. Bella looks up at me through hooded eyes in confusion.

"Um…what?" She pants. I press a kiss to the side of her sweaty neck and roll over onto my back pulling her on top of me.

"I said, I want you to meet my family." I repeat. Bella folds her arms underneath her head and looks at me.

"I've already met your family remember? Albeit embarrassedly I might add at your sister's bridal shower where I ran out." She replies blushing.

"I know. But I meant in an official capacity, as my girlfriend I mean. I'd like to introduce you." I admit. Bella is once again silent as she stares at me with those large brown eyes of hers. After a few seconds, I can't help but begin to fidget a bit as she continues to stare up at me. Her face is void of any emotion but her eyes, those molten chocolate eyes are flickering with various things and for the first time in a while, I am anxious to know what is going on inside of that head of hers.

It was my job to know what was going on inside other people's heads. Being in advertising, I knew what people thought before they even realized they had thought it themselves and not knowing was a rarity for me.

Being the man I was especially in the business where it was a dog eat dog world, I was expected not to show any telltale signs of nervousness.

It was eat or be eaten.

Don't reveal anything that can possibly be used against you.

In this case, it was my heart, as cheesy as that sounded.

But being with Bella made me feel like it was okay to reveal this part of me. I confess when I first realized this, I thought I was being stupid; being all jittery over a woman when I could command a room full of investors without blinking an eyelash and here I was nearly salivating to get a response from her.

Bella had been a little distracted lately. Not much to cause alarm but from the past couple of days I could see that her mind had gone elsewhere. She would be completely fine one second and then she'd get this look on her face as if she was contemplating something really hard, and then as quickly as it had appeared, would go away and she would be back to her usual self. She had reassured me that it had nothing to do with me and I left it at that accepting her response. I've learned early on not to pry in matters unless it benefited me directly.

After what feels like hours but is actually only two minutes of her looking at me, she gives me a response.

"I would love to." She whispers, a soft smile spreading across her face. I let out the breath I didn't know I was holding.

"Fuck, I thought I was about to have a heart attack, it felt like forever waiting for you to respond." Bella lets out a small giggle.

"Sorry, I was caught in my head again. Didn't mean to make you nervous. I guess it caught me off guard. I mean you did invite me right after we just had sex, a little odd don't you think?" She chortles and I can't help but release a few chuckles of my own.

"Yeah it was poor timing, but what can I say..." I brag just as Bella lets out another laugh causing her to bounce on my chest and awaken a certain member of mine. Bella stops laughing and bites her lip.

Suddenly, all traces of humor are gone and are replaced with the sound of ecstasy as I take her for the fourth time that night.

….

"Shit, we are really doing this." I moan pulling up behind the long line of cars that fills the driveway. Tossing the gift back and forth in my hands for my father, I contemplate why I was doing this to Bella and myself.

My sweet Bella.

She sits beside me in the passenger seat of my car amused, laughing so hard that she has to lean back against the seat for support. While I'm over here panicking about my crazy family, she sits here as the picture of calm. I groan as I get out and see the momentary lapse of fear on her face as she sees the fifteen-twenty cars in my parent's driveway.

They never were subtle anyways when it came to these kinds of things. Bella walks up behind me and places a hand against my shoulder. She had been silent throughout my inner monologue and I look over to see her face in slight awe of the giant house in front of us.

The four story Victorian house located in the outskirts of the city was an architectural feat. Built by my great grandfather as a gift to his wife, it had always been home to me, but to the casual spectator appeared more extravagant than it already was.

"Is that why you wanted us to arrive two hours earlier than intended?" She asks. I shake my head.

"Nah, I did it to throw my mother and sisters off who are probably spying on us from the window and possibly the rest of my crazy family but I guess not." I point to an upper window where the curtain immediately closes.

"Sometimes I underestimate just how smart my family is. I mean I should get it considering they gave birth to me." I puff my chest out mockingly. Bella swats my chest playfully and presses a kiss to my cheek. She grabs my hand and it's her who begins to pull us up the driveway towards the front door.

"Come on it can't be that bad." Bella teases.

"You have no idea." I moan letting her continue to pull me towards the house.

We both barely make it up the stairs and to the door before it swings open and my mother and sisters are standing there practically foaming at the mouth. I can barely get a greeting out before Jess shoves me out the way and grabs on to Bella's arm to pull her inside. In a flash of limbs and chatter I momentarily see another flash of fear pass over her face and pray to whoever's up there that my family doesn't scare her away.

…..

Bella's POV

"Okay so maybe Edward was right." I mutter under my breath as I'm pulled inside. While I tried to appear calm for Edward on the outside, on the on the inside I was shitting bricks.

I mean meeting someone's family was a big step in a couple's relationship. This meant that things were getting serious enough to be formally introduced and that various personal connections were to be made with each of his family members.

The feeling of being here was somewhat conflicting.

In fact that seemed to be the only emotion I felt these days; often feeling split between going with my head or with my heart. My heart was squealing with joy and dancing in high heels at being here as his girlfriend, while my head was telling me not to fuck this all up.

His mother Elizabeth wraps me in a warm motherly hug making me once again miss my own mother. I'd seen her once before at Jessica's bridal shower but never this close in this type of situation. She doesn't look much like Edward, having strawberry blondish hair and very delicate features. Looking at his sisters, I could tell they got their looks from her, all having the same bone structure and petite frame. The only thing Edward seemed to have inherited from her were her green eyes that seem to have the same wicked and mischievous gleam in them.

Looking around, I realize that the place is bigger than I imagined with even higher ceilings. We were only standing in the parlor and it was pretty much the size of my apartment. Jane and Jessica were both speaking to me, rambling off sorts of nonsense about people in the living room and food that would be served that I could barely keep up. I could hear loud chatter evident of the cars outside and people milling about. I could immediately feel the slight break in my façade and I feel myself become a little overwhelmed.

A lot of people meant a lot of impressions to make and once again for the umpteenth time in my life….well this day…I was terrified of messing this all up.

"Bella?" I hear Edward's voice call as he grabs my hand and pulls me towards him immediately aware of my distress. I rest my head against his chest and take in a deep breath inhaling his soothing scent. I could feel him nuzzle the top of my head and I close my eyes with a content sigh. It's silent for a moment and I suddenly hear the sounds of footsteps and his mother whispering to someone.

"Awe look how sweet. Remember when you used to look at me that way."

"Used to? I still do love." A deep voice adds. I open my eyes and pull from Edward's embrace.

While Jane and Jessica were giggling like a bunch of schoolgirls at us, Elizabeth was wrapped around a man who was unmistakably Edward's father and namesake. Having the same build, although his father was a few inches taller, had the same untamable red hair (although his with a few streaks of grey), nose and chin. Even the way Edward stood and carried himself was so similar that it was slightly eerie. His eyes were the only difference and were a bright electric blue. Despite his intimidating appearance, greeted me warmly as he walked over to shake my hand.

"Pardon my manners, I'm Edward Sr. aka " Ted" although you probably knew that since I practically spit that one out." He smiles crookedly at me. I could see that Edward had gotten his charm from him as well. Edward had told me prior that his father could be an intimidating man at first glance but that apparently he was just a big softie, especially when it came to Elizabeth. A traitorous blush spreads down my face.

"Dad..." Edward whines from behind me with a plea.

"Nice to meet you." I whisper suddenly feeling shy all of a sudden. I sneak a peek over at Elizabeth who is giving me a knowing grin. Feeling myself flush even harder, look down at my feet.

"Aw she blushes. You picked a beauty here." He adds and I feel my face flush harder (if that's possible) than before.

"Uh…Happy Birthday." I mumble and he smiles even wider this time at me.

"Why thank you. I thought turning fifty nine would be the end of me, but my dear, I feel even better now than I was at thirty." He winks at me and I blink back in a daze. I could feel Edward's chest bounce behind me and realize he is laughing.

"Oh stop it Ted, before you make her faint. Now go check on the food before I conveniently throw away that slice of cheesecake you're trying to hide in the back of the fridge." Elizabeth demands. Mr. Cullen who I still feel weird calling "Ted" looks like a chastised child as he kisses her cheek and walks into the kitchen. Elizabeth winks at me and I think in that moment causes me to fall in love with her.

Following behind him, she heads into the kitchen with a giggle, while Jessica and Jane both disappear elsewhere. Edward them gives me a tour of the house, which I honestly thought would never end, conveniently ignoring the living room and dining room as the last stop before being interrogated by the horde (his words not mine).

Pressing a kiss to my temple with a muttered whisper of "forgive me" Edward leads me into the living room where his family and friends wait.

…..

It's a flutter of hugs and kisses. Some faces appear familiar while the others are foreign. I'm introduced to so many people that by the end of it all, I am lucky if I remember my own name. I meet various aunts, uncles, and cousins of both sides. I meet family friends who knew Edward and his siblings from the womb. It was no wonder his parents owned such a large home. Oddly enough, despite the numerous names and personalities I meet, I feel welcomed and not at all like an outsider.

Everyone attempts to include me in the casual conversation-taking place, which was kind of a relief considering it was very easy to be spoken over. Edward stayed by my side the entire time, resting his hand on my thigh, reassuring me. Dinner was delicious and went without a hitch. During dessert, which featured an enormous birthday cake to Edward Sr., everyone dispersed to various regions of the house with a few of them leaving. Edward went off somewhere with his brother in law Marcus and brother Benjamin for a nightcap while I headed into the living room. I sat down beside Jane who was breastfeeding her infant son Val.

Glancing around the room at the various conversations taking place, I look over to see Jane's twin girls fighting over what looked like a one legged Barbie. From the looks of the fight, things were getting heated very quickly and moments later they began pulling each other's hair. Getting Jane's attention, I point over to her girls who were now beginning to cause a notable commotion.

"Geeze, can't go nowhere without them fighting. Girls!" Jane huffs pulling up her shirt. Quicker than I could blink, she suddenly hands over her squirming son to me and gestures for me to burp him while she tends to the twins. Separating them quickly as they continue to fight over the one legged doll she pulls them towards the stairs with a quick response of returning in a few minutes.

Looking down at the squirming baby in my lap, I freeze. Obviously Jane was comfortable enough to leave her baby with me but I wasn't sure if I was comfortable enough being with him. Jane had told me to burp him but I wasn't sure really what to do. Granted I've held babies before but never this young or fragile.

What if I hit his little back too hard or didn't get all the air out his little tummy? Baby Val was the cutest little thing with his wispy blonde hair and chubby cheeks and I didn't want to do anything that would possibly hurt him.

"I swear you and Edward are made for each other." Jessica suddenly says scaring the crap out of me. I make a mental note her ability to not make any noise and give her a confused look. She rolls her eyes at me amusedly.

"He's just as scared as you are when it comes to babies. It's not rocket science." Jessica lays a baby blanket over my shoulder and gestures for me to lay him against it. She shows me how to tap on his back and following her directions begins tapping until he lets out two large burps. Jessica runs off to get us both a glass of wine while I continue tapping his back softly until Jane returns looking a little rumpled. I hand her Val who is now sleeping soundly.

"Thank you so much. Those girls of mine are going to drive me crazy!" Jane huffs, brushing a few blonde tendrils off her face.

"It's no problem; although I was a little shocked you left him with me so suddenly." I admit as Jessica returns.

"Nonsense, you're family now. My baby brother doesn't just bring anybody home to meet the folks. You're obviously important to him and therefore us." Jane grins.

"He's important to me as well." I add almost wistfully.

"Good. Now as a proper big sister, don't take this personal, but all I can say is that if you hurt my baby brother you'll be sorry. Don't let the mommy brain fool you… I can discipline adults as well." Jane grins mockingly at me and I shudder out a breath.

"Oh relax with the intimating big sister thing and go put the baby upstairs." Jessica chuckles. Jane winks at me before heading upstairs. I take the glass of wine from Jess.

"Well that was intense." Jessica waves her hand dismissively.

"Don't worry about Jane. She'll probably milk this whole big sister/I'll hurt you thing. We've been waiting forever for Edward to bring someone home. We thought we never get the chance." Jessica replies taking a sip of her wine.

"Yeah Jane mentioned it earlier; that it was a big deal to bring someone to meet the family." She nods her head and pulls her feet underneath her.

"She's right. It is a big deal. While we may be nosy, it's mostly because we're very protective over one another. As big as our family is, we have to be. I mean the last time Edward brought someone was several years ago with Angela and..." Jessica starts.

"Wait he dated Angela? Your brother's wife right?" I ask suddenly feeling the traces of jealously bubble. Jessica stares at me for a moment and it's as if she could see the gears moving around in my head. Flashbacks nearly flood my mind of previous situations with exes and I shut them out willing myself to listen first and not jump to conclusions.

"Yeah a while ago, but as you can see it never amounted to anything. Even when we first met her all those years ago, we could tell that she was perfect for my brother, just not that particular brother if you catch my drift." Jessica laughs. I nod my head and take a sip of my wine.

"Not that you should be worried. That is long gone history, besides he's different with you. You see Edward is a lot like my dad. He doesn't often show his emotions outside of family and can appear somewhat stoic and cold if you didn't know him. Edward is the exact same way. While my sister, Ben and I are somewhat more free spirted like our mother and more impulsive, he's more calculated like our dad. He's used to getting his way and not having to work for anything." Jessica sighs and I nod my head in agreement.

"From the tidbits I've heard, I get the impression that you made him work hard and long…and ew that did not sound right." Jessica shakes her head in disgust but continues.

"I admit my brother can be a bit of a douchebag when he gets like that but I noticed the change in him when he's with you. He smiles more and is not afraid to be himself. Granted he's the same when he's around us but with you, it's lighter and less forced. You know as well as I do, he wants to kill us sometimes." She continues and I let out a hearty laugh.

"So I've heard." I reply. Jessica and I continue talking for a few minutes about her upcoming nuptials and request for me to a replacement bridesmaid. At first, I was a little weary but after a bit of wearing down and some miserable attempts of a pout agreed. Being partnered with Edward was also a nice incentive.

After Jessica left to go look for her fiancée, I followed behind her where I spot Edward in the kitchen talking to one of his cousins. He didn't see me at first but when he did a smile spread across his face shocking me at the sudden realization that one had spread across mine. Edward strode over to me and pulls me toward him into a tight hug.

"I see you're still here. I'm glad to see that my family hasn't scared you off." Edward whispers against my ear.
"Did you seriously think I would let them run me off? I mean you are my ride." I ask raising my head up to look at him. Edward laughs and brushes his nose against mine.

"Glad to see you stayed for transportation."
"No really, your family is great. A little eccentric, but great. Besides, if you look anything like your father when you're older, I think I'd like to stay in this relationship for the long run." I giggle. Edward leans his head down to kiss me.

"Hmm…" He hesitates. My brow furrows in confusion. Pressing a soft kiss to my nose, he turns his head quickly towards the kitchen door.

"You can stop spying now." He says softly but sternly. I hear a muttered grumble that belongs no doubt to his sisters and mother and the close of the door. Edward turns his head back to me.

"Now where were we?"

"Right here." I whisper pressing my lips to his.

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xoxo Sylvia Cullen