(A/N): This chapter was beta'd by RandomatGedz! Thanks for putting up with my selective amnesia :D

Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns it all :(

Living Royal

Chapter Fourteen

"Now what? How the hell are we going to get out of here?" Bella asked.

Their night of fun had been ruined after all. They'd tried as much as possible to forget about the paparazzi camped outside the restaurant but it didn't work. They were causing such a loud clamour that the other occupants of the restaurant started throwing glares their way, probably for interrupting their quiet evening.

It had all started out pretty well. Bella and Edward had walked through the mayhem and faced the barrage of questions until they got inside. Jasper was waiting for them and he had booked a table as far away from the front as possible. Bella had felt like hugging him.

They ate their food and chatted in relative peace until it was time to leave. The number of paparazzi outside had doubled, there were hundreds of them out there.

Guess that's what happens when a Royal Prince and the most eligible bachelor in the world starts dating.

Poor Edward. If this is how it's always been for him, no wonder he's never had an actual relationship. The pressure that comes with dating itself is daunting; add to that the whole country watching every step he makes.

Bella promised herself that she wouldn't let herself feel the pressure. For Edward. She'd stay strong for him, at the very least.

"We're going to have to look for another way out." Edward said. He turned to the maitre'd who had been standing by ready to help. "Is there a back door to the restaurant?"

The maitre'd nodded eagerly, "Yes, Your Highness. Right through the kitchen."

"Great. Jasper, I'll need you and Alice to bring the car to the back, can you do that? Bella and I will meet you there."

"Sure," Jasper nodded, and headed out the front door to do just that, pulling Alice along with him. The paparazzi thankfully did not give them much grief.

Edward grabbed Bella's hand and they walked through the kitchen, getting weird looks from the workers, until they reached the back door and quickly slipped out. Jasper had brought the car around and Alice was in the front seat. Bella and Edward quickly slipped in and they drove off.

Edward leaned back in his seat and sighed wearily. Bella reached over and held his hand, trying to comfort him and show him that she wasn't fazed by it all. He held on to her hand tightly and smiled at her.

Bella loved it when Edward smiled. It was like his whole face glowed.

Not this time, though.

This time his smile didn't reach his eyes.

Bella's heart fell. It was quiet inside the car until they reached the University campus.

They walked inside and said goodnight to Jasper and Alice. Alice looked worriedly back at Bella. The tension between her and Edward was so palpable.

Bella followed Edward assuming she'd be spending the night in his room. Until he stopped her.

"Bella, I'm kind of tired tonight. Do you mind if I spend the night alone today?" He asked, unable to look her in the eye.

Bella's heart was beating so fast. She was insanely nervous but didn't let it show. She knew what he was doing, or what he was trying to do.

"Yes, actually, I do mind. I'm not letting you do this."

"Not letting me do what?" He was still refusing to look at her.

"Run away. If I'm not allowed to do that, then neither are you." She stated, confidently and hoped she was on the right track with this.

Edward sighed tiredly, "Let's talk in my room." He opened the door for her and then followed her in.

Bella turned on him as soon as the door was closed, "So? What do you have to say for yourself?"

"Bella, relax. I'm sorry that I scared you but I'm not running away from anything and I'm not having second thoughts. I just hate that you have to deal with all of this. I feel like you're paying a price for being with me."

"Edward, we've talked about all this. If having to put up with the paparazzi and your father is what I have to do to be with you, then I'm willing to do it."

"But I still feel like I'm not doing enough…I just don't deserve you, Bella."

"Hey," Bella pulled him closer to the bed and pushed backwards until he sat down, "You're right, you don't deserve me. You deserve someone so much better, someone you can show off to the world and not be afraid that she'll embarrass you at every turn."

"Bella, I don't-," Edward started to say, but she cut him off.

"Shush, just hear me out, alright?"

He nodded mutely.

"Alright, so you really do deserve someone worthy of being called the Prince's girlfriend. And I think I have found out how I'm going to go about it." She smiled triumphantly at him.

"What? Bella you lost me. What are you trying to say?"

"Etiquette lessons. I'm going to learn everything there is to learn about being a perfect lady. Well, as perfect as I am capable of. I've already called the instructor. Your mother gave me her number."

"Wait, you called my mother?" Edward was in a daze.

"Yes," Bella nodded. "She gave me her private number before we left the Palace and told me to call if I ever needed anything. Can you believe that?"

"Yes, I can, actually. My mother likes you very much."

"Well, at least someone in your family likes me." Bella mumbled dismally.

Edward pulled her down to sit next to him.

"My father will come around Bella. He's a stubborn bastard but he'll see how perfect we are for each other sooner or later."

"Maybe." Bella said, but she didn't look too sure. "I just think that if he sees how dignified and Ladylike I will be, then maybe he'll be a little more receptive of the idea of the two of us dating."

"Dating. I'm not so sure about that word. I feel like we've already passed that stage even though we haven't been on a date yet. Alone, that is." He chuckled.

"I know what you mean." Bella smiled. She felt closer to Edward in the few weeks since they'd met than she was throughout her whole relationship with Jacob.

"But still, I don't want them turning you into some robot, I've seen enough of those to last me a lifetime. Besides, I like my women feisty." He winked.

Bella threw her head back and laughed, "Don't worry, I'm only willing to refine my ways, not change them altogether. When all of this is over, I'll still be your Bella."

Edward leaned in closer and ran his nose up her jaw, "My Bella, I like the sound of that." He whispered, his hot breathe making Bella shiver.

"Edward," Bella moaned.

"Shhh, no more talking tonight." He ran his hands up her sides until he reached her shoulders and he pushed her down on the bed, leaning over her.

"I'm a-alright with that." She stuttered.

Edward smirked, "Good." He immediately lowered his body until his lips met hers. He worked the buttons of her jacket until they were all opened and then took it off her. Bella in the meantime was doing the same with his shirt.

Bella's dress was easy to dispose of as all it took was for her to throw it over her head, and with Edward's help it only took about two seconds in between kisses. Edward quickly took of his trousers and threw his shoes off.

He began kissing down her neck and shoulders. Foreplay didn't take long this time as they were both eager for each other. It was so intense and so beautiful that Bella felt like crying, but decided against it.

Wouldn't want Edward thinking I was a complete lunatic.

"That was…wow." Edward panted, apparently sharing her feelings.

"I know," Bella breathed, "Seems like it gets better every single time." She giggled.

Edward laid back and pulled her close to his side. He pulled the covers over them. They might be feeling hot in the afterglow of their love making, but they would freeze as soon as it was gone.

"That just proves we're perfect for each other. Wish I could share that piece of evidence with my father, though. It would definitely make him back off." Edward joked.

"Ew, Edward! You're not going to tell your father about our sex life. No matter how amazing it is." Bella yelled, hitting him playfully on the chest. He grabbed the offending hand and kissed it.

He chuckled, "I was kidding, baby. I love you." He whispered as he kissed her forehead.

"Hmm, love you too." She mumbled, her eyelids were already drooping and she was rapidly falling asleep.

Edward spent a few minutes tracing Bella's features with his eyes.

God, how he loved her. He never actually imagined he'd have the kind of relationship he had with Bella. He always thought that he'd end up with an arranged marriage just like every other royal he'd ever met or heard of, except for the select few who'd been able to escape that disastrous fate.

All that changed when this brown-eyed vixen walked into his life.

At that moment, staring at her innocent face as she slept, Edward vowed that he'd never make her regret her decision to be with him.

Never.

LR-LR-LR-LR-LR-LR-LR

The next few days were blissfully quiet for Edward and Bella. They avoided leaving campus unless they absolutely had to, so they didn't have much contact with the paparazzi. Whenever they didn't have classes, they either hung out in Edward's room or Bella's, but mostly in the former since they wouldn't exactly be alone in Bella's room with Alice there.

And they craved their alone time. So much so that Bella started thinking that she should cut back on her time spent with Edward in case he started getting tired of seeing her everyday.

Then she remembered the grin that adorned his face whenever he saw her after they'd been apart for the whole day, each in their classes, and she immediately decided against it. She wouldn't be able to do it anyway. She wasn't strong enough to even attempt to stay away from him.

The buzz around campus that had followed them everywhere they went seemed to quiet down a bit too. It seemed like everyone was used to seeing Bella and Edward together by now.

Well, almost everyone.

Jessica and Lauren were still throwing glares at Bella and annoying the hell out of her every time they saw her. Throwing hints that she was just a fling and that Edward would get tired of her soon enough.

Bella hoped they'd just go to hell where they belonged and leave her the hell alone.

That wasn't her main problem though.

Her problem started with her mother's phone call the day before.

Renee Swan was completely enraged that she had to find out about her daughter's relationship through the press. Renee's rage, however, did not last long as she soon started to gush about how handsome Edward is and how glad she was that Bella had found someone who loved her so much, since she could tell by how Edward always gazed adoringly at Bella in the photos taken by the papz.

Bella was relieved that her mother was so supportive.

All that relief vanished when Renee put Charlie on the phone. He demanded to know what she was thinking; dating a royal while she knew all the stories told about them.

"Ch-Dad, you should know better than to believe everything you read." She had argued.

Her father wouldn't give up, though. He insisted on meeting Edward in person before making a decision about him. As if whatever his decision was would change how Bella felt about Edward.

Bella chose to indulge him anyway.

One angry parent on Edward's side was more than enough. She didn't need her father to be against it too.

She broached the subject of meeting her parents with Edward and was surprised by his enthusiasm at the idea.

"I'd love to finally get to meet them. Besides, I want to see where you grew up." He'd said.

So that was that. They decided to make use of the Royal private jet once more to make a visit to Forks. Bella's hometown.

Bella was so nervous on the way there that she kept pacing back and forth on the plane.

Yes, the plane is that huge.

"Bella, sweetheart, calm down. It's going to be fine." Edward tried to reassure her.

"How do you know that? How do you know that it's going to be fine?"

"Because," He shrugged, "Parents happen to love me." He grinned playfully.

"Oh no, not my father. You clearly have not met the likes of Charlie Swan before."

"Why? What makes him so different from a regular father?"

Bella sat down next to him, "Well, first of all, he is the Chief Constable of Forks County which means that he owns a gun. A gun he's not afraid to use."

"Alright, so I'll tread carefully with him and try not to make any sudden movements."

Bella rolled her eyes. He wasn't taking this seriously. Her father could be terrifying if he wanted to, which he probably would.

"Bella, just relax. I promise I'll be on my best behaviour."

Bella slumped back into her seat. "Alright."

They arrived shortly after at the small…well, tiny Forks airport, and then drove to Bella's house in a car that Edward had requested before they arrived.

That's right, he requests cars and they happen to show up out of thin air.

By the time Edward parked in front of Bella's house, she was a mess of nerves.

Edward grabbed her hand and pulled her close.

"Just remember one thing." He whispered.

"What?"

"I love you." He kissed her quickly and all her worried vanished.

Yup, he was that good.

Or she was that in love.

They got out of the car as the front door opened and her mother came rushing out.

"Oh, Bella! Baby, we've missed you so much." She ran to Bella and engulfed her in a hug.

"I missed you too, Mum. So much." Bella felt tears pricking her eyes. She really had missed her family. She wasn't used to being away from them for so long.

She looked behind her mother's shoulder to find Charlie standing in the doorway looking very awkward.

Charlie was never a fan of emotional reunions. He was the exact opposite of her mother who was exuberant and full of life. You'd think that two people like them would not fit together, but Bella believed that that's what made them fit together so perfectly. They balanced each other out.

Bella let go of her mom and moved towards he dad.

"Hey dad." She greeted him as she stepped closer to where he stood.

"Hey, Bells. It's good to have you back." Bella could see in his eyes how much he meant it. She moved closer and wrapped her arms around his middle. He patted her back a few times and then she let go.

Then Bella turned to Edward who had been standing back next to the car, allowing her a few minutes alone with her parents. She pulled him next to her.

"Um, Mom, Dad, this is Edward. My boyfriend."

He moved to Renee first, grabbing her hand and kissing it, "Ma'am." He greeted her politely.

Renee blushed deep red and simpered at the attention. "Your Royal Highness. It's great to meet you."

"Please, just call me Edward." He put on his mega-watt smile.

As she watched her mother fall under Edward's spell, Bella understood what he meant when he said that parents liked him.

Charlie, however, still stood where he was and now had his fists clenched.

Oh, no.

Edward moved towards him, unfazed by Charlie's exuding hostility.

"Sir, It's a pleasure to finally meet you."

Charlie gave Edward one of his you'd-better-not-hurt-my-daughter-or-I-will-kill-you looks and said, "So, Edward, what are your intentions towards my daughter?"

(A/N): THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO REVIEWED! Yup, that's how much I love you guys! :D Welcome to all the new readers, I'm really happy that you've liked my story so far :)

Sooo, meeting Charlie. That's bound to be terrifying for anyone, right? :D

Let me know what you think and what you expect will happen next! :)

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