I haven't had my internet connection and it's been driving me crazy! I'm making this chapter longer because of the wait! So here's that update……
P.S. I am making this a happy update, because, in my opinion, the next few are really sad. But they are all very important.
Flashback- Meeting the Parents:
My heart was beating so fast I felt like it was going to burst out of my ribcage. I peered up at Edward and he offered me a small, crooked smile; making me turn to jelly.
"Nervous?" He chuckled as the elevator neared the penthouse.
"You have no idea." I breathed, gripping his hand tightly. "What if they don't like me?"
"They'll adore you, Bella. It's impossible not to." Edward said easily. "And if they don't, to hell with them." I looked at him in panic, and he hastily corrected himself. "But they will love you." He amended, and the elevator doors opened, right in front of a door. "Ready?" Edward wrapped an arm around me and steered me towards the door. But before either of us could knock, the door was swung open.
"Edward! Bella!" A stunning, caramel haired woman launched herself into Edward's free arm, kissing his cheek before hugging him fiercely. "When Alice told me you'd been home for a week now and hadn't come for a visit, I didn't know what to think." She said, looking coyly from Edward to me. "But now I know it was time well spent." I blushed and the woman held her arms out to me.
"Bella, this is my mother." Edward offered, realizing my confusion and slight discomfort.
"It's very nice to meet you, Mrs. Cullen." I said politely before stepping in for her hug. I was surprised such a small woman could dole out such a fierce hug, but then again, she was Alice's mother.
"Esme, dear. Mrs. Cullen was my mother-in-law." She said good-naturedly, pulling Edward and I deeper into the apartment. "Carlisle! They're here!" Esme called. "And it's very nice to meet you too, Bella." She added as we approached the living room. "Sit down!" She cried, gesturing to one of the two plush couches. Esme herself sat on the couch across from us, studying the two of us.
I was suddenly very aware of Edward's hand on the small of my back, but I didn't move from his touch.
"So, Bella. Where did you go to school?" Esme asked, getting up and moving to the drink cart in the corner.
"Uh, the University of Seattle." I said. "I got my degree in creative writing."
"What an interesting career." Esme prattled. "I've always been so interested in writing, but I haven't done as much of it was I wish I did." She turned back to the cart. "A drink, dear?" She asked, gesturing to the assortment of bottles. "I have everything."
"I'll have scotch." Edward offered. "Neat."
"And I'll have…wine." I finally said, unsure. I never really drank much.
"Red or white?" Esme asked, holding up two bottles.
"Red?" I guessed.
"I'll have the same as Edward." A smooth voice said from the doorway. An attractive blonde man with a chiseled jaw entered the room and smiled at me. "You must be Bella." He said, holding out his hand. I half stood to shake it.
"This is my father, Carlisle." Edward said, getting up to hug his father. Esme returned to the couch, handing each of us our drinks. "Isn't Alice coming?" Edward asked, setting his drink down on the table after taking a small drink.
"She'll be here for dinner." Esme said. "And she's bringing Jasper."
I smiled a little to myself. Alice had only been going out with Jasper for ten months, but the two of them were nearly inseparable whenever they were together. But Jasper is in the army, so their time together is scarce.
"That's nice." Carlisle murmured, setting his drink down as well.
"Bella was just telling me she graduated from the University of Seattle with a degree in creative writing." Esme told her husband, all the while smiling at me.
"That must have interested you, dear." Carlisle laughed. Edward chuckled as well and I looked to him in confusion.
"My mother was a writer before my parents got married." Edward explained.
"I always wanted to continue, but I was just too busy with Edward and Alice underfoot." Esme shrugged. "I only published one book. It was silly, actually. A vampire falls in love with a human girl….there were even some werewolves in the story, too. I had a lot of imagination." She waved her hands around dramatically.
My mind slowly registered as I realized what book she was talking about.
"You're Esme Platt?" I asked, stunned.
"The one and only." Esme grinned.
"I loved that book." I gushed. "It was so romantic!" Esme laughed.
"Thank you, Bella." She winked at her son. "Maybe you could pick up some pointers from the book, dear." She suggested; a teasing glint in her eye.
"I don't think he needs any pointers." I said, and Edward wrapped both his arms around me in a warm hug. "He's very romantic. And courteous. You taught him well." Esme was beaming at us now; her entire face lighting up.
"Well that's a very good thing." She paused for a moment, slipping her hand into Carlisle's. "And you've only been on one date?" She asked incredulously, looking at the way Edward and I held each other.
"Just the one." I said lightly. "Last night." Esme's eyes widened a bit but her smile never faltered.
"The way you two act around each other….it's amazing. You have so much chemistry." She gushed.
"I suppose that's a good thing." Edward said, planting a kiss on my forehead.
"It's a very good thing." Esme corrected him. At that moment, Alice bounded in the room, dragging Jasper behind her.
"We're here!" She called, practically spewing excitement. "And I brought pastries from the bakery you love, mom." Esme and Carlisle both stood to greet their daughter, and so did Edward and I. As I hugged Jasper, he whispered something in my ear.
"You'll get used to all the….excitement." He promised. "I did."
"Thank god." I teased as we all sat back down.
"What are you two whispering about?" Esme called as she got Alice and Jasper their drinks. "The crazy antics of the Cullen family?"
"You have no idea, Esme." Jasper laughed as she handed him his drink and Alice playfully swatted his forehead. "I was just telling Alice my news on our way over." He said in a serious voice, changing to subject. Alice was clutching his arm. "I don't have to go to Iraq this year. I'm being stationed in New York instead."
"That's great, Jasper." Carlisle congratulated him.
"Yes, well there's more." Alice interrupted. "Jasper wants me to go with him." I felt my heart constrict a little at the thought of my best friend leaving, but I kept my mouth shut. I noticed the way Edward's jaw clenched and how his eyes hardened at the thought of his baby sister moving across the country with her boyfriend.
"Alice, are you sure…" Esme started to protest, but Alice held up her hand.
"Still more." She said sharply, and her mother fell silent. "I won't be going as his girlfriend. I'll be going as his wife." Edward was clenching his fist so tight it looked like all circulation had been cut off. Everyone was silent as Alice looked at us expectantly. "That's it."
"Alice, dear, I'm so happy for you." Esme said carefully. "But you and Jasper haven't even been dating for a year, don't you think-"
"Esme, with all due respect, why put off the inevitable?" Jasper cut her off. "Alice and I are soul mates. I feel like I've known her my entire life, and I want to be with her for the rest of my life."
We were all silent again, until Edward spoke in a harsh voice.
"Jasper, can I talk to you?" He asked shortly, standing up.
"Edward, don't-" Alice started, but Edward shot her a glare.
"I just want to talk to him." Edward insisted as Jasper finished off his drink and stood up, following Edward out of the room.
"Maybe you should go with them." Esme suggested, patting her husband's hand. Carlisle stood and followed the boys without another word.
"Why can't you be happy for me?" Alice asked softly.
"Oh, honey. I am happy for you. This is amazing. I just want to make sure this is what you really want. You don't have to get married, you could just live together in New York." Esme said in a soothing voice and I gently wrapped my arm around Alice.
"Is this what you want?" I asked, and Alice nodded eagerly.
"More than anything." She said enthusiastically, and I hugged her.
"Then I'm happy for you." Alice squeaked excitedly and hugged me back in a death grip.
"Thank you, Bella. That means a lot. And thanks, mom. I know you just want me to be careful. But I know what I want, and that's Jasper. I want to marry him." We were all tearful at that point, until the door banged open and Edward, Jasper, and Carlisle came in. Edward was holding a bottle of champagne and Carlisle held six champagne flutes.
"A toast?" Edward offered, holding up the bottle.
"Does this mean-" Alice started excitedly, getting up to face her older brother.
"Yes, Alice. This means I approve. I 'give you my blessing', whatever the hell that means." Alice jumped up and down and threw her arms around Edward. She caught my eye and smiled apologetically.
"Oh, I'm sorry Bella. Tonight was supposed to be about you." She apologized, dropping her arms.
"No, it's alright." I laughed. "I'm more than happy to share the spotlight, Alice. You know that." Everyone laughed and Edward opened the champagne, pouring a glass for everyone.
"Jasper's quite persuasive." I said ruefully, shaking my head.
"You have no idea." Alice laughed. "Sometimes it's like he can manipulate emotions or something." Edward began doling of the champagne and we raised our glasses for a toast.
"To….relationships." Esme offered. "Old and new alike."
"Here here." Jasper said before gulping down his glass. I took a tiny sip of mine and made a face. I didn't like the taste very much. Edward had already finished his and had spotted my disgusted expression.
"I'll take it." He offered, reaching for my full glass and handing me his empty one. "Overwhelmed?" He whispered in my ear.
"A little." I admitted.
"Then we can leave." Edward said, drinking my glass of champagne and setting it down after he had finished. "We're supposed to be at your house soon anyway." He turned to his parents. "Bella and I need to get going." He said, kissing his mothers cheek. "We're supposed to meet her parents in a bit." Esme's face fell but she managed a smile.
"Oh, alright." She said. "Bella, it was so nice to meet you."
"It was nice to meet you too, Esme." I said honestly, not minding when she hugged me.
We said our goodbyes and I promised to call Alice about wedding dress shopping, and then we finally made our way back downstairs.
"Shit!" Edward suddenly muttered, peering out the lobby doors. A swarm of people were outside, clustered around the doorway. "I'm so sorry, Bella." He said before I finally figured out that it was reporters and paparazzi standing outside, waiting for him. For us.
"It's fine." I managed, even though I wasn't looking forward to the slew of questions that would follow our run-in with the press. My heart was already beating erratically.
"Just….hold on to me. And look down, or your eyes will start to sting." Edward advised, and I latched onto his side.
"I don't mind this." I said suggestively, and Edward leaned down to kiss me. At that moment, the flashes started.
"Let's just go." He said gruffly, pushing the door open.
It was like my eardrums had exploded. It was impossibly loud, impossible to pick out separate sounds. Everything was just meshed together in a dull roar. And the light. The flashes did burn my eyes and I hung on to Edward for dear life, praying he could successfully navigate his way to the waiting car. Individual screams eventually became noticeable, until I could clearly make out what was being said.
"EDWARD! MARRY ME!"
"Who's your friend?"
"Miss! Were you meeting his parents?"
"Are you dating?"
"What's your name?"
I was surprised at how many questions were directed towards me, but I followed Edward's suggestion; keeping my head down, my eyes half-lidded, and clinging to his side.
And then suddenly, it was over.
I opened my eyes the rest of the way and saw that we were sitting in the back of his car, hidden behind the tinted windows.
"Is it over?" I asked, rubbing my eyes.
"Yeah." Edward said shortly, looking out the windows as we drove through the city, passing blurs of people and buildings. "I'm sorry Bella. It's not a very easy thing to get used to, is it?"
"Definitely not." I said in a shaky voice. "It's terrifying. All those people….all focused on you. How do you sleep at night?" I pressed my face into his chest in mock terror. But truthfully, I was a little rattled.
"I actually haven't had a good night's sleep in a long time." He admitted wistfully. "But since I've been home it's getting better. Being away just messes with my head." We were out of the city now, picking up speed as we made our way out of LA and to the suburb where I lived with my parents.
"I don't have that problem." I said lightly, not moving my head from his shoulder. "Wherever I am, I fall asleep like that if I'm tired." We were silent for a moment, and I thought I would bring up a touchy subject. "Edward, do you not want people to know we're dating?" I asked in a small voice.
"I thought it best." He finally said, in a slow, quiet voice. "I was thrust into the spotlight not three years ago, and I remember how I went from being nobody to being a celebrity overnight. Overwhelming. Pressuring. Scary." He studied me for a moment, capturing my face in his hands. "I thought you wouldn't want the spotlight." Edward lightly touch his lips to mine, and I sighed in pure relief.
"I don't." I confirmed, laughing lightly as our foreheads touched and our eyes locked. "No spotlight. Not right now."
"But in the future….." Edward trailed off.
"In the future, I'll go anywhere you want. But not until I get used to the overall impact." I decided, settling against his side again.
"Deal." Edward laughed, kissing my nose. The car came to a stop and Edward glanced out the window. "Ready?"
"You're the one how should be worried." I teased. "My dad is a cop. He has a gun." Edward rolled his eyes and pulled me up the path to the house.
"I think I can take care of myself. But thanks for the concern." We reached the door and Edward rested his hands on my hips.
"Kiss." I demanded, stepping on my tip-toes and planting a kiss on his soft lips. "Now, be on your best behavior." I ordered, opening the door with my house key.
"I promise." He pouted, looking like a child being scolded by his parents.
"Mom? Dad?" I called as Edward and I entered the house.
"Hey, sweetie!" My mom popped out of the kitchen and pecked my cheek. She peered up at Edward and blushed. "Are you going to introduce me?"
"Oh, uh, yeah." I stuttered, and Edward grinned, lacing his fingers in mine. "Mom, this is Edward Cullen. Edward, this is my mom, Renée."
"It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Swan." Edward said smoothly, and started to shake her hand. But instead, my mom hugged him tightly. I suppressed a laugh at the look of surprise on his face.
"You call me Renée." My mom insisted, releasing him. "I won't have it any other way." I was surprised. My mom had insisted that Mike, my boyfriend from my junior year of high school through the end of college, call her Mrs. Swan. But Edward was irresistible and impossible to say no to. "Come on in." My mom said when she realized we were all clustered in the small entryway.
"Where's dad?" I asked as we walked into the dining room. My mom rolled her eyes.
"Staying late at the station. Again." She said bitterly, setting the table and banging down the silverware with unnecessary force. "He knew this was important, and he still-"
"Mom." I said in a warning tone, inclining my head towards Edward. He courteously pretended to be very interested in the carpet. She realized her mistake and blushed.
"Why don't we eat?" She said in a light voice, bringing the food in from the kitchen and motioning for Edward and I to sit next to each other at the circular table.
"This looks wonderful." Edward said, holding my hand under the table.
"Thank you." My mother beamed, spooning potatoes onto his plate before offering him a steak.
"Suck up." I whispered in his ear, earning a light elbow in the ribs.
"Edward, tell me all about your work." My mother gushed. "It sounds so interesting!" Edward smiled peacefully but clenched my hand tighter. I knew he hated to talk about himself.
"It's pretty interesting." Edward agreed. "But there really isn't too much to it. The hours are pretty demanding, but I enjoy it." Mom didn't say anything else, so Edward continued. "I just finished my last movie in Vancouver, so I have some time off."
"How nice. So, you're staying in LA now?" Mom asked, offering both of us vegetables. We both declined.
"Yes. I don't feel up to anymore traveling for the time being." Edward's eyes met mine and he squeezed my hand. "I've got everything I want, right here.
-----
A/N: So, there's your extra long chapter! Whew, over 3,000 words and over seven pages long! I hope you liked the happiness aspect of it, because the next two are sad, but very important. I know some will be wondering about when Charlie meets Edward, but that will be in future chapters.
Xoxo- Melodyella aka Mellie