Chapter song: Better by Matthew Mayfield…this song actually makes me want to cry
For you, for meMake me a better manFor you, for meMake me a better manBella and Edward had fallen into a quite comfortable routine together. She would work and he'd pick her up having dinner on the table for them when they arrived home. They continued to play the little cat and mouse game they had played the morning Alice showed up. Falling asleep together and waking up frustrated more than before.
Edward couldn't deny the sexual attraction he felt towards Bella. It was so thick at times that you could almost cut through it. Bella was sitting in her tub relaxing when Edward walked in perching himself on the edge of the sink. " So Bella now that school is out for the summer what are your plans for the rest of the evening?" Bella Raised her leg into the air to rinse the soap off earning a low groan out of Edward.
" Well I thought I'd so something very needed."
Edward cocked his brow at her mischievous grin dancing across his features. " Oh and what is that Ms. Swan?"
Bella smiled turning herself around in the tub so her back was to him before rising from the tub and wrapping a towel around her body.
" I am going to take a nap Edward. Care to join me?"
Edward was momentarily mesmerized by the huge tattoo that branched off her right hip starting right at the top of her butt to the front wrapping onto her hip and ending just below her hip bone.
" Is that a tattoo Bella." Bella rolled her eyes grabbing another towel as she started to dry her hair.
" No Edward it's a finger painting now do you want to join me or not because I'm exhausted."
Edward followed Bella into the bedroom and sat on the side of the bed that had now been labeled "his" Bella headed into the closet to change.
" I didn't know you had a tattoo." Bella rolled her eyes again settling herself on the bed next to him.
" You never asked let me guess…I don't look like the type to have one right?" Edward shrugged his shoulders before pushing up her top and yanking down the side of her underwear.
" I didn't say you didn't look like the type however I did expect something like that you look like the type to have something much smaller."
Bella chuckled smoothing her clothing back in place. " So Edward do you have any tattoos?"
Edward smiled shaking his head no. Before standing up and stretching.
" No Bella no tattoos yet …I'd like to get one thought just don't want it to be stupid you know." Bella nodded her head.
" So I guess your not going to join me for a nap."
Edward rested his temple against the door frame smiling at the girl cozying up in her bed. She looked so hard to resist at that moment he almost gave in but remembered the reason for denying her in the first place.
" No Beautiful Girl now get some rest I'll wake you for dinner."
Bella smiled stretching herself across the bed so her legs laid on her side of the bed with her head resting on Edwards pillow.
A little more than two hours later Edward was headed down the hallway to wake Bella he really hoped she enjoyed dinner he had put a lot of thought into it but he was still really nervous.
He walked into the bedroom and his heart clenched at the sight of Bella laying in bed burrowed into his pillows she looked so peaceful he almost didn't want to wake her until her heard her stomach growl. Shaking his head laughing he gently set to waking her.
Bella sat up stretching and rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. Before heading to the bathroom for a human moment.
When she reached the end of the hall the smells that permeated her nose made her mouth water. The smell of the garlic and water and herbs simply wanted to bring her to her knees. Edward stood at the stove stirring whatever he had in the pan as he took a sip of his wine.
His eyes sparkled when he noticed Bella standing in the doorway.
The kitchen table had been draped with a heavy white table cloth with two black napkins elegantly folded. Plates and glasses she never had seen were set on the table. She suddenly looked down upon herself with disgust. Everything was so lavishly beautiful and there she was standing in the kitchen in a old ratty oversized t-shirt and her underwear.
Edward had picked up on her discomfort and shook his head at her.
" Please don't change…you look absolutely beautiful just the way you are."
Bella nodded taking a seat in the chair he had pulled out for her. Edward poured her a glass of wine and plated some salad for her. " I'm sorry I forgot to ask if you even liked seafood."
Bella's hesitant smile worried Edward and Bella caught that.
" I've only tried it once before and it wasn't that great but the way that smells I'd be willing to try again."
Edward smiled heading to the stove and turning it off after Bella had finished her salad he took the plate away serving her his main course. To say Bella was surprised by dinner was putting it mildly.
She was amazed not only did it look beautiful it smelled to die for. From what she could see the pasta included Lobster, Clams, shrimp and scallops, and garlic and wine, and lots of it.
Bella swirled her fork around in the pasta taking her first bite. Edward watched every detail the way her mouth closed around the fork and how her eyes closed and she hummed with pleasure. For a very moment he was very envious.
" Edward I don't even know how to describe how amazing this tastes." Edward smiled and took a bite of his own food.
" I just thought you could use something really special. I'm glad you are enjoying it."
Bella nodded taking another sensuous bite of her food. " Where did you get this seafood it is amazing really Edward it gets better each bite."
" I got it today in Port Angeles I know this man who owns a shop there. Really good family friend his stuff is always super fresh."
Bella stilled as far as she knew Edward had never gone back to Port Angeles since she found him all those weeks ago. He seemed quite content with staying with her at her place. At least she thought he did. Edward caught Bella's expression like he always did.
" Bella please don't worry about me okay…I was fine I just went to the store and by my place quick and came back home." Bella nodded her head trying not to let the tears escape from her eyes.
" Bella please don't cry I can't handle it when you cry it breaks my heart. I promise not to go back ever again without you if it makes you feel any better."
Bella shook her head. " No Edward you're an adult and I'm not your mother I cannot simply tell you were you may or may not go. I just can't imagine you not being around now that you are."
Edward sighed wrapping his arms around Bella and placing his chin upon the top of her head.
" Bella I'm not going anywhere unless you ask me to. I don't know what you've done to me but I just feel…I don't really know how to explain it and make sense Bella I feel whole…like I'm where I'm suppose to be."
Bella nodded her head understanding exactly where he was coming from. " I know Edward I feel whole too…and not alone."
Edward smiled one of his dazzling smiles before kissing Bella's temple.
" Come on go get changed we have a very anxious Charlie to go see. Practically ripped my ear off asking why I hadn't come by sooner to meet him and what my intentions with his daughter were."
Bella smiled at the mention of the most important man in her life.
" You talked to Charlie?" Edward nodded pushing her down the hallway.
" Yes apparently he sweet talked his nurse into calling me…not sure how he got my number but he threatened to kill me if I did anything to upset you stating in his exact words: I maybe in a wheelchair Cullen but I know plenty of people on the police force who aren't and would be very willing to kill you and make it look like an accident."
Bella chuckled sprinting down the hallway to change and go see her father who was probably anxious to see her.
The drive to the center was pleasant and quiet. They had said all that needed to be at the time and were just simply enjoying each others company and the music.
The car was parked as the headed inside first stopping by the nurses station to sign in. Bella led Edward down the failure hallway to her dads room. He was sitting in his recliner watching a game but turned it down as soon as he heard them enter the room.
" Bells is that you?" Bella smiled hearing Charlie's endearing name for her.
" Hey daddy yea its me…and this is Edward." Charlie pushed a button that completely rotated his recliner around to face them.
" Hello Edward good to see you came. Although I will say I'm surprised my phone call earlier didn't scare you away."
Bella chuckled at the way Charlie always seemed to get his feathers all ruffled like a mama hen when it came to men around his daughter. But if it was possible it only made her adore him more.
" So Bells did you bring me something good for dinner or am I going to have to suffer with the crap they are feeding me here." This statement caused Edward to chuckle and a glare from Charlie.
" No dad Edward cooked dinner tonight and was kind enough to make some for you. Shall I have him go get it. I left it with Betty to warm up."
Charlie shook his finger on his good hand at his only daughter.
" No I'd like for you to go get it Isabella I'd like to have a few words with Edward here so take your time. Betty will be thrilled to chit chat with you for a while."
Bella nodded her head quickly walking to her father kissing him gently on the cheek. " Be nice though daddy."
Charlie clicked his tongue at his daughter as she walked towards the door. " You say that as if I'm mean Isabella …I don't have a mean bone in my innocent body."
Bella chuckled stopping at the door to see the humor sparkling in her fathers eyes. " Sure you don't dad now play nice…both of you."
Charlie waited until he heard her footsteps fade away.
" So Cullen…Bella's told me all about you how are you doing with that now."
Edward sighed running a hand through his already messy hair. " Yes, I'm not proud of that sir but I don't know how to explain or justify it other than I felt it was the only option for me at the time."
Charlie nodded his head urging him to continue speak.
" I was in a relationship that I thought was good and healthy until I started to stay with your daughter. And although I know we aren't in a relationship I cant help but want it at times. I feel whole around her. Like I know she'll always be there for me no matter what. That I'm not crazy for wanting what I want. That its possible for me."
Charlie smiled as he watched this man come undone in front of him. Weather he was aware of it or not Charlie knew Edward Cullen was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with his daughter. He heard her footsteps approaching they weren't close enough yet but he knew his time was limited.
" Look son, I'm glad Bella has someone you see after Jacob took off and with me being sick I worried about her. After she lost the baby I thought she would have you know been sadder but she just acted as if nothing happened and focused all her energy into caring for me. So do me one thing and you'll never have to worry about me disliking you. Please do not hurt my daughter always be fair to her never go to bed mad and talk about things. Her mother left me shortly after Bella was born and the one thing I learned is I should have talked to her more asked her if she was happy never assume just because it's not written on her face that she isn't hurting. If you can do that for me son I think we'll get along just fine."
Edward nodded standing to shake Charlie's hand but was surprised when he was pulled into a one armed hug.
Bella walked in the door as Edward and her father were discussing the current game on the television. She pulled up her fathers bedside table setting the plate in front of her father. When he looked down his eyes widened with surprise.
" Is this seafood I see in front of me Bells….and Edward did you seriously cook this because it smells amazing right now."
Edward smiled nodding his head as he watched Charlie take his first bite. His expression was very much like his daughters and he could truly see the uncanny similarities.
Charlie finished his dinner with a happy hum as Bella stood to clear his table off.
" Well Daddy we better be going but I'll be sure to come see you again in a few days."
Charlie gave a quick nod of his head and shook Edwards hand as he headed out into the hall to take the plate back to Betty. He waited until he could no longer hear him before speaking again.
" Come here Bells."
Bella stood ,sitting on the side of her fathers chair as he wrapped an arm around her. She basked in the smell of her father that she had missed so much. He smelled like the earth and warmth and soap he always used the same soap. Over the years of being with Charlie their once awkward relationship had become very close and she missed him being around. He may have been a man of few words but when he said something it was important.
" Bells that is a good man you've got by your side. Now I know your not in a relationship with him but don't turn your head away at the thought. I know you've been hurt but I believe in the deepest depths of my heart that the man in the other room will never intentionally hurt you. I know I liked Jacob but I can see now he never treated you in the way that you should have been treated. Edwards going to have some hard times and he's not a saint so don't be too hard on him. Be good to him Bella and he'll be nothing but good to you okay?"
Bella smiled wiping the tears that had fallen away. She took a long breath in before wrapping both of her arms around her father and holding him tight.
" I love you so much Daddy…I just wish you were home."
Charlie smiled at his daughter who he was so proud to call his own.
" I love you more than you'll know Bells now stop that crying and we'll see what we can do about getting me home. Now go on Edwards waiting for you and I'll see you in a few days and I expect another amazing meal from that boy."
Bella smiled before placing a kiss on her fathers head before turning and heading down the hallway.
Edward was leaning against the counter gossiping with Betty when Bella came out. He could tell she had been crying so he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and led her to the car.
" Ready to head home Love?"
Bella nodded all she needed right now was to be at home with Edward.