I don't own Twilight or its characters. Stephenie Meyer does.

Cheryl, Noles, and Gabby, thank you for pre-reading, and April, thank you for editing. Any mistakes left are my own.

CH. 22

It had been a few days since I've made up with Bella. And everything seemed to be better than ever. Well, almost better. I hadn't gotten a chance to talk with my mother yet. When I arrived home after a few rounds of makeup sex with Bella, I found out my mother had gone out of town for a few days to attend some workshop. And with my father in court, it meant Alice and I were left to fend mostly for ourselves.

"T.G.I.T," Emmett announced as he sat down at the lunch table next to Rose.

"Isn't it supposed to be T.G.I.F? Thank goodness it's Friday. Which it's not, it's only Thursday." Bella was sitting so close, one of her legs rested on top of mine. Our fingers were laced together, resting on her thigh.

"Hence the extra T, my friend. Thank goodness it's Thursday. We've only got two weeks left, one of which is classes. The teachers have basically given up teaching the seniors. We should do something to celebrate. Barney and Betty, want to go bowling?" Emmett seemed excited.

"Do I look like a Betty to you?" Bella scoffed.

"I don't even know who Barney and Betty are?" I shrugged.

All three turned to me in surprise.

"Really? It's the old cartoon about the cavemen. The lead guy has a catchphrase, Scooby dooby doo," Rose said.

"Ahh, babe, no; that's Scooby-doo. Fred Flintstone says Yabba dabba doo." Emmett looked disappointed.

"That would explain it. I never watched cartoons. My parents thought they would rot my brain," I said sheepishly.

"Pfft. I watch cartoons all the time and I'm fine," Emmett announced. Bella snickered beside me but didn't say anything. Emmett snapped his fingers. "I know. How about a cartoon marathon? I'll bring Onward. Everyone says I'm just like Barley."

Bella snorted, and I felt like I was out of the loop. "That I can see. I'm sorry, I can't tonight." Bella turned to me and gave my hand a squeeze. "But you should do it."

I frowned in return. "I was going with you tonight. Don't you want me there?"

"It's going to be boring for you. All you'll be doing is standing around. Go have fun with Emmett," she suggested.

"I don't care if it's boring, I want to be there for you. You came to my meets that had to be boring," I retorted.

"It was never boring watching you run around in shorts and a tank top, working up a sweat." She winked at me.

"Ah-hmm. We are still here," Emmett interrupted. "What's this thing tonight?"

"Bella's art show in Tacoma," I announced proudly.

I found out the reason that she didn't show on Sunday at the center wasn't because she was avoiding me. She and her father went to Tacoma to enter her B.A. painting. Tonight was the public viewing and awards. And, I really wanted to be there for her like she has been for me.

"It's nothing big. I'll be just standing next to my painting, maybe occasionally answering questions," Bella told them.

"You're leaving out accepting first place," I said pointedly.

She rolled her eyes. "If I place."

I put my forehead against hers. "When you place first."

"You're biased." She huffed, but her eyes sparkled.

"You two are too cute." Rosalie snickered, tossing a pretzel at us.

"I guess this means you're busy. But we should definitely plan on it before you leave for college," Emmett said.

"Definitely," I agreed, it was going to be sad not seeing him daily.

"You'll both have to come to Seattle to visit us," Bella mentioned.

"That will be cool," Rose agreed.

ACE

I arrived at the venue with Alice in tow. She was bored and didn't want to be home alone. I made a quick stop for flowers and continued on my way. Alice held the small bouquet on her lap and kept giving it small glances of disapproval. She wanted me to get Bella red roses, and I almost did. But once I saw these—I knew they were perfect.

Once inside, it wasn't hard to find Bella's painting. It was the biggest in the room. I weaved in and out of the crowd to get there. Bella looked gorgeous in the black dress she borrowed from Rosalie. Most of her hair was done up in a bun, except two magenta curls that framed her face. She was wearing a cardigan so I couldn't tell if the ink on her arms was still there. Before I could approach, Alice grabbed my sleeve.

"Edward, look. Are you ready for this?" she warned.

"Ready for…" I trailed off when I realized that Bella was talking to my mother. I couldn't see Mom's facial expression, but Bella didn't look happy.

"Hold these." I handed Alice back the flowers before rushing to get to Bella's side.

"The answer is no." Bella shook her head.

"Don't be ridiculous, you'd be a fool to give up this money," Mother said snidely.

I stood next to Bella and faced my mother. "Are you trying to pay her to stay away from me? I can't believe you. I love Bella, Mom, she's the one for me. And if you could just look past the end of your nose, you'd see the wonderful girl…woman she is. I refuse to let you try and take her away from me. You'll either accept both of us or I will leave with her," I announced loudly.

A few by passers stopped and stared at us. Mother gave me a look of contempt as she glowered at me. Jasper had been standing off to the side, looking a little confused and amused. Bella glanced between my mother and me with a wide-eyed stare.

"Well, I never. How dare you accuse me of something so devious. Your father and I will talk to you later about this," Mom snapped at me then turned back to Bella. "Think about the offer, it ends at the end of the night." She walked off.

"Oh, Ace, I don't know what to say. A part of me loves that you stood up for yourself, but"—Bela paused— "do you really think her offer was to get me away from you?"

"Of course not, she wouldn't try to pay you off. Mom might be snobby, but she wouldn't stoop that low. At least, I don't think she would. These are for you. I had no part of them, it was all Edward." Alice thrust out the brightly multi-colored Gerber daisies.

"Thank you, they're beautiful," Bella said.

"They're bright." Jasper snickered.

"You're welcome. Uh…what was my mother offering you money for then?" I asked, feeling confused.

"To buy my painting. She said she knew someone who was building a hotel and would love it for the main lobby," Bella explained.

"And why did you not like the offer, wasn't it enough?" I frowned.

"Enough? Try too much. She offered me ten grand—that's insane. Maybe you're right and it was to ward me off." Bella frowned.

I pinched the bridge of my nose, feeling bad and I had jumped to conclusions. I spotted my mother now across the room, speaking with someone.

"I'll be right back." I went after Mom, hoping to get some things straightened out.

Mom glanced at me before I could get to her and excused herself from her colleague. She met me half-way. "If you have something else to say to me, I think I prefer it would be done in private."

"Mom, I think…I know I overreacted. But it doesn't change some of the things I said. I do love Bella and wish you'd give her a real chance to get to know her. She may not be rich, but she is amazing. I apologize if I jumped to the wrong conclusion about the offer to buy her painting. I got protective of her and didn't want to see her hurt. Please, don't take this chance from her because what I did," I pleaded.

Mom regarded me silently for a moment. "I appreciate the apology and the offer was genuine. She is a talented artist. Also, I left the ball in her court so taking the deal is up to her, not me."

"Thank you," I said.

"As for her being your girlfriend, bring to dinner Sunday evening, so your father and I can get to know her," she said, and her face was blank so I couldn't get a read on the situation still.

"Yes, ma'am," I agreed.

I made it back to Bella, feeling a little bit better. Now I just needed to convince Bella to take the offer.

"Everything okay?" Bella touched my arm.

"Yes. We talked some. She wants you to come to dinner Sunday. Please come," I asked her.

She moved her head from side to side then nodded. "Okay. I suppose if I subjected you to Charlie, it's only fair."

"Where is your dad?" I asked, surprised he wasn't here.

"He went to get a beer from the bar then ran into someone he knows. They're talking over there." She pointed through the crowd. At least, I didn't make a fool of myself in front of him.

"Bella, you should take it," I told her.

"What, money for my painting? It's not worth that. I'm not some famous artist." Bella shook her head.

"You could be." Alice stepped away from where she had been talking to Jasper. "It's good, like, really good. I've been to enough museums to know that it looks professional and not a student painting."

"You think so?" Bella glanced at her work then at Alice. I had to admit I was a tiny bit jealous she was taking my sister's word for it over mine.

"Definitely." Alice nodded. "Oh, Mom is coming back, and she has James with her."

"Who's James?" Bella whispered to me.

"An old friend. Who also happens to be the owner of the hotel chain she was probably talking to you about," I said under my breath as they reached us.

"Well, Jay, here it is, the painting I was telling you about. Also, the artist, Miss Isabella Swan. Isn't it amazing, it will look great in your new hotel in Olympia." Mom gestured with her hand.

"It is stunning," he agreed, looking at it with awe.

"Oh, Mom, I just got off the phone with Aro. He loved the painting and is well prepared to pay fifteen grand for it." Alice spoke up with mischief in her eyes.

"Really?" Mom looked surprised as she narrowed her eyes slightly.

"He wants to put it in his spa that he's opening up in Olympia next month," Alice said.

James scowled. "Now hold, on I was here first. But fifteen thousand for an unknown artist…"

"Well, she might be unknown now, Jay, but I doubt for long. Does this look like a painting from a one hit wonder? Being her first painting, it could be worth millions one day. Think of it as investment," Mom cooed.

"Hmm…twenty grand. That's as high as I will go," James stated.

"Sold," Bella spoke up before anyone else could interfere.

"Excellent. I will have my office pick it up and deliver it to you, Jay. That is after we have the check ready for Miss Swan," Mom said charmingly.

"Deal." James shook both Mom and Bella's hands before heading off.

"I can't believe that just happened." Bella looked stunned.

"Me neither. That was risky, Mary Alice." Mom looked at my sister with an eyebrow raised.

"Hey, it worked, didn't it?" Alice shrugged her shoulders, smiling.

A/N: Sorry to disappoint anyone who thought Edward's mom (Elizabeth) was trying to buy Bella off. The offer was legit. I looked up paintings about the size I imagine Bella's and the were in the 10k ballpark. Farfetched for a student I know (as did Bella, lol) But some rules can be bent in fiction. Kudos for Edward for though for trying to stick up for Bella. Perhaps for sneaky Alice too. Lol

Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me.