lostandbrokendreams: I wanted to apologise for not uploading, my PC has been experiencing so many issues and I may need to look at getting it replaced. I have had my iPad to upload this so I do apologise for any errors.

6

It had been about a week since I was moved into his home and to say it was overwhelming would be a vast understatement. Rose said it would be fine, but her assurances still left me feeling doubtful, especially after the home intrusion.

Edward said someone was bound to talk because he was the one who knew everything in Arizona, except, I already knew who it was. The problem was – when would he find out, if he didn't know already? Edward was clearly a clever man, and if his words were true, he surely knew that I was previously married to Jacob and if rumours are anything to go by – they certainly aren't the friendliest with each other.

Was me being here a part of his bigger plan that no one knew of except him? I couldn't see him simply letting me stay here was simply him being kind.

"Well, if he wanted information on Jacob then he's definitely got the wrong person…" I look down at my hand, seeing that I was subconsciously playing with my ring finger. How long has it been since I last saw him? Must have been months now.

It was crazy to think I was still so fearful of a man who was behind bars, maybe because I knew how kind he was to me at the beginning. If I knew he wasn't the culprit, I'd have agreed to move back in with him, and I felt the bitter taste in my mouth…knowing that was probably what he wanted – for me to go back to him, begging him to take me back.

I could have when I was 16. Heck, even in my early twenties I might have, but that was before he broke me.

I look down at the text message on my phone, from an unknown number.

"I miss you."

"Burn in hell…" I delete the message and block the number, about to put it away when I saw another message appear on my screen from another unrecognisable number.

"Pizza tonight? Emmett said Rose will be working late so he'll stay with her."

Edward…

I hesitated in getting back to him. Honestly, I didn't expect him to be back home so soon but I was bound to run into him sooner or later. I sigh, knowing it was pointless in trying to avoid him, but that didn't mean I still wasn't on edge around him.

Of course he tried to call while he was away and our conversations were usually to the point, mainly because I was always hanging up on him before he could say something to piss me off.

I didn't really notice until now but, perhaps it was those conversations with him that helped me feel at ease being alone in his house. Checking back on my phone history, he always called me just before I was about to head off to bed.

I won't say something ridiculous and say his voice calmed me down, but since Rose has been putting in more hours at work, it was nice to at least talk to someone while I was alone here.

I would almost say he was kind, but I knew better than that. He only wanted me to be his fake wife so maybe this was his way of convincing outsiders that he had a committed partner at home.

I shake my head and decide to stuff my phone in my pocket, going downstairs as I noticed it was starting to get late anyway.

"Anything but pineapple."

On the way downstairs, I passed by Tommy's room. I knew it was his by the way his door was decorated in far too many stickers – were they game characters? I had no clue, but I learnt he was a quiet kid, and preferred not to be disturbed.

Not that I mind - after all, it was probably strange for his dad to bring home two random women. I only met him briefly at the hospital and hesitate outside of his door.

He never came down for dinner. Usually, I saw one of the maids bring it up to his door and he would eat in his room, but his dad would be home today.

Deciding not to dwell on it for too long, I knock on his door where I heard the shuffling stop, followed by an annoyed sigh.

"Leave me alone. I told you, I'm not hungry!"

I roll my eyes. "This isn't your maid. It's Bella – I think we met at the hospital, your dad well…he offered to let me and my friend stay here for a bit until our apartment is sorted. He…" I straighten up my posture. "Your dad, he said he's coming home with pizza tonight, do you want to come help me set the table?"

"That's the maid's job, why should I do that?"

Little brat…

I tried to control my temper and bit on my tongue before going back to him. "Why shouldn't you? Just because it may be something you're used to them doing, doesn't mean you can't help out. The maids leave at 6 today so they're not going to be able to make you anything tonight. Besides, don't you want to see your dad?"

Silence.

And then…

"Why ask me? You're the one who's trying to empty his pockets. Don't you want alone time with him to do that?"

He's just a kid – Bella. He's just a kid…

I take a deep breath. God, he must think I'm dating his dad. "Hate to break it to you, but your dad could have all the money in the world and I wouldn't even touch him with a barge-pole, and I'm asking you – do you want to have dinner with us, or do you just want to starve all night?"

The door finally opens and he had his eyes narrowed. Did I piss him off?

"What's wrong with my dad?"

Of all the things I thought he'd say, I certainly didn't expect that.

I tried to bite back my smirk, and shook my head, simply urging him down the stairs anyway.

"At least I know you care about your dad."

"W – What? Hey, don't change the subject." He frowned and I laughed, ruffling up his hair.

"I'm not changing the subject at all. It was just an observation, come on, come help me set up before he gets home, alright?" He didn't really have a choice and so his frown deepened, not understanding why I laughed, but he went downstairs with me.

He followed me to the dining room, and I immediately noticed how large his table was. "Who is he trying to seat…the whole of Arizona?" I muttered, but Tommy poked his head out.

"I have a big family, it's for when they come over."

Makes sense. I suppose I only met Emmett and Jasper but even then, that was in passing.

I nod and look at Tommy. "Instead of the dining room, why don't we all just sit in the living room?" He gave me a funny look.

"What?"

"We never eat there."

"Why not? I used to do that all the time when I was a kid." I start to grab some napkins and pass them over to him to bring to the coffee table, as well as laying down some drinks which he helped me with.

Tommy also inspected our work. "Is…that it?"

I look at him, scratching the back of my head. "It is missing something…you guys must have plenty of spare blankets and pillows, right?"

He nodded. "Yeah, why do you need those?"

Now I was the one giving him a funny look. "You never built a fort?" His confused look made me shake my head. "Oh no, we're definitely making one now. Come on, I'll show you what you're missing out on."

And so we got to work.

I had pitched up a few blankets to act as the fortress and it created an open area for us to lounge in, and I throw a pillow at a very confused 10-year-old who turned around in surprise when it hit the back of his shoulder.

"Oops, that was meant to go in there."

"You did that on purpose."

"You're delusional, kid."

He didn't trust me at all and I bit back a smirk, turning my back away from him to gather some blankets for us to sit on when I felt something touch the back of my head and I turn with accusing eyes, but he was gone.

The sight of the top of his head behind the other couch made me narrow my eyes, as I slowly picked up a pillow of my own. "Two can play at this game, kid…"

I act like I was checking behind the curtains, noticing out the corner of my eye his head peaking, and I finally rush around to swat him lightly with the pillow but he retaliated and I gasped, not expecting him to go so hard on my side.

"Oh, get back here…you little…!"

I grunt when my chase after him was brought to a halt as I hit something – hard. I almost stumbled over my own two feet if not for a pair of strong arms supporting my lower back and I look up to find…

"Cullen…?"

He was back.

My heart pounded but I told myself it was because I was almost about to fall. His green eyes were filled with confusion before they lit up with amusement, as he picked a feather out of my hair and I finally pushed away from him. "Pillow fight?"

I hid the pillow behind my back as if that would conceal any evidence and Tommy also re-emerged, standing by my side as he also looked as guilty as I did.

"It was my idea…" I decided to own up to it, gesturing to the fort in construction. "I thought we could eat pizza in the living room and make it more chilled rather than eating on the dining table, and I may have started a pillow fight with your kid here."

I glanced over at Tommy who fell silent in front of his dad but Edward looked between us, and chuckled. He sets the bag down on the table. "I didn't know you went to engineering school."

He was clearly mocking me but I roll my eyes. "Like you could do better."

"We both know I would."

I push past him as he was definitely enjoying this, moving to inspect the food as it was still piping hot and I ignore Edward, looking at Tommy instead. "You want a slice?"

Edward shook his head. "Let me get out of these and I'll come back down."

Tommy took a slice and sat down in the fort and I joined him, but he looked at me. "He's right, you know?"

"Hm?" I was mid-bite when he spoke up.

"My dad – he was right, he would do way better than this."

I made sure he had finished his bite before my pillow promptly met his arm. "And you're way too much like your dad, you know that? You haven't even been in one before."

I let him keep the pillow as he hugged it to his chest and I shake my head, noticing Edward had joined us in our fort, sitting beside Tommy and also reaching for a slice.

I kept quiet as he was catching up with Tommy, but I did glance over. Tommy was much more calm around his dad, and I noticed Edward opening his can of coke for him to slurp on, which he sighed in relief.

It was only then Edward began to focus on his own slice and he glanced over at me, and our eyes made contact. I shrugged, looking away but I swore I felt his smirk, even the way his eyes were boring a hole in the back of my head.

Unnerving, much?

I tried not to think about it but dinner was actually somewhat pleasant. Edward caught us up on how his work trip has been, imagining he had left out details for Tommy, but otherwise seemed intrigued whenever Tommy spoke and told him about how his studies had went, even getting an A on his math test.

It wasn't long before Tommy decided he was full and went up to finish some homework meaning…I was alone in the lion's den. I was also quite full and sighed softly, finishing up my soda and glancing over at Edward who also looked quite relaxed.

"Tough week?"

He cracked his neck. "You could say that. It isn't easy being away from home for so long. Even though it's just been a week, I feel like I'm missing out a lot on Tommy."

I hummed. "…That makes sense, but he adores you by the looks of things. You can tell by the way he looks at you…you mean the world to him."

"I don't know about that. I can never make up for lost time."

"Says who? You can always make up for lost time. I mean, you're here now, right? If you're worried that you're being absent in his life then…just talk to him. He's smarter than you think…at least from the last hour I spent with him."

I hadn't noticed but Edward had now come closer and I was taken back as he seemed to study me, perhaps seeing if there was any truth to my words before he sighed and leaned back. "You're right…maybe I should talk to him."

"I mean…if all else fails, just bribe him with ice cream."

"Tommy's like me – he doesn't like sweets."

"…okay fine, bribe him with some motor oil?"

"He's ten – he can't drive – "

I throw my pillow at him to shut him up, and his ghostly chuckle reached my ears but I made a point to ignore him. He sat up at this point, and a comfortable silence fell between us, before his words reached my ears.

"I can't really remember the last time I relaxed like this."

"You going clubbing isn't relaxing?"

"That's for business."

His reply was curt and I had a feeling something shifted within him. Even looking at him, it seemed that one question threw him off. I wonder why – did he take offence that I thought him going clubbing was his way of relaxing?

"I just assumed…never mind. I'm going to head off. It's late."

"You assumed I'm like Black?"

I froze immediately.

Did he just…?

I felt him stand up behind me, and I force myself to turn back to confront him.

He fucking knew.