*Disclaimer - Sadly, I own nothing of Twilight with the exception of merchandise, bought and paid for. I do, however, own my love for borrowing the characters and playing with them however I choose to. I thank Stephenie Meyer for creating the TwiWorld and for allowing us to have our fun with it. She owns Twilight, the insanity it created in my mind is my own.

As always, *squishes* to Shug, my beta-reader. And thanks to everyone reading and letting me know what you think!

Whatever Works

All That's Rumored

He was letting me in. Edward Cullen, in his private quarters, was about to reveal a very personal part of his past. "If you feel safe telling me, I'd like to know." My voice was barely above a whisper.

He shifted so he was closer to me, closing his eyes before he began. "I didn't approve for several reasons. He was my best friend. We were so much alike. Everything I got into, he did as well. And trust me, I was not the sort of guy anyone would want their sister with. I sheltered Alice from my scene for a reason – because I wanted her to not follow in my footsteps. She did it – slept with him behind my back, I mean – to get back at me. I did something stupid. We share this thing, my sister and I… it's like a genetic disposition to defy any and all commands." He laughed, but there was no amusement in his eyes. "If we're told something can't be done, we go out of our way to prove it can be. Something must be done a particular way – we'll find another way that's our own. I see it in myself, and I'm working on it, but in her it's really fucking annoying."

I watched him rake through his hair. He was really struggling with this, and I hoped it was the events themselves causing him stress and not the fact that he was putting blind faith in me by telling me about it.

"I was messing up pretty badly a few years ago." His voice was very low, and he wore a look of shame. "Mum and Dad came out to try to set things right with me. They blamed themselves because of the whole Masen ordeal. I used that as an excuse for my bad behavior a lot myself. They left Alice with a family friend in London, because she wanted to finish up school there. She came with some friends to visit on a school break, and so I stayed at the hotel with Jasper and Emmett; the girls stayed at my house with my parents."

"Was Alice all right with that? I mean, her being left behind."

He nodded. "Sure, sure. It was her idea actually. She only got pissy after she came to LA and saw how I lived."

"Sibling rivalry... jealousy... She would have been, what? Sixteen? Seventeen?"

"Sixteen, yeah. And definitely jealous of the attention I was getting."

"But you'd been on your own already. They stayed behind for her." I wanted him to know I was on his side. Somehow, I got the feeling it wasn't just that Alice was jealous – he blamed himself for her jealousy.

"That's all irrelevant to the spoiled sixteen year-old," he said with a smirk. "So rebel Alice decided that she was all grown up when she came back for the summer. She had just turned seventeen, and she and her friends were hanging out with us at the hotel more often than not. It wasn't like her first visit. Then, there were only a few times I let her come to the hotel. In the summer, she was with us all the time. I toned it down, and the guys were decent enough around the girls. To be honest, I kind of liked having her around. I missed her. And this was all new – partying with my sister. I watched out for her. Didn't let her get drunk, and kept her away from... other substances." He snickered as red flushed his cheeks.

"When she wasn't with me though, I was my fucked-up self. And I fucked up. I figured the thing with Jasper was about Alice being jealous – she didn't have my full attention, so she sought it. Emmett and I were hanging out with her friends one day, she hung back to chill in my hotel room because she thought it was cool. We were out late. I found them together. In my room. In my bed. Like, actually caught them going at it."

I cringed. That would be an awful shock. "What did you do?" Angela's gossip about a public brawl at a hotel was ruling my thoughts.

"I kicked his ass out. She was barely seventeen!"

"Your seventeen year-old sister," I commented. "I think your reaction was justified."

"She disagreed. One thing no guy should ever go through is having his baby sister scream at him, naked in his own bed, that he ruined her fuck." He laughed softly when I gasped. "True. She did. The thing is, and I didn't see it until after, was that she was pushing my buttons. I was already pissed off, but that remark got me fuming. I had a fairly good buzz going, and then a testosterone rush so I went after the dick who was boning my sister. That's all he was at that point.

"I found him outside, and went for him. I'm not a fighter. I'm not aggressive enough to do damage to anyone – even in self-defense. And it was Jasper! I didn't want to hurt him. I wanted to fucking kill him, but I didn't want to hurt him. You can imagine how ridiculous the whole scene was. I think I even ended up crying. He told me then that it had been going on since her last visit, behind my back. Dick. It was... not my best moment.

"Emmett ended up separating us, and then he got Alice calmed down enough to take her home. He had to take her in a taxi because he was wasted too. Mike got me upstairs and when I saw the bed, the scene of the crime, I just went nuts. Totally trashed the room. Screaming and crying and shit. I don't know what I was on, but it made me far more aggressive than I ever want to be again. Mike gave me some pills and a drink to counteract...mellow me out. Hotel management came up and kicked us out. By then the pills had kicked in, and I could hardly even walk. Mike was dragging me through the lobby. Jasper saw and came to help, and that started my mouth yapping – like I wanted his help in anything. A crowd gathered. Emmett came back and saw the scene in the lobby, and carried me out. Literally."

"He's good at that," I smiled gently. My adoration for Emmett grew. He always had Edward's back. Always.

"He's the best. There is no one like Emmett in the world. I fucking love him." A smile played with the corner of his lips. "This is so bad… I had no idea, but there was some big bash being held at the hotel that night. A wrap party or something, I don't know, but there were reporters there. And photographers everywhere. They got it all… the initial fight, the drugged out ranting, Emmett hauling me the fuck out… God. It was a mess. I caught so much shit for that night."

"Oh, Edward…" I groaned.

"I'm a master of disappointment, I know. There was a big meeting… my lawyer and management, the show's producer, network bigwigs, their lawyer… damn. It was intense. And I was badly hung over."

"Of course!" I had to laugh at that part.

"So they threatened to fire me, which I was really fine with because I hate doing the show. Really. I hate it. I don't mind the work, but I hate the shit that comes with it. And I hate the character, always have. It drives me nuts having to pretend to be him. I've always wanted out. It was all a ruse though because in the end, I make them money. They needed me, but spun it so that they made me believe I needed them – no studio would put me in a film with my penchant for public misbehaviour, so they were going to help me out. I was issued a team of handlers, including a really annoying man who was given the impossible job of teaching me how to 'behave like a star'." He rolled his eyes like it was the same as doing hard time in prison.

"He gave up. I think he actually quit after me; found a new occupation. At the very least, he needed extensive therapy."

"You're full of shit," I accused with a giggle.

A really sexy smirk appeared as he twisted around to face me. He laid his head against his arm on the back of the couch. "I can be, yeah. Let's just say, it didn't work out so well. I've been on restriction ever since. If I can't behave in public, then I can't go out in public."

"Oh come on… like they'd know if you went out!" He was bullshitting me, I knew it.

An eyebrow quirked and he pressed his lips together. "I'm trailed. Watched over. If something happens, it's taken care of."

My eyebrow lifted to match his. "Meaning…?"

"I'm removed from the situation, and any witnesses are paid off. Any evidence is bought, and I'm hauled back in for reprimand and more threats. I also have to pay fines – deductions off my salary. It pays for their costs to cover up my damages. It's just easier to avoid all of that."

"Seriously?"

He nodded. Seriously.

I was still dubious. "That's not true. We went out with Rosalie and Emmett that night."

"Private club," he stated with a playful grin.

"You posed for pictures outside. Was that to be rebellious? Edward…" I gave him a scornful look.

"In a way, I guess. I just wanted to be able to go out. They don't usually bitch when I go there, then again they usually arrange who I'm going to be snapped with, so that could have irked them. Truthfully, they like me being seen with my sister, so it was cool. But there were the other pictures that were taken… with you."

"There were no pictures with me! I was in the car!" And besides, I'd seen all the pictures posted on the internet when Rosalie and I checked it out.

"Oh?" His eyebrow raised, and a cheeky grin popped up as he removed his phone from his pocket. He scanned through it for a few seconds until he found what he was looking for. An email attachment included several shots of us in the car together, and there was even a couple taken inside during dinner, probably on someone's phone. They were poor quality, but if you were looking for Edward Masen, you could tell it was him – with his head bent talking to a girl – me.

"I thought I had kept you out of range for photographers. These were caught and bought. Removed from public viewing, and I'm glad. I just don't want you having to deal with this. And I don't want to have to fight the network to spend time with you. This is personal. Between you and I. Period."

"Sure. I get it." My frown returned despite my efforts to look impassive. So, he didn't want to be seen with me?

He tipped my chin up to look at him. "Bella, I value my personal life, and those in it. Don't think it's a slight that I will avoid being seen with you. And don't think it means anything to me at all to be photographed with famous actresses or models or whomever. They've never really impressed me, and I find them even less interesting now that I'm behaving better." Then he released my chin and lowered his eyes from mine, although I still couldn't look away from him. His tongue flicked out over his lips and he sighed. "So, have I done an effective job of making myself out to be the asshole?"

He had done an effective job of making me believe in rumors. It was all true. Did it make him an asshole though? "I think you messed up. It doesn't make you an asshole. It was a highly emotional and stressful moment, and you shouldn't have had it publicized. You shouldn't have had to deal with that, too."

"And my mum. You know how she follows the entertainment news…"

"Oh no!" My hand clamped to my mouth, but the giggles still escaped. "Edward, I'm sorry… is that how she found out?"

"Oh yeah." He was blushing, and released a nervous little titter himself. "Try explaining to your mum why your little sister was in that situation in the first place… because you were out getting wasted and messing around. Mum was so proud of me landing this job, they both were. It wasn't what I set out to do, but they saw it as a huge opportunity for me, and I was blowing it. I disappointed them. Again. It was too soon after the shit with Masen to handle it properly."

Frowning, I held a hand up to halt his speech. "They blamed you? Not Alice? Not Jasper? This was your fault?"

"Oh they were disappointed in all of us, for sure. It's just that I had been a continual source of disappointment, and this was out there for everyone to see. No one saw my sister's legs in the air… or my best friend in between them of course. They only saw me out of control, raging at a friend for some unknown reason. The media created reasons, of course. Each story had its own creation to accompany the photos. All of them were paid handsomely to not go to print. The online reports vanished after payment. It was an expensive cover-up. Worth it in that Mum didn't have to see it over and over. She didn't have to explain it to friends and family. It did cost me my privacy – not only due to the handling of me, but whenever I do go out – for any purpose – there are photographers waiting to get another shot of me losing it or whatever.

"There was a picture posted on the net of me buying a package of gum. I didn't find it, my mother did. Not scandalous, but there were blogs with hundreds of posts with people arguing over what brand and flavour it was. Who cares? It's a pack of gum! The gossip columns picked it up, and their stories ranged from me covering up a liquid lunch, to co-workers complaining about my insufferable halitosis. That's how ridiculous it gets."

I leaned in with a mocking grin and sniffed at him. "I think you're fine now. But the mouthwash scent earlier didn't mask the fact that you had been drinking then. Just so you know. I think your mom knows you drink… especially when you say you're going for a drink."

"Ugh… I know, I know… I just do that. I don't want her thinking I'm still acting out like I was back then. I've toned it down a lot."

"Growing up," I commented.

He made a face and snorted as he stood up, stretching. "Am I? Since my sister arrived, I feel more like an angsty teenager than I did when I was an angsty teen. Bella, one thing… please don't let what I've just told you dissuade you from spending time with either of them, and getting to know them. Our issues are solely with each other. Stupid mistakes aside, Alice isn't horrible. And Jasper was my best friend for years for a reason – I just have to get over the feeling of betrayal, and stop refusing to accept them as a couple. He does care for her. We did manage to get some of that out tonight when we talked."

I stood up as well. It seemed like this was my cue to leave him alone. "I appreciate you confiding in me. It will help to prevent me from putting my foot in my mouth which, you're probably unaware of, happens to me quite frequently."

"I've never noticed." His sarcasm was accompanied by what had become my favourite Edward look – playful eyes and a crooked grin. "I did, however, notice that the beer and pretzels you promised me are nowhere to be seen. Do you make false promises Bella?"

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Not intentionally. Do you?"

The most remorseful look I've ever seen on a person passed over his face. "I have, yes."

The pounding in my chest urged me to run for the door. He was telling me he couldn't be trusted. I would not make it out unscathed. "I can't trust you?" I asked softly rather than leaving. Stupid or brilliant? I couldn't decide. My ability to misread people, and situations, had peaked living here. And he was a really good actor. Still, I chose to listen rather than run.

"I haven't made any promises to you that I don't intend to honor."

"You haven't made any promises to me at all," I countered.

He cocked an eyebrow. "Forgotten already? I made several promises earlier – proper behavior while you're here with me, no maid fucking. Ring any bells? Aside from that, you have contacts. You can trust a contract, because it's there in writing. No broken promise will come from a contract."

I could not tell whether he was being serious or playful with this exchange. Teasing me over contracts seemed typical for him, but what if it was a warning to not take his spoken word as gospel?

"Bella, I rarely make promises because honestly, I know that I probably would break them. That's the sad truth of it. So, here and now, I'm also promising you that I won't make any promises that can't be kept. Deal?"

My mouth opened to respond but I believe what came out was more of a grunt. It certainly wasn't a word. The expression on his face had me mesmerized. It was charming, and sincere, and beyond anything I could resist. And then he stepped it up, moving closer and tipping his head down so close to mine that I felt his breath when he whispered, "I have trust issues."

"You can trust me," I vowed in a whisper as well.

His eyes sought for truth in mine, and he must have found it because he smiled at me. "I know. That's why you're here, and in possession of the only other key to my rooms. Do you make promises, Bella?" His eyes seemed to plead with mine. "If I swear to you that I'll never break a promise to you, will you promise me I can trust you completely?"

"I promise you can trust me. Completely."

A smirk lifted the corner of his mouth. "You sound like you're reciting a line."

"But it's true! I don't think it's right that your entire personal life is played out for everyone to see – I would never contribute to that! I don't need the same promise from you, it's irrelevant."

"I wasn't suggesting that. You already know I wouldn't air your laundry in public because I don't even want you known to the public." He paused, staring me down. "You don't trust me."

I tried to think up a diversion or at least a polite way to phrase it so I wouldn't have to lie. He waited patiently, and his eyes told me he already knew the truth. "No. I don't really."

He nodded his head almost imperceptibly, and blew out a long sigh. "Okay. We'll work on that. I have grown up enough to recognize a woman I can't fuck with…" Finally a grin reappeared that was playful. "… in any way. Thanks for everything today, Bella. It means a lot. I hope you sleep well."

Accepting his quick one-armed hug, I absorbed it all in that brief moment – his warmth, his scent, the way his hand crept up to my neck, and his fingers wove under my hair to stroke my skin lightly, and mostly, his words. I had a feeling that was as close to a promise not to hurt me that I was going to get out of him, and he worked it so well. I floated all the way to his private guest room where I dreamt of all things Edward in the few hours that I slept.