I own nothing but a few books, a poster, and a broken key chain..

5

bpov

I wake to the glorious smell of coffee gracing my nose. I open my eyes and look down.

Edward is still here, still hugging my waist. He was really freaked out last night. I've never seen him so scared. Like Jasper, I've seen Edward freaking out and crying. But last night, he was really terrified for me.

Jasper walks into the living room with a cup of coffee. He takes a seat in the chair next to the couch.

"What time is it?"

"About 10. Alice just shot me a text. She's on her way here. And she got Edward covered."

I nod.

"You should text her and tell her to keep quiet when she gets here. Edward needs to catch up on his sleep."

Jasper whips out his cell phone and relays the message.

"How was he? After I went to bed?"

He looked so peaceful once he fell asleep last night. I look down and can see his long lashes against his cheeks. So peaceful. Like there hasn't been a war between the women in his heart for the past five years. Like his father hasn't been ripped from him.

"He slept well. He hasn't even moved."

I start to run my fingers through his hair again. His gorgeous bronze locks are so silky. I used to do it all the time when we were together. It's just as comforting to me as it is to him.

"That's good. The bags under his eyes looked pretty bad."

I sigh.

"That's probably my fault. After the fight at Antonio's he found me at our place. I told him he broke me. That'd I'd never move on. It's true, but I should never had said that. I just walked away from him after I said it, too. I'd be up all night, too if I were him.

When he walked into our meeting yesterday, he looked like such a broken man. It was obvious he hadn't slept. I wanted to run up to him and comfort him, but my bosses were there. We didn't even acknowledge we knew each other."

Jasper looks confused.

"Your bosses were there when I spoke to you guys yesterday?"

"No, we had to set up a separate meeting. I guess he needs to know how I do my job, what I'm supposed to do, etc. He openly admitted in front of my bosses that he needs to protect me. He didn't say he needs to counter the other attorney, he said he needs to protect me."

I return my gaze to Edward. He was here to protect me. To protect me from myself. He would do just about anything for me, except leave his wife.

Alice knocks on my door and quietly then lets herself in. She walks into our living room then gasps. I look up confused, and I see her eyes clouded with tears. One tear falls down her porcelein cheek.

"Alice?"

She doesn't look at Jasper. She just continues to look at me and Edward. Her body starts to shake with tears.

Jasper rushes up to soothe her, but she pushes him away and continues to stare at us. Even crying, Alice is beautiful. Standing at about 5' feet with spiky black hair and Edward's green eyes she looks like a vision.

"This is how it should be."

I fight tears when she says that. She brings her gaze up to my eyes and smiles.

"I can feel it, Bella. It's going to happen. Don't lose hope on him yet."

I shake my head and look down at Edward. I can't be filling my head with words like hope again. I can't do that to myself.

"I'm serious, Bella. Listen to me. I can feel it. It's like I can see it."

She turns to look at Jasper suspiciously.

Why would she look at Jasper?

Jasper looks down, guilty. He's up to something.

"Alice, what do you see?" I ask.

She returns her gaze to me.

"I see you two. You and Edward. Together."

Our little prophet is getting my hopes up. I just can't handle that.

"Alice, please. Don't."

She steps forward but keeps her voice low.

"I'm serious, Bella. It's clear as day. I can see it."

I nod absentmindedly. I'm not going to listen to her. My heart has been broken over and over in the last few days. I can't handle it again.

I continue to run my fingers through Edward's hair, trying to erase the past five minutes from my memory. Edward starts to stir.

He opens his beautiful green eyes, then looks up to me.

I was expecting shock. Maybe anger. Especially confusion. But instead, he smiles his big, crooked smile that I haven't seen in years.

No matter how hard I try to fight it, I smile right back.

He squeezes my waist then buries his face in my stomach, smelling me. To most people that would be weird, but it's an old habit of Edward's. He always told me that my smell awakens his soul.

I scratch his head, my old habit. He looks back at me and continues to smile.

"Good morning."

His voice is deep, husky. Sleep still heavy in his voice.

"Good morning, Edward."

We just sit there smiling, staring at each other.

Our stare fest was interrupted with a throat clearing. I look up at Jasper and Alice as Edward turns his body to see whose there.

He's sees his little sister and groans. He hates seeing his sister first thing in the morning. She's always too perky for him and Edward is definitely not a morning person.

I giggle down at Edward.

"She saved your ass last night, show some respect."

He looks up at me in confusion.

"I had Jasper call her to cover for you. I don't know what she said, but apparently whatever she said worked."

Realization dawns in Edward's eyes. He breathes deeply then buries himself back in my stomach.

I look up at Alice and Jasper confused. He should have jumped up when he realized what we were talking about. Not hold onto me tighter.

Alice shrugs and smiles and Jasper's face is lit up with a smile as well.

I look back down to Edward and return my fingers to his hair. The tension automatically leaves his body, so I continue my ministrations.

"Thank you, Alice." He mumbles into my stomach.

"You're welcome, Edward. I've got your schedule cleared for the day. Told her Jasper kidnapped you for man time around 6 A.M. And it seems that you and Jasper do have some stuff to sort out, don't you?"

Edward whips around and stares at Alice in shock. Jasper turns away from Alice, trying to hide his guilty expression.

"Ok, guys what are you into? Jasper, you can hide your face all you want, but I know your guilty pose a mile away. Fess up."

Jasper turns to me and glares while Edward hides his face in my stomach. I look down to Edward.

"Nu-uh. You're not getting out of this either. What is it?"

He groans.

"Bella, you're too damn perceptive for your own damn good."

I laugh.

"It's a talent."

He looks up at me and rolls his eyes.

"You guys can tell her. Everything will work out much better if you fill her in."

Edward glares at Jasper.

"You told Alice?!"

Jasper glares back at Edward.

"Of course I didn't tell Alice! What kind of moron do you take me for?"

Alice rolls her eyes.

"You guys are idiots. You know it's impossible to keep a secret from me."

She taps the side of her head for an explanation. Alice is some sort of prophet/vision seeing fashionista all bottled up into a five foot bundle of joy. She's normally right with her visions. And it really is damn near impossible to keep secrets from her. Poor Jasper.

"What do you think, Edward? It's not like you and I could pull off lying on the spot with the little tattle tale standing here."

Jasper points to Alice while he calls her a tattle tale.

She puts her hands on her hips.

"I resent that! I'm telling you, if you get her in on your plan it will go a lot more smoothly! Keeping her in the dark will just make the situation worse. I swear you guys are morons!"

Edward glares at his sister.

"A. I'm not a moron. And B. That's not exactly the point of the plan."

She rolls her eyes.

"If she gets in on this, not only will a fight probably be avoided but I can almost guarantee you'll get what you want out of this."

Jasper and Edward look at each other, communicating silently.

Alice groans.

"Edward, I don't understand why you won't just take my word for everything."

Edward glares at his sister, once again.

"How can I take your word when I won't take hers? How the hell is that fair?"

Ok. So. The boys are up to something. It involves me. If I'm kept in the dark things won't go well, possibly a fight will break out. And apparently it has to do with who revealed his true paternity.

"Alright, you guys I've heard enough of this. Spill."

Edward, Alice, and Jasper turn their heads to me all at one time. It kinda freaks me out. I decide to rest my gaze on Edward. Willing him to tell me. He sighs and looks down.

"Alright, Bella. But don't be mad at me for this."

I roll my eyes.

"Out with it already, Jesus."

He looks back up to me, and looks a little scared of my reaction. I make sure to keep my face calm and smooth, though I'm honestly a little afraid of this little plan of theirs.

He sighs.

"Ok, so I want to get proof once and for all who sold the story. As I told Jasper, I can't help but be convinced that you're innocent. So, we made the plan.

I was supposed to make up some phony documents that you needed to sign. I was going to tell Tanya that I didn't want to face you so that she would come instead.

We thought that if you two thought you were completely and totally alone the truth would come out."

I stare at Edward in shock.

"So let's say I got her to tell the truth. It's not like you would magically believe me."

Edward turns his gaze to Jasper.

"That's where I come in. I was going to plant a bug, and no I'm not telling you where, and we were going to be right outside. Because if I know you at all Isabella, I know that you'll be attacking her the second she admits she ruined Edward's life. We, of course, would come in and break the fight. Go from there based on the evidence."

I sigh. Sure, I was being set up. But since I'm the innocent party I don't really mind.

"Ok, so what do you guys need me to do?"

Edward and Jasper look stunned at my reaction while Alice looks smug. Edward clears his throat.

"Get her to talk? Get her to outright admit it?"

I nod. That should be easy enough. Tanya would love the opportunity to rub that she won in my face.

"I can do that."

"Bella, could you maybe possibly try to avoid a fight? I couldn't bear it if you got hurt over this."

Can I promise Edward that I won't beat the wicked bitch's ass if she admits she ruined our lives? HELL NO.

I look Edward dead in the eye.

"And if the situation were reversed? You got some guy to openly admit he did that to me just to steal me from you?"

He looks down and sighs.

"Yeah, I'd beat his ass. But, please love, for me. Try not to get yourself hurt."

"I'll try not to get myself hurt."

He looks at me warning me. He knows I didn't promise him I won't beat her ass. He gets the look of resignation, he knows I won't make a promise I can't keep.

"Fine."

I roll my eyes.

"Stop being such a baby. She fights like a 16 year old girl. You seem to forget I grew up with Charlie, Emmett, and Jasper."

He looks pensive.

"Did they teach you to fight growing up?"

I roll my eyes while Jasper busts out laughing.

"Man, that was our idea of entertainment on Saturdays in Forks. Of course we taught her to fight. Good times, good times."

I groan.

"Entertainment. Yeah, me falling on my ass during "fight training" was entertainment. Emergency rooms are always fun."

Jasper lets out a full belly laugh.

"Do you remember when you were fighting Emmett that one time? You socked him then slipped in mud all at one time. You managed to knee his little boys on the way down. You were made the victor by a stupid act of clumsiness."

I begin to laugh, as well.

"Don't fuck with me. Emmett sure as hell didn't after that."

Edward and Alice watch our conversation in amusement. There's a spark in Edward's eyes. A spark I haven't seen in five years. Then I see realization dawn in his eyes.

"Oh my God I'm such a fucking idiot. Of course they taught you to fight. There's no way in hell Charlie, Emmett, and Jasper would let you move into a city without knowing how to fight. Dear God I'm such a fucking moron."

I stop laughing, confused.

"What do you mean, Edward?"

He looks at me a little sad.

"When everything went down that day, what really got me was when you attacked Tanya. I had never known you to fight. You didn't even like to talk shit, unless it was playful banter. It was obvious you were beating her to a pulp. And all I could think was that it was a side to you I had never seen. I started to wonder if I ever really knew you because of that."

I start to speak but Jasper interrupts.

"You're right. You're a fucking idiot. Like you said, we would never let her live in a city if she didn't know how to fight. And if you know Bella at all, you know that Bella will protect what matters most to her no matter what. I wasn't the least bit surprised she kicked her ass."

Edward rubs his face in his hands. Guilty.

"I'm sorry, Bella. I shouldn't have judged you like that."

I sigh and rub his back in a comforting gesture.

"Edward, your whole world got turned upside down in one minute. Don't be sorry, I understand."

He looks at me surprised.

"How can you forgive me so easily? After everything we've been through, everything I've put you through, you're just sitting here forgiving me like it's nothing."

I shrug.

"Like I said, I understand. That part at least. I'll never understand why you married Tanya. But I don't blame you for any of your reactions that day."

He grabs me for a hug and buries his face in my hair. He speaks in a whisper.

"Thank you, Bella. Thank you so much."

I hug him tight and continue to rub his back.

"Don't thank me. There's no need."

I hear my front door opening followed by obnoxious brother opening his big mouth.

"I'm here bitches! Looks like we got a party going on outside!"

In walks my dumbass brother and a very annoyed Rosalie.

They come to a stop and we all look at each other.

This is the first time since the wedding that we have all been in the same room together. Before the wedding we were together all of the time. We only didn't see each other during class or while we were screwing our partners. Sometimes, we didn't even spare each other from those horrors.

I shudder to think of Emmett and Rosalie.

I can still hear Emmett screaming "I'm the king" over and over again in my head.

Another shudder.

We all keep looking at each other in total silence.

Then we smile.

"Reunion bitches! Let's have a beer!"

Fucking Emmett. But I still can't fight my smile.

"Emmett, it's not even noon yet you dumb gorilla!"

Emmett smirks at Alice.

"I've missed you, too Tinker Bell."

Alice giggles.

"You saw me last week, you goon!"

Emmett looks at Alice seriously.

"That wasn't the real Alice. None of us are the same unless we are together. We're a family."

My eyes well up with tears. He's right. None of us were the same.

Hell. I could hardly look at Alice without losing it. Emmett always had to kick Edward's ass "for my honor." Jasper's 2 best friends couldn't be in a room together without all hell breaking loose. Rosalie couldn't be with her 2 best friends for a night of fun without it ending in a break down. Alice's brother and best friend were broken. Edward lost me and Emmett and Rosalie.

I sniffle.

"Aw, gee, Emmett. Now look what you've done."

I laugh when I see Rosalie shedding tears.

Edward turns to me and smiles, wiping away my tears.

We all start laughing, every single one of us wiping at tears.

"Ha! The dumb one called it! I'm the king!"

Everyone but Rosalie and Emmett freeze, fighting a disgusted shudder. You can hear the pain of the memory in Jasper's voice.

"Thank you, Emmett. You've always been good for ruining the moment."

We all laugh while Emmett stands there with his signature shit eating grin on his face.

"Damn straight, fuckers."

We all laugh, wiping away our remaining tears.

"Well if I can't have a beer, I'm having one of those big ass margaritas you get at that Mexican joint we always used to go to. I haven't been there since we broke up."

Once again, the dumb one calls it. When one of our couples break up, we all break up.

Edward and I still aren't together, but it's looking that way. We're next to each other happy, sharing the moment. We're a family right now. We're fragile, but our love bonds us. We're going to be ok, together.

"Well, I'm game. I've been craving those fajitas for years!"

Fucking Jasper. But again, I can't fight my smile.

"Let me get Bella dressed then we'll go. Edward, go to Jasper's room and find some socks and a t-shirt. I'm sure Bella did his laundry this week so find some clean boxers, too. Hit the showers.

Bella, I'm going to raid your closet while you take one of your really quick showers. You know, the my-dinner-is-going-to-burn-if-I-don't-hurry-showers.

Ready? Break!"

Then Alice actually clapped her hands and ran to my bedroom.

And I fucking lost it. We all did. I actually fell off the fucking couch. And Edward could barely reach over to grab me he was laughing so hard. Then he fell off the couch.

Classic Alice, but totally fucking hilarious.

What's great is, she was actually fucking serious. Like we were in some sort of huddle, last play of the game, we're down by one touch down, this is it.

Tears are flowing from our eyes as we continue to laugh.

"BBBBEEEEELLLLLLLLLLAAAAA!!!! Where's that black lace bra with the matching thong set?!!"

That sobers me up.

I shoot up and glare in the direction of my bedroom.

She did not just fucking do that.

I look around the room, hoping to avoid looking at Edward. Emmett and Jasper are looking green. Rosalie is actually fucking smirking. Then Edward. Eyes lit up like it's fucking Christmas morning.

And I'm blushing like a fucking tomato.

"Alice! What was it you told me you did with Chad Russell AND his girlfriend Whitney in Cabo?!"

I hear something heavy land on the floor in my bedroom.

Rosalie fucking snorts and busts out laughing. Jasper and Emmett's faces are lusted over. Edward is holding onto his stomach, fighting the urge to puke.

Bitch.

"You mess with the bull, you get the horns."

It's Jasper's turn to snort. And I'm talking full fledge, snot flying across room kind of snort before he busts out laughing.

"Jesus, Bella! You gotta warn us before you say shit like that all serious!"

We're all rolling on the floor laughing again. 'My stomach hurts so fucking bad, but it's so fucking funny' laughs.

Alice comes stomping out into the living room, ready to throw a hissy fit while we continue to laugh.

"I'm going to get you for that! You won't know when, you won't know how, but it's coming. It's on like donkey kong!"

I sober myself up, lower my voice all serious.

"Oh, it's on."

Then I pull my imaginary gun from it's holster, shoot an imaginary shot in Alice's direction, then blow away the smoke from the gun, before returning it to it's imaginary holster.

"Bring it biotch!"

"OOOOOO it's already been broughten!"

Then, once again, we lose it. Alice falls to the floor, joining the rest of us. And we just lay there and laugh. Laugh. And laugh some more.

After like 10 minutes, we are trying to sober up, but someone will start giggling causing the rest of us to start laughing again. It keeps happening over and over again.

Then Emmett sets us off again.

"Jesus, Jasper. Did you smoke some weed in the bathroom again giving us all a contact buzz or what?"

Through my giggles and the stroll down memory lane, I try to finally finish this.

"Shut the fuck up you guys! My stomach fucking hurts!"

Alice giggles at me, causing us to start laughing again.

Another 10 minutes later, we stop laughing out of pain. Rosalie starts to whimper.

"Ow."

I rub my stomach.

"I know."

We just lay there not talking for a few minutes, recovering.

"Bella and Edward, please go shower. And not together, please."

I roll my eyes.

"Thanks, Alice."

I can hear Alice's smile.

"I'm just saying. We don't need to go that far down memory lane."

It's Emmett's turn to whimper. I think I heard Jasper right along with him.

"Please, Alice. I still have nightmares from that night."

I scoff.

"Emmett, please. I swear I still hear you screaming 'I'm the king' over and over in my head!"

Emmett manages to laugh.

"Actually, when you're not paying attention, I'll say it through the walls to torture you."

I grab a pillow from the couch and launch it at Emmett.

"Mother fucker! That's so disturbing!"

He keeps laughing at me, along with everyone else.

"See, I'm the king."

I scream.

"My ears! My ears! They're bleeding!"

Edward grabs a hold of me, squeezing me tight. His laughs are a mixture of chuckles and whimpers.

"Bella, love, please. It hurts."

And, of course, I laugh harder. My heart rate speeds up when he calls me love, but his voice is so desperate, pleading. I can't help it.

Alice finally manages to get Edward and I in showers, separate of course. She speeds through my hair and make up causing me to roll my eyes at her. We're going to a Mexican restaurant, not homecoming.

We all pile into Emmett's jeep and head to the Mexican restaurant. I am sitting on Edward's lap while Alice sits on Jasper's. Just like old times.

We laugh while we sing along to Get Low by Lil Jon and Eastside Boyz. Again, like old times.

When we arrive, I'm in such a blissful mood. I haven't experienced this kind of happiness in over five years. We haven't. And we are together, finally.

We all order one of those 'big ass margaritas' and, of course, get plastered. It's just not possible to stop after just one of them. It's just not possible.

We sit around the table, pigging out on our food, laughing at the memories.

We make fun of each other for embarrassing stories, fill each other in on funny stories about each other that some of us have missed, and just have fun together.

"So Bella, why is it that they all have rooms at your house?"

Alice interrupts me from answering Edward's question.

"We all have rooms at each others places silly. Emmett and Rosalie have their room at my place, and you guys have your room."

Edward and I whip our heads at Alice in shock.

"Our room? My room at your place is Edward's? Jesus Alice, I thought it was you that brought his smell back to me! That's one of the reasons I couldn't be around you as much!"

Alice doesn't drop her smirk.

"Why would I give you separate bedrooms when I know you two will be back together?"

Edward and I just stare at her.

Alice starts to giggle, while Edward and I turn our heads to each other. I can see the click in his mind, much like how it does in mine.

He experienced it, too. He smelled me there, too.

I smile. It's not a bad thing. Edward smiles right back.

We stumble back into my house hours later. Still totally wasted and having a damn good time. Emmett runs to the liquor store for more booze while the rest of us just sit and talk, still having a great time.

He returns and we get even more drunk. I think obliterated might be the right word.

Alice's eyes get wide.

"Oh shit!"

We all look at her bug eyed. What the hell is wrong with her?

"Edward, we gotta take care of Tanya! She can't know we're up to something. And we're smashed!"

Her eyes look like they're going to pop out of her head causing me to bust out laughing. Everyone looks at me like I've fucking lost it, causing me to laugh harder.

"I'm sorry, I know it's serious. But did you guys see her face?"

Everyone, but Alice of course, busts out laughing. It's funny now that they know I haven't gone off the deep end. Or maybe laughing at me.

Alice rolls her eyes.

"Any hoo.. I'm going to call her. I'm going to tell her we took off to see mom and are staying the night. Everyone needs to be fucking quiet or this won't work. Got it?"

We all nod seriously.

Alice whips out her cell phone and takes a deep 'I'm trying to pretend I'm sober' breath.

"Tanya? It's Alice. I wanted to let you know that Edward, Jazz, and I took off to Forks to see mom. Edward crashed out in the back seat and I wasn't sure if he called you yet."

Silence.

"Yeah, we'll probably stay the night."

More silence.

A smile.

Thank God. We all let out a collective breath of relief.

"Ok, hun. I'll talk to you later, bye."

Alice shuts her phone and sets it down slowly, staring at it. She looks up at us wide eyed.

"That was so fucking hard."

And we bust out laughing.

We continue to drink for the rest of the night until we all pass out in couples on my living room floor.

Family day! Hope ya enjoyed it! It was a really fun chapter to write. And one of the easiest to write so far. Let me know what ya think