a/n Please note that all WitFit entries are unedited. No beta. I don't own Twilight.

*** This takes place after college and during the 2nd year of grad school for Edward. Edward and Bella are mid twenties and home for the holidays.

Word Prompt: Reluctant

Plot Generator—Phrase Catch: Jumping to conclusions.

Repeat the phrase to yourself five times, open a blank word document and begin.

This might have been the most uncomfortable holiday get together we've ever had with the Swans.

"You want another," Tanya asked.

I turned away from the fireplace and saw her looking pointedly at my empty beer bottle.

"Yeah, thanks," I said distractedly as I heard Bella fake laugh at another one of Jake's dumb jokes from the kitchen. I sighed and went back to looking at the fire.

I knew I fucked this up but Bella never gave me a chance to explain. Tanya and I started dating this past semester but it wasn't serious. It wasn't serious for me at least. None of my relationships were serious. Except for one.

"Here you go, kid," Chief Swan said, handing me another beer as he came into the room.

"Thank you, sir." I took the beer and smiled warmly at Bella's dad. He grunted a little in return and settled on the couch. We were two men enjoying the fire, a beer and my mom's Christmas playlist. Seemed like a simple life except for my millions of thoughts. I hadn't noticed my beer was empty but I wasn't paying much attention. I was too wrapped up in my phone conversation with Bella before I flew back home.

"So..."

"What aren't you telling me?"

"I don't want you to overreact."

"That's usually a trigger that I'll overreact."

"I know."

"Just tell me, Edward."

"I'm bringing someone home with me. A girl I'm seeing who's in-"

"You're bringing a girl home? What girl? For Christmas? Who is she? How long have you been with her? I don't know about this."

"I don't know which question you want me to answer first."

"Don't be an ass."

"I'm not! Look. We've just started seeing each other-"

"Yet you're bringing her home for Christmas."

"Yes, but there's a reason for that. She doesn't-"

"Who is she? What's her name?"

"Well..."

"Well what? What's her name?"

"You remember this story I told you once about a girl in my drama class at Northwestern from sophomore year?"

"The one who fucked your professor?"

"She didn't fuck the professor."

"Wow. You're seeing the girl who fucked your professor."

"She didn't fuck the professor."

"What was her name? Tammy? Tara?"

"Tanya."

"Right. Tanya. This is cute, Edward, but whatever. Do your parents know she fucked her professor?"

"Bella! She didn't fuck the professor."

"Whatever. I have to go. Thanks for the heads up. I'll bring a guest to dinner."

"What guest? This isn't what you think it is."

"I don't think anything. I'm happy for you. I'm sure she's fun in bed. I gotta go. I'll see you when you're home."

She hung up on me without a goodbye or listening to any further explanation. A couple of days after I got home, I tried to sneak off and see her when my mom was teaching Tanya how to make her cranberry pear pie. I was pretty sure Bella was home when I came by but her mom covered for her. I never had another opportunity to see her alone to explain the Tanya situation but I supposed it didn't matter much to Bella what the situation was. All my calls went straight to voicemail and the first time we spoke since that initial phone call was when she arrived on my front doorstep with her parents and a grinning Jacob Black.

"Oh you got another beer."

I looked at Tanya's fallen face as she sat back down in the chair beside me. I'd barely paid her any attention since we'd been here and we definitely weren't having sex while in town. Things were too weird.

"Yeah, the Chief saw I needed one too."

"I'll take it," Emmett said coming into the room carrying my sleeping nephew in one arm and a piece of pie in the other. "Just set it right there on the coffee table."

"Coaster! Coaster!" My mom fluttered in with Renee and Jacob right behind her.

Great. That meant Bella and Rose were left alone to gossip at my expense.

I heard my father coming downstairs. "Sorry, everyone. I had to take- what are you two doing, thick as thieves," he shouted to the girls in the kitchen. "Come in here." He turned his attention back to the crowded room. "I had to take the call but I brought down Scattergories."

"Bells, come be on my team," Jake said as she strolled in with Rose.

"It's not a game of teams," I replied bitterly.

"We have to team up if everyone plays, son," my father replied. Always the traitor.

Tanya squeezed my knee. "We can be a team," she said hopefully.

I looked at her sadly. She was trying so hard and I was being a dick.

"Let's switch things up this year," the Chief chimed in. "I'll break us up into teams. Edward can be with me. Renee, you go with Carlisle. Rose and Jake. Emmet can be with his mother and Bella can be with Tanya."

Everyone looked at the Chief like he'd sprouted a second head. Everyone but Emmett.

"We're kicking ass. Only team with 3 players, buddy," Emmett said to his son, placing a kiss on the top of his head.

I turned back to the fire while my dad handed out the boards and cards.

"You're going to have to come sit over here, kid."

"Yes, sir," I said to the Chief. I offered Tanya a small smile. She smiled back, happy to just have some positive reaction from me. It was more of a condolence as a glaring Bella took my place by the fire.

This was, without a doubt, the most uncomfortable holiday get together we've ever had with the Swans.