Disclaimer: We all know I don't own, and who really does.
AN: A huge thank you to my amazing beta PrettyKitty, she does a wonderful job of helping see where I have improper word usage.
Many hugs and thank you's to Jen for her help in making sure my BDSM related parts are a correct representation of the lifestyle.
And to the girls that take the time to WC with me, this wouldn't be done without them.
On with the chapter more at the bottom.
***TCBS***
It'd been six months since Bella had spoken with anyone other than Alice or Ms. Cope. They both agreed on helping her during her recovery time. Not long after she'd been released from the hospital it'd been decided that Bella should return to the Midnight Sun Rehabilitation until she was able to deal with her feelings over finding out about Marcus. The time spent getting help was great. Bella was feeling better about the situation even though she wasn't sure if she'd be able to face him just yet, but she knew that he could no longer hurt her unless she allowed the ghost of memories in. Both Ms. Cope and Alice agreed that the breakdown that Bella experienced was a necessary evil to finally get her past her fears.
Even though the commute to Midnight Sun every afternoon was draining for Alice, she felt the need to do it. She owed Bella for forgiving her even after she'd agreed with Edward about confronting Bella about Marcus. Those first few days were especially difficult on Alice, knowing that her friends were both hurting. Bella hurt with dealing with her past, and Edward hurt from losing any chance with Bella. Alice knew very quickly that Edward was falling in love with Bella, but she never thought that he would openly admit it to anyone. She never meant to overhear him talking with Carlisle, but she had, and it killed her to see him walk out of Bella's hospital room that day with the obvious pain in his face. When Alice later found out that Bella had not only kicked him out of her room, but out of her life as well, she knew it would be awhile before she got her friend back. She'd leave Midnight Sun and go straight to Edward's office. Listening to him berate himself and vow to stay out of the lifestyle for good was mind-boggling to her. She knew very well that it was impossible for him to live without the control, and she was proven correct as she watched him slowly retreat on himself.
Both Alice and Emmett invited Edward to a few parties, but he refused to attend, stating that he had no business at a play party when he no longer lived that way. Alice hoped that the party she and Emmett were hosting at his house would help to bring both of them to at least speaking terms. Neither knew that the other was going to be there, or what type of party they were going to attend. Alice told Bella that it was her welcome home party with her new friends, and Emmett told Edward it was a guy's night in party. Alice knew it was risky to lie to them, but at that point it was a risk she was willing to take. She knew Bella well enough to know that her reaction to the surprise wouldn't be as bad as it'd been when she was confronted with the Marcus stuff, and with Edward, Alice knew that as soon as he saw that Bella was there it would be impossible for him to leave. The only real risk she was taking was how Bella would treat and react toward Edward. Luckily, it was a relatively small party. There were going to be four other couples there aside from Alice, Jasper, Emmett and Rosalie. Emmett thought it would be a good idea to have familiar people around so that Bella felt more comfortable, so he invited Dommenick, the owner of the toy store Emmett once took Bella to, his submissive, Jen, Brenna, Edward's ex-sub and her new Dom, Robert, Kate, a close friend of Emmett and Rosalie's, her submissive, Garrett, and Emmett's latest trained Dom, Michael and his new sub, Jessica. Emmett figured the party would also be a good time to teach both Jessica and Bella a few of the finer points of the lifestyle.
Just left Midnight Sun with Bella, we should be arriving at the house in about an hour. See you there - Charlie
As planned, Alice was picking up Bella to take her to the party, but first she was going to help her pick out an outfit to wear. Alice also figured it would be a good time help prepare Bella for the evening that awaited them. When they were on the way to the party, Alice was going to tell Bella what the party was really going to consist of; with the exception of informing her of Edward's attendance. Picking up her purse, Alice yelled up to Jasper. "Heading out to help Bella. I will see you at Emmett's."
***TCBS***
"Emmett, I don't feel like going to guy's night tonight."
"Edward, I swear on all that is holy if you don't show your ass up in my house tonight, I am going over there and beating the living shit out of you. I am sick and fucking tired of your Debbie Downer ass behavior, it's been six fucking months of the same fucking bullshit."
"Emmett..." Edward's warning tone should've been enough to get Emmett off his back, but apparently he wasn't going to be that lucky that night.
"Don't Emmett me, Cullen. I've let you empty out your playroom and store all your shit in my garage, I've let you slide in coming to the play parties in the past because I knew you were hurting, but this is getting ridiculous. I am not going to let you out of coming to hang out with the guys so you can sit around your house and berate yourself some more. When was the last time you signed on a new client? Give me one in the last two months and I will consider letting you leave early, but you're coming."
"I just signed on the Lopez vs MSNBC case a few weeks back." Edward felt good being able to give Emmett an answer and finding a way to get out of going to the party.
"No buddy boy, that wasn't you, and it's not your case. It's that new fresh out of law school kid Hamilton who signed the deal with MSNBC, not you. So sorry, last case you worked on was that kid malpractice one- one you signed when Be..." Emmett didn't get to finish saying her name before Edward growled at him.
"Don't even think her fucking name, let alone say it. You made your point. I will be there." Edward quickly hung up on Emmett, not wanting to risk hearing her name. It hurt too much to think it, to know that she was hurt because of him, to know that she kicked him out of her life and refused to let him apologize for hurting her. He swore to leave the lifestyle for sure after she kicked him out of her room. She was the only one who he could picture anymore, when he slept, she was in his dreams, even in his waking life her scent and sweet soft voice was all he could feel around him.
The pain was almost crippling at times. He knew Emmett was right; he hadn't signed a new client in months, and he'd had to hire Roberts just so that his business wouldn't go under. But, in his mind, he couldn't think of anything that was worth living for anyway, so what was the point. He lost the only thing that really mattered to him in life. Actually, the only two things that mattered to him, but one without the other just wasn't the same anymore. So, reluctantly and without any real desire, he threw on a pair of faded blue jeans, black Religion T-shirt, and his black Doc Martens. He figured he might as well be comfortable- besides, what was the point of dressing up to just hang out with the guys at Emmett's.
Ready and with time to spare, Edward decided he might as well check to see how Roberts was doing with the case, as well as find out if any new cases had called in to the office. It was about time he started to worry about getting back on the horse so to speak. Emmett made a very good point in pointing out that moping around and torturing himself over something he could never have again was just pointless.
***TCBS***
One thing that Bella learned in therapy this time around was that there was no reason for her to be ashamed of her own body. What happened to her as a child wasn't her fault, it was the fault of the adults that were supposed to protect her. That was one thing that would take a lot longer than six months to get past Thankfully, she'd have two wonderful women to help get her past this phase in her life. With that in mind, Bella had asked Leah to take her shopping before Alice arrived to pick her up for the party. At a small boutique not far from her house, she found the perfect outfit, something she was sure Alice would approve of.
Bella enjoyed the surprised look on Alice's face when she walked into the house to see her already dressed and ready to go.
"Wow, Bella, you look... there are really no words."
"Thank you, Alice. I am glad you approve." Bella blushed slightly from the complement.
"Are you comfortable in that outfit though? I don't want you wearing something that would make you uncomfortable. Especially on your first night out, and with a couple of new people." Bella didn't mistake the look of concern on her friends face.
"Yes, Alice. I am sure. The corset's long sleeves actually cover the scars on my arms, the pants are a bit tight being skinny jeans, but they are comfortable. The boots are the only things that I worry a little about, and that is more because they are heels and we both know how good my coordination can be." They both laughed at that. Alice knew all too well how clumsy Bella could really be. "The one thing I learned from both you and Mrs. Cope at Midnight Sun was that I should be comfortable in my own skin. No one and nothing can hurt me more then I hurt myself, and to be honest with you Alice, I don't want to hurt anymore. I don't want anyone, or anything to have that power over me ever again."
Alice launched herself at Bella, tears streaming down her face. She was so proud and happy to hear those words come from her friend's mouth. Over the months, she'd grown to love Bella as only a close friend could and only wanted the best for her. That was why she hoped beyond hope that Bella and Edward could work things out tonight.
"I'm so incredibly happy and proud to hear those words coming from you Bella. I think you are going to rock it tonight, and there won't be a soul in the world who will be able to resist you and the strength you now possess."
They conversed with Charlie and the rest of the family a little longer before heading over to Emmett's. On the way there, Alice took the time to explain to Bella what was really going on, and even though she hadn't planned on telling her about Edward, she decided it was best to get everything out in the open. She felt it better not to shatter the confidence and poise that Bella had achieved by surprising her with Edward. Also, telling Bella about him beforehand gave them a chance to call Edward and cancel with him.
"It's fine, Alice. I think it's about time that I spoke with him. Even though I don't agree with the way he went about doing things, now that I've spoken about my past, I have realized that Edward was correct and I need to do something to save others from suffering the same past I did. I also need to apologize for hurting him the way I did. I never even gave him a chance to tell me what he was thinking or feeling before I kicked him out of my life."
Alice reached over to squeeze Bella's hand. Even though her words spoke of nonchalance and confidence, she could still see the small bouts of fear and nerves in Bella's eyes.
"You've come a very long way, Bella, further than anyone ever thought possible in such a short amount of time. Don't misunderstand me- I think it's wonderful, but at the same time it scares me that you will have another setback like the one you had that night."
"I know, Alice. But the difference between that night and today- and the rest of my life- is that I hadn't reached rock bottom yet. Over the last six months I've had time to reflect and think about the things that happened that night, and realize that even while I was still trying to come out of the anesthetic I was too scared to let anyone in mostly in fear of getting hurt but also because I was scared of feeling. I don't want to not feel for the rest of my life out of fear. I want to know and understand trust and love like I've never been given before."
"And you will have that, Bella, I promise you. You will have love like you've never had it before." Alice knew that no words had ever been truer. She knew that Edward still loved Bella, his actions said so even if his words never did.
****TCBS****
Everyone was there just waiting on Bella and Alice, by the time they arrived.
"Welcome to my home, Isabella. It's a real pleasure to have you here," Emmett greeted.
"Bella, please. And thank you, Sir. It is a pleasure to be here," Bella replied, remembering to be respectful and addressing a Dom properly.
"I want you to be comfortable with us here tonight, so we are going to drop all the formalities for this evening. So please just call me Emmett, deal?" Emmett smiled his dimpled boyish smile at Bella, hoping it was enough to relax her.
"If I may be so bold, if you want me to feel comfortable then allow me to address you properly. I would feel as if I were disrespecting you if I didn't"
"Okay, I will make you a deal. When we aren't playing or in a scene you call me Emmett, and when we get the party started you can address me formally. Deal?" Emmett compromised.
"Deal."
Rose walked up to the group and quickly engulfed Bella in a strong hug, "It is wonderful to have you back. I've missed you."
"I've missed you too, Rose. Thank you for your letters and cookies." The girls shared a light laugh at the mention of Rose's only attempt at baking. Needless to say, the cookies couldn't be more deformed if she'd tried.
"Oh my God, those things couldn't really be edible. I think I still sent them with Alice because they were perfect for throwing at someone in frustration." She laughed at her own ribbing.
"Oh, no, they were delicious- shape notwithstanding- you did great with them."
"I'm glad I'm not the only one telling her. I don't think she believed me when I said it." Emmett winked at both girls before walking away to finish setting up the room the scene was taking part in.
Normally they would do the scene in the playroom, but due to the fact that Edward would get suspicious if they headed in that direction when he arrived, they decided to take the spanking bench and put it in the basement. Besides, with the number of people in the house they may not all fit into the playroom anyway.
After Bella was introduced to everyone and they'd enjoyed some relaxing conversation, Dommenic ushered them to the basement to get started.
"Since we have a couple of you who are new to the lifestyle, we are going to do just a light simple scene tonight," Domenic explained. He walked Jen over to the spanking bench and quickly tied her arms and legs so that she was kneeling and spread in front of the group.
Bella felt a bit uncomfortable with the fact that she was the only one unpaired in the group, that was until the doorbell rang reminding her that Edward had just arrived.
Emmett quickly stood to open the door for Edward. He snickered at seeing how his friend was dressed. He pretty much looked like he dressed himself with the clothes that he'd found on the floor of a dorm room. Emmett thought it was ironic that Isabella was dressed like a sex vixen and his friend looked like a bum.
"Wow, I never thought I'd see the day that Edward Cullen would look like he'd just got out of bed and picked up the first thing he found. You're not put together with the normal stick-in-your ass suit."
"Fuck you. If you're going to give me shit, I will just turn around and go home."
Emmett panicked that Alice would have his ass if he did anything to send Edward away before he spoke with Isabella. He was relieved that Isabella was in agreement with what they were doing.
"Don't go. I was just teasing you. Come on in; we are set up in the basement."
Edward followed Emmett into his basement, but what he saw was definitely not what he was expecting. There was a full-fledged play party going on. Domenic was using a soft suede flogger while he explained how using a soft flogger could enhance the pleasurable sting that was caused from the hit.
"WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS?!" Edward was beyond upset that they'd tricked him into coming to a party.
Emmett was behind him to stop him from rushing out of the house.
"Edward, please don't leave." The voice that spoke was enough to not only stop his need to retreat, but freeze him in place. She stood in front of him looking like a sexy vision. One he'd only seen in his dreams.
"You're here? You look..." he trailed off. There weren't words big enough to express how beautiful and amazing she looked.
Without looking at him, Bella asked, "Can we talk?"
***TCBS***
AN: I know this chapter is a little late, but I have a very good reason for that. I am proud to announce that I was very busy writing this whole time. I wrote an OS for Stand Up 4 Katalina (I lost my second mom to Cancer just this year so I fully support all research). I also have an OS for the Breath-Of- Twilight's Halloween countdown (you can find her in my fav authors), and I have an OS in Twilight Fanfiction Advocacy group's Halloween OS thing (Also in my fav Authors).
I have signed up to participate in NoNaWriMo this year. I will be working on a OF. It's a little plot bunny that bit me about 3 years ago and I haven't finished. So I am hoping to use November to finish it. But don't worry I will not abandon you guys. I will also work on the update for this story.
Story Rec's for this chapter:
The Academy of New Beginnings by LolaCullenx - Bella is sent to a therapeutic boarding school in Utah where she meets bad boy Edward. Sparks will fly, but can each overcome their past to move forward with their future? - This story is severely underappreciated, please go and show her some love.
Letters to Corporal Masen by solosintwilight - Writing to offer a bit of home to a soldier overseas, she discovers words can bind a friendship. Lonely in war torn Europe, he finds hope in letters from a stranger. What happens when the war is over? – I feel like I've traveled in time every time she updates this one.
Head over Feet by iambeagle - It's simple, really. A story about two best friends realizing they're head over feet in love. – This is a cute little fluffy story.
Well I hope these stories can keep you entertained until I return. Enjoy.