a/n Ooops! Just a little late. Unfortunately, RL dealt quite the hand to both me and my lovely beta the past couple of weeks. We have to thank Breath of Twilight for turning this baby around so quickly. She's amazing, folks, truly amazing. And I love her to death. To my support squad: How could I make it without you? I love you all.
I would be remiss if I failed to thank all of you, once again, for the lovely reviews and notes I've been getting. It truly surprises me every time I get a notice that someone has left a review or has favorited my little ramblings. So thank you all, and much love.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything Twilight related, except a few books and memorabilia. It all belongs to Stephanie Meyer. Darn her.
So, without further ado, on with the show.
EPOV
The past few months have just flown by. Nearly every spare minute we can manage is spent together. Although the hours are long at the hospital, the prospect of seeing my Bella keeps me going. The more we're together, the more I want to make her mine . . . forever. I never really thought I'd find a woman that could own me like Bella does. Others can see it in my eyes. Hell, I can see it in my eyes when I look in the mirror long enough. I've seen the same look in my father's eyes over the years, every single time he looks at Mom. She owns him, and likewise, he owns her.
We've had a rather eventful few months, too. We have some disagreements, but most of the time is just blissful, happy, and full of passionate nights spent mostly at her place. It's just not quite as comfortable to be at mine, with my sister in the next room, able to hear the moans, gasps and exclamations that inevitably accompany making love with Bella. And that's something I like to do . . . a lot. Bella's first introduction to my sister, and really the whole family, came at a barbeque my dad decided to have for the Fourth of July holiday weekend.
Dad decided that all of us were going to go up to the country house for the long weekend, and we were to bring our 'friends,' as he calls them. He knows that we are adults, and as such didn't ban us from sharing a room with our 'friends.' So, Emmett was bringing Rose, Alice was bringing Jasper, and, of course, I was bringing Bella. To say she was nervous would be vastly minimizing her feelings.
Bella tried every way she could think of to get out of going. I think she even tried to switch shifts with some of the guys at work. She made excuse after excuse, looked for ways of avoiding the trip, but, in the end, nothing worked. I was not about to go to the country house without her. So I countered her every excuse and solved every problem she could come up with. Eventually she just gave up. Thank God! It was wearing me to the bone.
The trip out was a bit tense, Bella worried about everything from her wardrobe to whether or not my family would accept her. I did my best to calm all her fears, but I could tell she still worried. When we finally arrived, and before we could mount the steps, Alice was already out the front door and barreling toward us. I was afraid that if her smile got any wider, her face would just split in half.
"Bella!" my sister called. "I'm so glad you're here! Jasper, look! She's here!" I looked up to see Jasper framed in the front doorway, smiling at Alice's antics.
"She is indeed," Jasper agreed, sauntering down to join us and wrapping an arm around Alice's waist. "Hey, Edward. How's it going? Gonna introduce us to the little lady?" Jasper fancies himself a southern gentleman, having grown up in Texas, and my sister fell for it, hook, line and sinker.
"Jasper, Alice, this is Isabella Marie Swan, better known as Bella. But then again, you already knew that," I laughed. "Bella, this is my sister, Alice, and her 'friend,' Jasper Whitlock. I'm sure you'd figured that out, as well." Bella laughed at my use of air quotes. It was shaky, forced and awkward, but it was still a laugh, and it gave me hope that she might be easing up a little.
That hope was wiped away the second I looked down into her eyes. As we stood, with my arm around Bella's waist, she looked up at me, and I could almost hear her thoughts pleading with me to get back in the car and floor it for home, from the look in her eyes. I gave her a little squeeze, and a look that I hoped was encouraging, and ushered us up the steps to the house.
Once inside, there were introductions all around. My bear of a brother scooped Bella up into a hug, swinging her around in a circle before placing her back on her feet. Bella's eyes were about the size of saucers, by then. Big, round, chocolate saucers. "Emmett! Put my girl down, you oaf," I scolded, as Rosalie smacked him on the back of the head. Rosalie takes a little getting used to, but she's really a good match for my brother. My brother is a very talented engineer and smart as a whip. However, he's about as subtle as a bull in a china shop. But, Rosalie holds her own with him, in every way, and keeps him under control. Mostly. You have to admire her for that.
Then there were the introductions Bella was most worried about. The ones I was least worried about. My mom and dad, Esme and Carlisle Cullen. I admit to growing up in a very privileged family. Dad was a well-known doctor and Mom ran a successful business of her own. But, more than that, they were really just down to earth people. They loved each other and their children, deeply. I never wondered whether I had a place in their lives. Sure, all of us had our moments, especially Emmett, during our teen years. But, we'd had good parents and had turned out okay because of it.
Mom and Dad greeted Bella with warmth. Dad took her outstretched hand in his, covered it with his other hand and welcomed Bella into his home. Mom, on the other hand, walked up to her and embraced her. I caught a deer-in-the-headlights look from Bella over Mom's shoulder, and smiled. Mom was just showing Bella, in her own way, that she was accepted, which I explained to Bella as we took our bags up to my bedroom.
After taking a little time to absorb everyone's welcome, and to calm the fuck down, Bella seemed ready to enjoy the family time. I could tell, though, by the way she looked at the bed, she was a little uneasy about the idea of any under the sheets action while in the house with my family. We solved that problem by moving the bed away from the wall a bit and promising to be quiet. There was no way I wanted to go the whole weekend without being able to feel her that way.
Over the course of the weekend, we played board games, swam in the pool, and just generally relaxed. Dad, Emmett, Jasper and I went down to the local paintball range and staged our own battle for a little male bonding time, while the girls went out for girl-time with a little pampering at the local spa. Something Bella had never experienced. By the time they got back, Bella looked much more relaxed and happy. I think she finally felt accepted and part of the group. Seeing her relaxed, enjoying time with my family, it was as if she was meant to be there, and it made my chest swell with the thought.
My folks had invited some friends over for the barbeque on the Fourth, and to accommodate the party, Mom had rented a party tent, chairs and tables, you know, all the stuff that you need for a party of about 50. Yeah, they're a little over the top, sometimes. She'd also had everything but what was actually going on the grill catered. Mom's a great cook, but I think she really wanted to spend the time with the family, not in the kitchen.
The party was a lot of fun, and the fireworks were great. Bella and I sat and talked quietly while watching them, knowing that we had to head home in the morning. Bella's eyes glowed in the light of the moon as she thanked me for bringing her here. She said that she'd never felt so accepted by anyone but her own family, and really enjoyed my sister and Rosalie. I smiled. I knew, I think I had always known, that this was the only woman for me, and to hear that she felt comfortable with my family just clinched the deal.
One more hurdle and I could begin to make my move. I planned on making this woman Mrs. Edward Cullen. Hopefully, more sooner than later. But, I still had to meet the chief. I needed his acceptance before I could broach the subject with my love. Talk about jitters. The man carries a gun.
Since we'd spent the holiday with my family, Bella checked schedules and managed to find a couple of days that we were off together a few weeks later, and we made the pilgrimage to Forks, to meet her father and some other family friends. Bella seemed more nervous for this trip than she had been when meeting my family. I eventually found out why . . . Not only was I going to be meeting her father, but also an ex-boyfriend. The son of her father's best friend. I guess the relationship ended okay, but the road to the end was a little rocky. She obviously had some issues with me meeting this Jake person, but I didn't care. She was mine now, and he was the past. No worries.
This was just an overnighter, but Bella had made it plain that her dad was more old-fashioned than my folks; and I'd be expected to sleep on the couch, not in her room. I figured I could do that for one night. I could sacrifice my comfort for his, just this one time, and told her not to worry, I'd be fine. Truth be told, I was disappointed, and more than a little nervous myself about being accepted by her father.
We left as early as possible to be able to spend most of the day with her dad. He'd just come in from fishing when we arrived, carrying a cooler with a nice string of fish. I complimented him on the size of the fish, hoping that the praise might be a help in getting into his good graces, but he just grunted and told us to get settled in while he got the fish cleaned. Bella told me not to take it personally, apparently, he wasn't a man of many words. Evidently, Billy and Jake would be coming over later that afternoon and we were going to have a 'fish fry.' What ever the fuck that was. I smiled and said, "Great!" hoping that the chief couldn't tell that I had absolutely no fucking idea what that was. I'm not big on fish, but I'd do anything to impress Bella's dad, and if eating the fish he caught and pretending to like it was what it took . . . well, then, bring it on.
I had a little time to spend with Chief Swan before his buddy arrived, and I intended to make the best of it. He'd turned on ESPN on the flat screen TV in the living room, so I joined him there for a little male bonding over sports. I'd catch him looking at me, sizing me up, when he didn't think I was looking. We chatted about the Mariners and the Seahawks and even debated about how we thought the teams would do in their next season. We ended up agreeing about the Seahawks, but agreeing to disagree about the Mariners, and left it at that. Finally, he turned to me, face to face, and said, "I know Bella has strong feelings for you, and I don't want to see her hurt. You seem like a nice enough guy, but I warn you . . ."
It was a perfect opportunity to tell him about my plans, so I jumped right in, interrupting him and made my intentions clear. He seemed a little more relaxed with me after that which pleased and relieved me, but only a little. I could tell I had a long way to go before I had the Chief completely won over.
Billy and Jake pulled up in Jake's VW Rabbit around four that afternoon. Bella hadn't told me much about them, and I was a little surprised to see the huge Native American that was Jake. Now, I'm not short my any means, but this guy even towered over me. He was all muscle covered with brown skin, with a head full long black hair pulled back in a ponytail and a bright white smile. If I weren't so sure of Bella's affections, this guy would intimidate the hell out of me. I could see why Bella might have been interested in him. Even though Bella had told me about this Jake fella, and that she was completely over their relationship, I was gonna watch this guy like a hawk. His father, Billy, was confined to a wheelchair. Jake pulled it out of the back of the car, set it up, then reached in and grabbed Billy, plopping him into the chair without seeming to even strain in the slightest. Billy would have been a big man himself, had he not been in a wheelchair. I could see that he was probably much like Jake when he was younger. You had to respect both of them. Billy's demeanor demanded it, and Jake's actions warranted it.
Bella's dad introduced me to both men. They had already heard of me, of course, since Bella had told her father about me. She said that he and Billy gossiped like little, old ladies, so she knew that Billy and Jake would know about me the second she mentioned my coming with her to visit her dad. I was a little leery about what their reaction to me would be, but it seemed that both of them were okay with the fact that Bella was dating someone else. Whew!
Bella had been busy getting the 'fish fry' ready and had missed their arrival, but once they were in the house, Jake strode over to give her a hug. Bella seemed happy to see him, but wriggled out of his embrace quickly, obviously feeling a little awkward, and ran over to hug Billy around the neck.
Dinner was relaxed, and conversation was comfortable. I learned more about Bella's childhood, or maybe I should say teen-hood, because she'd come to live with her father during high school. Her mother had remarried and wanted to travel. Bella made the decision herself to come live with her father rather than try to finish high school 'on the run', so to speak. Up until that point, Bella had only spent summers with her dad here, and had grown up knowing Billy and Jake. Jake was really the only kid she saw when she was visiting during the summer. It did seem kind of natural that they would get together after she moved here. I guess.
After dinner we all went out front and had a couple of beers, just visiting until Billy and Jake needed to go home. All in all, I think it was a good visit. For all concerned.
I slept on the couch that night, lumpy and uncomfortable as it was. I woke up when Charlie, yeah, he'd finally told me to call him that, came down to head out for work. I sat at the kitchen table and had a cup of coffee with him. He told me that he approved of my plan, and for me to get on with it. I shook his hand, with a smile on my face, as he went out the door. Before he got in the cruiser to leave, he turned around and said, "You take care of my baby girl. Tell her I love her, and I'll call her later." I assured him I would and waved as he drove off.
Bella dragged herself downstairs a couple of hours later, hauling her bag along with her. I'd heard her shuffling around up there, so I'd started on getting breakfast ready. She always loved it when I fixed breakfast for her. She walked into the kitchen smiling and breathing deeply, "Mmmmm. Sure smells good," she said as I slid a coffee cup into her hand and kissed her forehead.
"Eat up. We need to get on the road." I plated the omelet, plopped a couple slices of bacon on the plate along with a couple of pieces of toast, and set it on the table for her. I served myself what was left, brought it to the table and sat down with my coffee cup.
We got the kitchen straightened around and cleaned up and headed for home. But not before I saw a little wistfulness on Bella's face. She sighed as we locked the door behind us and shot me a weak smile when I closed her car door.
The ride home was quiet, but peaceful, not the tense silence and nerves we'd had on the way up. Finally, Bella said, "They liked you." That said it all.
"I liked them, too."
We spent the rest of the summer settling back into our regular routine. We still spend most of our nights together at Bella's. She still isn't comfortable having my sister around when we are in my bedroom, enjoying each other's bodies. She can't feel relaxed enough to enjoy herself fully. So, her place works better. I don't care. I just want to be where ever she is.
e/n So it seems that the 'Meet the Parents' part went well. Wonder what our little Edward has up his sleeve. He says he has a plan. Wonder what it is.
I have to squee for just a minute here. One of my bestest besties just won second place in the Camp Twilight One Shot Contest for Readers' Choice. The one and only RobotMoose. Here, go read her story. You'll find it at fanfiction (dot) net/s/6144845/1/You_Cant_Go_Back. Trust me, you'll love it. She's also started posting another multichapter fic that you'll want to check out, too. The Days When the Rains Came.
Again, I'm sorry this was a little late, but RL just can't be helped, sometimes. I'm going to shoot for next Monday, since I seem to be in a writing mood just now. LOL We'll see. If not, see you in two weeks? Meantime, could ya let me know you were here? Even a frown lets me know. Thanks, lovelies!