A/N: So, I think I cut back on the "Fucks". Not much, but there may be a slight decrease in the usage of that word. Haha. A huge thanks to everyone who's reviews thus far. You guys are great. Keep them coming! They make me write faster!

Chapter Three: Welcome to Forks

EPOV

"You haven't change a bit, you know. Well, aside from the fact that you're all grown up now, but you know what I mean." I hated small talk. I thought that if I just didn't answer her, she'd get the hint and shut the fuck up, but I was having no such luck. She just kept droning on and on and on about the most inane things. "We rearranged the room you're going to be staying in, but if you don't like it, you're free to arrange it however you'd like."

"Yeah, thanks."

"I also took the liberty of getting you some new bed linens. You still like blue, don't you?"

"You didn't have to do that. I brought my shit from home."

"Stuff."

"I'm sorry?"

"Your stuff from home. I don't tolerate cursing under my roof. It's not becoming of a young man such as yourself. That's just one of my many rules."

"Whatever," I responded in a huff, crossing my arms over my chest. I could already see I was going to have issues with her.

"I know you're not happy about this arrangement, Edward, but I would hope you'd look at it as a learning experience."

"And what exactly am I supposed to be learning from this, grandma?" I sneered. "That it's okay to dump your kid when they become too much to deal with? Yeah, okay, lesson learned. Can I go back to Chicago now?" Fuck. I'd promised myself I wasn't going to do this. I chanced a glance in her direction and scowled at the look of pity on her face. "Don't you dare look at me like that," I warned.

"I'm not looking at you like anything, Edward. But you, my love, have a lot to learn."

"Whatever," I responded again. I was tired of fucking talking. I turned my head to look out the window, taking in the ridiculously overgrown scenery. A light drizzle had started, coating the road. It wasn't long though until it turned into a full rain shower.

"Ah," she sighed softly. "I love a good rain. Always so cleansing." I could feel her eyes on me. "Maybe it's a sign. A chance for a new start, with a clean slate."

"Yeah, or maybe it's just an overabundance of water vapor in the air. But whatever. Your way works too," I responded with a roll of my eyes. I thought that maybe I'd offended her when she shut her fucking trap for three seconds, but of course, I could never be lucky enough for that.

"I like a good sense of humor. You've got that sarcastic way about you. That'll definitely make things interesting," she said as she turned her rickety ass old truck into the driveway of what I guessed was her house. "Well," she said with a smile as she threw the piece of shit into park. "Here we are. Home sweet home. Welcome to Forks, Edward."

Fucking Forks.

----

"So what do you think?" She asked, holding her hands out like she was presenting me with the fucking Taj Mahal or some bullshit.

"Yeah, I guess it's not bad," I said after giving the room an appraising look. It was big, which was good. And it had an adjoining bathroom which was even better. At least I didn't have to share with her crusty old ass. I'd hate to find Polygrip smeared all over the counter or some shit.

"I'll leave you to unpack. If you need anything, just give a yell. And I'll expect you downstairs around four to help with dinner. I usually eat at six, but I figured with the time difference, four o'clock would be just fine."

"Whatever," I responded with a shrug.

"Alright then. Well, like I said, if you need anything, just holler."

I watched her retreating form with a sigh before I sank down onto the bed. What the fuck had Carlisle been thinking in sending me here? I didn't know this woman and she sure as shit didn't know me. How the hell was I supposed to seriously live with her? Yet another half assed plan not thoroughly thought out by the Good Doctor. Bastard.

It took me nearly an hour and a half to unpack the shit I'd brought with me. I had to give Ruby credit in at least one aspect; she'd promised to leave me alone to unpack and she hadn't bugged me since. I was pretty grateful for that. If I had to endure any more of her fucking small talk, I was pretty sure I'd chuck myself out the window. I was almost positive that I wouldn't be able to escape the petty conversation during dinner, but at least there I could shove enough food in my mouth that I wouldn't have to bother answering. And it wasn't like dinner had to be a lengthy affair. She would only be able to draw it out so long before I claimed exhaustion and escaped back to what was now my room; what would become my sanctuary in this depressing little town.

I checked the time against the old clock that sat atop the dresser. Three fifty six. She'd told me to be downstairs to help with dinner at four. Yeah, right. Edward Cullen in the kitchen? Right. Not going to fucking happen.

Deciding that a shower would postpone the torture for a little while longer, I grabbed a change of clothes from the newly stocked dresser and the towel I'd draped over the back of the desk chair before heading into the adjoining bathroom. I was never one for long, drawn out showers (unless extra curricular activities were necessary), but that shit was heaven against my aching bones. I hadn't realized just how stiff I was until I stepped under the spray of hot water. I could feel every bit of tension leaving my body as I rested my forehead against the wall.

I hadn't meant to drag it out. Honestly. And when I realized I'd been in the shower for nearly a half an hour, I almost felt bad for keeping Ruby waiting. Almost. And that shit went right out the window when I trudged downstairs and found that old kook sitting at the dining room table, her plate nearly empty.

"You don't help, you don't eat."

"What?"

"I told you to be down here at four to help with dinner. You didn't help me make it, so why should I share?"

"Are you kidding me?"

"Afraid not, sweetheart. It's a rule."

"Don't you think you can break the rule for one fucking night? I lost track of time and then I took a shower so I didn't come down here smelling like ass."

"How considerate," she responded dryly. "Still doesn't change the facts though, sweetheart. We have rules for a reason. And what did I tell you about cursing?"

"Whatever," I responded angrily. "I wasn't hungry anyway," I growled. I stalked angrily from the room, stomping as loud as possible on my way up the stairs. I slammed the door with more force than necessary and sank down onto the bed.

Carlisle was getting more than a kick to the balls the next time I saw him. That bitch was getting castrated.

BPOV

Later That Evening

"Miss Ruby?" I called softly, pushing the front door open.

"In here sweetheart. Come on in!"

I stepped into the foyer of the large house, closing the door gently behind me. I wasn't sure if her grandson was sleeping and the last thing I wanted to do was wake him. While it wasn't a major time change, I knew it was enough to completely throw a person's body off. I tiptoed quietly down the hallway into the family room, where I found Miss Ruby seated in her favorite chair, her old radio playing quietly.

"How did it go today?"

"Things will definitely be interesting for awhile. Thank you again for letting me borrow your truck, sweetheart."

"It's not a problem," I assured her as I sank down onto the plush couch. "Did you have any trouble out of it?"

"Of course not, child. That thing's as sturdy as a tank."

"I think it moves as slow as one too," I sighed. One of the other things I liked about Miss Ruby, aside from the fact that rarely anything ruffled her feathers, was that she was completely content just being. It was nothing for her to turn a radio station on and just relax. Her home was usually the place I retreated to after a particularly trying day at school.

I had just settled back against the cushions, allowing myself to become lost in the soft jazz number playing when a loud thump from overhead startled me. "What was that?"

"Edward."

"Should… somebody go check on him?"

"Of course not, dear. He's been doing it all evening. He thinks he's irritating me."

"And is he?"

"Come now, Bella. I think you know it takes a little more than a few well placed floor stomps to irritate me."

"That's true," I conceded with a nod. "But why would he be trying to purposefully irritate you?"

"He's angry with me, I suppose. He'll get over it soon enough."

I didn't know much about her other grandson, save for the bits and pieces of information I'd gathered from Emmett, but he seemed pretty ungrateful to me, and I hadn't even met him. I thought Miss Ruby was doing an incredibly generous thing by taking him in, especially given her age. But as I listened to him upstairs, stomping around on the floor like an overgrown child, I couldn't help but feel concerned for her. Perhaps her family had been correct in their assessment of the entire situation. Maybe Miss Ruby wasn't the answer to whatever problem this boy had.

"He sure is making a lot of noise, isn't he?"

She shrugged, as if she hadn't noticed. "He'll understand one day," she responded with a softly, though I got the distinct impression that rather than answering me, she was merely thinking aloud.

EPOV

"Crazy old bitch," I murmured angrily as I paced the length of the bedroom, making sure to stomp loudly. That shit had always irritated Carlisle, but the fact that she hadn't come upstairs to demand I stop was irritating me. I sank down onto the bed with a huff. I wanted to call Carlisle. I wanted to yell and scream at him for sending me to this fucked up old broad's house, but I wouldn't give him the satisfaction. He'd eat that shit up, knowing how goddamned miserable I was here already.

I flopped back against the pillows, crossing my arms over my chest as my stomach growled loudly. I was pretty positive that I would be able to go downstairs and convince the old bitch to let me at least fix a bowl of cereal. I mean, I had charmed the pants off (literally) of more women than I could count. I could be pretty charming when I wanted to be, but I wouldn't give her the fucking satisfaction either.

Feeling even more irritated, I climbed off the bed and yanked the ugly blue sheets from the mattress, balling them up before throwing them in the corner. I had put them on the bed only because she'd spent her own money on them and I was sure that social security or whatever didn't have such a great payout, but fuck that shit.

Fuck you and your sheets, Grandma, I thought bitterly before stomping over to the closet. I yanked the door open, grabbing my shit from home before throwing it on the bed. I didn't bother tucking the sheets in. I wasn't concerned with that shit. I just wanted to make sure I wouldn't freeze to death in the middle of the night.

I flopped back down onto the bed, pulling the pillow over my face. I could never be lucky enough to actually suffocate under the pillow; just like I hadn't been lucky enough to crash my car hard enough, or drink enough alcohol to poison my blood. It wasn't for lack of trying though, goddamn it. I tried.

With a groan, I rolled over, hoping that the mattress would stifle the angry growls of my stomach as I closed my eyes. It was the first time in awhile, I realized, that I'd have to try and fall asleep without the help of either copious amounts of alcohol or various narcotics (both legal and illegal).

I thought it would be difficult to succumb to sleep, but it wasn't long before my eyelids grew heavy and I drifted off.

RuPOV

I pushed the door to the bedroom open, unable to stop the smile at the soft snores emitting from the overgrown child that was sprawled out on the bed. His lanky body covered the majority of the mattress, his comforter pooled on the floor at the foot of the bed. As quietly as possible, I crossed the floor to the crumpled heap before I picked it up, covering him carefully.

I laughed quietly to myself when I spotted the bed sheets I'd bought him, balled up and tossed in the corner. I thought about at the very least folding them up so that they didn't wrinkle, but then he'd know I'd been in his room. I wasn't sure, but I figured he wouldn't take too kindly to his old grandmother creeping into his room in the middle of the night to tidy up, so I left them as they were.

In sleep, he reminded me so much of the little boy that had stolen my heart from the moment he was born. He looked almost peaceful, that hateful scowl absent from his face. I reached out tentatively, brushing his unruly hair back from his face. My heart broke as he leaned into the touch, craving it even in his sleep.

"You'll understand someday, sweetheart," I whispered quietly as I turned to leave him. I paused once more at the doorway when I heard his quiet sigh, afraid I'd woken him. He snuggled deeper into his blanket, his eyes still closed as he slept on. Confidant that I had not woken him, I sighed with relief. "Sleep well, my darling."

A/N: Haha. So I originally planned on just doing EPOV/BPOV because I generally hate when people are writing a story using ninety million POVs. But Ruby is just too fierce to not include periodically, so I tossed a bit of her in at the end to show she's not quite as much of a hardass as she seems during EPOV.

As much as I love Sleepy!Edward, I love reviews even more, so dazzle me.