Title: Sinful Thoughts
Author: Readingmama/Vampiremama
Beta: AcrossTheSkyInStars, Who is the wind beneath my wings.
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or any of its characters. No copyright infringement is intended.

Continuity: AH/AU
Rating: M cause you never know when a lemon writes itself.

A/N- Here it is. The chapter a lot of you have been waiting for. **IMPORTANT AN BELOW

Chapter 23

BPOV

Edward and I were sick of hiding. With Alice knowing, and our parents in the loop, we decided to test the waters and branch out. The next person to be notified was Jasper. We had Alice break it to him and he insisted to have seen it coming. Jasper's claim of clairvoyance got more amusing with every declaration.

Emmett and Rose's reactions were more mixed. I don't think they believed us at first, and then when they did, they were 'grossed' out. Emmett was a little taken aback by us dating while Rose was more concerned that it seemed to be pulling our family apart. I understood her point but couldn't agree. Renee's hate did that. It was something that we were going to have to agree to disagree on. I didn't foresee our friendship ending over it.

We didn't feel the need to broadcast it to everyone in Chicago but we did decide to tell Riley and Vicky. We invited them over for dinner and a movie, hoping that they would be okay with it.

"Edward, did you pick up the chips?" I called out from the bedroom. I was changing and had put him in charge of the snacks.

"Yes I did, Sweetpea," he replied, suddenly standing in the doorway. His eyes raked over me as I slid on my jeans.

I smiled at him and took a moment to appreciate him back. The multiple times growing up when I was angry at him for getting the 'good genes,' all of a sudden seemed to work in my favor. I knew I may be biased but I believed that the love of my life was truly the most beautiful man in the world.

All the things we had endured to get us to this point had been worth it, even losing our mother. There would never be anyone else for me. I hoped the same was true for him. The glimmer in his eyes told me it was.

When Riley and Vicky arrived, Edward and I were full of nervous energy. We wanted our new friends to accept us as we were, adopted siblings who fell in love. It wasn't as if we planned it, we even tried to deny it, but there was no doubt in my mind that we were soul mates, and you just can't fight that.

We had a nice dinner together, chatting about our everyday lives. They had convinced their parents to agree to them living together next year. Vicky was ecstatic to be able to give up the dorm room and use that extra money to save for a car. Riley had joked about promising to propose in the next year in order to get them to agree but I had a feeling that he was more serious than he let on.

Vicky and I took the plates into the kitchen and packed up the leftovers. I knew our time was coming up and we would be telling them any moment. I felt my hands shake as I scraped my plate into the garbage.

"What's wrong Bella?" Vicky asked, "You've been skittish all night."

"Well, it's just….Edward and I have something to tell you guys but I don't want you to look at us differently because of it. We really value your friendship and we want to be honest with you."

"Whatever it is Bella, it won't change our friendship. You guys are like our best friends, besides, who else would we borrow sugar from? Old man Parson next door creeps me out," Vicky said trying to joke while tearing up. We hugged and then laughed at how we were acting like silly emotional women.

"So you know how we said that Edward and my families were close?"

"Yeah?"

"Well, they aren't close. They are the same. Edward is my adopted brother." I watched her face for any sign of shock but she kept it clear.

"How old was he when your parents adopted him?"

"He was a baby," I cringed.

"So why didn't you guys just tell us?"

"There are so many stigmas attached to us dating. We just wanted to start fresh when we came here. See if we could make it in the normal world."

"Bella, I come from Kansas, I'm pretty sure you can marry your cousin there," she said laughing, "You guys have no blood relation, so that is totally okay."

I smiled and let out a breath. Vicky had taken it surprisingly well. I just hoped that Riley would as well. We walked out into the living room and found the boys playing video games.

"So Riley, Bella just told me that Edward is her adopted brother," Vicky blurted. I blanched at our secret coming out so casually.

"Weird," Riley replied, concentrating solely on the soldier with the large gun on the TV screen.

Edward faltered and Riley killed him off but that was the extent it was acknowledged. We fell into easy conversation once the boys finished their game. The mood lightened and I knew that nothing would change in our friendship. We told them briefly about our parents getting a divorce but didn't go into details of why. I'm not sure we could fully answer that question ourselves.

We said goodnight shortly after midnight, showing our guests out the door. Edward pulled me into his arms and I relaxed in his embrace. His hugs always made me feel better. No matter what we were facing or how long the day had been, Edward's arms were my sanctuary. Warm and strong and mine alone.

He led me into the bedroom and pulled my shirt off over my head. Unhooking my bra, he turned me around and slowly persuaded me to lie down on my stomach. As soon as my head hit the pillow, the energy rushed out of my body and I lay there like a lump on a log. Soon I felt Edward's hands caressing and massaging my back. He had put some sort of lotion or oil on his hands and they were moving expertly across me. The tension and knots melted away as his fingers gently kneaded my body.

When I was almost asleep, I felt him lean over and kiss my cheek lightly. I felt the bed move as he got up and went to wash his hands. I kicked off my pants and crawled under the blanket while he was gone.

I felt the bed dip right before his warm body pressed up against mine. I snuggled myself into his arms and fell asleep instantly.

The morning and my sleep were interrupted by the phone ringing. I groaned and rolled over, which I thought was international code for 'you get it,' but apparently Edward never got that memo because when he didn't move, I had to get up to answer it.

"Hello."

"Hey Bells, how are you?" Charlie asked.

"I'm okay dad, how are you?" I inquired sincerely. I knew the divorce proceedings had been taking a lot out of him.

"I'm okay kid. Things are a bit tough right now. I never knew how much lawyers cost."

"I'm sorry dad," I said, apologizing for everything.

"I know," he answered. "Hey listen, I just needed you guys to know that money is a little tight right now and so I'm not going to be able to help you out with your rent after next month. Your education funds are still okay and so school shouldn't be a problem but you are going to have to start paying for your own apartment."

I could hear the strain in his voice and it killed him to not be able to provide for his family like he wanted to. It would be tough but Edward and I could get jobs over the summer and it would be manageable.

"It's okay dad. We will figure something out," I said hoping to alleviate some of his guilt.

"Thanks kiddo. Say hi to your broth…to Edward for me," he stammered.

"Sure. Talk to you soon," I replied.

"Bye."

It was another minor bump in the road for us but I knew that we would be able to handle it. It's not like it was uncommon for students to pay their own rent or tuition. It should be easy for the two of us to share the costs.

EPOV

Whoever said that massages lead to sex were liars. Massages lead to tired girlfriends who fall asleep. I marked that down as one seduction technique to never try again. I had laid there in bed for an hour after she fell asleep, willing my excitement to go down. After touching her for thirty minutes, I was hoping for a little bit of reciprocation, but it was not meant to be.

In the morning, Charlie had called and told us that we had to start paying our own rent. I was hoping for a fun summer with Bella, relaxing and sightseeing, but I knew better than to feel disappointed. Charlie had lost a lot because of my and Bella's relationship and the least we could do was to get some part time jobs.

So on top of cramming for exams, we were job hunting.

By the time the day rolled around that we were supposed to go to Carlisle's for dinner, I was feeling like cancelling.

"We can't Edward; you've already put this off for months."

"I know," I replied.

While Bella had practically gone out the next day and found a job at a bookstore, I was having a much harder time finding a job for the summer. It was stressing me out, but I had put out a few new resumes that day and was hoping for the best.

When Bella emerged ready to go to dinner, she took my breath away. Dressed in a simple green dress, she had her hair pulled to the side and it hung down over her shoulder. She was stunning and she really had no clue.

"You're beautiful," I said, trying to convey the honesty I felt. Her blush told me that I had.

"Are you ready to go?" she asked.

"If I must."

"You must."

Arriving at Carlisle's, I was again taken aback by the size of his home. I held the door for Bella as she stepped out of the car and then took her arm in mine as we headed to the mansion.

Something had me on edge and it felt like forever from the time we rang the doorbell to the time the door opened. I suppose that it would take a good, long while to walk from one end of the house to the other to get the door.

We were shown into the sitting room that we had been in before. Carlisle looked as nervous as I felt and it only got me more concerned. Bella squeezed my hand and it helped relax me a little.

Esme walked into the room then with small, frantic steps and her eyes shot up when she realized that we were there.

"Oh, you're here. I….it's nice to see you again." Her demeanor had done a one eighty since the last time we had seen her. Her calculating looks and calmness was stripped away to reveal an unsure core. Although I did see her eye, Bella and my entwined hands and I could have swore I saw her brow furrow.

"Thank you for having us," Bella replied. She was the only one in the room that seemed unaffected by the atmosphere.

"Can I get you something to drink?" Carlisle asked.

Bella and I decided on Cokes and then we were escorted to the dining room. The dinner was already on the table by the time we got there. Bella sat beside me and Carlisle and Esme sat across from us.

"I know you are probably wondering why we asked you here," Esme started.

"Well yes. I mean I appreciate the offer but Carlisle seemed rather insistent about having us," I replied.

"Maybe it would be easier if I told you a bit about us," Esme continued, "Carlisle and I have been together since we were very young. Things were different back in those days and we were not always as careful as we should have been. When I was seventeen I had a baby and had to give him up for adoption."

Bella gasped and I sat reeling. I looked at Carlisle and noticed several similar features to mine. Esme shared the same strange hair color of mine but it couldn't be.

"All I was told was that they named him Edward, but when I was in the hospital, I heard the caseworker talking to the adopting mother and he called her Mrs. Swan. Edward, I think you are my son."

My blood was pounding so hard I found it hard to hear. It felt like I was underwater and everything was coming through muffled. Bella placed her hand on my leg and I could feel it shaking. She was shocked and yet her touch still calmed me.

"Esme…Esmeralda Platt?" I asked, knowing that her answer had the possibility to change my world.

"It's true," Carlisle said as Esme broke out in tears. She stood up and came running around the table and I met her with open arms. My mother. I had found my parents.

Unable to eat, we retired back to the sitting room. Esme was unable to keep her eyes off me and Carlisle could only be described as beaming.

"What happened? Why did you give me up?" I asked the question that had plagued me since I found out I was adopted. I grabbed Bella's hand in preparation of her answer.

"Before I answer that, can I ask you a question?"

"Sure," I said hesitantly.

"Were you two not raised as siblings?"

"Yes," I said curtly. She had no right to judge, she gave me up. Esme didn't know me.

"Oh Edward, I am so sorry. I thought I was doing right by you by giving you up, but what kind of family must you come from that it's okay to date your sister?"

"Wait a second," I said angrily, "I love Bella and my parents were wonderful growing up. You have no right. We are leaving." I would not stand for her attacking me and my choices; I had had enough of that from my real parents.

"Please don't go," Carlisle said, panicked. "Esme, how could you. Believe me Edward; we know a thing or two about forbidden love." Carlisle looked at his wife and she bowed her head in shame.

"I'm sorry," she said simply. "He is right. Please sit down and I'll explain everything, okay?"

I looked over at Bella and she nodded at me, telling me that it was my choice. I sat back down on the couch and she followed.

"Carlisle and I were very young when we started dating, as I told you. His parents were very wealthy and mine were, well…mine were not. They didn't want him seeing me, and when we became pregnant, they sent him away before he could find out. I was too young to take care of you so I offered you up for adoption. Carlisle found out about you just days before I gave birth, and by the time he came back, you had already been given to your new home.

"We married a few years after that, amid protests from Carlisle's parents, but we were in love so we didn't care. I wanted so much to be able to keep you, but I knew that it would have been selfish. I had nothing to offer you then. I'm so sorry."

"Don't be. I had a happy life. If you hadn't, I might have never met Bella."

"I know this is a lot to take in, but we were hoping that you would let us be a part of your life. However you want us to be," she added on.

"Wait," I said suddenly, "so I have a sister?"

"Yes, you do," Carlisle answered.

I started shaking, there were so many emotions boiling up in me. Bella looked at me with wide eyes, trying to decipher my feelings. I couldn't help her out because I didn't understand them yet.

"Is she here?" I asked.

"No, she is at a friend's house. We wanted to wait to tell her, after we were sure."

The rest of the night went in a blur. We asked each other questions about our pasts and talked a bit about our future. I knew immediately that I wanted these people in my life. They were good people. We made plans to meet again for dinner in a week.

In the car ride home, Bella was quiet, allowing me to soak in the evening. I was startled when all of a sudden she nearly shouted.

"Holy shit!"

"What?"

"Alice is your cousin!" she stated. "That totally explains the shopping fetish."

We burst out laughing as her comment broke the ice. I had a lot to take in, parents, a sister, and a cousin.

E/N-There will be an EsmePOV outtake posting in a few days, please add me on author alert to make sure you get it. It is a closer look into her past.

I just wanted to remind you guys to come check out Sinful Thoughts on the Twilighted forums. Come and let me know what you think, you can even throw around some ideas of what is coming next. Cat, I'm talking to you! : )

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