A/N: I do not own Twilight.

16 reviews on the last chapter- we beat my expectations by one! YAY! Thanks everyone. A repeat performance would be nice.

Chapter 11

Bella

"Oh God oh God oh God…" I chanted to myself, "You can do this Bella."

I'd gone through this stupid ritual once before and I did not relish the idea of doing it again. I smoothed down my skirt and stepped forward slowly pressing my finger onto Edward's doorbell.

What was I supposed to say to them?

"Hi I'm the girl who your precious son loves and by the way I'm married… but don't tell him that."

Yes it was 'meet the parents day'.

Since the day Edward and I had expressed our love we had been almost inseparable. I'd met up with him at almost all of my lunch breaks and as many times as possible in the evening's without Mike getting suspicious.

It was now the following Sunday and I thought back to our conversation about today.

"Are you free on Sunday?" I asked as we sat in his living room munching on popcorn ready to watch a movie, "We could do something? I don't mind what." I knew Mike was out at a baseball game all day.

"Um I think so. Can I come round to yours? I really want to see your apartment."

"Sorry, it's still being refurbished. It's really not ready for guests." He looked disheartened. I hope he was buying the excuse I made up.

"Oh wait sorry. I'm busy on Sunday," he suddenly said, "my parents and sister are coming round for lunch."

"Oh okay," I tried to hide the disappointment from my face, "another time."

"Well I mean," he looked unsure, "you could always come and meet them? If you want."

"Meet them? Don't you think it's a bit soon?"

"Bella? Do you love me?"

I knew where this was going, "yes."

"Good, then come and meet my family. Please. For me." He leaned into me.

"Okay," I agreed reluctantly as I couldn't resist his charm and he pressed his lips against mine.

"Great. They'll love you."

So now it was Sunday: the day of rest.

Not for me.

For me it was the day of 'be scared shitless and lie through my teeth.' Great. I was not looking forward to having to compulsively lie. I knew that I could as I'd been getting so good at it over the past weeks but it didn't mean I wanted to.

What if they could see through me?

What if they realised I was a liar even if Edward didn't?

What if I made a mistake and they called me out on it?

I didn't have time to keep worrying as the door swung open.

"Bella," Edward greeted me with a warm smile before leaning forward to kiss me quickly on the lips, "you look nice."

He looked down at my attire. I had tried to appear as conservative as possible but not too old fashioned. I was wearing a just above the knee flowy white skirt and my favourite gold gladiator sandals.

"Thanks, so do you." I gazed over his reasonably smart shirt and trousers. He even had a thin tie hanging loosely around his neck.

He led me into his living room with his hand on the small of my back. As I came in I noticed three people sitting down. One, a gorgeous young girl with long blonde hair who I assumed to be his sister along with a man and women, both as attractive, who I guessed were his parents. It wasn't surprising that Edward's family were some of the best looking people I'd ever seen. I paled in comparison.

They all stood up as I came in as his sister scrutinised me with her eyes. "Mom, Dad, Rosalie, this is Bella," he gestured to me "Bella these are my parents, Carlisle and Esme, and my sister Rosalie."

They all smiled at me while Rosalie seemed more apprehensive.

"Hi," I smiled sheepishly.

"It's lovely to meet you Bella," said Esme sweetly while coming over to give me a gentle hug. She reminded me of a typical housewife… I could imagine her baking cookies with a little flowery apron on, "Edward hasn't stopped talking about you since we arrived."

I felt the blush rising in my cheeks, "oh?" I questioned.

"No," Carlisle interjected, "all we've heard is Bella this, Bella that." He was dressed smartly in a suit and appeared relatively friendly.

"I hope he was saying good things?"

"Of course," replied Esme looking me over and seeming pleased with my appearance.

"Everyone take a seat," said Edward as he went to get some drinks.

"So how long have you and Edward known each other?" asked Rosalie with a hint of hostility in her voice.

"Oh not long," I replied, "I met him about three or four weeks ago when my friend started a fire."

"Oh I see," Rosalie replied looking suspicious. I couldn't be that obvious could I?

Edward brought our drinks over and a polite conversation started while Carlisle told me about his job as a doctor and I talked about my work. We were now talking about the refurbishments happening on Carlisle and Esme's house.

"Oh wow I always wanted a pool," I said after hearing about the new indoor pool they were getting. Jealous much?

"Well I love swimming and it's going to look fantastic. I hope." said Esme smiling, "you and Edward can come and see it when it's done and maybe have a swim."

"That would be great," I grinned loving how accepted I was feeling already.

"So is the building work nearly done on your house mom?" asked Edward as he gently tickled my arm with his fingers.

"Oh yes, they finished last week. I'm trying to catch up on sleep but your Dad over here," she nudged Carlisle, "won't stop snoring."

"Oh yeah I have the same problem with Mike," I blurted out.

They all froze.

Edward stopped tickling.

SHIT.

"Mike?" questioned Edward.

"My, um, cousin," he looked bemused, "when we… er… have sleepovers."

Have sleepovers? What was I? Twelve?

"Aren't you a little old to be having sleepovers?" interjected Rosalie.

"Yes um," I spoke more quietly "I really need to stop having them." I sank down into my chair praying the conversation would change.

"So how's that food coming along Edward?" asked Esme unsurely.

"Um," his penetrating eyes were still on me and I hoped my face didn't give too much away, "it's pretty much done. Everybody can come to the table," he replied never taking his eyes off me.

I scuttled over to the table trying as hard as I could not to seem guilty. It was very awkward to start with but over time the conversation started up again, much to my relief. After dinner Esme pulled me over to one side to 'chat with me'.

Yep. I was screwed.

We were sitting next to each other on one of the sofas in the corner.

"I can see how much Edward cares for you," she began with a serious expression on her face, "I always worried that he'd never find a good decent girl."

Me? Decent? I don't think you'd call someone who cheated on their husband and strung nice guys along decent.

Oh God she knew.

Suddenly her features miraculously transformed into a grin, "that is why I'm so happy he's found you," I was so overcome with relief, "I thought he'd be alone forever."

"Really?" how could she think that Edward would be alone forever? He's the perfect man.

"Well I mean we've never met any of his past girlfriends and he is twenty six years old," she started "And I'm always hearing from Rosalie about all these random girls he picks up in clubs and I'm glad he's changed. I think you've changed him."

Girls Edward picks up in clubs? I'd always assumed Edward to be a total gentlemen but I realised that he never did answer the question about how many women he'd been with. Maybe there were things about him that I didn't know either.

"Oh well that's great. I'm glad he seems happy with me."

"Oh he does," she took my hands in hers "thank you so much Bella." She gazed at me as if I was the most glorious person in the world.

I felt elated that I'd made Edward so happy. If Esme could detect these changes in her son then she couldn't be wrong. However more than happiness I felt immense guilt. These people had welcomed me into their family and been so sweet to me. They'd accepted me not knowing that I was just a lying cheat.

The rest of the evening passed smoothly, however I didn't fail to notice the calculating looks Rosalie was giving me. Maybe she just wasn't a 'people person'.

"Or maybe she knows," the white angel said.

God I hope not. It was getting late so I said that I had to go and everyone else followed suit. Carlisle and Esme both hugged Edward before coming over to me to say goodbye.

"It was lovely to meet you Bella," said Esme hugging me and giving me a kiss on the cheek.

"You too." I didn't fail to notice that Rosalie and Edward seemed to be having a serious conversation in the corner and that Rosalie kept glancing at me every now and then.

Shit, shit, shit.

I breathed in deeply.

"… again some time," finished Carlisle. Oh crap I wasn't listening.

"Yes that would be great," I replied hoping he said what I thought he said.

He leaned in to give me a hug and they both left. Rosalie then walked over to me looking very stern. This wasn't looking good. My heart felt like it was going to jump out of my rib cage.

"Good bye Bella," she said sternly and then glanced back at Edward quickly before returning her attention to me. "Hope to see you soon," she finished through gritted teeth before walking out the door flicking her blonde hair back as she went.

Just me and Edward. Breath in… and out.

"I'll see you soon then Edward," I started. I was sure he could hear my voice shaking.

"Oh I don't think so." He knows. He knows, he knows, he knows.

"W-what?" I stuttered.

His lips curved up slightly which didn't really help to calm my anxiety. He carefully walked over to me and wrapped his arms around me pulling my head to his chest. I breathed in his sweet scent. Please don't let this be the last time I smell this beautiful aroma.

"Well I was rather hoping you might want to stay over. If you'd like?"

Stay over… with Edward?

I pulled my head back to look into his sparkling eyes and he brushed a strand of hair out of my face. He didn't know. I was overflowing with relief and I couldn't control the next words that came out of my mouth.

"I'd like nothing more."

He smiled his breathtaking smile at me and took my hand in his guiding me up the stairs.

Edward

All in all the evening was a success. I think. Rosalie was her usual charming self. Yeah right. And Bella seemed to get on well with my parents. I just couldn't squash the nagging feeling inside of me that she was hiding something. Like when she talked about going on sleepovers with her cousin. What was that about? She'd never mentioned him before. Maybe it was her ex-boyfriend? Maybe she cheated on me?

No. Bella wouldn't do that. I'd have to talk about it with her tomorrow. It was the end of the night and we were all saying goodbye as Rosalie pulled me over to one side.

"Edward," she hissed.

"Yes Rosalie. What is your problem? You could have been a little more friendly?"

She huffed impatiently, "I was trying to suss her out and make sure she was right for you. I'm not having some little bitch screwing with my brother."

"Don't call her that," I scolded, "you don't even know her. It's not like you bothered to talk to her." I was getting annoyed now. Rosalie was like this with everyone new… why did she have to be like it with the girl I loved.

"Ok I'm sorry. You're right. I mean she seems perfectly nice. Really. There's just something about her Edward. I don't know what it is."

"Rose. You'd say that about any girlfriend I have. Don't be melodramatic."

"I'm just saying," she said matter-of-factly.

"Yeah well don't. Look thanks for coming over and worrying about me but really there's no need."

"Of course I'm going to worry about you and protect you Edward," she replied, "you're my little brother. And Bella seems nice, I suppose, but keep an eye on her, that's all I'm saying."

"Yes, yes Rosalie," I replied dismissively, "now would you please go and say goodbye to Bella." I heard her groan quietly.

"Rosalie?"

"Fine, fine," she gave me a quick kiss on the cheek, "see you soon Edward."

"See you Rose. And be nice."

She rolled her eyes at me before walking over to Bella. I kept my eyes on her as they chatted to make sure she was being friendly, which she seemed to be. After Rosalie left I walked over to Bella to say goodbye. I had this hollow feeling in my stomach at the thought of Bella leaving. I hated it. I then realised that I didn't have to say goodbye to her. She could spend the night. With me. I'd told myself I wouldn't press Bella into sex. And why would I? I wanted everything to be perfect. But now that she was standing here in front of me looking positively ravishing I wanted her so badly. I needed her. Needed to show her how much I loved her.

"I'll see you soon then Edward," she began seeming nervous. Maybe she was thinking the same thing as me.

"Oh I don't think so," I replied. I didn't want to see her soon… I wanted to always see her.

"W-what?" she replied. Oh God. She doesn't want to. I make so many fucking assumptions. Just because I want her to stay doesn't mean she'll want to as well. I tried to appear cool and just go for it. I smiled and pulled her into my arms enjoying the feeling of her being so close to me.

"Well I was rather hoping you might want to stay over. If you'd like?"

She paused and I waited anxiously for her reply willing her to say yes.

She pulled back and I looked into her eyes which were rich limpid pools of desire.

"I'd like nothing more."

I was overcome with relief and excitement as I grinned at her. I gently took her hand in mine and lead her towards my bedroom looking forward to what would hopefully be the best night of my life.

-

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