A/N - These characters all belong to SM

I almost changed my story a bit after some of the reviews that I got, but I just have to write this story the way it came about in my head. I am thinking that there will be a few more chapters of this story, then there may be a part two.

Thank you all for reading and I love your reviews (even the ones that have decided they hate Edward :)

Chapter 22

"Of course I'm going to put up with you. Haven't you ever noticed that I have never been able to tell you no?"

I hadn't seen Edward smile like that since we were teens. Just as I was getting out of my favorite chair to go to him, we heard a loud banging downstairs. It was loud, and it was repetitive.

"Please tell me that isn't the sound of my sister having sex," Edward said as he tried to figure out where the noise was coming from.

"God, I hope not," I replied. "If so, they are into some kinky shit." I knew that my comment would gross Edward out, but I couldn't help myself. "I think they were planning on moving the furniture around today so that they could fit in the new dining room table they bought for when their house is ready. Speaking of people having noisy sex..."

"Say no more!"

And before I could possibly say any more, Edward was carrying me towards the bedroom. I was smacking at his chest trying to make him put me down, but I was giggling so hard, I couldn't speak. Edward threw me on the bed and jumped on top of me, kissing me until I couldn't breathe. I managed to pull myself out of his grips long enough to tell him.

"That was not what I was hinting at you perv! I was trying to tell you that apparently, the entire house heard us yesterday afternoon at your parents house. And we weren't even having sex! I am so embarrassed."

He thought about it for a few minutes while absently stroking my arm. "Did Jane hear?"

"That's the worst part, Jasper had to assure her that you weren't hurting me and that you were just tickling me."

"I guess we will have to be more careful. Especially when your kids are in the house."

Mentioning my little ones reminded me that I had a bit more to say to Mr. Cullen, "Edward, I told you that I was sticking around. I have a few things that I need to say about that though."

"I kinda figured you would."

I rolled him off of me so that I could sit up. "First, I still really haven't wrapped my brain around everything you told me last night, but let me tell you, I think you were an idiot."

"Don't hold back, B!"

"I wasn't planning on it. You need to know where I stand. You ran off and made horrendous choices because you thought it was what was best for me, without ever consulting me. In doing that, you hurt both of us, probably beyond the point of ever fully getting past it. The choices that you made are about you, not me, regardless of what warped thoughts you had. I know that you truly believe that you were leaving because you thought it was the right thing to do, but it was more than that. There was obviously a part of you that wasn't ready for a relationship like yours. That, I can deal with."

Edward tried to interrupt, but I stopped him. "Please let me finish. I need to say this, and then I don't want to talk about this shit anymore." I continued, "I can't be too upset with you for marrying someone else or having sex with someone else, because I did both of those things as well. The difference is that you took those choices away from me. I married someone that I loved, but that I knew I could never be in love with. I spent a huge amount of energy making that work, so I understand that part. What I will never be able to get over is the fact that you made such a royal mess of things all because you thought you were doing what was best for me. Not to mention, I think the situation with Jessica is completely fucked up, and I would guess that you hurt her as well."

I lay back down so that I could face him and make sure he was paying attention to me. "Had I known at the time what was going through that crazy-ass head of yours, I probably would have dragged you back from Dartmouth, but I didn't. Instead, I wondered what I had done wrong and what was wrong with me."

"I am so sorry for that, Bella."

"I know you're sorry and I'm not trying to make you feel any more guilt. You are a fine martyr without needing any help from me. I'm trying to explain that there are parts of me that won't ever be the same. Not just from you leaving, but also from the other life experiences I have had. I am neither dumb nor helpless. I make my own decisions. I need you to understand that more than anything else." I paused for emphasis, "If you ever make any decisions regarding either of us, because you think it's what's best for me, it is an absolute deal-breaker. Edward, I am not the same little girl that you left. I don't think it's cute that you felt so strongly you sacrificed yourself. As a matter of fact, I think it's a little bit creepy. I don't want that kind of relationship. We are adults. ...I think I'm done now."

Edward didn't say anything other than "deal."

"Now, as I said... I'm tired of all of this shit. Let's do something fun."

He pulled me closer to him and kissed me. "I have an idea."

He began peppering my face with tiny, gentle little kisses. "What would that idea be?" I said in between kisses.

The gentle kisses were becoming a little more urgent. Rather than answer, Edward pulled my hand down into his crotch so that I could feel how turned on he was.

I pulled my face away from him. "That was certainly in the 'fun' plans for today, especially since I can enjoy all of it again, but I was thinking that we should maybe have some people over tonight... you know, just grill out and have a good time. I think we are actually supposed to have a clear evening, but my grill is on the screened porch anyway. We could invite Alice and Jasper and Rose and Emmett."

"That sounds like a great idea." He had stopped kissing me and was rubbing his hands up and down my arm. "My parents are coming to see Alice and Jasper this afternoon, and they are taking Jane home with them. I think they are taking her to some show in Seattle tomorrow. Would you mind if they came too?"

"Of course not. I will call everyone and invite them... As soon as we finish here." I leaned in to let Edward kiss me again. His kisses were almost chaste, but his hands were anything but. "I would like to take a shower first though."

Without saying a word, Edward stood up and pulled me up with him. He bent down to kiss me again as we stood at the foot of the bed. We didn't let go of each other, or stop kissing for that matter, until we were in my bathroom. I had assumed that Edward was going to join me in the shower, but it would seem as though he had other plans.

"Do you mind?" he asked as he bent over to turn on the large tub.

"No, I think it sounds perfect." I leaned over and kissed his shoulder as he checked to make sure the water was comfortable.

After making sure the water was good, Edward turned around and began kissing my neck. I had been trying to get the knot holding my robe together untied, but I wasn't able to make my fingers work. His more than capable fingers left my face to take the robe off. The robe was quickly removed and disposed of as those hands made their way up my ribcage and began working their magic on my breasts.

The fact that I was standing there naked and completely vulnerable while he still had his shorts on just didn't seem right to me. I reached down to his waistband and tried to undo the button. My hands just didn't seem to be cooperating with the removing of the clothes, so he had to undo it himself. I could feel the void of heat on my breast where his hand had been.

What the hell! Where'd you go?

Every nerve in my body was on fire, and I didn't feel like I could get close enough to Edward. Even when he was inside me, it wouldn't be enough. As his hand made its way back to my breast, I lifted my leg and wrapped it around his waist. I wanted to have him inside me so badly that I was going to fuck him right there, standing up in front of my bathtub.

His hands moved down my torso to grab my ass. He used that leverage to lift my other leg and wrap it around his waist as well. When I was sure that we were on the same page, and that he was indeed going to fuck me standing up in front of my bathtub, he surprised me by stepping into the tub.

My girlie bits were not happy with this turn of events as he lowered my legs so he could pull me down into the water with him. I turned a bit so that I could kiss him and so that our crotches would be aligned should they decide to connect. His hands were still on my ass as he pulled us closer together causing me to moan. He chuckled a little, so I pulled away to look at him questioningly.

"You are so impatient, beautiful. I promise, we'll get there."

Ugh! I didn't know what was with this smug bastard and him wanting to take his time, but I wanted him now, and I was going to make sure that I had him now...until his hands left my ass and slid inside me making my moans only that much louder.

It's a good thing that I have a very large bathtub, because it didn't take long at all for me to start writhing against the pressure I could feel. He moved me a bit more so that he was able to get his leg between mine, which allowed him to get his fingers deeper inside of me.

I tried to focus on him for a minute. I tried kissing his chest or his shoulder, but I just couldn't make it work, so I just laid my head back against the side of the tub. Edward took this as an invitation to kiss my neck as his hand continued to work his magic. His kisses traveled to my chest, where they become more urgent. The gentle kisses being planted on my nipples were nice, but they weren't quite enough. I managed to push his head a little more into my chest, and as I groaned, he got the point. The gentle kisses were replaced with little licks and bites causing me to moan yet again.

"Do you like that?"

My breathing was entirely too hitched to answer him, so I replied by pushing myself even harder against his hand. This time he moaned as he turned his hand slightly. Suddenly every nerve in my body was screaming as he pushed against the one spot that could make everything go black. The intensity. Oh my God! I felt like I was going to explode from the inside as Edward continued to push that one spot.

"That's it, baby. Cum all over my fingers." I could feel coldness on my nipple where he had just been nibbling. He pushed his fingers a little harder on the spot where it belonged as all of the sensations in my body were building. I pushed against his hand again, causing the spark which ignited the explosion. I know I was loud as I screamed his name repeatedly. So loud that he tried to shush me my kissing me. I totally didn't care.

I opened my eyes to that beautiful face which was completely covered with desire. His unoccupied hand was pushing the hair back out of my face and tucking it behind my ear. I pushed up some so that I was able to kiss him. I kissed him hard, pulling his lower lip into my mouth.

He kissed me back with force. Like before, I felt like I couldn't get close enough. I didn't like it at all when he pulled his head away. "I thought we were going to work on keeping things a little quieter.

"You can't expect me to keep things quiet when you do things like that. Do you think they heard?"

"Do things like what?" he was licking my nipples again causing all of the little sensations to start coming back. He stopped long enough to finish his reply, "and no, I don't think they heard."

My breathing hitched as he started gently rubbing his leg against me again.

His breath was pretty patchy too by this point, but he managed to say, "You didn't answer me. Do things like what?

Having to stop between almost every word because I couldn't think straight, I replied, "making me cum all over you." Not usually being one for dirty talk, I looked at him to see what his reaction was going to be. He threw his head back and moaned. Feeling a little powerful, I continued, "So you like it when I talk about what you just did to my pussy?"

"More than you could ever imagine."

I reached my hand between the two of us in order to wrap my hand around him.

"Fuck!" he said through clenched teeth as he reached down to wrap his hand around mine. He pulled us both over a bit so that I was resting completely on top of him which made it difficult for me to keep stroking him.

I rested both of my hands on his chest and lifted myself so that I was able to position myself over him. With his hands on my thighs, he lifted me a bit more until he could slide into me.

I was still incredibly sensitive, so when he moved us, I thought I was going to explode again. I had to slow down my movement just to be able to catch my breath. I pushed against his chest to let him know I needed to take things slowly for a minute. Edward kept his hands on my hips, but he let me set the pace. I loved watching the expression on his face, head laid back on the side of the tub, as I slowly took him deeper into me.

The sensitivity that was almost painful just moments ago was turning into a sensitivity of need. I leaned my body forward to kiss Edward's neck. The movement caused his hands to tighten on my hips and a hiss to escape from his mouth.

Feeling powerful for being able to cause that kind of reaction in him, I began to increase my pace.

"Bella," his hands tightened on my hips, "you might want to stop for a second."

Wooo Hooo! It's all me... Say my name! I felt so powerful knowing that I was the person causing his reaction. I moved a little bit faster, knowing that I was driving him crazy.

"Bella." He tried to hold me still, but I wouldn't allow.

I leaned over and kissed him again, then I picked up my pace to match him as he finished. His hands were digging into my hips, and it was starting to hurt a little. He must have noticed that I was wiggling under the pressure, because he loosened his grip and moved his hands to my ass.

"I'll get it," Alice yelled as she jumped from my couch to run to the front door. Esme was standing in front of Carlisle on the front porch holding a brown paper bag in one hand and a small stuffed elephant in the other. She hugged Alice as she walked in and looked around the room. She honed in on Edward, who was standing behind the counter in the kitchen, and smiled a pig playful grin. Jane came running into the living area from where she had been playing in Leah's room. She jumped into Carlisle's outstretched arms and snuggled in. The grandparents couldn't dote on that child enough. They were totally enraptured by her story of the dinosaur eating the Barbie Doll's shoe. Carlisle made a big show of putting her down on the chair, making sure everyone heard him say what a big girl she was. It was obvious that they were totally in love with their grandchild. I wondered briefly how Jasper's parents related to Jane. I don't remember them being very involved in his life when we were in school. I had never heard Jane mention them either. I would have to remember to ask Alice how that was working out.

"Ooooh, what's in the bag, mom?" Alice giggled as she took the bag from her hand and started walking toward the kitchen counter. She pulled it out of the bag, making sure that Edward saw it. He looked at the bottle and then at his parents.

"Really, my own parents!"

Jasper was snickering but watching Edward at the same time. He was ready to jump in and calm him down if he became angry.

"Not my idea," Esme responded. I just asked Alice what I needed to bring.

Emmett and Rose walked in without knocking. I was so used to Rose walking in, it didn't even strike me as odd. "Here, Edward. Bella tells me its your favorite!"

I thought it was ironic when Alice brought her bottle of Absolut, but I didn't realize there was a plan until Esme and Rose brought some as well. I was really hoping that Edward was serious when he told me that he didn't care what I told Rose anymore, because apparently she took it upon herself to tell Alice, who of course, had to make a plan.

I looked at him sheepishly, afraid that he was going to be angry, but he didn't seem to be. I slowly made my way into the kitchen to help him get things together for the grill. One thing that I had learned with Jake, was that he could look and act happy when people were around, but if I pissed him off, it was a totally different story behind closed doors. In my mind, I knew that the situation with Edward was totally different and that he would never talk to me or behave towards me in the same manner Jake had. I also knew, in my mind, that I could easily just tell him to get the fuck out of my house if he made me uncomfortable with his anger. But old habits die hard.

Thankfully though, Edward was a great sport about being teased by his family. He promptly pulled out the shot glasses and started pouring. For those of us not so willing to do shots of vodka, he pulled out some mixers and started fixing drinks. As I started pulling things out of the refrigerator, he pulled me into him.

"I didn't know they were going to do this, I'm sorry."

I had spoken quietly so that his entire family wouldn't hear us, but Edward responded loud enough for everyone to hear. "You have no reason to be sorry, Bella. I have no secrets. My family now knows what a fu...," he stopped himself as he looked at little Jane. "What a stupid choice I made. I didn't expect my story to spread this quickly." He paused and looked at Rosalie, who responded by raising her eyebrows defiantly. "But it's perfectly ok to poke a little fun at Edward." He continued, "All I really want to do is put all that shi... stuff behind us. Besides... it's free vodka!"

He truly seemed to be enjoying himself and his time with the family, so I pretty much forgot my fear of him being angry with me when everyone left. It's really hard to picture someone yelling at you when they are sneaking you into a corner to make out every chance they get. Hell, as long as Jane wasn't in the room, he didn't even bother trying to sneak into the corner. I couldn't help but to be impressed that he had so much respect for her.

We gorged ourselves on hamburgers and hotdogs. The guys went outside to play football, followed by an adorable little three year old. All the ladies made their way down to the Whitlock apartment so we could sit on her porch and watch the guys. We could have seen them from my porch upstairs, but it wouldn't have been quite as easy to heckle them. Besides, who knew if we were going to decide to run out and play a game or two with them. You know, show em how it's done...

I could tell that Esme wanted to say something but didn't know how. Apparently Rose noticed too, because she started the conversation for her. Suck up! "So Bella, are you guys like official now?"

Ding, ding, ding! That seemed to be the million dollar question...

I replied honestly, "I don't know that official is the right word. We just are..."

Alice sounded almost pouty when she said, "Well that doesn't sound very romantic."

"I'm too old for all the romantic crap, Alice." I knew that I was blushing. "There are so many outside factors in our lives right now. Can't we just enjoy each other without putting a label on it."

I'm pretty sure that I was the only person that heard Rose mumbling under her breath about how she knew we had enjoyed each other yesterday. I still blushed furiously and kicked her.

"Bella, you are certainly not too old for all that romantic crap. You deserve some romance, and if my son doesn't step up and show you that, you are to let me know."

I could feel my cheeks absolutely glowing by this point. "That's not what I meant, exactly. It's just too soon to give us a label, I guess."

Esme obviously wanted to continue this conversation, but Jasper brought in a fussy Jane.

Alice jumped up to snuggle with her little girl. "Uh oh," she said to the room, "someone has hit her wall. It is already thirty minutes past her bedtime."

Esme went to the door to yell for Carlisle. "I guess it's time for us to get her out of here then... considering we have a bit of a drive."

Jasper carried the little girl into her room and changed her into her pajamas. When he came back out, he said to Esme, almost in a whisper, "She should fall asleep before she's out of the driveway. If you or Carlisle will just carry her into her room when you get back to your house, she should sleep until morning." He kissed the little girl on the head and handed her to Alice, who squeezed her tightly and told her that she loved her.

We all watched as Alice and Jasper made sure Jane was in her booster seat and that she had everything she needed. As the older Cullens pulled out of the driveway, the younger boys were trying to figure out what we should do. We all headed back into my house and made quick work of the clean up. The guys had decided to play Rock Band, so they were dragging out all of the equipment.

Watching tiny little Alice play the drums was hysterical. Alice had always been good at everything, and things always seemed to come naturally to her. I was really enjoying the look on her face as she suffered miserably through "We Will Rock You" by Queen. I mean, come on... who doesn't know that beat?

"I can't make my hands work together," she complained.

Jasper came behind her to help her move the sticks correctly. It was fascinating just watching the two of them and the way they blended together to make it work. I must have been staring because I soon heard that voice in my ear.

"Sweet, aren't they?"

I turned around to find Edward's lips right there. I was kissing him before I knew it. Not one for Public Affection although Edward hadn't seemed to mind groping me in front of him family at all this evening, I gave him a chaste kiss back. "They are sweet. It's disgusting."

Edward laughed. "I'm just glad that my sister has someone that is as good to her as Jasper is."

The song had ended, and Jasper had managed to squeeze himself in behind Alice on the chair so that he could help her with the next song. Emmett and Rosalie were arguing over who got the highest score.

"Bet me!" Rose knew exactly what she was getting herself into, so I just sat back to watch the show. "Wait, wait, wait," she spoke to Jasper, who was about to hit the drum and continue the game. "We have to bet before the scores come up. What is a good bet?"

I looked at Emmett, wondering if he would speak his thoughts aloud, but luckily, he didn't. He walked over to Rose and whispered in her ear. Her smile was enormous as she said, "Ok, so that's a win-win for me, but if you lose, you have to do the dishes for a week."

Wait... what? How long had the two of them been together? They were already acting like they lived together. I would have to investigate.

Emmett didn't seem to like that bet very much, but when his score was revealed, and he had won, he got over it. The two of them started getting pretty handsy at that point, and I knew it wouldn't be long before they were excusing themselves. They planned to stay in the guest bedroom in the basement.

I couldn't remember the last time I had so much fun with adults. Just being with my friends and the people who had been so important to me for so long, was great. I got up to sing a few times, but the battle of the guitar was being raged by Em and Rose. And I certainly wasn't going to break apart the duo at the drums, who seemed to be doing some little erotic dance, so Edward and I did the singing. Without a doubt, my favorite song of the night was "Closer" by Nine Inch Nails. Edward screaming, "I wanna fuck you like an animal" is something that I will never forget.

We played and drank until the wee hours of the morning; then we made our ways to our prospective sleeping/ whatever else we were doing, places. As the other couples were walking down the stairs, Rose turned around and looked at me with that shit eating grin that means she's up to no good.

"Bella, remember we're all downstairs, please. No one but Edward wants to hear you screaming his name."

She just smirked at me and told me she loved me as she ran out the door before I could throw something at her.

I looked at the grin on Edward's face and gave him a questioning look.

He answered me by pulling me closer into him. "Oh, it's on now. I am going to make sure you scream louder than you've ever screamed... All for Rose... Well, not really all for Rose - I just like to make you scream and watch your face when you cum."

He kissed my neck and continued, "So why don't we take this conversation to the bedroom?"

I knew I was blushing, but I couldn't help it anyway. "Why go to the bedroom when we have a perfectly good kitchen right here?"