Author's Note: As is typical in life, plans are changing and quickly. Originally, I thought I was going to have a couple more weeks before I went into editing, but a change of plans has me publishing a full month earlier than originally planned. This means I started editing TONIGHT. Long story short, this will be your last MOB update for at least three weeks, maybe longer. Plus side? If all goes smoothly, Convergence will be on the market by mid December! Yes, you read that right! So with this funny, bittersweet, followed by just plain sweet chapter, I leave you for a short hiatus, but promise to return to continue when I'm all done.

Big love to AgoodWITCH, my lovely beta, and all my WC ladies who I enjoyed making chuckle with the first part of this chapter. I hope you enjoy it…and I hope you can all be patient. I promise, I never leave a story incomplete.

Chapter 17

I was almost ready for the night, my red dress from New Year's back on, along with the matching killer heels. My hair was down in soft ringlets, but this time I didn't wear the combs, instead leaving my hair down to toss and allow Edward to play with as he saw fit. It was my newest favorite automatic action of his. When we would just sit and read together or study together, inevitably one of his hands would end up combing through my hair, twirling thick pieces between his fingers. It was so relaxing and comforting. I loved it and invited opportunities as often as I could. I figured tonight, both of us could use the soothing gesture at our disposal.

I was about to move over to the dresser to put on my locket and spray a bit of perfume when a loud knock at my door made me jump. I dashed to the door and opened it to see a distressed looking Edward staring down at me. He gestured for me to let him in; storming past me as his hands flew threw his hair. I closed the door and spun to face him, waiting for him to explain.

Edward's pacing was almost comical, as he would pause, blush, and circle the room before pausing again. "I…fuck this is so embarrassing. I have a problem. Like a major problem."

I moved to sit on the bed, my heart pounding a little in my chest. Any problem of Edward's was my problem as well. "What's wrong, Edward?" I asked, patting the bed next to me. He tugged his hair again before coming to stand in front of me. My eyes grew wide as he began unbuckling his pants, not sure what was going on, but knowing full well that sex wasn't what was on his mind.

He pulled down his pants and underwear to mid thigh, revealing the subject of his distress. I drew my lips together and tried hard not to laugh, but it was impossible to hold back. I rolled on the bed, tears running down my face, ruining my make up job.

"Don't laugh, Isabella Marie Swan! This is all your fault you know! You just HAD to give me a hand job at the meadow. You and your fucking glitter hands from the damn Valentine decorations. Why the fuck are girls so obsessed with glitter?"

I sat up, still giggling as I stared at Edward's pretty sparkling peen. Yeah, it was actually pretty now. A real life disco stick. I didn't even know I was rambling out loud until Edward growled and tucked it away; grumbling that I was no help and it was all my fault. I wanted to feel bad for him, but the humor of the situation was too much to suppress.

"Now, now, you weren't complaining about that hand job in the meadow. Matter of fact, I think your exact words were, 'Oh Bella, thank fuck you know how to get around the rules. You're a genius for rationalizing that hand jobs aren't technically breaking the rules. I love you so fucking much.'" I even lowered my voice for effect making Edward smirk slightly before he went back to grumbling and pacing.

"Have you tried, I don't know, washing it off?"

He stopped and rolled his eyes at me. "No, I just spent half an hour in the shower scrubbing myself raw 'cause it felt good."

I sort of snorted, gaining another glare from Edward. After a few minutes, I moved across the room and stood in front of him, running my hands up and down his chest. I liked the fact that the heels made me a bit closer to his height. I was actually close enough to nip at his earlobe without having to stretch.

"I don't think it's worth panicking over, Edward. It will wear off eventually, and it's not like anyone's going to be seeing it besides me…or at least they better not." I leaned back giving him the bitch brow, and earning an eye roll. I smirked before leaning in closer again, brushing my lips along his jaw to his mouth.

"Actually," I glanced down toward the concealed sparkle peen with a grin before looking back up at him. "I kind of like it. You know I'm a big fan of the peen as far as function, but he's not all that aesthetically appealing. I guess it's a girl thing, but I sort of like the bling."

I smirked up at him as he stared at me in disbelief; his eyelids pulled back so far his eyes almost bulged right out of his head. I chuckled again before leaning in to kiss his lips softly, brushing my tongue across his lower lip before nipping at it with my teeth. Within seconds, the stick up my boyfriend's ass fell out as he moaned and grabbed my hips, pulling me closer to his hardening sparkle peen. I suddenly found myself greatly resenting the ground rules of the house.

Today, I felt guilty about breaking the rules, even just while in the area, but I had to admit, I was sincerely tempted to sneak out with Edward back to the meadow and declare it close enough to Seattle to be a rule free zone. I was going to be a lawyer someday after all. It was pretty much going to be my job to find loopholes and exploit them, and alternatively close loopholes so others couldn't. This was my calling, and I was damn good at it.

After a few more kisses, Edward pulled away looking at me with troubled eyes. "You seriously like it?"

I giggled, the blush coloring my cheeks answering his question for me. His eyes flared with that fire I loved so much before he brought me in for one last searing kiss before we had to go downstairs and put ourselves in front of the firing squad.

After a nice long indulgence in the kissing, we finally broke apart. Edward tucked in his shirt and tried to straighten his hair as I fussed with my makeup, attempting to fix the mess I made from crying in my laughter. After I was somewhat successful, I asked Edward to come over and help me with the locket. He smiled as he lifted it and placed it around my neck. He attached the clasp and then kissed my neck while wrapping me up in his arms. He rested his chin on my shoulder and smiled at me in the mirror.

"You look absolutely beautiful, Bella Swan. I am the luckiest man on this planet."

I rolled my eyes, to which he squeezed me harder, a frown now marring his brow. "Stop that. You are beautiful, Bella. One day I'll get you to see that, but until then, I really need you to stop putting yourself down all the time. You're too amazing to cut yourself down."

I sighed and turned around in his arms to smile up at him. "Thank you."

His green eyes sparkled as he smiled back. "You're welcome. Now, are you ready to do this thing?"

I gulped and nodded as he unwrapped himself from me and stood at my side, offering me his arm. I smiled up at him with a sigh before taking his offered elbow and allowing him to lead me into the hallway and down the staircase to the party waiting below.

Emmett gave us a dirty look as we walked out of my room together, but didn't say anything. He and Rose walked down the stairs first, followed by Edward and me. At first, nobody even cast a second glance in our direction. Edward and I had always been close, and never thought twice about such things. Thus far, we had done nothing out of the ordinary. Even when the first song played and Edward pulled me to the dance floor, we didn't get more than a second glance. I had danced with both of my brothers at every event we had ever had, although we'd never danced anywhere near this closely, and THAT finally started garnering the attention we expected.

It started with a few whispers and glances over shoulders as little old ladies with blue hair gasped and gossiped. The girls from our class glared, the men scowled our way. I tried not to notice, but everywhere I looked, there were disapproving eyes and loud whispers that were nearly roaring in my ears, amplified by my anxiety. It was almost becoming too much when I felt Edward's finger tuck under my chin, bringing my eyes to his.

"Don't let it bother you, Bella. It's you and me, remember?"

The sounds of the room disappeared and the glares blurred into oblivion as I stared up at the dark glimmering emerald staring down at me. His eyes were determined and intense, making my body tense as a chill ran up my spine. His devotion was etched in the lines around his eyes and the fire in his gaze. These small minded people from Podunk USA weren't going to get between us because he wouldn't let them.

I felt my bottom lip draw between my teeth as I felt myself grow steadily more aroused by this sort of primal protective vibe he had going on. He knew it too, because seconds later his intense gaze lightened with a sparkle as his lips lifted into that crooked smile I adored. A wide smile broke out on my face in response as he pulled me even closer and twirled me across the floor.

I could feel my hair flowing behind me as I tossed back my head and laughed. In that moment, surrounded by nothing but disapproval, I felt completely loved and safe. Another one of those miracles of true love I guess. I dreaded the end of the song, because it would most certainly be the end of our little bubble of love, but I tried not to let it take over.

Thankfully, the first song turned into another as Edward spun me with his hand before pulling me close again. This time, it was one of those big band numbers that the older couples enjoyed that echoed around the room. As a rule, this would cue the great influx of dancers on the floor, but the effect of the big reveal was already showing itself as only a few couples joined us. I sighed and nibbled the inside of my cheek as Edward pulled me into a more formal pose and began spinning with me across the floor.

"We knew it would happen, Bella. It's okay. Just stay in the moment with me. You and me, Remember? Always."

I nodded and smiled again, but it was halfhearted at best. Edward was a master as he spun me this way and that, blending us with the skilled couples who danced to these numbers when they were new. When the song ended, he dipped me with a wide smile before bringing me back up to place a soft kiss on my lips.

Edward led me by the hand, still smiling down at me toward the front of the room, where our anxious looking parents prepared to officially greet the guests. I could see the strain on both Mom and Pop's faces as they prepared to address the crowd from the landing of the staircase. As we approached, they gestured for us to join them on the stairs, along with Emmett and Rose.

Emmett cast a wary glance at us as we stepped up past him on the higher rise of steps, still holding hands between us as I also grabbed Edward's elbow with my free hand and hugged myself close to him in comfort. There were a lot of unhappy eyes trained on us.

Pop cleared his throat before raising the wireless microphone handed to him by the DJ to his lips. "Thank you everyone for making it out once again this winter season. It's been a tradition for five years now to hold the annual Valentine's Dance here in our home and we are so grateful you can join us, as well as our children."

A murmur traveled the room as Pop paused, glancing at an upset looking Emmett before locking his eyes on Edward and I, apology written in bright neon across his features. He had warned us, but the reality was always going to be a lot harsher than the expectation.

"I wish to address the room right now, in regard to the new relationship you have discovered this evening. Let me clear the air. Yes, Edward and Bella are now in a romantic relationship. As they are very intelligent and responsible adults who are not related in any biological sense, Esme and I have chosen to support them in their decision. Any of you who have known Edward and Bella very well, know that they have always had a special connection, and through the freedom of the college setting, has grown to something of a romantic nature. I hope that this settles the unrest in the room so that we might have a nice evening together. If you believe you cannot do so, there will be no hard feelings if you choose to take your leave. Just please know that it is our sincere desire to see you all stay and celebrate with us."

The room broke out into another rumble as Mom cast sad eyes our way, as did Pop, and Rose. Even Emmett seemed to feel for us as looks of anger and disapproval shot our way before the people in the room began to mill about again, many making their way toward the door.

An hour later, half the guests of the party had cleared out. Apparently, perceived impropriety trumped politeness, and open minds were not the item of the day. The guests that were left were aloof and more or less ignored us all night, with the exception of Lauren and Jessica who glared holes through me all night.

The painful night was over three quarters of the way done, and all I really wanted to do was go to bed. Edward excused himself, glancing pleadingly at Emmett to keep an eye out on me while he went to answer natures call. Emmett rolled his eyes before nodding toward the hallway where the restroom waited. Edward kissed my forehead before dashing off.

Emmett turned back to his conversation, more or less shutting me out as I stood there and sipped on pink punch while waiting anxiously for my boyfriend to return. No sooner had Emmett started engaging in the conversation again, then the harpies attacked.

Lauren and Jessica both sneered at me as they stood before me, arms crossed, blood red talons sharpened and ready to sink into me, both literally and metaphorically.

"You know this is all some big joke, right? I mean, he's just using you because you're there. Easy access ass, anytime he wants it. And you've always followed him around like a little puppy so you were easy pickings. He didn't have either of us to keep him happy, so he had to find someBODY to fulfill his needs. Trust me, come summer, he'll be crawling back to us, begging us to take him back."

I felt my bitch brow pop up before the smirk took over my face. "First of all, don't think you were every anything more than a body, and the fact that you take a joint stand that he will crawl back to the both of you is just disgusting and pretty degrading actually. Secondly, Edward loves me. L. O. V. E. Did he ever once tell you he loved you? Hint that he loved you? Looked at you like he loved you? No, he didn't, because he loves me and always has; he just didn't think he could have me. Now that he does, he has no need for the two of you. So go sell it on a different street corner, ladies. Your sugar daddy's off the market."

Now let me start this by saying, my mouth has always been faster than my brain. I had seen the talons, but I hadn't actually fully thought out the damage they could truly make until the two tramps pounced on me, screeching like two Banshees. Jessica grabbed my hair, ripping out a huge clump as she screamed at me, while Lauren clawed my right arm from shoulder to wrist trying to tug me away from Jessica so she could annihilate me. Meanwhile, I was still too much in shock and pain to do much of anything but stand there until a second later when my big brother's bellows brought the attack to an end.

Lauren and Jessica were wild eyed as they backed away from the towering giant who was only one shade of green away from looking like the Incredible Hulk. He stepped in front of me, his arms bowed slightly as he leaned down into their faces.

His voice was eerily calm when he spoke, but the balled fists at his sides told a much less docile story. "You will never, ever touch my sister again. Do you understand?"

Both girls whimpered as they took another step back.

"And for your information," Emmett added quietly. "Edward told me on more than one occasion that he was using you for the easy lay. The two of you are nothing but toys. My sister, however, has been his heart since we were kids. Anything he did with you guys was nothing more than cheap sex, and that's all it will ever be. Why would he ever go back to the gutter when he can be with the woman he loves? He wouldn't, so just back the fuck off."

Emmett turned back to me, his eyes soft and apologetic as he looked at the long scrapes down my right arm. "Geez, Bells. I turn my back for two seconds and the freaks descend! Come on, let's go get these cleaned up. God only knows what diseases those girls carry!"

He smirked at me as I smiled up at him with teary eyes. My big brother was back, at least for now. I had a feeling he wouldn't stay long, but I was grateful for his appearance. Mom rushed toward us, meeting us in front of the hallway that led to the bathroom. We were just starting down it when Edward walked out, running his hand through his hair. When he caught sight of me, and the three people hovering around my scraped up arm, panic overtook his face. Seconds later, he was standing in front of me, cradling my arm to examine it, and asking what happened.

His eyes grew dangerous with anger as I retold the tale of the harpy twins before he turned his angry eyes at Emmett. "I asked you to look out for her before I left. You couldn't even do that?"

Emmett toed the ground, looking properly abashed. "She was right behind me while I was finishing my conversation. I never thought the trash twins would go smash brothers on her ass. I broke it up almost immediately, but not before Stanley got a hand full of hair and Mallory tried to scar her for life."

I put my hand on Edward's arm, trying to calm him while Rose went to find Dad to doctor my arm up. I wanted to tell them all to back off since it was just a scratch, not a case in need of surgery, but honestly I was too grateful for the moment of family harmony to disturb the peace.

"Emmett not only got them to back off, but he actually defended us to them. Give him a break, okay?"

Edward's eyes locked with mine and softened. His emerald irises held a thousand questions, all asking in one way or another if I was okay. I smiled and nodded as I took a deep breath.

We shared non verbal I love you's before Edward moved to wrap his arms around me, hugging me close and kissing the top of my head.

"I am so sorry, Bella." He muttered as he rocked me gently to the rhythm of the music. "So many bad decisions on my part have made this so much harder on you than it should have been. I'm so sorry."

I scoffed before breathing in a deep sigh. "You're worth it, Edward. We're worth it."

I felt him smile against my head as he muttered, "Yes we are," seconds before Pop arrived and tugged me with him up the stairs. As we passed Mom, he looked over with a frown.

"Please announce that this party is over. I will not accept the idiots of this town physically accosting our children over this. I think the rest of the night should be just the six of us, don't you?"

Esme smiled gratefully and nodded before moving to the stage as Pop held my hand gently as he led me the rest of the way to his office. He pulled out his medical bag and began assembling supplies as Edward appeared in the doorway behind me. I could hear the faint echo of my Mom's voice apologizing for cutting the evening short and wishing everyone a safe drive home. By the time I was bandaged and made it back downstairs, the house was empty save for our family.

Edward held me to his side, his arm wrapped around my waist as we entered to find Mom, Emmett, and Rose already working to clean up the mess while the DJ was just starting to take apart his station. Pop rushed across the room to him, a familiar smirk on his face before he turned back to Mom. He took the stack of cups from her hands and sat them down on the food table before leading her by the hand onto the dance floor.

The lights changed as the DJ set the mood as the first strains of Etta James's At Last. Edward smirked down at me before taking my hand and leading me to the dance floor, while Emmett and Rose approached from the other side of the room. Three couples danced on the floor that night, all lost in their own love bubbles while the few hired staff for the party busied themselves cleaning the periphery of the room. We didn't notice them at all…all I remembered was sparkling green irises and a crooked smile before those lips descended to brush mine gently. Now this is how Valentine's Day is supposed to be.