"Bella!" I jumped as Edward yelled from outside my door. "Bella, I have some news!" I fucking hurdled my couch on the way to the door, trying to get there because he yelled something stupid. "I had a baby and she's yours! Open the damn door! I need my child support!" I spun around a book I'd left in the floor and ripped open the door in time to see Edward looking over his shoulder at my old hag of a neighbor. "Baby Mama drama, you know how it is." He shook Emily in the woman's direction and the little girl giggled.
"Edward." I sighed, taking Emily from him and turning to walk in the house.
"Have a nice day, Katrina." He beamed at the woman before closing the door on her. I pursed my lips and tried to look annoyed, but it was kind of hard with him being so… him.
"Are you mad at me, baby?" He asked ducking his head as he walked toward me, looking at me from beneath his eyelashes.
"Definitely." I lied, as a smile broke through. He laughed and wrapped his arms around my waist, kissing my lips.
"Ew." Emily giggled from her perch on the couch before she found my remote and started flipping through channels.
"Babysitting again?" I asked, Edward as he kissed my nose and moved towards the couch with his niece.
He nodded, "Yup, Em and Rose went on a weekend retreat this time, so this one's all mine until Monday." He said leaning into Emily's face and tapping her nose. She giggled and tossed her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. He made a show of hugging her back tightly, scrunching up his eyes and all. I laughed at them and moved toward the kitchen.
"Em, do you want juice or cookies or something?" I asked the little girl. Edward turned and mouthed 'No, ice cream.'
"Do you have ice cream?" She asked with wide eyes. Edward shook his head rapidly and I gaped comically at the little girl.
"Do I?!" I asked, reaching into my freezer and pulling out two cartons that Edward had brought over. I mouthed, "Payback" to him and he closed his eyes with a sigh. She let out an ear splitting scream and scrambled over the back of the couch, falling on her face. I set the ice cream down and rushed to her, as did Edward.
"See, if you'd have just listened to me…" Edward mumbled as Emily started crying. She crawled into his arms and I pouted at her, brushing her hair back.
"I'm sorry, honey." I apologized, even though I technically didn't push her off of the couch.
"It's okay, but I think a kiss will help." Edward sighed, poking out his bottom lip. I rolled my eyes and shook my head at him.
"She was talking to me." Emily scowled up at her uncle and he kissed her forehead. Emily reached out to me and I hugged her tightly.
"Maybe we should give you two scoops to make you feel better, huh?" I said poking her little stomach. She clapped and nodded before taking my hand and following me into the kitchen.
"You know, I think the saying is less is more."
"You tend to be wrong though." I smiled sweetly at him and he rolled his eyes, following us into the kitchen.
"That hasn't been my experience." He said quietly, gripping both of my hips in his hands. I dished out the ice cream for Emily, giving her two generous scoops of the chocolate. As soon as she looked down at the bowl I rocked my ass against Edward, smiling as he let out a strained groan. He pushed his face into my neck and let out a little moan. I reached back and patted his ass, glad I could evoke that type of reaction.
"We're going to tell my parents today." He told me, kissing behind my ear. My eyes widened and I turned in his arms.
"Today?"
"Yeah, they're expecting us in an hour." He smiled, kissing my nose.
"An hour?! You couldn't have told me this before now?" I asked, lightly slapping his shoulder.
"I can cancel…" He said slowly, giving me a wary look.
"No, no, don't cancel." I sighed, "I just don't want to show up at your house looking disgusting. I need time to get ready."
"You'd dress up for my parents and not me?"
"I'd probably get dressed in real clothes if you ever told me when you were coming by." I said pursing my lips at him. He raised his eyebrows and nodded in agreement.
"You don't look disgusting, you just need shoes." He said sliding his finger into the waistband of my pants and pulling me flush against him.
"And new clothes." Emily pitched in from behind me. I turned and wrinkled my nose at her. She just shrugged me off and went back to eating the ice cream.
"Alright, well get going because it takes a good thirty minutes to get there, baby." He said, backing up and letting my leave, but not before slapping my ass. I ran into my room, more than happy that I got off of my ass and showered this morning. I pulled on a dark pair of skinny legged jeans, pairing them with a black blouse and a pastel pink blazer. I hopped around the room yanking on my black boots before stopping in my bathroom and putting on a bit of eyeliner and brushing my teeth again.
I turned on the blow dryer and shook out my wavy hair, drying it as I went. When I was satisfied that my hair didn't look frizzy I rushed to the kitchen. Emily and Edward were still at the counter, where she was perched on her stool. They were playing what looked like a complicated version of patty cake, I picked up my purse and keys as I watched them. Just when you think Edward can't get any more attractive he starts playing with children.
My ovaries can't handle the implosion.
"You ready, babe?" He asked, looking at me and missing a clap. Emily tsk'ed and held up her left hand, making an upside down version of the 'OK' sign. He looked at it before cursing as she leaned across the island and punched him in the arm.
"Hey, don't break your uncle cause then I have to take care of him." I teased Emily and she giggled, scooping up her bowl and passing it to Edward with a pointed look.
"Thank you, Uncle Eddie." She beamed sweetly, giving him that Cullen smile. He grimaced at her and taped his cheek. She smacked a kiss to his cheek with a loud "Mwah" and he chuckled as he took her bowl.
"You're welcome, cutie." He smiled at her before turning and looking me up and down. "You look beautiful."
"Thanks, it's kind of a Bella thing." I joked cockily and he rolled his eyes.
"That it is." He said scooping up his niece in one arm and carrying her sideways to the couch.
"This isn't the proper way to hold a child." Emily said, flailing underneath his arm. He rolled his eyes in my direction, pointing at the kid like that was the most ridiculous thing he'd ever heard.
"Let's hit the road!" Emily called after Edward tossed me her bag, which I'm sure he could have left at his house. Emily had been out of her diaper bag stage for about a year now. We all exited the house and Katrina was in the hall again.
Edward pursed his lips and rubbed his fingers together, "Gotta get that money, girl." He said to her before carrying Emily downstairs. I looked at Katrina, who gave me a terrified stare, and sighed. The woman was under the impression that I was disease riddled sperm donor to a man I also dealt cocaine too.
"It's a wonder Em and Rose still let you keep her after all the mental scarring you've probably inflicted."
"Yeah…" He pursed his lips with a shrug. He covered one of her ears before continuing to speak. "They don't really care for her that much. I'm just a pretense." I laughed and Emily scowled because she heard everything.
"I have two ears, Uncle Eddie."
"So?"
"So I heard you!" She giggled, slapping his stomach. He shrugged and tossed her over his shoulder.
"Uh huh and what did I say?" He challenged, grabbing her feet and letting her slide down his back a little. Her eyes widened and she gripped his back as she giggled.
"That Mommy and Daddy don't care about me and you're just pretense."
"Oh… You did hear didn't you?" She 'mhm'ed' and he tossed me a panicked look.
"What does pretense mean, cutie?" I asked, sticking my hands under her arm pits and pulling her safely from her uncle, into my arms.
"Pink?"
"Oh gee, Edward. You're screwed." I said, my voice oozing with sarcasm. He wrinkled his nose at me.
"He was just kidding about Mommy and Daddy not caring about you." I said walking through the door Edward opened for us.
"I was." She nodded and started to 'braid' my hair, which consisted of knotting it until it stuck.
"Okay." She said simply. "I won't tell my mommy if that's what you're worried about…" Edward and I both let out a simultaneous sigh of relieve. "As long as we get ice cream on the way back from grandma's house." She sent us a sweet smile and I grimaced at Edward.
"Okay, as long as you don't tell Mommy." Edward groaned getting into the front seat as I finished buckling Emily in.
"Yup, I won't tell." She beamed and I got into my own seat. Edward quickly left the parking lot and drove to his parents' house. The drive was long and Emily quickly fell asleep, leaving the car silent. The closer we started to get to his house the more nervous I became.
"What's the big deal, babe?" Edward asked, tossing me a side glance as we drove up the winding pathway to the Cullen mansion. I looked at him from the corner of my eye and lifted my thumb to my mouth, biting the nail.
"Edward, I don't know if you noticed…" I mumbled, clearing my scratchy throat. "But I woke up an hour ago." I hissed, clearing my throat once more.
"So? I've woken you up before." He shrugged reaching over and turning down the classical CD that played. He parked the car and sat back in his seat, looking at me, making no move to leave. I followed right in his footsteps and let my head drop back against the headrest. He shifted next to me and I looked over to see him unbuckling Emily who laid sleeping in her carseat.
"But not for something as big as this." I groaned, biting the white tip of my nail clean off and grimacing at it. "If you can't tell I'm sick, irritable-"
"Are you-?"
"And yes! I am on my period." He sighed and shifted his lips to the side, looking pensively at me.
"Well. I'll tell my parents you aren't feeling well-"
"We're sitting in the driveway, honey." I whispered, massaging my temples. He pouted at me empathetically and reached over, placing a hand on my thigh. I let out an uncomfortable groan and picked up his hand holding it in both of mine. "I'm nervous." I admitted in a whisper.
"Me too."
My eyes widened, "Why are you nervous?!" His worry made mine ten times worse. Edward's parents liked me as far as I knew, but him being unsure of their reaction made me think otherwise.
"I don't know, you're making me nervous…" He said, his eyes going big as he stared at me. The panic I saw in reflected in his bright green eyes made me start in on my nails again.
"Damn it, Edward."
"What?"
"It's just your parents. We've both known them for over twenty years…" He nodded.
"They're just as sweet and welcoming as any other English family…" He convinced, my eyes shot to his and he winced. I didn't know that much about England, despite Edward's short five years there that he'd told me about. I did know, though, that England wasn't necessarily known for being the nicest people on earth. Edward's parent's, of course, were great though, so we were just going in circles.
"Look, you need to stop messing with me and help me calm down before I piss on myself."
"Well, maybe I should." He furrowed his eyebrows and leaned into me, letting me know he'd been fucking with me the whole time. "Then after we leave here we can get you some depends."
"Edward…" I whined. He smirked and cupped my face, kissing my cheek.
"Bella, like I said. They already love you. You don't need to worry about them not liking you, or not approving. We already know they wanted this to happen for us." He pointed between the two of us and I bit my lip. "And we already know their reaction can't be worse than the way your parents will react." He chuckled quietly as I smacked his arm.
"You don't know that…" I said my voice not even sounding convincing to my own ears.
"We both do." His eyes flicked down to my lips and I sighed as he gave me another short kiss. "But we'll get through both together."
My car door opened and I jumped, leaning towards Edward. "Are you coming in or are you going to sit here all day?"
"Is there another option?" I asked Esme as she stood at the door, hand on hip.
"Hi, mum!" Edward waved out of my door.
"Come out here." She huffed, stepping away from the door. I sent Edward a nervous look and he chuckled. "Poor child, out here in this cold weather." She said peeking into the backseat before reaching in and getting Emily's sleeping form out. Edward and I both stepped out of the car and once he joined me in front of his mother she passed Emily to him.
"Now." She sighed; making sure Emily looked comfortable before pulling me against her tightly and kissing my forehead. "What makes you think you're allowed to just disappear for months?"
"I've called." I said, blush tinting my cheeks.
"Hi, mum." Edward said, looking disgruntled as his mother paid me more attention. Momma's boy.
"Not enough." She sighed, with a shake of her head, ignoring him once more. She pulled back a little to get a good look at me and raised her eyebrows. "You look thinner. Have you been eating?"
"Of course." I said with a roll of my eyes. Esme had been like this for as long as I'd known her. Concerned, and motherly… Until you got a few drinks into her. She was always a hoot, but the woman was wild when drunk. Esme Cullen is the reason Edward is the way he is, silly, passionate and just… him. His mother was the female version of him, it was really funny to see them together.
"Well-" She shook her head and hugged me again.
"Hi, mum." Edward said furrowing his eyebrows in mock anger. Esme stopped speaking to me and turned towards her son, mirroring that disgruntled look.
"I will get to you. Hold your horses." She said before pursing her lips and looked back to me with a slow, dramatic turn. "This one's just as impatient as his father. Excuse me while I coddle him." She said sarcastically before passing Emily to me and doing just what she'd joked about.
"How are you, honey?" She asked, her tone softer than when she'd spoken to him earlier. She gave him a once over, "You look good." He blushed and waved her off, making her giggle and pull him into a hug. "I missed you too, my sweet boy. You need to come visit more too." She slapped his shoulder a lot harder than was acceptable for a playful slap.
"Jesus, Mum." He yelped moving from her to hide behind me.
"Well, come on in. Breakfast is probably already cold now." She wrinkled her nose and took Emily from me, letting her rest her little head on Esme's shoulder. "But that's what microwaves are for!" She grinned jokingly and headed up the porch stairs. Edward wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me in closely behind his mother's back.
"See, it's all good." He kissed my forehead loudly and Esme turned at the noise, giving us a knowing smile. Esme led us into the kitchen before dismissing Edward to go hang up our coats and then put Emily on the bed in Esme's room. She sat me down at the table and started dishing out food to the three plates.
"So you and Edward, huh?"
"Me and Edward what?" I asked fidgeting in my seat as she moved around me. I felt useless and rude but when I stood she snapped and pointed back at my seat.
"You two are going to get married and give me some grandchildren soon, right?" She asked bluntly, sitting neatly in the chair across from me.
I choked on nothing and ran my hand through my hair. "Uh, well…" Edward strode confidently into the kitchen, pulling out the seat at the head of the table.
"Where's dad?" He asked, not seeming to realize we'd been speaking.
"He's in the bathroom. I think he ate something last night that didn't quite agree with him and now it's caught up to him."
"Okay…" Edward said looking down at his plate and then around the table. "So is he not joining us?" His eyes darted to mine and I bit my lip again. Carlisle not being here kind of defeated the purpose.
"No, he's coming. He just won't be eating." She said before putting her hands in her lap. "So Bella, how're things at Cullen and Co?"
"Great, I really enjoy it there." I said simply, she smiled brightly with a nod and Carlisle walked in in flannel pajamas.
"Ah…" He groaned, looking almost nothing like the clean, put together man I worked with. He looked… terrible. Dark bags, his eyes rimmed with red, his skin was even a sickly yellow looing color.
"There's my ray of sunshine." Edward said smiling at his father from his chair. Carlisle scowled at him before coming over and making a point to hug me and kiss my forehead.
"Why couldn't we have one like you?" He asked rhetorically, shooting Edward another glare. He took his place next to Esme who patted his leg comfortingly.
"Join hands." Esme softly ordered, holding out her own hands. We obeyed and Carlisle blessed the food weakly before we all chorused 'amen'. We all dug in as Carlisle took his temperature with his hand.
"I don't think I can go into work tomorrow, Es." He said softly, leaning over in his seat. She looked to him and furrowed her eyebrows, chewing slowly.
She took a moment to swallow before speaking, "How could you possibly know what you'll feel like tomorrow?" She asked softly, touching his cheek. "You don't have a fever..."
"Dad, we all know it's just a hangover." I didn't… "You'll live." He said with a shake of his head.
"I'm actually sick, Edward." He rolled his eyes and turned to me. "I'll talk to you, since they don't seem to care about my well-being." I chuckled and looked to see Esme roll her eyes and Edward shake his head. "We know that you two have come to tell us something, so go on."
"How do you know we don't just want to visit?" I asked, lifting an eyebrow. Edward kicked in a little, "Yeah" but I didn't acknowledge him.
"Because, if you would have come to visit you would have dropped by without warning." She said before turning her gaze to Edward. "Tell me I'm wrong." She challenged.
"You're right, we just came to tell you that-" his eyes met mine and Carlisle sighed.
"I knew it was coming." I lifted an eyebrow as Carlisle turned to Edward.
"We support you." He said with a forced smile. Edward cocked his head to the side with furrowed eyebrows before giving him a smirk.
"Thank you?" Esme looked between the two of them and then to me.
"What?" She asked. Carlisle leaned over and whispered in his wife's ear and she shook her head, slapping his leg.
"They're dating, he's not gay!" She growled.
"How'd you know?"
"I've assumed for some time, but you saying you needed to make an announcement just confirmed my suspicions." She stood and Edward and Carlisle stood with her. "You two sit." She waved a hand at them and went to hug Edward tightly.
"I'm happy for you, my sweet boy!" She peppered his cheeks with kisses and he mustered up the ability to look annoyed at the attention he loved. "Finally you came to your senses!" She squeezed his cheeks and brought his face down to kiss his forehead.
"Thanks, Mum." He said pulling her in for a hug. Carlisle smiled at me and jerked a thumb at Edward and his mom.
"Such drama queens." He reached out and touched my hand. "Congratulations. So, I'm assuming we'll be seeing you for Christmas this year?" He smiled, looking twenty years younger just by displaying Edward's crooked smile. I swooned because, twenty years of knowing him or not, he was still just as handsome as his son.
"Thank you." I smiled before having arms wrap around my neck and hug me tightly. "And of course, I'd love to come." I smiled brightly, not even offering my parents a thought as I accepted.
"This is so great!" Esme said before clapping. She looked as though we'd announced our engagement or something… But after twenty years of us knowing each other I guess this was the equivalent to us getting married in her eyes. Esme flitted around the room with a large smile on her face for the rest of her meal. She moved around the table, giving occasional hugs. The rest of us chuckled at her excitement as we watched. As soon as we finished the meal, an equally happy Carlisle returned to his room after another round of hugs, telling us that he wasn't feeling too hot.
"Oh, I wish you all could stay longer." Esme pouted, kissing my cheek and then Edward's. She had a meeting with a customer about interior decorations, on a building that Edward's team finished about a week ago. Her business was a sister company of Carlisle's; her company being in interior design. They often passed off customers to each other, and were doing extremely well.
"Me too." I said hugging her tightly.
"Well," She sighed, "you two go on and get ready and I'll get the little one up." She patted Edward's cheek and moved to her bedroom.
"Well." Edward sighed, rocking back onto his heels. "That went well." I smiled and he put his hands on my hips, leading me into the foyer. "If the meeting with your parents goes this well life will be perfect. Will you grab my keys, honey?" I nodded and went to the small table he'd dropped them on earlier.
Something green and red with my last name prominently displayed caught my eye on the small table next to the closet. As Edward helped me into my jacket I took the opportunity to lean in and get a better look. My parents smiling faces were on the front, looking equally as happy as they did when I when I was in the pictures.
"What's wrong?" Edward asked from behind me.
The Christmas cards were always a family tradition and I guess they were cutting that off too.
Edward must have seen what I was staring at because he picked it up, holding it up for both of us to see.
"Your parents are having others over for Christmas?"
"Apparently?" I whispered feeling a pang of my heart as we looked at the card. Edward's eyebrows furrowed and he turned to me.
"You didn't know about this?" I shrugged and shook my head.
"I-" I gulped, "I wasn't invited..." I frowned down at the card.
"Damn, baby, I'm sorry." Edward sighed, tugging a hand through his hair.
I set the card down and smiled sadly. "It's fine, baby. No big deal." I lied. "I'm coming here for Christmas anyway, I wouldn't have been able to go." I shook my head.
"You're okay?" He asked, searching my eyes.
"Of course." Another lie.
He pursed his lips, "Let's get out of here." I nodded and he rubbed my back, dropping a kiss on my neck. "No matter what shit your parents try to pull, you've always got me." He said seriously.
"Me too!" Emily piped up, just entering the room. I smiled and kissed Edward's cheek before squatting and opening my arms for Emily who ran into them.
"Thanks, Em-bear!" I squealed in her ear, making her giggle. When I stood, I brought her with me, propping her on my hip. Edward was giving us a strange look and when I lifted my eyebrow he snapped out of it.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"I don't know." He sounded exasperated, "I'm kinda nervous..."
"About what?"
"You." My head pulled back on its own accord.
"Why me?"
"Let's just get out of here." He shook his head. I nodded and he pulled Emily into his arms turning for the door. I looked back at the invitation and went to put it on the table, but then I saw two other invitations of the same kind, probably for Edward and Emmett, and I tucked the one I held into my pocket.
I needed to speak with my parents.

-/-

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