"One month of prison or some obscene amount of money for bail. I don't remember how much..." I said as I sat on the couch and stretched out across Edward's lap. He patted my hip and ran his fingers through my hair.

"Yeah?" He whispered furrowing his eyebrows. His prescheduled meeting was at the same time as the trial and sentencing so he'd missed it. "You should've pressed charges."

"I have no need to. I'm not permanently hurt and I don't need her money." I sighed playing with his fingers.

"She assaulted you in a bathroom." He said, incredulity permeating his tone.

"I think what she got is what she deserved." I sighed and he went back to pulling his fingers through my hair.

"I don't."

"The less I have to see her, the better. I'm done dealing with her and all of her crap." I shrugged and looked over my shoulder as Alice and Jasper waltzed in. We were having a small get together, to celebrate the end of the trial and the moving process.

"I would have pressed until she got what was appropriate for her actions."

"But you probably wouldn't settle until she's in for life."

"Not life, two hundred years." He smirked; I giggled and shook my head.

"And to think you slept with her." Alice called from the kitchen as Jasper fell into the recliner to the right of us. I tensed at her words and Jasper let exhaled in annoyance. Edward sighed and rolled his eyes.

"Alice..."

"Not my fault it's true." She said giving Edward a dirty look. I rubbed my boyfriend's thigh and gave him a sympathetic smile. He sighed and rolled his eyes.

"We're just here to chill, Alice..." Jasper said with a sigh.

"I'm chilling." She rolled her eyes and plopped down a stack of papers, pulling out a red pen.

"What about Lauren?" He asked, lifting an eyebrow and turning from Alice back to me.

"She is in considerably worse condition…" I said, biting my lip. "She admitted that Tanya paid her an sizable amount of money to come after me."

"What the fuck?" His eyes widened and I shrugged. "She paid her?"

"I mean, it makes sense… Lauren needs money so who's better to ask?" It was fucked up, sure. But it was all over now and I'd accepted it. "Calm down." I patted his cheek and kissed him chastely.

"I can't even…" I ruffled his hair and he huffed. I turned and looked toward Alice who was working studiously over at the table.

"What could you possibly be grading?" I wondered, knowing there was no way any Pre-K kids were doing anything too complex. She bit her lip and her fingers tightened around the pen. I looked to Jazz who turned his eyes to the ceiling.

"I've picked up your afternoon classes." She said softly after a while. "You know, my kids are only half day..." I pursed my lips and nodded.

"How're they doing so far?" I questioned softly. My being fired didn't affect how much I adored the kids. Nor did it anger me that she ended up filling my slot.

"You've taught them well," she smiled over the papers and I went toward her, sitting next to her. The majority of the papers had high marks and the few that didn't I pointed out why. Some of the kids had learning impairments and when worked with, showed how truly bright they were.

"Zachary," I pointed at the familiarly messy handwriting on the paper. "He's dyslexic. It's not in his file yet, because, well you know how fucked the system is." I sigh with a shake of my head. She nodded and looked up at me with sadness in her eyes.

"You really liked these kids didn't you?" She said softly. I nodded and shrugged with a soft smile.

"Of course I did. They were a great group; I wish I'd been able to finish the year with them." I sighed, running a hand through my hair. Our quiet conversation was interrupted as the guys screamed from the couch, yelling things at the referees about bad calls.

"I wish you still worked with us, B. It certainly did suck less. The administration and board has gotten even worse, now that we're short on money, and teachers." She rolled her eyes and huffed. "They're thinking about hiring more teachers to cover their losses. Like, the English department for instance. They're hiring two teachers..." I bit my lip, they'd fired four of us the year before and that set the entire department back one third of their staff. "You know, four classes have been taught by substitutes for the longest time… I may have submitted-" the doorbell rang and then the sound of the door swinging open and hitting the wall made me jump.

"Emmett," Edward groaned pushing off of the couch. "What the hell, man?"

"Little ears!" Rosalie barked right as Edward disappeared into the hallway. There was a loud smack in the hall and he came scurrying back into the room. He hurried to get behind Alice and I as Rose stalked her way after him, Emily's hand in hers.

"Mommy, don't hurt him!" Em yelled running and leaping into her uncles arms. "You say worse!" She accused once Edward held her firmly. Her finger jabbed out and pointed at her mother. Edward 'ooh'ed' at Rose and she rolled her eyes.

"You tell her, kid." Edward laughed, fist bumping her before loudly kissing her cheek. Emmett sauntered around the corner a few moments later waving a key.

"Don't listen to him, Em. He'll get you in trouble." He said wrinkling his nose and shaking his head as he pointed at his brother. Once Emily's attention was off of him he hugged and kissed Alice and then me, as did Rose.

"No trouble." Emily said, mimicking her father's actions with an adorable pout. "Bad Uncle Eddie." She scolded, hitting his nose with her pointer finger before smashing her face against his cheek. "Just kidding. I'm not mad." She whispered loudly before slinging her torso my way and grabbing the back of my chair. Edward yelped and grabbed her waist tightly so that she didn't fall. I grinned and turned to her, letting Edward place her in my lap.

"Hello, princess." I nuzzled my nose against hers and she giggled.

"Hi, cutie!" She pressed my cheeks together. "I missed you! Is Uncle Edward keeping you from me?" She asked with furrowed eyebrows. I met Edward's eyes with a chuckle.

"Sadly, yes." I pouted, she shook her head and wagged a finger at Edward.

"No, no." She wrapped her arms around my neck, hugging me tightly. "She's mine." Edward scoffed behind me and Emily reached back, patting his stomach.

"I disagree." He said before Jasper, Emmett and Rose started screaming by the television again. Emily twisted to look over her shoulder at Alice and gasped with wide eyes.

"I'm Emily!" She beamed as though she'd just now noticed Alice sitting next to us.

"My name's Alice." Alice greeted with a bright smile. "Aren't you adorable?" She chuckled tapping Em's nose.

"I am! You're smart and nice!" She grinned, pushing out of my lap so that she could stand next to Alice and talk her ear off. I used that as an invitation to collect the beers around the room. Rose, after noticing my effort, got up and took the few bottles I couldn't into the kitchen.

"Thanks," I smiled at her as I set the bottles down. "Look, I really can't thank you enough for what you did." I said, my chest warming as I thought about her saving me. She huffed and put a hand on her hip and the other on the counter.

"You can and trust me, you have." She said with a scowl making me feel self-conscious. "But I only did what anyone else would have done. It's not like my 'Bella senses' were tingling. That's more of Edward's thing." I snorted and that cracked her mask, the corner of her lips lifting infinitesimally.

"Anyone else would have ran to get Edward, and probably a paycheck from a sleaze magazine for the story." I said, curling a lip as I pushed a stupid tabloid her way. On the front was a picture of Edward and I, my face removed and replaced with one of a triumphant Tanya.

Local Sweetheart Loses Fight, Trust Fund and Beau In One Night!

I rolled my eyes as a picture of me getting into the limo with a torn dress was placed in the middle of the story. Of course Edward, who was standing to the side of me when I was climbing in was completely cut out of the photo.

"But you fought for me, and even though you might have just been looking for a thrill," She pointed at me and then tapped her nose. "I'm still really thankful." Rose let out a heavy sigh and heavily set her bottles on the counter.

"You're welcome!" She almost yelled before pulling me into a reluctant hug and holding me there. I gasped and patted her back in shock.

"-probably killing each other..." Edward laughed before rounding the corner and freezing in his tracks. As soon as he let out his soft gasp Rose was a foot away from me, glaring at him.

"Way to ruin a moment." She sneered before flipping her blonde hair over her shoulder and leaving the room. Edward gaped at her retreating form before looking at me and pointing in the direction she went in.

"She hugged me." I whispered, in shock. I rushed toward him and grabbed his biceps.

"What the hell?" He whispered with wide eyes. I nodded and let out a shocked giggle. His gaping mouth was replaced with a soft smile as he looked down at me.

"What?" I whispered wondering if I'd missed something, as my mind whirled with happiness and confusion.

"You're so fucking cute." He said leaning down and pecking my lips.

"You're pretty cute yourself." I winked, draping my arms around his neck and standing on my tippy toes.

"Tell me something I don't know." He winked and patted my ass, before walking us backwards.

"Like..." I pretended to think, "I love you?"

"Nope, dig deep, babe."

"I was born a man." I said with a straight face. We locked eyes for a moment before both falling into fits of laughter.

"That's my girl," he chuckled, lifting me off of the floor and pressing our chests together as he wrapped his arms around my waist. I playfully nipped at his jaw and he hummed, turning to meet my lips with his. We slowly kissed, our lips sliding sensually against each other. When I pulled back his eyes were dark, the best kind of dark. I wiggled out of his arms and stuck a finger through his belt loops pulling him after me.

"Take off your shirt." I ordered as we disappeared from view of the living room. I led him up the staircase and then headed into the bed room. As soon as the door was shut he yanked my shirt over my head.

"This is the best idea you've ever had." He whimpered as he flicked the clasp of my bra open. There were two heavy knocks echoed through the house and Edward huffed. I bit the inside of my lip, frustrated because I was positive no one else would get the door.

"Who else is coming?" I whispered, wrapping my arms around his waist and arching my chest into his. His eyes rolled up into his head and he dropped his head into my neck.

"I don't fuckin' know..." He grunted, reaching down and grabbing two handfuls of my ass. "But I need to get the door… Be courteous and what not…"

"Of course." I rose to my toes and pressed my lips to his pouted ones. He opened his eyes, the bright green pulling me in, making me want the throw him down and fuck him on the spot. Forget the guests, and-

"Isabella?!" My mother's bitchy squawk pierced my ears and I cringed. Someone, most likely mom, started climbing the stairs and I was quick to slip into my bra, Edward hooked it for me from behind and helped me back into my shirt. Unfortunately by the time mom made her way to the door we didn't have time to find Edward another shirt, since he'd left his on the back staircase.

I yanked a hand through my hair and pushed Edward onto the bed, climbing up behind him and staring at his shoulder as my mom pushed open the door.

"Well, this rash doesn't seem to be clearing up, honey." I said before rubbing Edward's shoulder sympathetically. He nodded and gave me a sad sigh as Mom ogled him. Both our faces were bright red, mine from anger and well, hers obviously from seeing my fuck-hot beau half naked. "Now go put on a shirt." I whispered, sending him off, he shot into the bathroom with a wave towards my mom. She unabashedly watched him leave and I snapped.

"Mom, you can't just barge in here like that." I huffed, straightening my shirt.

"And you can't just go sleeping around before marriage. But you don't hear my scolding you!" Edward poked his head out, from behind my mother. His eyebrows knitted in confusion as he yanked a t-shirt over his head.

"What do you want?" I groan to her. She straightens her navy blazer and then her scarf that probably cost more than my car and old apartment combined.

"I came to apologize, upon your father's requests." She curled a lip and tilted her head back, so her chin was slightly higher. "Apparently I 'made a scene at the gala'." She rolled her eyes, and sneered at me. My eyes widened and Edward stepped out of the bathroom. She splayed out her hands by her hip and shrugged. "So this is me apologizing." She turned to leave. "And we've decided to give back your trust; things seem to be working well."

"I'll leave you two to talk." Edward said quietly, kissing my forehead before he left the room.

"Look. I don't apologize; so you take this to heart." She hissed, pointing at me. I swallowed thickly and nodded, my actions relaxed her slightly and her hand dropped. "And if you ever pull anything like what happened at the gala in public again, I will disown you." With that she spun on her heel and left the room.

My jaw clenched at the threat and I hurried after her, stopping at the top of the steps as she sped down them.

"Mom?" I called, noting that my father and Edward were standing in the foyer chatting it up.

"What, Isabella?" She sneered, not sparing me a glance.

"You never actually apologized." I put a hand on my cocked hip and lifted an eyebrow. She froze on the spot and turned to glare at me. It was a bitch move but my god, she deserved it.

"Ren." Dad huffed as he and Edward turned to look at us. I kept my eyes on my mother's seething face and she shrieked.

"I'm sorry, Isabella. Happy?" She lifted her eyebrows and I nodded with a small victorious smirk, sending her fleeing from the house with dad going after her. It wasn't much but it was a start and a damned good one.

Ecstatic.

.^.

So Renee wasn't run over by a cart of chickens… Or bludgeoned with a tricycle… But hey, not everyone gets their comeuppance in RL…

This was the last chapter-chapter… Next up is the epilogue.

Review!

Again, replies will be sparse because opening night is the 28th... *shakes hands nervously*

But I will try and type out a few replies backstage…

So yeah! Review (In a pleasant way?) :DD