A/N: Thanks to my ladies, Paige, Cristina, Sherry & Tiffany xx

Chapter 35

EPOV

Fucking dog. Turned out the thing didn't even like me. It wouldn't even let me hold its leash without growling at me. Marcus assured me that it just needed time to adjust. Chow's were normally a one family kind of dog and he had bought it from its family. I didn't bother to ask him the ins and outs, I didn't need to know. All I knew was if that fucking dog growled once at Isabella it was gone, and Marcus along with it.

"She better like it," I grumbled, eyeing the ball of fur as we walked up the front steps to my parents' house.

"She will," Marcus assured me, but even he didn't look convinced. "She will just need time to adjust to the idea of another dog."

When I opened the front door the sound of laughter filled the air, Isabella's laughter to be precise. Hearing her laughter was great, but I can't deny it surprised me. I had expected to come back and find her upset, especially after burying Princess. I wasn't even sure if she and my mother would manage to get along the entire day without arguing. There had been too many hurt feelings between them, but it would seem that I was wrong.

I followed the sound of my wife's laughter, eager to find out what had her in such a good mood. I found her, my mother, and sister in the living room on the floor with wine glasses in their hands; surrounded by piles and piles of old photographs. There was even one of our old family movies playing on the TV in the background.

"I'm telling you," my mother laughed, "he wouldn't keep his hands off it when he was a kid. So, I finally had enough and told him if he didn't stop touching it, it was going to turn black and fall off. He cried for an entire day, the poor soul. He even kept checking his underwear to see if was still there." Isabella laughed hard. I stood there, trying to figure out what the hell they were talking about, and what was so goddamn funny. "It did the trick, though, Isabella. He stopped playing with his penis after that."

No, fucking way. I looked at Marcus, horrified. Surely, I had misheard my mother. Surely, she wasn't discussing my penis with my wife and sister? But by the look on Marcus' face, she was. He looked like he was struggling not to laugh. I threw him a look, and then, thankfully, the dog barked, alerting the women to our presence.

"Edward," Isabella said, surprised. "We were just looking at your baby pictures." She held up a picture to show me. I must have only been three or four in the picture. I was dressed in a suit. It looked like a wedding or something. I could see people dancing in the background, and there I was, sitting in a chair with both my hand down my pants playing with myself. "I never knew you had an obsession with your penis," she giggled. She was clearly tipsy.

I frowned at her and then glared at my mother. "Really?" I snapped, storming over to Isabella and taking the picture from her hand. I ripped it up and stashed it in my pocket. I would burn it later.

"Edward," my mother protested. "That was one of my favorite pictures."

"I can't believe you have a picture of me playing with my dick," I scoffed.

"Don't be so vulgar," my mother scorned.

Luckily the dog barked again, reminding us that he was there. "Who's this?" Isabella asked, standing up. She was a little unsteady on her feet. I gripped her elbow to stop her from falling over. I wasn't happy that my mother had gotten her drunk, but perhaps I could use it to my advantage. Maybe she would be more welcoming of the dog.

"This is Bruno," I said, motioning towards the dog. "He is your new guard dog." I studied her, waiting for a reaction.

"Edward," she said, shaking her head. "I didn't want another dog, I just buried Princess."

"I know, but I want to keep you safe, now more than ever, and he is a Thursday gift." Okay, so I hadn't realized that it was Thursday until like five seconds ago, but how could she say no to a Thursday gift?

Isabella eyed me before walking over to the dog. If I was honest, I was concerned about how he would react to her, but Marcus still had him on a leash, so I knew he wouldn't let him hurt her and for some reason the dog seemed to be okay with him. Isabella kneeled down in front of the dog and slowly reached out to him, rubbing the top of his head, and surprisingly the fucking dog leaned into her hand. He even nudged her hand when she stopped petting him. "He's like a big bear," she said, turning around to look at me.

"Yeah," I scoffed. "A big teddy bear." Which made me wonder about Marcus. He didn't like the idea of walking a dog called Princess, but he had no qualms about walking a fucking teddy bear.

"I don't like that you got me another dog so soon, not without consulting me," she said, continuing to pet him, "but I would feel bad sending him away. He's clearly not a puppy, he is too big. How old is he?" she asked, turning to look at me again. "Where did he come from?"

"He's a little over two years," Marcus answered for me, thankfully, cause I had no fucking clue. "A friend of mine was looking to rehome him and I mentioned him to Edward, and he thought of you." Now he was just trying to kiss my ass, but I wasn't complaining, not if it helped smooth things over with Isabella.

"Aww, you poor thing," Isabella said, ruffling the fur on either side of his head. "Why would anyone ever want to get rid of you? You look like a big friendly giant."

"He may look friendly, but he is a guard dog. I want you to be careful around him and I don't want you spoiling him either. Marcus will help you care for him."

"He'll never replace Princess," she stated.

"I know that. I'm not trying to replace her."

"Good," she replied. "Then he can stay with us." Like she had any fucking choice in the matter. "I'm going to take him outside to see if he needs to potty," she said, taking the leash from Marcus. I motioned for him to go with her.

"That was nice of you," my mother said, coming up behind me and placing a hand on my shoulder.

I shrugged. "I just want her to be safe."

My mother smiled. "Oh, I think it's beyond that point, Edward." I looked at her confused. "Your feelings for her are growing," she stated. "You make a good couple, when you are not bumping heads. You are both headstrong, but you are learning to work together. She's good for you. I like the man she is making you become."

I shook my head. "I have no idea what you are talking about." My mother knew well enough that I didn't like discussing feelings and shit.

"My brother is in love," Rosalie whispered, leaning into my ear, before heading out of the room laughing.

Was I? Was I in love with Isabella? I cared for her, a lot. I wanted to keep her safe, more than anything, but I wasn't sure that I was in love with her. I had never done the feelings thing, but she sure did take up a lot of my time and thoughts.

"Don't over think it," my mother said, staring at me. "Just go along with it and let your feelings grow naturally."

I shook my head. I wasn't about to stand here and discuss my feelings with her like a woman. I was going to find my father and report to him the day's events, while having a stiff drink. I didn't have time for this sissy shit.