BPOV
"So, Gram asked your Dad over here because?" I asked Emmett while I stirred the potato soup I was making.
"I think she wants him to talk her into going to the spouse grief support meeting held at the church," he replied, dicing up the bacon for the soup.
"Your Dad still goes?"
"I think he'll always miss my Mom, ya know?" he shrugged.
"Have you ever talked to someone?"
"Yeah, after she passed I went to a counselor. It helped me get over being upset all the time," he added.
"I miss my Dad a lot. When I do things like at school and stuff, I try really hard to do my best because I don't want him to be disappointed in me. I still want to make him proud," I said quietly, glancing at Emmett.
"I know what you mean. My Mom loved football; I'd never seen some one as hardcore about it as she was. She had me in mini-league, and she was a booster Mom. That's why I want to play ball, make her proud," he grinned, nudging my side.
I looked out the kitchen window; the leaves were changing colors, which made the trees look even more beautiful. I think I really fell in love with fall. In Florida, it was hard to see a difference in the season's changing, other than hurricane season and things like that.
Last week, I was going to go look for a fallish winter transition coat, but Edward gave me a hoodie inside of a peacoat. It was super big on me, but sort of fit my style. It became a thing between us. I liked taking Edward's clothes, and he liked giving them to me.
"Oh no, you've got your Edward smile on," Em groaned.
"Shut it," I giggled. "I don't know what you're talking about."
I remained taking in the scenery when Edward came bursting out his back door. The reason he wasn't over here was because his mother was visiting today. I knew he wanted to be here, but I, along with Esme, tried to encourage him to see her.
I watched him trudge his way across the yard until he opened the kitchen door. His eyes landed on me, and I don't think he realized Emmett was standing beside me. Edward lifted me up and sat me on the kitchen island before resting his forehead against mine. His eye remained closed, and his breathing puffed out. It was clear he was mad.
"I think I'm just going to turn this off and join the 'rents," Em mumbled, turning off the stove.
I didn't reply. I stayed focused on Edward. He moved his forehead away from mine, moving his face to the crook of my neck. Feeling the stress or anger roll off him, I let my fingers inch up the back of his shirt, rubbing his back. I felt him place a kiss on my neck before he pulled away to look at me.
"Hi," I greeted like I usually did.
"Hi," he said, giving his usual response.
How are you? I signed, a little something I learned over the past few weeks.
"Better," he smiled crookedly.
This was our thing: I would sign, and he speaks. We were finding a way to merge our communication bridge. My Mom and Esme thought we were adorable.
"Is your Mom still there?" I asked because I wasn't quite sure how to sign it.
"I can't," he sighed, shaking his head.
I grabbed at his face bringing him into me for a kiss. Like always, I started with a peck, and Edward finished it by deepening it. He was handsy too, which I was getting used to, but when it became too much, I made him stop. I wasn't ready to let him touch my boobs or… down there. I heard girls at school talking about all things sex-related, but that just wasn't me. I wasn't there yet.
I placed my hands on his chest, giving him a little nudge to stop when I felt his hands inch up my ribs. He slowly brought his hands down to rest on my hips, giving me one last peck.
"Hi," I smiled, cupping his cheek.
My hand brushed the beard he had grown. It wasn't a full-on beard, just more than a little scruff, and I kind of really liked it. Carlisle explained that they grew them during hockey season for solidarity purposes. I thought it was really somewhat odd, but they told me it was guy thing. Esme rolled her eyes, saying he looked ridiculous with a beard and looked to have gained ten years to his face.
"You don't like it," Edward said, nuzzling against my hand.
I shrugged making a face at him.
"Yo, B," Emmett called, announcing his presence. "The adults are getting hungry and are not amused that you quit dinner to suck face."
Edward wasn't aware of Emmett's presence because lips started kissing my palm and then worked their way up my arm. Emmett rolled his eyes and pushed past us, turning the stove back on.
"I gotta eat," he said pointedly.
Edward glared, keeping me on the counter.
"No," I sighed, shaking my head.
He needed to learn that I had things to do and other people to see. Those were also the conditions Gram gave me when it came to Edward and me dating. She didn't want him to consume me; I needed to have friends and a life just like he did too.
I hopped off the island and went back to helping Emmett. Edward went to sit at the table with a scowl on his face.
"He is so angsty," Emmett tsked.
"Don't," I warned.
That was another thing, Emmett like messing with Edward because he felt he was too uptight. Also, it amused him to get him all riled up. Boys.
Esme knocked on the back door before opening it.
"Well, that wasn't hard," she grumbled, standing in the doorway.
"You," she pointed at Edward.
He started signing furiously his anger from before returning. Em and I were finishing the pot of soup, but kept looking over our shoulders to watch. Esme stood there and shook her head at Edward as he kept signing. Finally he just stopped.
"Are you done?" she asked while signing.
Then Edward gave her the universal sign for eff off, causing Emmett and me both to wince. No this was not good, not good at all. Esme was calm and Edward wasn't backing down.
"I'm afraid," Emmett whispered.
"I think I am too," I muttered back.
You know that expression, 'you could hear a pin drop'? Well, I think this whole thing was what that meant. They just stared at one another until Esme finally signed something I wasn't sure of and pointed at the door.
Edward kicked the chair against the wall as he stood and stormed right back outside again. I watched him look around the yard and back at me from the window until he decided to go back in the house.
I kind of leaned against Emmett, feeling awkward for having just witnessed whatever that was. I don't think I'd ever seen Esme and Edward argue before, playfully maybe, but never like what just happened.
"I shouldn't have let Lizzie come over today," Esme groaned, leaning on the counter.
"I think I'll go tell the rioters dinner's almost done?" Emmett said, dumping a few of our ingredients in.
"Tell them it should be done in fifteen," I informed, watching little bubbles hit the surface.
I stirred the pot before turning toward Esme. She looked like she was bracing herself on the counter.
"It's like Edward takes a couple steps forward and Lizzie always sends him flying back," she started finally making eye contact with me. "Today's the anniversary of Eddie's death."
"Why let her see him?"
"When he refuses to see her for long periods of time, she relapses. Her addiction is a sickness, and I believe the Elizabeth I grew up with, the one who let me hang around her when I was little, is still there. She truly loves Edward. I want to believe that," she sighed. "It kills me to see the hatred in his eyes when he's with her. I feel like a terrible person for forcing him to be in the same room as her."
"But she's his mother, the only one he has," I said, realizing it was the truth.
That's not how Edward saw it, though. I'd seen how he was with Esme and Carlisle. In his eyes, they were his parents. Lizzie reminded him of his pain and suffering.
"I'm going to head back over there. Lizzie asked if she could stay the night. She didn't want to be alone…" Esme trailed off.
"Maybe Mom and I will come over later?" I offered, earning a nod from her.
I felt for Esme. She was just trying to keep the peace. Over the past few months, Renee and Esme had grown close. Maybe Mom can be a buffer, and I could keep Edward calm.
"Is it finally ready?" Em asked impatiently.
"Yeah, it's done. Set the table?"
"I guess," he whined, walking to the cabinet to pull out the bowls.
Gram, Mom and Phil came in five minutes later, asking if the food was done. I nodded and rolled my eyes at them. They acted as though I was starving them.
"Bella, this is really good," Phil said before taking another bite.
"I call it Isabella's Gourmet Potato Soup," Mom giggled, giving me a wink.
"I helped," Emmett insisted.
"How much of the work did he actually do?" Phil asked, looking skeptically at his son.
"Pop," Em glared.
"He diced everything," I snickered, watching Em puff out his chest proudly.
"Emmett, I'm sure one day you'll be an excellent Sous Chef," Gram smiled while patting his hand.
Em looked offended before responding, "If anything, I'll be an Executive Chef."
"I'm pretty sure culinary school doesn't have a football team," his father pointed out.
"Yeah, then that's not for me," he sighed, shaking his head.
I laughed, leaning my head on his shoulder.
"You think we're so funny?" Em said dryly while poking my side.
"A riot," I squeaked.
Once we decided to behave for the rest of the meal, I noticed Mom sadly glance around at all of us. Her seemingly good mood vanished.
"Uh, Mom?" I started, grabbing her attention.
"Yeah, baby?"
"I wanted to know if you wanted to go over to Esme's later? Edward's Mom is visiting…"
"Of course, I'll go," she responded before I could finish.
"Okay, great," I smiled and went back to my food.
"Bella?"
"Yeah, Gram?"
"You and your Mom need to quit messing with the thermostat," she sighed, fanning herself.
I looked at Mom who was wearing a t-shirt and shorts and shrugged. "We're Floridians, Gram. It's too cold out."
"That generally means you wear heavier clothes," she said flatly. "Not make the house the Sahara."
Phil and Emmett snorted. Phil nudged my quiet mother, giving her a grin. Her cheeks flushed and I could swear I saw a little smile on her lips. It was weird, but also I was happy to see her smile.
Phil offered to do the dishes once we were all finished Mom helped him. Over the past month, I'd noticed she talked a lot to Phil. I wasn't quite sure what they talked about, but I knew she looked almost like a great weight had been lifted off her shoulders after.
About an hour later, the McCartys left and we walked over to Esme's. Esme ushered us in with a sigh, I could hear the crying from the living room.
"Bella, why don't you go visit with Edward," Esme suggested, patting my shoulder.
"Okay."
I started up the stairs, catching a glimpse of Lizzie on the couch crying her eyes out. I kind of felt bad for her in a way. Mom caught my looking and shooed her hand at me. I puffed out a breath before going back to my mission.
As I stood in front of Edward's door, I poked the button to my left. I knew his door would be locked so I wasn't even going to try. He ripped the door open with a glare. I placed my hands on my hips glaring back. Realizing it was me, he instantly dropped the glare to a frown. Edward reached for my hand, but I pushed past him into the room.
I took a seat in his leather armchair, tapping my finger on the cold leather. Him being all brooding needed to stop because it was slowly bringing me down.
"Bella."
I looked right up at him. "Save it," I enunciated.
Did I mention I could also smell the pot rifting through the room? The glazy look in his eyes wasn't helping his case any. His mom seemed to turn toward alcohol and drugs to numb her pain, and Edward ran to weed when things weren't going his way.
I leaned over, reaching for his lighter on the windowsill. I flicked it a couple times for emphasis.
"Nice, man," I snorted.
"So what," he shrugged.
"I am not going to date a stoner," I said frankly, watching him wince.
"Don't fucking judge me," his muffled voice bellowed before he started to frantically pace the room.
I sat back in the chair, not wanting to move. What was that saying, "Don't make any sudden movements"? I felt like that applied right now.
"I would sit in that room… we lived in a huge apartment. They had nothing in it, the bedrooms had mattresses, but that was it. I would watch him… Eddie," he spat with venom. "He would sit in the same room as me when he shot up. I was small, but I remember everything… snorting, smoking and huffing. He did it all. He was… fearless."
I sat frozen at hearing his words. Edward never spoke this much. It was as if he was tired of being silenced.
"Get over here you little shit… BAM, BAM, BAM," he yelled slamming his fist repeatedly in to the wall.
"You ruined your mother, she used to be fucking tight… BAM, BAM, BAM."
"You should have died, I made sure of it… BAM, BAM, BAM," he roared.
My vision blurred from my tears, I tried to reach him so he would stop. Knowing he couldn't hear me, I had to figure out how to get through to him. I launched myself at him, wrapping my arms tightly around him. It was as if he just now noticed me with him.
"Bella," he choked out.
I kissed his head, eyes, nose and lips, squeezing him tighter to me. I also heard the pounding on the bedroom door.
"Isabella Marie Swan, you better open this door," Mom yelled.
Edward now clung to me tightly, making it hard for me to get up to unlock the door.
"Mom, we're fine," I called back.
"Like hell you are," she hollered. "We heard the yelling and the pounding."
"Bella?" it was Esme.
"He's holding on to me… He's fine, but I can't unlock the door," I said in defeat.
Edward lips found my neck, and he begun to leave a trail up my face, kissing my tears away.
"I need to let them in," I insisted. Or Mom is going to knock your door down.
He pulled away, looking from me to the door, reluctantly letting me go. I stood and rushed to the door, unlocking it. The door wasn't completely open when Renee gathered me in a tight hug.
"Baby, are you okay?" she asked, looking me over.
"I'm," I got out until I noticed Lizzie trying to come in with Esme.
I hurried back over to Edward, standing in front of him.
"Get her out of here," I all but growled.
"Bella," Esme said calmly.
"No, Esme, please," I pleaded, feeling my tears. I turned back to Mom. "Mommy? Please make her leave."
I felt Edward's arms wrap around me.
"He's my son," Lizzie snapped.
I glanced down, seeing Edward's hands wrapped around me. The knuckles of his right hand looked completely shattered. Bruised and bloody because of her and her precious Eddie.
"You did this to him," I cried, grabbing at his hand holding it up. "You and that evil, evil man that you adore damaged him."
"Bella," Edward started to chant in my ear.
I could imagine he was scared because there was this ongoing conversation going on around him, and he couldn't keep up.
"Renee, I'm not going to let your daughter talk to me like that. You should leave."
"Bella isn't going anywhere, Lizzie," Esme hissed. "She knows what happened up here, and I want to know what happened. Now will you please go downstairs?"
"I can't believe this," Lizzie said incredulously.
"Well, believe it," Esme sighed.
She gently took Lizzie by the arm, leading her out the room. I assumed she was taking her downstairs because she hadn't returned. Mom stared at us. I wiped my eyes, and Edward's face was buried in my neck. I imagined we looked like a sight.
"We are going to need to have a talk, B," Mom said sadly.
"Mom, I'm fine," I insisted.
"His temper is not fine, Bella," she frowned.
"I wasn't near him when he did that," I said, gesturing to the hole in Edward's wall. "He wouldn't hurt me."
"Bella," she said exasperated.
"Please, when Esme comes back I can explain what happened," I pleaded.
She relented by sitting in the chair. I turned in Edward's arms, carefully nudging him back until he hit the edge of the bed. He sat, taking my hand in his good one. His bad hand was hurting because he shook it and tried to flex his fingers. My guess was he'd broken his hand. Carlisle was going to have to take a look.
"I was told my services were needed," Carlisle announced, waltzing into the room like everything was okay. "Higginbottom," he nodded to Mom.
"You're so charming, Carlisle," she said sarcastically while flipping him off.
"Not in front of the kids," he scolded.
"Bella, Esme's dealing with the nightmare that is Lizzie Platt downstairs, so I'm going to need to know what our boy did to cause such a mess."
I knew I should tell Carlisle the complete truth, but I didn't want Mom knowing Edward was under the influence of anything or she would start judging him and think he was going to corrupt me. So I leaned forward, motioning to him I wanted to whisper it in his ear. Mom rolled her eyes, shaking her head.
"He was smoking before I came up here," I whispered, pulling away.
He nodded in understanding before pointing at Edward.
"You and I are talking later, buddy," he said while signing. "Continue please, Miss Swan."
"He was pacing, and then he told me about Eddie… I guess he was quoting him, like things he would say before he hit him? And then he started hitting the wall. He's hurting," I murmured.
"Do you know what today is?"
I nodded, remembering my conversation with Esme from earlier.
"Edward was taken out of his parent's custody when he was six. It had been six years since he'd seen Eddie when he was told of his death. To Edward this is the day he could live in peace without that man to hurt him ever again. Lizzie wants him to mourn, and every year since he's been here she tries to force him," he explained.
Carlisle picked up his hand, looking it over. He was gentle as he checked each knuckle.
"We're going to have to x-ray his hand, but I'm sure it's broken," he frowned.
"Bella, we should go home," Mom smiled sadly at me.
"But he needs to go to the hospital," I replied.
"And we need to go home. Carlisle will take care of him."
"Mom," I groaned. She wasn't listening to me.
"This isn't open for discussion," she breathed. "Say bye. You can talk to him tomorrow."
Edward cupped my cheek lightly and kissed my lips. He knew, he must have been paying attention. I relented and left with my Mom. Carlisle said he would let us know how everything went. When we hit the last step on the landing, we saw Esme comforting her sister, but what made me mad was that she was too blind to see what she and Eddie had done to poor Edward. I decided I hated her for it.
A/N: Finally this is back! And I'm also going to start update Conversations again, which I'm excited about. This Edward is going through a bit of a time, but with the family and friends he has I'm sure he'll pull through! As always let me know what you think! Dolphin62598 and lizconno beta'd this chapter, so big thanks to them!