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not beta'd

storyline - Countdown

prompts - crazy, lazy, hazy

Despite the crazy traffic, we make it home with time to spare before our dinner reservations. Initially, I hadn't been too sure my parents would want to go out the same day they arrived, but Edward insisted we show them a good time.

And besides, my mother loves a good restaurant experience.

We don't go to the sushi place that hosted our first date (my Dad hates sushi, so that might have to be a 'me and Mom' deal), but we do go to another favorite. I enjoy cooking, and I love to do it for someone like Edward who appreciates it, but he likes to show his appreciation for me by taking me out. I can't argue with this. As a result, we've amassed quite the list of favorites, sprinkled all around the city.

Tonight it's a steakhouse, perfect for my meat n' potatoes father.

He glances around in approval as we're seated.

"This is nice," he says, nodding.

"It is. And the food's perfect; made to order," I assure him. I love the filet mignon with goat cheese, but it's the desserts that really light my fire.

After a round of drinks and light chatter, my father clears his throat.

I look nervously at Edward, who grabs my hand underneath the table and pulls it on to his lap.

"Well, Edward, I know we've already met a couple of times before but let me just say I'm pretty pleased with who Bella's chosen to spend her life with."

My heart thumps erratically; this is off to a good start. Then again, he could be employing the "sandwich method". Oh, jeez…

"Thanks, Charlie. I feel pretty good about that myself," Edward says, smiling.

My mother smiles at me from across the table. I take this as a good sign.

"You're both adults, so I'm not going to go in to long winded requests over how I wish you'd done things…" He pauses and takes a long pull of beer from his frosted stein. "But… I… I want to let you know I'm happy for you. We both are. It's a good thing, I think."

I blink, my eyes now hazy with hints of tears. My daddy's always been an excellent judge of character, shrewd and able to cut through the most subtle BS, so it means a lot for him to take to Edward this way. I mean, I saw it when we visited them, but he's obviously thought about it a lot. I know it bothers him that we're living together, but he seems to be determined to look past it.

I appreciate that, especially because his feelings on it so closely mirror my own, and I can understand his ambivalence. Like him though, I know that what Edward and I have is a very good thing, indeed.

"Thanks, Daddy," I whisper, grabbing at my own beer. Normally I have wine with my steak, but tonight felt like a beer night. The brew here is as varied and quality as the wine, anyway.

Charlie nods gruffly, which I suspect means he might be feeling a bit of a lump in his throat but would rather die than show it. Mom grins, patting his shoulder; she knows it, too.

"Well, cheers," she says, lifting her glass. "To the upcoming wedding, your beautiful home, and to this week. I can't wait to see what you two do for fun around here."

We toast right in time for the main course to be served.

Much later, I sink in to bed. I'm still a little too full from dinner, lazy from the heavy food, generous amounts of beer, and Death by Chocolate cake, which came a little too close to fulfilling its namesake tonight. Ugh.

I roll over to face Edward, who's sitting up, reading through a stack of paperwork he brought home from the office.

"Are you coming to bed anytime soon?"

He reaches over absently, his hand grazing my arm. "I am in bed…"

"To sleep, I mean."

"Soon." He glances down at me. "Promise."

"Okay." I yawn and shift on to my back. "Tonight went so well…"

"Mm."

He's busy, so I don't want to bother him, and even though I don't quite mean to, I fall asleep.

When I wake up later on, the lights are out. I get up to use the bathroom and then tiptoe back to bed, wondering what time Edward finally went to sleep.

He reaches for me as soon as I lay down, startling me.

"Hey," I whisper. "I didn't know you were up."

He pulls me closer, wrapping his arm around me. Something in his touch feels off, needy somehow.

"Are you okay?" I ask.

He nods, watching me in the low light. "Just thinking."

"About?"

"What your dad said." He swallows. "I want to be good for you, Bella. I want to be worthy of your decision and of his trust…"

"You are." I kiss his chin, his cheek. "You are. I love you."

"I love you too. I just – "

"You're just over thinking again," I say, squeezing him tight.

"Maybe."

"Mhm."

He laughs, making the bed shake a little. "Okay, having your dad here gives me performance anxiety. I really want this to work. I know it is, but, you know."

"Yeah, I know." I kiss him, on the mouth this time. "And I love that you care so much. That's exactly why I know we'll be fine. Because it matters."

He kisses me this time, and there are no more words.