Love and thanks to my Beta Reader Slash Folie.

Standard Disclaimers Apply

One Night in Vegas

Chapter Eighteen

Edward's Point of View

December 15 2:03A.M.

I opened my eyes as I felt the bed shift beside me as Bella began to toss and turn once again. If things continued the way they were, neither of us would be getting any sleep as we needed to be up extra early to pick my mother up from the airport. "Alright sweetheart" I murmured pushing myself up and leaning over her to flick on the light switch. I sat back and gave us both a minute to allow our eyes to adjust to the light, "What has you squirming all over the place?"

Guilt flashed across her face as she bit her lip. "I didn't mean to keep you up" She said softly.

My lips curled up slightly in to a soft reassuring smile before I reached over and pulled her into my arms. "Don't worry about it" I said pressing my lips to her neck. "Now, tell me what's bothering you? You aren't still nervous about meeting my mother, are you?"

Her silence was the only answer I needed. With a soft sigh I pulled her closer, tightening my arms around her waist as I leaned back against the head board. "She's going to love you Bella. I have no doubts about that, so there is no need for you to lose sleep over it. Everything is going to be fine."

I loosened my arms around her as she struggled to turn and face me. Her molten chocolate eye bore in to my own and despite what was going on; I couldn't stop the smile that spread itself across my face. The site of her always made me smile. She made me happy, period.

"Edward." My name left her lips in a whiny tone that quickly wiped the smile clear from my face. "There is a chance that you may be wrong you know. What if she hates me? After all, I am that girl the ruined your life in high school. What if your entire family hates me?"

I chuckled, pressing my lips to her bare neck, "No one is going to hate you Bella, trust me." My lips grazed her neck as I spoke and I felt her shiver against me. My lips twisted in another smirk as I slowly slid my hands up the back of her night shirt, "Why don't you let me help you relax?"

My hands slowly slid up the small of her back slowly making their way to his breast. My fingers gently grazed her nipples and Bella arched her back and moaned. I smirked and pinched them- loving how responsive she was to my simple touches.

"Let's get this shirt off you, shall we?"

Bella looked at me with her lust filled eyes and raised her arms in the air for me. I chuckled and swiftly lifted the night shirt over her head and threw it off to the side somewhere. She won't be in need of it for the rest of the night.

I felt Bella's fingers slip under the bands of my boxer's shorts- the only thing I ever really sleep in now-a-days- and tugged them down impatiently.

I heard my phone go off across the room and groaned, my head falling back against my shoulders. The soft melody coming from the small device told me exactly who it was, my mother. Bella must have recognized it by now too because of my disappointment Bella slid away from me and grabbed my cell phone off the bedside table, handing it to me.

I shot her an apologetic smile and flipped it open. She shrugged, smiling back before she crawled back under the covers on her side. God, this better be important, "Mother?" I said into the mouth piece, trying to mask the annoyance in my voice. "Why are you calling so late? Is everything all right?"

"I'm sorry." My mother's voice came softly from the ear piece of my cell phone. From the slight static I knew she was calling me from her own cell meaning she wasn't home, which was odd for this hour. "And nothing is wrong. I just wanted to let you know I'm on my way to your house now. I couldn't wait until tomorrow so I traded for an early flight. I'm getting into my cab now."

Great! As if Bella wasn't nervous enough already, this would send her into overdrive.

"I know it wasn't very considerate of me, but I have to meet her Edward. I have to meet the woman that stole my baby boy's heart."

I snorted softly, feeling my cheeks burn slightly as I ran my fingers through my hair before I turned to glance over at Bella, hoping she hadn't witnessed me blushing. Thankfully she was lying on her side looking away from me. I leaned over and pressed my lips to her neck before jumping out of bed. "I'll put the spare key under the door mat for you." I said with a soft sigh. There was no use arguing about something that could no longer be prevented. My mother was stubborn and when she wanted something she made sure she got it. "I'll wait up for you, but Bella's already in bed for the night. You'll have to meet her in the morning."

I heard Bella sit up in bed as I swiftly crossed the room to our bathroom and turned on the light. Once I was inside I opened the medicine cabinet and began looking around. I heard my mother sigh softly.

"I figured as much, but I couldn't help but hope you two were too excited to sleep and would be up."

I chuckled grabbing the box of Benadryl and placed in on the sink counter. "We aren't children mother." I said as I filled a glass with water. "I'll be down in the living room when you get here."

"Trying to get rid of me so soon Edward?"

"No, I just don't want to wake Bella." I grabbed the water and the small box of pills and headed back to the bedroom to meet Bella's anxious stare. I smiled softly as I crossed the room and sat at her side placing the two items down on the bedside table. "Love you mom. I'll see you soon."

"I love you too Edward. Bye."

With that I closed my cell phone and threw it down on the bed.

"She's coming now?" Bella croaked out.

I chuckled softly and nodded. "Don't sound so frightened." I said, handing her the glass which she took but not before giving me a questioning look. I grabbed the box and pulled out two pills and popped them into my hand. "No reason to be worried or scared. It's just my mother. The worst she can do is love you to death." I said smiling holding out the pills to her.

Bella's eyes dropped down to the floor for a moment before returning to mine. "Why are you giving me these?" She said taking them into her hands.

"They'll help you get to sleep."

"But they are for allergies..." She said uncertainly.

I laughed softly and leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "Just take them. They won't hurt you. Trust me, you'll be asleep in no time."

Bella nodded and placed the two pills into her mouth and then brought the glass to her lips and took a big gulp. I took the glass when she was finished and placed it back down on the bedside table.

"Now lay down love and close your eyes."

3:12 AM

I must have fallen asleep at some point because the next thing I knew, my mothers' tiny frame was leaning over me and her hands were gently shaking my shoulders. When I came downstairs after preparing the guest room I was sure I'd be up all night; mostly because my body was still burning with need from what I had started with Bella.

"Come on sweetheart, get up and get into your own bed." My mother's voice came softly. "I'm sorry for keeping you up."

I flashed a soft lazy smile as I slowly sat up on the sofa, running my fingers through my messy bronze hair. "Don't worry about it." I said softly. "I've got your room ready upstairs. Let me get your things and bring it up."

My mother smiled down at me. "Nonsense, I can bring it up myself."

I shook my head and got to my feet and headed to the front door where I knew she left her suit case. "Edward." I heard my mother say behind me.

"This way mom" I said leading her to the stairs.

She followed me up the stairs and to her room with out any complaints and quickly settled in. I leaned against the door frame attempting not to yawn as my mother smiled at me from the bed. "Thank you Edward. Go to sleep now." She said softly.

I crossed the room slowly and pulled my mother into my arms, kissing the top of her head gently. "Night mother, I'm glad to have you here. I'll see you in the morning."

9:45 AM

I leaned against the door frame of the bathroom watching Bella as she pulled her brush through her dripping hair. We both got up about an hour ago and took a shower so that we could get ready to go downstairs and greet my mother, but Bella's nerves seemed to be getting the best of her because she was starting to stall. Her hair was knot-less and yet she insisted that she continue brushing it.

Rolling my eyes, I took a step forward and grabbed the brush from her grasp and placed it down on the counter before pulling her back into my arms. "Bella, love, you look fine. If we stay up here any longer my mother is going to drag us downstairs herself."

Bella sighed and leaned into my chest and I tightened my arms around her chest. "Sorry," She said softly, "Let's get this over with." She pulled herself from my grasp and stalked out of the bathroom. I turned off the light and followed closely behind her.

I took Bella's hand once we got to the bottom of the stairs and stepped in front of her just as my mother walked into the hall from the living room.

"Aw, Edward, don't stand in front of her. Let me see my daughter in law!" My mother whined.

I winced as Bella's finger nails dug into my hand. "I thought you said you didn't tell your mother yet!" She said moving to my side, but before I could say anything my mother stepped forward and pulled a shocked Bella into her arms.

"Oh, honey, he didn't tell me." She said looking up at me with narrowed eyes. "I got a very interesting call from your aunt..."

Ah, of course, I should have known Aunt Victoria would be the one to open her big mouth. I smiled apologetically at my mom and released Bella's hand and lifted mine in surrender, "Surprise?"

My mother frowned at me, rolling her eyes. "You're going to have to make it up to me, you know." She said turning to look at Bella, whom of which was now an unnatural shade of white. Concern quickly washed over me and I moved to pull Bella in my arms, but my mother had been quicker. "Oh, no, dear don't look so stricken. I'm not upset with you; on the contrary, really. I'm happy to have you in our family. I'm even happier you stole my boy's heart."

She released Bella and took a step back to look into her eyes. I was relieved that some color had returned to her face and sighed. Things were actually going smoother than I expected. "Ever since some girl broke his heart in high school he scarcely dated. I was beginning to worry he'd never settle down."

Jeez, so much for things going smoothly.

A strangled sound escaped Bella's lips and she turned to face me, her eyes wide and face pained. I quickly wrapped one arm around her waist and pulled her to me while my other hand forked through my hair. I felt my cheeks burn a bit at I looked into my mother's curious eyes.

"Hey, mom," I began softly, "Remember that girl I loved in high school? I'd like you to meet her." I wrapped my other arm around Bella now and held her close. "Funny thing really, she just happens to be my wife, Bella."

My mother's jaw dropped and she quickly covered her mouth with her hands. "Oh, Bella, sweetheart I am so sorry."

I looked down at Bella, who smiled softly. "Don't worry about it Mrs. Cullen. I probably deserve worse than that."

My mother and I snorted at the same time.

"Bella..."

"Nonsense my dear and please call me Esme. Or better yet, mother."

Happy belated Christmas! I tried so hard to get this finished on Christmas Eve but things got a little hectic. Here is a little taste of Esme. Next chapter the rest of Edward's family will arrive. If there is something you would like to see happen next chapter or in a future chapter feel free to give me some ideas. I would love to put some of what you all would like to see happen in my story. Please review; it would be the best belated Christmas gift ever! See you all soon!

Also, I place a new poll up on my profile. I'm pretty curious about the ages of my readers. Please vote. Thank you.

Anna