Guess what, it's Thursday! The song for this chapter is "Ooh Child" by Beth Orton youtu*be/j0tYkk_B-Cg and here is the pic tease: i49*tinypic*com/qod6wy*jpg

Shout out to AshesAshes for recommending, "Help, I'm Alive" by Metric and terrabella for suggesting "Give Me Love" by Ed Sheeran for Chapter Eleven. We loved both of your suggestions!

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Big thanks to our incredible team of betas: karenec, LJ Summers, and jakeward. You ladies rock our socks!

Chapter Twelve: Unsettled

"Miss Swan, one of your men is here."

I closed my eyes, not sure if I was amused or irritated.

"Thank you, Jacob; I'll be right down."

I gathered my purse and wrap, and took a moment to look at myself in the mirror before I headed downstairs. I was tired of the structured, office-appropriate clothing I'd been wearing. I had paired a soft yellow dress with white cork-heeded wedges. It was casual enough for the park, but not inappropriate for mingling with people I worked with. I dabbed a little bit of gloss onto my lips and shook out my curls, letting them hang loose.

Edward was waiting for me in the lobby and greeted me with a kiss on the cheek.

"You look beautiful."

"Thank you. You look nice, as well."

"My car is out front; are you ready to head out?"

"Yes."

His hand came to rest on my lower back as he pushed the door open for me and there was a gleaming black Lexus SUV waiting out front. He unlocked it and helped me inside.

"Hmm, I wouldn't have guessed you drove an SUV," I commented.

He chuckled. "I like having the space to transport artwork when I need to. And it's a hybrid so the gas mileage is better."

"That makes sense." I nodded and buckled my seatbelt.

Edward smoothly pulled out onto the street. He was a controlled, fast driver and we found ourselves at Stow Lake Park with ten minutes to spare.

"This is a nice area," he commented.

"Yeah, it is. This one of Charlie's favorite events. His assistant does a fantastic job organizing it every year."

"Why do you call your dad Charlie?" he asked.

"Oh, I guess I got in the habit at the office. Everyone else called him Charles or Mr. Swan and it just stuck in my head. Trust me; I don't call him that to his face."

He laughed. "I'll keep that in mind."

"Oh, you could call him Charlie. He'd just have a coronary if I tried it."

"I think I'll stick with Mr. Swan."

I started to get out of the car but he stopped me. "Let me get your door."

He quickly got out and jogged around to open my door for me.

"Thank you," I said when I took his hand to step out of the car. I let my fingers slip from his once I was standing.

"Call me old-fashioned." He shrugged.

"I hope you don't mind, but we're actually early. The barbecue doesn't officially begin until three-thirty. I wanted to get here early to make sure everything was set up and ready to go."

"No, that's fine."

With a sinking feeling, I realized something that I hadn't even considered that before. "Well, it means you have to meet my parents."

"I'm not concerned." He grinned at me and truly didn't look concerned. I eyed him skeptically. I wondered if he'd change his mind after he met Renee.

The picnic area was a teeming mass of activity, with caterers running around, Renee barking orders, and Charlie casually supervising. I passed Bree, who looked a little flushed and frantic, but she waved at me and did a bit of a double-take at seeing Edward.

I made my way over to Charlie first and he welcomed me with a hug. "Aww, there she is. You look great today, Bella."

"Thanks. I feel good," I admitted.

"It's about time." He turned expectantly to Edward and I introduced them.

"Dad, I'd like you to meet Edward Cullen." I turned to look at Edward. "Edward, this is my father, Charlie Swan."

"Nice to meet you, sir," Edward said politely and they shook hands.

"Nice to meet you, too. So . . . how did you two meet?"

I blanched. I hadn't even thought about the fact that a question like that would come up. I scrambled to come up with something to say, but words failed me. Telling him we met at a bar was one thing, but the fact that I'd brought him home with me was quite another. There were just some things I didn't want my father to know.

Edward quickly came to my rescue. "Oh, we were both out one night and met through a mutual friend. I never managed to get her number though, so I was glad when I saw her at the museum."

"Edward is a curator at the Museum of Modern Art here in San Francisco," I added, grateful that he had been able to come up with an honest answer that sounded completely innocent. "He was giving a lecture for a Special Exhibition I was interested in. I got the tickets through the office."

"Oh that's right, we make a donation to them every year, don't we?"

"Yes."

"I'm sorry, Edward," Charlie said. "But modern art just doesn't do it for me."

Edward chuckled softly. "That's what Bella tells me. Art is a very personal thing and I appreciate your honesty. Besides, there's plenty of modern art that isn't my taste either. I know how important Andy Warhol was to the movement, but you'll never find me spending any time with his pieces."

"That's the soup can guy, right?"

I giggled. "Yes, Dad, he's the soup can guy."

"Do you enjoy your work, Edward?"

"I do. Very much, actually. The idea that someone actually pays me to spend all day in a museum, and getting to put together shows is still kind of amazing to me."

Charlie nodded approvingly. "All right, your mother seems to have worked herself into a tizzy, Bella. Let me go rescue the caterer. You two enjoy yourselves and we will speak later. It was nice to meet you, Edward."

"Nice to meet you, too, Mr. Swan."

"Charlie, please."

"Charlie," Edward acknowledged.

"Are you sure you don't need any help, Dad?"

"No, go for a walk, enjoy the weather. You can introduce Edward to your mother . . . after she's calmed down."

I bit my lip to keep from laughing and turned to Edward.

"You up for a walk?"

"Absolutely."

Edward reached for my hand and I turned away so our hands merely brushed across each other. He didn't comment, instead, we started to stroll down toward the lake in silence.

"I don't think I've ever been to this part of the park before," he commented.

"Really? I love it. We've always had the company picnic here, so I've been coming since I was a child."

We stopped when we reached the water's edge and Edward turned to me. "Thank you for inviting me."

"I'm glad I did," I said honestly. "I am sorry about the other night. I should have at least left you a note."

"Yes, well, I'd like to say it was completely unexpected, but that wouldn't be the truth. I'm not going to pry and ask what you're dealing with, but please, if you ever need to just talk, I'll be here to listen."

I turned away from him and faced the lake, blinking back tears at his words. "I don't know why on earth you're still interested in me." I laughed, although it was a nervous response rather than genuine amusement. His hand softly stroked down my back from the top of my dress to my waist.

"You're not like anyone else I've ever met. I find you intriguing."

"I can't imagine why; I know you can see what a mess I am," I commented.

He opened his mouth to say something when we were interrupted by Bree calling down the hill.

"Bella, Mrs. Swan asked me to tell you that people are starting to arrive."

"I'll be right there," I called back. I turned to Edward and apologized. "I'm sorry, I need to go." I was uncomfortable with the turn the conversation had taken, and was grateful for the interruption.

"Don't apologize. This is a work event, even if it is casual. I'm just here to be your arm candy."

I grinned. "I've seen worse."

He beamed back, his eyes crinkling at the corners. I hesitated for a moment, collecting myself before I turned and walked up the hill; Edward fell into step beside me. The guests had begun to arrive and although I had never doubted it, everything was in place and ready for them. The caterers had set up a long table filled with food, and there was someone manning the grill. There were children's games set up on the lawn and everyone seemed to be laughing and having a good time. I waited until most of the people had taken food, casually greeting people I knew. Finally, Edward and I made our way over to the food tables so we could get our own.

"Everything looks delicious," he said.

"It always is. The same company has been catering for us for twenty years, and we love it."

We filled our plates and looked around for an empty seat. There were several at the table where Bree and a couple of paralegals were sitting, and we made our way over.

I introduced Edward and it didn't take long before everyone was talking animatedly while they ate. I watched him, noticing the way he charmed everyone around him and easily blended in with the conversations. He put them at ease and was friendly without being pushy. "He is so easy to like," I thought.

After we ate, Edward and I made our way around the party attempting to avoid my parents table.

"Oh, Isabella," Renee called when she saw us. "I thought you had run off with the young man who's been following you around. And here he is I see." She gave me a reproachful look. "Do introduce us."

"Mother, this is Edward. Edward, my mother, Mrs. Renee Swan."

"It's very nice to meet you, Mrs. Swan," he said sincerely. "I can see where Bella got her stunning looks from."

"Hmm." She pursed her lips, regarding Edward coolly. "And what is it exactly that you do for a living?"

"I'm a curator at the Museum of Modern Art."

"Well, isn't that nice," she said dismissively.

"I enjoy it very much."

He did his best to charm her, but she didn't seem to warm up to him, to my surprise. I wondered what her problem with him was. His job was certainly nothing to sneer at, and he was the perfect image of a successful, well put-together man. There was really nothing to dislike about him that I could see. He was attractive, well spoken, intelligent, and interesting to talk to. I realized with surprise that I was irritated by the fact that she was being somewhat frosty with him. Her voice broke through my thoughts.

"Isabella, have you heard from Riley lately?"

My eyes snapped to hers and I swallowed hard; this wasn't the time, nor the place to get into things with my mother and she knew it. "He called last weekend and we played phone tag for a few days. I spoke to him a few days ago."

"You really shouldn't have let him get away. He would have made for a wonderful son-in-law." She sighed dramatically.

I suppressed the urge to roll my eyes. "Well, I think Edward and I are going to go for a walk now. We'll see you later before we leave, Mother."

"Isabella, you really should mingle with the guests."

"Oh let her enjoy herself, Renee," Charlie scolded as he approached us. "I will see you later, kid."

"Bye, Dad." I hugged him and Edward held out his arm for me to take. Without looking back, I took it and once again, we made our way down to the lake.

We walked in silence for a while until we reached the boat rental place. It was teeming with people, some of whom were Swan and Volturi employees.

"We should take a paddle boat ride," Edward suggested.

"I've never done that, actually," I admitted.

"Really? It's fun, come on." Edward reached for his wallet and I brushed him off.

"It's on me. Well, the company, but you don't have to pay. We rent out the boats for the entire day as a part of the event; our employees just have to present their ID and it's taken care of."

"All right."

We waited in line and when we reached the front, I dug through my bag to find my work ID. We listened to the attendant's instructions and Edward helped me into the boat. I carefully sat down, afraid I was going to flash him if a gust of wind caught the hem of my skirt. He smirked at me and began to paddle, expertly steering us away from the dock and I scrambled to get my feet on the pedals to help, all the while trying to keep my dress from flying up.

"Maybe this wasn't the best idea," I said breathlessly once we'd reached the open water of the lake and another gust of wind caught my skirt.

"I don't have any complaints." His eyes lingered on my bare legs. "Besides, it's not like you haven't flashed me before."

"What?"

"I wondered if it was intentional."

"What are you talking about?"

"That hot little dress you had on the night we met. You didn't have anything on underneath. And when you sat down on the couch and tucked your legs up, well let's just say I could tell."

I closed my eyes, mortified. "No, I definitely did not realize that."

"Why do you think I wanted your feet on my lap?"

"You didn't," I protested.

He laughed. "Only when you sat down and then again when you almost fell off the couch. The angle wasn't right when I was giving you the foot massage."

I shook my head. "You're terrible."

Edward smirked and cracked a lopsided grin. "I think you like it," he said confidently.

I finally managed to get my skirt tucked down and I laid my hands on top of my thighs to keep the wind from catching it again.

I ignored him and changed the subject. "I want to apologize about earlier."

"For what?"

"My mother was rather rude to you."

"I suppose." He shrugged. "Your father seems like a nice man."

"He is," I said.

"He seems like a great boss, too. Everyone I've met today genuinely seems to enjoy working for him."

"Absolutely. But I'm kind of a daddy's girl, so maybe I'm biased."

"Mind if I ask you something?" Edward asked and paused to wait for my reply. I eyed him cautiously but conceded with a nod, encouraging him to ask his question. "Who's Riley?"

I turned away from him to stare out at the island in the middle of the lake. "He's my . . . ex. We dated for twelve years and he moved away about seven months ago. . . . Let's just say my mother disagrees with some of the decisions I've made with my life."

"All right." He took my hand and squeezed it gently. He didn't push for more, and I was grateful.

The sun was warm on my bare skin, and I felt the heat sink into my bones. I exhaled deeply, feeling like I had been holding my breath for weeks, maybe months. When was the last time I had truly relaxed and just enjoyed myself? I remembered laughing with Edward at the café, and then later that night in his apartment. Heated hands on my bare skin, his lips on my throat, the scent of the skin on his stomach as I made my way down his body. He had made me forget myself and feel like I could almost completely let go. I relaxed back against the seat and Edward smiled at me before steering us gently around curve of Strawberry Hill Island.

He turned to look at me and I took a long moment to observe him. I had tried so hard to not really think about how attractive he was since I'd first met him that night at the bar., but he really was.

It was interesting to see him in more casual clothing. It made his shoulders look broader and his legs longer. He was leaner than Riley and more angular. Football had bulked Riley up, and he had stayed fit throughout college and after. I had loved to kiss along the six pack on his stomach. The two men were about the same height. Riley was 6'3" and I thought Edward was probably just a fraction shorter. At work, my height of 5'3" was sometimes a disadvantage, but I had always liked it when I was with Riley. I felt safe in his arms, secure. Still, Edward's lean, toned body was hardly something to sneer at.

I had been right that Edward's hair was redder than it initially appeared. The boat drifted from the shade into a patch of sunlight and his hair lit up, almost a fiery red. His eyes were a grey blue, with dark rings around the outside of the iris.

We continued to make our way around the island, heading south until we reached the Roman bridge, then paddled under it and around to the east side. It was cooler there, the trees casting long shadows on the water as the sun sank behind the hill on the island.

I watched the ducks on the water, lazily floating in the gentle current the wind stirred up. This side of the island was quieter and there wasn't a single other person in sight, although I could hear murmured conversation. Up ahead, I could see the rustic stone bridge that connected the north shore to the island.

"I'm glad you came today," I said, really enjoying Edward's company.

He looked over at me and the corners of his mouth lifted into a small smile. "I am, too. I was surprised you called me though."

"I think I surprised myself," I admitted. When I was with Riley, I knew exactly who I was and where my life was headed. Since he left, I'd been floundering, reacting to things that came up, rather than making decisions based on our plan. For the first time since I was a teenager, I was living on my own with no one else to consider. I hardly felt like I knew myself.

I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "Edward, I really am sorry about the other night." It had been instinct to run the moment I saw Riley's name on my phone. The guilt was crippling. But in the bright light of day I realized how awful I had been to Edward. He had treated me far better than I deserved and I repaid him by running away.

He nodded. "I know you are. Can you just promise me one thing?"

"What is it?"

"Next time, if you need to go, or need me to leave, just tell me."

I nodded before I realized what I was agreeing to. "You're awfully sure there will be a next time."

He smirked at me, seemingly light-hearted. "I know you can't stay away from me."

"I don't know about that." I narrowed my eyes at him playfully.

He moved his hand from the lever that controlled the rudder of the boat to my thigh. The heat passed through the thin fabric of my dress and warmed my skin.

"Can I kiss you?" he asked suddenly. Stupefied by the warm summer air and the relaxed, easy atmosphere of the day, I nodded. We both stopped paddling and the boat continued to drift.

He leaned over and his fingers wrapped around the back of my neck. He drew me close, but didn't touch my lips. Instead, his eyes stared into mine. When he kissed me, it was just a brief brush of his lips against mine, but it was enough to make me remember the way he felt over me, when he was moving deep inside me. I felt my skin flush at the memory and I sighed against his lips. I sat back and looked at him, noting the needy look in his eyes.

The sound of a child laughing with delight across the lake took me from my thoughts back to the barbecue a year prior.

Riley had spent the time after dinner playing with the small army of children. They had discovered that he was really good at playing catch and despite the fact that he had been playing for nearly an hour they had begged him to continue.

"I'm tired," he groaned.

"Please, please, please, Riley," they begged. Instead of throwing the ball, he grabbed one of the little girls, threw her up in the air, and caught her. She squealed in delight and it wasn't long before they were all clambering for a turn. He indulged them and by the time he had finished giving each one a turn, he was exhausted. He collapsed on the ground and I laughed, sitting on the grass beside him.

The quick, chaste kiss I gave him was enough to chase the children off, shrieking in disgust, and he held out an arm to me. I glanced around, not wanting to be too affectionate in front of everyone we worked with. Most of the parents were rounding their children up to leave and heading out, paying absolutely no attention to us. I lay down on the grass beside him and put my head on his shoulder. It was just beginning to grow dark and the air was starting to cool, the smell of the salty ocean fog starting to roll in. I knew it wouldn't be long before we would head home, too, but I wanted to enjoy the moment.

"How soon?" he asked. I didn't have to ask him what he was referring to. Seeing him with the children made me ache to have his. He would be an incredible father. We had talked a lot about it, knowing how important our careers were to both of us, but we were both eager to begin our family.

"A few years at the most."

"What do you think of a wedding next summer?"

I turned to him in surprise. "You think so? It's not too soon?"

"I know I don't want to wait much longer, Bella."

"Me either."

He kissed me sweetly. "I know we have a plan for our careers, but nothing is ever set in stone. And I don't want to miss anything with you. I want you to be my wife and I want you to be the mother of my children. You're everything to me, Bella."

My eyes filled up with tears and I brushed my lips over his before I spoke. "I love you so much, Riley. If you ask me-no when you ask me, I'll say yes. Whether it's tomorrow or a year from now, I'll always say yes."

"Bella, are you all right?" My eyes focused again to see Edward staring at me, a look of concern on his face. I dug my fingernails into my palm to keep from falling apart. I felt brittle and fragile and when Edward moved to push my hair from my face, I flinched, afraid that if he touched me, I'd break down. He let his hand fall into his lap and sat back in his seat.

"I'm fine." My voice sounded strained and hoarse.

"Would you like to go back?"

"Please."

We finished the boat ride in silence, and I couldn't meet Edward's worried gaze. Instead, I stared blankly at the scenery around me, not really seeing a thing. I fought to keep my rigid control in place and by the time we reached the shore, I could feel my anxiety taking over. I had to make it home without breaking down. While Edward returned the boat, I paced back and forth along the water's edge trying to calm myself.

"I'd like to go home now, please." I could hear the struggle in my voice, though there was nothing I could do to stop it. Edward's sympathetic gaze-while comforting-only made my heart ache worse.

"Of course," Edward replied.

I said goodbye to my parents, and although Charlie gave me a concerned look, he didn't ask me what was wrong; Renee simply brushed it off as usual. I tried to make conversation on the ride home, but it was stilted and awkward. When Edward pulled up in front of my building, I couldn't get out of the car fast enough. Though Edward came around to open the car door for me again, I was halfway to the door before he could stop me. I heard him call out behind me, but I didn't look back. I made it to the entrance of my building and stopped, realizing how callous I was being. I turned to find him leaning against the car, hands at his sides, and a disappointed expression on his face. I walked back to him, pushing everything inside me down for just a moment longer. He looked up hopefully.

"Would you like me to walk you up?" he asked.

"No, thank you."

He nodded, as if expecting that answer.

"Thank you for coming today, Edward," I added. "I appreciate it. I had a nice time with you," I said honestly. Before the painful memory of Riley, I had been enjoying myself.

"I did, too."

We both stood there for a moment, staring at each other. Impulsively, I leaned forward and kissed his cheek.

"Have a good night," I said softly.

"You, too. Take care." His words sounded horribly final and I was surprised to find that it bothered me so much. It was too much on top of an already emotionally overwhelming day. I turned quickly, blinking back the tears that threatened to spill over and made my way into the lobby, past Seth, who was staffing the desk.

I made it up to my apartment and into the shower before I completely broke down. I slid to the floor and cried under the warm water for what felt like hours. I wrapped my arms around myself feeling as though my heart was being ripped from my chest all over again.

I could have been engaged and possibly married to Riley by now. We could be taking our honeymoon and planning when we wanted to start trying for children. Instead, I was alone- completely alone. I'd been on countless dates I wasn't even sure I'd enjoyed. I'd been fucking guys I wasn't sure I liked. I was nearing thirty without a husband, or a boyfriend or anything but a career, which was turning me into a bitter workaholic who resented the job she used to love. The pain engulfed me and left me gasping. I pounded my fist weakly against the cold tile floor, angry and despondent.

An unwanted memory of worried blue-grey eyes with dark lashes assaulted me. Edward. Edward had been so kind to me. I'm sure he had questions for me, though he never once prodded me when he sensed things were strained. He simply gave me my space and accepted the things I wasn't willing to talk about. He said he was intrigued by me, but I still didn't understand why he was so tolerant of my vicious mood swings. One minute, I was kissing him and wondering if I should have him in my bed, and the next I was reliving one of the most precious and painful memories that I had spent with another man. I must seem completely unstable to him.

My sobs quieted to hiccupping gasps and I relaxed, letting my legs slide out in front of me. I laid my head back against the shower wall, and inhaled and exhaled slowly. "Why do I even care what Edward thinks of me?" I wondered. I never had to see him again. He could become just like all of the others. Except, there was a part of me that recognized—and didn't want to admit-that Edward wasn't like the guys before him. Any of the other guys would have left after my first breakdown, much less the second or third. For some reason, Edward was different.

With a strange, unsettled feeling, I crawled to my feet, and out of the shower, suddenly wondering what exactly I wanted from Edward Cullen.

We love to hear from you; don't be shy to tell us what you think. See you all next week! As always, you can find us at the following places:

Facebook: www*facebook*com/DiscordiaWriter
Twitter: DiscordiaWrites and kharisma2
Tumblr: discordiawriter*tumblr*com/

(You know the drill by now. Copy and paste the links and replace the * with a period. Because FFn is a pain about links.)