A/N: I don't own Twilight or its characters; they belong to Stephanie Meyer. This is just what they got up to in my mind. I do not own any publicly recognizable entities herein. No copyright infringement is intended.
Edward and I saw more of each other over the next few weeks; a lot more!
Most of our time was spent alone; in his house or mine, or more accurately, his bed or mine.
We occasionally came up for air and actually spent time in public, meeting Angela and her new boyfriend, Ben, for drinks and spending time together at a few more of Edward's soccer matches. I'd never get bored with watching him be in control, or of him actually being in control, (if you know what I mean…).
As everyone's thoughts turned from Thanksgiving to Christmas, Edward insisted on arranging a day out. He'd said that he'd pick me up at 11 am on Saturday and take me somewhere special.
I'd tried all my best tactics to get him to reveal where he was taking me but despite those tactics, which involved me being naked, he was still tight-lipped about his secret. Thankfully, he wasn't tight-lipped in other areas and neither was I so he turned up early at ten and let me have one more, naked, try at persuading him to spill...his secret.
Once we were on the road, I was content to just chat with him and watch him drive as he updated me on his team's latest cup draw and his next work assignment.
I did listen although I may have been rather distracted by his hands. By now I knew them so well. I knew how good they felt to hold, how good they felt against my naked skin and how good they felt running through my hair as I drifted off to sleep. My stomach flipped deliciously as I watched them resting on the steering wheel, occasionally flicking the indicators or the heating dials and then resting on my denim clad thigh as he drove.
As he chatted so innocently, he moved his hand a few inches, higher up my thighs as I bit my lip at his not so innocent moves.
He grinned as I turned to look out the window at the festive looking houses we were driving past, trying to spot a road sign and get a clue about where we were headed. Although if Edward wasn't careful I knew exactly where we were headed (and it wasn't our destination).
"When do I find out where we're going?" I asked prompting Edward to squeeze my thigh and return his hand obediently to the steering wheel.
"Port Angeles."
Oh, he actually told me! "Port Angeles? What's in Port Angeles?"
I was half expecting a visit to the Christmas markets. I'd been last year to the little cluster of huts that spring up this time of year and sell cinnamon and cranberry flavored everything, hand carved wood ornaments and wreaths made from spiky holly. However, I knew they weren't in Port Angeles.
"You'll see." His hand was back, squeezing my thigh, placating me.
"Wait...don't your parents live in Port Angeles?" I didn't know Edward too well when we were at school but I knew that his parents had moved out of town once Edward had been cleared of all charges.
"Yep."
I gulped and sat up in my seat, tensing as I realized what was happening.
Surely not! Surely, we weren't visiting his parents? Edward must have lost his damn mind.
Yes! That was it! Edward had lost his mind and was just pulling into his parents' house to pick it up and then we'd be on our way to wherever our date actually was.
Phew! Okay. Now I'd sorted that out, I could sit back and relax.
I leaned back in my seat, took a deep breath and worked on relaxing my shoulders.
That was until we approached a large white clad house. The attached garage alone looked bigger than my whole apartment, but what really scared me was the number of cars already parked outside.
Once Edward's car joined them on the super fancy driveway Edward didn't run inside and collect his mind, he turned off the car engine and unclipped his seatbelt.
I turned slowly to look at him, my eyes widening almost as much as the grin on his face.
"Don't freak out…"
"Freak out?" My voice was unexpectedly squeaky as I pretended (not very well) to be calm. "Why would I freak out? We're only at your parents' house, with a lot of other people, by the looks of all these cars."
"Just my siblings and their families," he spoke with a nonchalant shrug.
"Why? Why...why are we here?"
"I'm going to meet your parents soon so I wanted you to know my family. Bella, you're important to me."
"But I've barely brushed my hair since our naked greeting this morning...I'd have dressed up…I'd have..."
Before I could continue spilling the contents of my racing mind, Edward leaned forward and held my chin with his thumb.
"None of that matters." He leaned forward and kissed me, reminding me of just what mattered. Him. Him and us. Not my clothes, not my hairstyle. Just the fact that he wanted to introduce me to his parents spoke volumes for our relationship and once Edward's kiss had shut me up and calmed me down, he sat back in his seat.
"I'd have asked you but I didn't want you to worry. You'd have fretted about what to wear and what to say and there's no need. I want them to meet the real Bella, the one I've come to know and love."
I froze.
Edward froze.
"I mean...I realize I haven't said that before…" He scrubbed his fingers over his chin before meeting my amazed looking face. "I didn't plan that part...but it's true, I'm falling in love with you, so...join me for lunch at my parents' house?"
My stomach flip-flopped at his words as he unclipped my seat belt for me, glossing over his whole 'I'm in love with you' declaration as he waited for some kind of acknowledgment from me.
"Ummm, sure." I wanted to kick his (very cute) butt for springing this visit on me, but after telling me he's falling in love with me it was difficult to stay cross at him. Damn him.
He took my vague answer with a nod as he exited the car and rounded it to my side. He held my door open for me. As I stumbled out, he caught me before I could fall further.
"Deja vu!" I joked, holding onto his chest, needing support from his words as much as my stumble.
I took advantage of my close proximity to Edward and flattened my palms on his t-shirt, reveling in the feelings surrounding us.
He pulled me into a kiss, starting it slowly, and as my hands held his chest tighter, his kiss deepened.
"Oi, Oi! That's enough of that, Eddie!"
Edward froze, took a step back from me and looked in the direction the bellowing voice had come from.
I followed his gaze and saw a guy I recognized from the Fall Fete as Edward's brother-in-law, Emmett. He had his head hanging out of a top floor window, with his fingers in his mouth as he wolf-whistled at us.
"Bastard," Edward whispered as he gave Emmett a rude finger gesture before smiling and turning back to me.
"Come on," he encouraged as he locked his car with a flick of the keys, took hold of my hand and led me to the front door.
We stood on the doorstep hand-in-hand as he rang the doorbell and we waited.
"Oh, by the way…" I squeezed Edward's hand, prompting him to turn to me. "I'm falling in love with you, too."
Edward's face was a mix of amazement and elation, but two seconds after he registered what I said the door opened and he turned automatically to greet his mom.
After hugging her son she greeted me in the same way and then ushered us inside.
"Bella, dear, Edward's told us so much about you."
"He has?" My voice croaked as Edward chuckled and I shook my head. "I mean, oh, how nice."
Mrs. Cullen smiled fondly at me.
"I'm sorry, I'm a bit flustered. I didn't know we were coming here today, I'd have brought something…"
"Bella makes a mean apple pie," Edward interrupted, kissing his mom's cheek as he passed her. "She'll bring one next time," he spoke casually as he nodded in greeting to his approaching father.
Next time? I gulped but didn't have time to panic because Edward was now introducing me to his father as Emmett came downstairs and met us in the hallway at the same time.
Edward grinned fondly at me as I stumbled my way through meeting his dad. Carlisle Cullen. The Carlisle Cullen. Editor of the county's biggest paper for decades. He was a celebrity in my field and now I was shaking his hand and hoping that Edward hadn't told his father too much about his love life.
After some back slaps and whispered words between Edward and Emmett we all made our way into the large kitchen to meet the rest of Edward's family. His sister, Rose, was there with Bree, as well as his brother, Jasper, and his wife, Alice, and their two kids, who didn't stand still long enough for me to work out which kid was which.
We ate a casual lunch with plenty of drinks and laughs. I could see Edward was in his element here. He and Emmett shared many in-jokes, making each other laugh with seemingly innocuous words or sayings. Rose fondly rolled her eyes at them on more than one occasion, but witnessing their closeness helped me understand why Edward had done what he did for Emmett. They had a bond forged over many years of friendship and it was amazing to see this playful, happy side to Edward.
I'd been so fascinated watching Edward's interactions with Emmett; I hadn't noticed his mom taking a seat next to me until she spoke.
"It's so nice to see him happy," she told me as I turned to her. "I think you're a big part of that."
"Really?" I asked doubtfully.
"Of course!" She chuckled. "He's talking about the future for once instead of looking back at the past."
I smiled. "Good. He deserves a bright future."
"I agree." She nodded and looked down at her hands before taking a deep breath.
"Bella, dear, Edward hasn't introduced us to many girls and I can't pretend I wasn't surprised when he told us he was dating you. But he seems really happy, I just, I hope his past won't complicate things."
"I know that the history between Edward and my Dad isn't ideal but I won't let it come between us."
She nodded and patted my arm. "He said the same thing."
Edward noticed his mom and me talking when he looked our way. He grinned, his eyes alight with happiness as he approached me and slipped his arm around my waist. His nose nuzzled my hair as he whispered in my ear, not caring who was watching. "I hope they're going easy on you?"
"You have to face my dad, so I can't complain!"
"True," he answered with a chuckle and a kiss to my hair. His nonchalance at my comment was pleasing. He clearly wasn't too worried about meeting my dad again and, after the 'I love yous earlier, I was glad that meeting would happen sooner rather than later.
"Uncle Edward," Bree interrupted as Edward's arm left my waist and he picked his niece up, sitting her on the breakfast bar in front of us and placing his arms on either side of her to stop her from falling.
"Yes, Cheesy?"
Bree. Brie. Cheesy. I get it, it sounded like a nickname I'd have come up with.
"I went to gymnastics class this morning. I can do a lay-over now, can I show you?"
"Sure." Edward didn't sound as sure as he looked to his sister to check that he'd said the right thing.
"Why don't you show Uncle Edward out on the decking, baby?" She said already opening up a sliding door before Bree raced outside, followed by Edward.
"We can't keep her upright. She's always twirling and spinning and turning upside down," Rosalie told me as she watched her daughter affectionately.
"I'm sure Edward can keep up," Emmett chipped in. "He told me you've been to watch a few of his games?" Emmett continued.
"Yeah, it's fun. Although I think I'll enjoy his games a bit more in the summer when it's warmer."
Rosalie laughed. "I love your honesty."
"Speaking of honesty," Emmett started, "I never thought Edward would be dating Chief Swan's daughter. You must mean a lot to him for him to risk that."
I was flattered by Emmett's words but I could also hear what he wasn't saying. "Emmett, you don't have to worry. My dad won't hear any new details about Edward's past. Not from me."
Emmett nodded and smiled slightly. "Thanks, as Edward's family, we'd all appreciate that."
We then all joined Edward and Bree outside, taking our drinks out onto the balcony and watching Bree twirl and spin her way through the afternoon. I snuck off to take a quick call from my mom while everyone stayed on the decking to watch Bree's tumbling exhibition. I had a meet and greet of my own to arrange.
Before we left, Edward's dad made a point of chatting to me and let's just say if Edward takes after his dad as he gets older then I'm definitely in for a treat. As well as being ridiculously handsome for a man his age, he was very interesting to talk to. Having our jobs as reporters in common meant the conversation flowed easily and a quick chat turned into a long talk. I could see Edward looking over and smiling. I knew he was close to his family, and he'd want us to get on, which, given who my father is, wouldn't necessarily be straightforward.
When it came time for us to leave Edward hugged both his parents, nodding and smiling at something his mom whispered when they parted.
"Come on, you." He took my hand and led me down the front steps to his car.
Once we left Edward's parents' mansion, I mean house, I breathed a sigh of relief.
"They love you," Edward assured me, starting the car, pulling away and resting his hand on my thigh.
"Just like you!" I announced in a sing-song voice. I flopped my head back on the headrest and turned to see a silly grin spread across Edward's face, even though he was fighting it.
"Just like me," he repeated, his voice sincere.
I sighed happily and turned to look out the window, content to sit with Edward and just be in his presence.
"I've never said that before…not to a woman." He looked straight ahead at the road as he spoke.
"Really? Wow!" I was stunned.
He nodded, squeezed my thigh and grinned. "I want you to know I won't let your dad put me off. He can disagree with me, hate me even, but I hope it won't get in the way of our relationship."
I nodded in agreement, even though Edward was looking at the road. "That's good because I know we talked about you two meeting again so I've arranged for us to have dinner together...tomorrow."
I saw Edward's jaw tighten as he swallowed. "Great!"
He only sounded a bit sarcastic but I couldn't blame him.
"It'll be fine," I assured him, squeezing his thigh. "And, if not, at least you'll get some more pie out of it!"
A/N: Thanks for reading and for your continued interest in this story. Please let me know what you think, your reviews really do encourage me to continue. I love to hear your thoughts and really appreciate any reviews.
Thanks to my Beta EdwardsFirstKiss and my PreReaders Sarcastic Bimbo and RebAdams who are always at the end of an email to help. Also, thanks to M-Sparkle who has made some awesome banners for this fic x
