Thanks so much to everyone who's reading, reviewing and adding this to their story alerts! I really do appreciate it!

Sorry this is so late, but real life kind of got in the way, what with the holidays and all distracting me. I hope to be a bit less derelict in my duties now that Christmas & New Years are over. All I have to do now is take down the dang decorations (guess everyone knows what I'm doing next weekend, right? LOL)

Please enjoy and review!

Disclaimer: The Twilight Saga, it's characters, and it's themes all belong to the goddess, Stephenie Meyer and sadly, not to me.

~*~*~*~*~*~*

Chapter 8: Wart Hog

Bella flopped down on one of the steps leading to the bedrooms upstairs, legs outstretched in front of her, and let out a long, low breath.

"That good?" Charlie looked at her with an amused look.

"Better!" She looked at him with a crooked smile.

"Nothing makes me happier than seeing you happy, Bells," Charlie grinned, pulling her new jacket out of the bag he was still holding. "Hang this up when you go upstairs. And take the tags off so you can start wearing it, ok?"

"Sure, Charlie," she grabbed hold of the banister and pulled herself up.

"So…happy you came here?"

"Even happier. Charlie, you know why I came here. I was thrilled to come here."

"So you've said, but I still can't help worry that you aren't happy. Forks is nothing like Phoenix, you know." He carefully folded the shopping bag he was holding.

"Neither is Jacksonville. And, even if I hadn't met Edward, I'd still like it better here than anywhere Phil was." She took her new jacket out of her father's hands.

"You're never going to tell me the whole story, are you?"

"I've told you the whole story," her voice was soft.

"And I've told you I don't believe you."

"Stop being the Chief of Police, Charlie. You're my father," she rolled her eyes.

"Exactly. You'll tell me when you're ready, I'm sure, Bells," he smiled at her. "Now, why don't you tell me all about old Hot Lips Cullen, there…" he winked at his daughter.

"I swear, Charlie. You're going to give that poor boy a coronary," she shook her head. "He never went over the speed limit the whole time! Not even by one mile per hour! He was afraid you had an APB out on him!"

Charlie snorted. "He was? That's great! He seems like a nice, respectful boy, Bells. Dr. Cullen and his wife have raised five fine children."

"Edward seems to be on the outs with the rest of them," she mused.

"Does he?"

"Yeah. His parents came into the diner we were having coffee in and it really affected him," she frowned at the memory of Edward's reaction to seeing Carlisle and Esme at the diner.

"Well, he's a teenager. Just because you are so well adjusted and grounded doesn't mean all teenagers are, Bells." The edges of his mustache twisted up into an evil grin. "After all, not everyone has me for a father."

"Oh puh~leez, Charlie. I'm being serious here!" She spat out, exasperated. "Can you discuss something seriously for once?"

Now it was Charlie's turn to plop down on the steps. "You really like this boy, don't you?"

"Oh Charlie! I've never met anyone I've liked so much! It just feels right to be with him! Like we synch together or something. We just fell in step one day, and that was it." Her hands were clasped together as she held them to her chest.

"So, Edward Cullen is the yin to your yang?" Charlie looked at his only child with loving eyes.

"Yes."

"Do you think he feels the same way? It's awfully fast for you to be feeling this way, Bells." His voice was soft.

"I know, and the intensity of what I'm feeling for him frightens me, Charlie. It really does." She sat down on the step next to him and he put his arm around her.

"Just take it slow, sweetie. Don't let him push you into anything you aren't ready for."

"I don't think Edward would be like that," she shook her head.

"He may not be like that, but those hot lips of his may be the most persuasive part of him, Bells. You forget I was watching." He snickered lightly and tightened his grip on her.

"Ugh. Don't remind me. That was completely humiliating! And poor Edward!" She gave her father a dirty look.

"Color drained right out of that kid's face," he grinned at the memory. "It's so much fun having you here."

Bella stood up. "On that note, I'm going to bed. Night, Charlie." She leaned down and kissed him on the cheek.

"Night, Bells. Sweet Edward dreams."

~*~*~*~*~*

Edward pulled the silver Volvo into the garage. He had driven around Forks for a while after he dropped Bella off, to be alone with his thoughts and cool down a bit, and during that time, Carlisle and Esme had returned home. He pulled in next to Carlisle's big shiny black Mercedes and killed the engine, noting that Esme's gray BMW was missing. Obviously, the others had taken it.

While he understood why Carlisle had gifted him with the Volvo (which he chose to view more as a loan than a gift), Edward could never understand why none of the other's had been given cars. Moreover, he couldn't understand why they just didn't go out and get jobs to buy a car if they so desperately wanted one, instead of arguing with Esme and demanding the use of her car like they always did. He shook his head and got out of the car, pulling a pack of cigarettes from his jacket pocket and lighting one up as he reached the little porch that was his smoking spot.

He sat down on his usual step and took a long, soothing drag on the cigarette. He'd gone the entire evening without so much as a single puff. So had Bella. Maybe, if they spent enough time together, they could quit. Carlisle would love that, he snorted. So would Esme. Nothing would make him happier than to make Esme happy.

He thought back to the diner, and to what Bella said. About Carlisle, and how happy he was to see him. While he hated to admit it, she was right. Everything about Carlisle was different in that diner. From the way he stood to the relaxed way he spoke with Bella. It was like the old Carlisle. For a scant moment, Edward wondered if, perhaps, he hadn't been to hard on the old man. But he forced the thoughts from his mind as he sucked on his cigarette. No. He wasn't being too hard on him, for, ultimately, it was Carlisle's actions that took her from him. He ran his hand through his hair nervously at the thought.

He stabbed out the cigarette and stuffed the butt into the bucket of sand. Slowly, he rose and ambled over to the big house. He noticed that Esme and Carlisle's bedroom lights were on. They were still up. Swallowing hard, he prayed silently that he could get to his bedroom without confrontation.

The downstairs was dark as Edward slipped silently in the front door, heading to the darkened staircase.

"Edward," a voice from the dark called, freezing him instantly.

"Carlisle," he turned and faced into the darkness.

"I hope I didn't scare you. I was just putting the cheesecake your mother brought home in the refrigerator," Carlisle's jovial tone was the same as it had been at the diner.

"No, you didn't scare me." He'd half been expecting to find Carlisle sitting in the darkness of the large living room, lying in wait for him, as he was a half hour past his curfew.

"Good. Come, let's head upstairs." He held his arm out toward the stairs Edward had been heading to, motioning for him to move forward. Edward did as commanded.

"I was hoping to catch you tonight. I trust you had an enjoyable evening?" Carlisle was making small talk with him? What the hell?

"I did. As you saw, Bella is an exceptional girl." Edward couldn't help but smile into the darkness.

"She's lovely. Perhaps a little unconventional, but it's not about the looks, right? It's about what's inside." The two men continued to walk slowly up the stairs as they spoke.

"There's nothing wrong with how she looks," Edward tried not to snap.

"I didn't say there was. In fact, your mother was positively thrilled to meet her and absolutely taken with her, Edward," He grabbed his arm, stopping him on the darkened second floor landing. Edward turned to face his father, adopting a defensive stance. "Calm down, Edward. I just wanted to thank you."

Disarmed, Edward felt his shoulders slump as he relaxed. "Thank me? For what?"

"For salvaging the night for your mother."

"Excuse me?"

Carlisle let out a long, slow breath. "There was, well, an incident…"

"I knew she'd been crying," Edward spit out as his hands balled into fists at his side. "Rose?"

"Who else?"

Edward couldn't help but laugh. "And here I thought I was doing everyone a favor by not going."

"Please don't mention it to your mother, or to any of your brothers or sisters," Carlisle sighed. "The short time at the diner with you and Bella lifted your mother's spirits right up. She couldn't speak of anything but how wonderful Bella seemed, and how good she seemed for you. Edward, you made your mother very happy tonight." Out of nowhere, Carlisle threw his arms around Edward and hugged him tightly. Stunned, Edward stood still, with his arms at his sides. "Thank you, Edward."

"You're welcome. May~may I go say goodnight to her?" Still stunned.

"Of course! Please do!" Carlisle clapped him on the back in the same exact way Charlie Swan had earlier in the evening. Bewildered, Edward headed up to the third floor.

The dark hallway was illuminated only by the light spilling out from Carlisle and Esme's open door. Edward approached with hesitation, pausing twice to look back at Carlisle for reassurance. Carlisle nodded at him, imploring him to go forward. Surely he wasn't plotting a trap? Not after what he said on the second floor landing?

"Mom?" Edward poked his head into the room cautiously. Esme walked out from the bathroom in her night gown, rubbing her hands together. Edward immediately caught a whiff of her hand cream.

"Edward?" Her voice was cautious until she saw Carlisle behind him. She smiled past Edward to her husband. "Edward, come in," she said with a sure voice.

Edward smiled crookedly at his mother and crossed the room to her. Carlisle stood in the doorway, leaning against the door jam.

"Hi Mom," he sighed.

"Hi, baby," she reached up and brushed his copper hair out of his eyes, beaming at him.

"So…did…did you like her?"

"Oh, sweetie, she's wonderful!" Her hand rested lightly on his stubbly cheek and he couldn't help but close his eyes, sighing.

"It means so much to me that you like her, Mom," he looked into his mother's eyes, and for a moment, thought he would cry.

"I do, baby, I do. She's very warm, and she really likes you. I can tell."

"She does, doesn't she?" He smiled, as though he only now realized that Bella did, indeed, really like him.

"Yes, she does," Esme nodded and he could see the tears glistening in her eyes. "And why wouldn't she really like you? You're an extraordinary, sweet, amazing boy. I love you very much." A tear slid silently down her cheek.

Edward felt his lower lip begin to tremble, and with that, his entire façade fell. "I love you, Mommy," a sob escaped as he threw his arms around her and rested his head on her shoulder, crumbling into his mother's loving arms.

"I love you too, my sweet, beautiful Edward," Esme's arms were tight around Edward, hands rubbing his heaving back soothingly. "Shhh…it's ok, baby, it's ok," she cooed as she rocked him gently in her arms. She ran one hand up to the disheveled bronze hair on the back of his head and fingered it lightly. "It's ok, baby. Mommy's here."

"I~I'm sorry," he sniffled when he finally straightened up and glanced toward Carlisle, who was still leaning in the doorway.

"There's nothing to be sorry about, son," Carlisle's voice was soft, comforting.

"You need to get to bed, baby," Esme ran the backs of her fingers across his cheek again, wiping away the wetness from his tears.

Edward nodded. "Ok. Good night, Mom," he leaned down and kissed Esme on the cheek, pausing to take a deep breath. Chanel No. 5.

Chanel No. 5 smelled like love to him.

"Good night, baby," she held his cheek to hers for a moment, before letting go of her still shaken son.

~*~*~*~*~*

4:12 am

The bright red digital read out stared back at Edward in the darkness, mocking him. He lay in his bed, clutching a pillow to his chest, trying desperately to ease the pain contained within.

What should have made him feel better had made him feel worse, if that could even be imagined. It had made him feel guilt. Had made him feel remorse. He had been unfair in his assessment of Carlisle. He had tried, convicted and sentenced his father with little evidence to prove the verdict, and he knew that, in doing so, he had hurt his mother. Deeply.

He hated himself right now.

He had been lying in bed for hours, alternating between crying silently and staring back at the big bold numbers of his alarm cock, wishing them to change, willing time to fly. Praying for it to be time for him to get ready to go to work. Work, where he could think about something besides how badly he'd hurt his mother.

He had tried to focus on Bella and their date that night, but it would always come back to the diner and Esme's face. He loved her, There was no denying that. He had, however, finally realized that all this time he had been laboring under the delusion that he loved her more than anyone else did. That he was the only one. That he, her son, loved her more than her own husband did.

He saw now how terribly wrong he had been.

And the pain haunted him. Would haunt him until his dying day, no doubt. His own stubbornness had caused pain to the one person in the world who loved him. To the one person in the world he loved. And that was something he could never forgive himself for. Not in a thousand lifetimes. The thought made him feel like a monster. Like a big ugly wart hog and not at all the sweet, beautiful boy his loving mother saw when she looked at him.

He sighed and rubbed his eyes with a balled up hand. What was it about being in his mother's arms that made him feel so safe? He found himself wishing that he could crawl into his mother's lap right now. Curl up in her lap, with her loving arms about him, while she rocked him and hummed him to sleep, her fingers gently running through his messy hair as she did. Of course, that wasn't going to happen. Not tonight or any other night, regardless of how much he longed for it. For one, he wasn't a little boy anymore. He was a man. And, for another, he knew damn well what it would ignite if they were caught. Hell, he knew what would have happened had someone walked in even earlier this evening. He now understood Carlisle stationing himself at the door like he had. He was acting as the lookout.

Edward rolled onto his back, bringing his pillow with him, and hugging it tightly. He closed his eyes and thought of Bella. Bella, with the deep, throaty laugh. Bella, who's father seemed to delight in scaring the crap out of him. Bella, whose lip ring had aroused feelings in him that he hadn't had in what felt like ages. Feelings that were the same yet different from ones he'd once had long ago. He wondered if she was sleeping soundly.

He hugged his pillow tighter and breathed in heavily. He could still smell Esme's perfume when he did. He could still smell the love he still felt. He smiled to himself and nestled his head down in the pillow he was grasping tightly, finally drifting off to sleep.

~*~*~*~*~*

The days fell into weeks, and the weeks passed like the blank, turning pages of a book.

And suddenly, it was late October.

Edward was Bella's boyfriend.

It hadn't been stated in so many words. It just was.

Mike Newton eventually got the hint that, at least for the time being, he was indeed the loser of the Be Bella's Boyfriend sweepstakes and reluctantly moved on, asking Lauren Mallory and her massive ego out a few times before settling on the much more eager to please Jessica Stanley. Eric Yorkie moved on to Angela Weber, a girl he felt was more in his league than the pierced Miss Swan, before Angela dumped him for good old Ben Cheney. Tyler Crowley eventually stopped calling Edward "the weird Cullen" and accepted him into the lunch circle. Edward and Bella had even begun to socialize with the others outside of school, a first for Edward.

"Bella, did Edward remember to ask for Friday night off?" Jessica was cutting the crusts off the remaining half of her usual turkey sandwich. Bella didn't look up from her yogurt as she sat next to her new friend.

"He said he did, Jess. Lord knows I've made a total nag of myself over it with him."

"I know he wasn't really into coming," Jessica frowned. She may have been dating Mike Newton, but the truth was she still harbored a small crush on her new friends' boyfriend.

"Oh no, Jess. That's not it at all. It wasn't the party he wasn't into. It was the costume." Bella smirked as she glanced sideways in Edward's direction. He was oblivious to the conversation that was taking place to his right, being deep in meaningful debate with Tyler Crowley about some stupid reality show that had been on tv the night before.

"What did you tell him to dress as?" Jessica took a bite of her sandwich.

"It doesn't even matter what it was. It was the idea of wearing a costume at all that had his panties in a bunch," Bella rolled her eyes at her boyfriend's obstinance.

"Did you tell him costumes are mandatory?" Jessica emphasized the last word.

"I did," Bella nodded. "But he just made fun of it and said 'oh, are we having a great unmasking at midnight like in the movies?'" She mimicked Edward's voice as she rolled her eyes again. "I think it was our first fight, actually," she laughed a little.

"The perfect couple arguing? Who would have guessed?" Jessica giggled as she took another bite of her sandwich. If Edward and Bella were at odds, would Edward seek Jessica out as a shoulder to cry on?

"Oh, please. We're far from perfect. I mean, my boyfriend has no sense of fun, Jess!" Bella scraped the remaining yogurt from the plastic container and licked it off the spoon.

"I'm sure he does, Bella. Maybe he had a bad Halloween experience as a kid?" She shoved the remains of her sandwich into he mouth, chewing thoughtfully. The only person at the lunch table that ate faster than Jessica was Bella.

"Actually, I think he's just worried he'll look stupid," Bella snickered at the thought. But she felt that what she had planned for Edward for Halloween was far from stupid.

"So then, tell me, what is it you have planned that he thinks is so stupid?" Jessica stood up and tossed her lunch bag in the nearby trash can and motioned for Bella to follow her to the ladies room.

"Well, I'm going as a naughty nurse, and I want Edward to be my hot doctor!" Jessica pushed the door to the ladies room open and held it for Bella, rolling her eyes in dramatic fashion at her hot friend. Of course Bella would dress in a sexy costume.

"Maybe it's the 'naughty' part of the costume that has Edward uncomfortable, Bella?" Jessica played with her hair in the mirror as Bella washed her hands.

"Oh please, Jess. Edward's seen me in less!"

"I bet he has," the much plainer girl grumbled, smirking.

"What was that?" Bella held her hands under the loud hand dryer.

"I said, I bet he wishes!" Nice save, she thought to herself as she walked around to the bathroom stalls and checked under them for feet. The coast seemed to be clear.

"Listen, Bella," she leaned against the sink next to where Bella was now playing with her hair in the mirror. The bright pink stripes that had framed her face had now been replaced by by bright orange, in the spirit of the season, of course.

"What's up Jess?"

"Don't hate me, ok? There wasn't really anything I could do," she sighed.

"What?" Bella dropped her hands from her hair and turned to face her friend.

"In French this morning, Alice Cullen approached me. About Friday."

"About the party? Bella felt her stomach flip, sending the yogurt she'd just eaten spattering all over.

Jessica nodded. "Yeah, about the party."

"Wh-what did she want to know?"

"She wanted to know if she and the rest of the Cullen's were welcome."

"Holy crap," Bella let out a long breath. "What did you tell her?"

"I told her it was an open invite, so it meant anyone could come," Jessica shrugged.

"Oh, thanks Jess! You know Edward doesn't get on with them!" Bella was furious. "What the fuck did you tell her it was ok for?"

"Let me finish," Jessica rolled her eyes in an exasperated manner. "I told her it was an open invite for anyone, but, I also told her that Edward was specifically invited, and that I didn't want any trouble. I told her if they started anything, they'd be asked to leave, not Edward, because he's my friend." She crossed her arms over her chest.

"What the hell do they want to go to your party for anyway? They hang out at clubs in Port Angeles all the time. They don't "do" high school shit." Bella leaned on the sink as she made air quotes.

"I think they just want to upset you and Edward. Mike and Tyler are going to keep an eye on them for us."

"Oh Jess, Mike and Tyler together couldn't handle Emmett by himself, let alone the four of them together," Bella let out a resigned sigh, shaking her head. "No, they just want to try to ruin Edward's good time."

"Shit, Bella, I'm sorry. I'll go find her in the cafeteria and tell her that after thinking about it for a bit, maybe it's better if they don't come?" Jessica was sincere in her offer.

"No, you can't do that. They'll just take it out on Edward all the more." Bella rubbed her chin, deep in thought.

"What the hell is with him and his brothers and sisters, Bella?"

"I don't know, Jess," she looked up at Jessica, tears glistening brightly in her eyes. "He won't discuss it. Just says that the don't get along."

Jessica reached out and rubbed her troubled friends arm. "Bella, I'm so sorry."

"Nah, don't be. They were probably planning to crash anyway. Alice and Edward do get along, he says, so maybe she figured it would take a little bit of the wind out of their sails if we expected them?"

"That could be~"

Jessica's sentence was cut off as the bathroom door opened and Alice Cullen bounced in and over to them.

"Jessica! I can't wait until Friday night! Hi Bella!" Her musical voice echoed off the tile walls of the girl's bathroom.

"Uh…hi Alice?" Bella eyed her warily.

"Oh, I can't wait to spend some time with you on Friday night and get to know you better! I just know you and I are going to be great friends!" Alice bounced up and down on the balls of her feet. Bella noticed the much tinier girl was wearing black patent leather ballet flats.

"You think?" Bella was skeptical.

"I don't think! I know! If Edward loves you, I'm positive I will too!" The exuberant pixie of a girl threw her arms around Bella and hugged her tightly, shocking her.

"Well, you seem pretty sure of yourself," Bella managed to squeeze out as Alice cut off her air supply.

"I'm so excited!" Alice stepped back and danced over to the sink, washing her hands.

"So it seems," Jessica looked at Bella, shrugging.

"It's not every day I get to go to a party with Edward," she reached for a paper towel. "We don't exactly run in the same social circles," she frowned.

"I gathered that," Bella crossed her arms over her chest.

Alice turned and looked at Bella, sorrow in her eyes. "I love my brother very much, Bella. I know it doesn't appear that way, but I do. And he knows I do. I hate the way things have turned out as much as he does. At least, I hope he hates it," she frowned.

Bella and Jessica exchanged quick glances. "Well, to be honest, Alice, we don't exactly sit around discussing the family dynamics of the Cullen's," Bella tried to sound diplomatic. "I mean, your relationship with Edward really has no bearing on my relationship with him," she thought for a moment. "Of course, if any of you were to, say, hurt him…in any way…well…I couldn't just stand by and watch that. You understand, right?" Careful, Swan, she thought. But the allure of finding out a little more about what happened with the sibs was just too great for Bella. Edward didn't discuss his family with her, but that didn't make her any less curioius.

"Of course, Bella. I couldn't stand by and watch him hurt anymore either," Alice's musical voice was a whisper now. "I did that once, and will regret it for the rest of my life. Never again." Alice's eyes had a far away look to them as she shook her head.

The bell rang, effectively ending the little game in the ladies room. Alice smiled sadly at Bella, reaching out and touching her arm before skipping out of the bathroom.

"Did she just skip out of here?" Jessica whispered to Bella.

"Oh good, I didn't imagine that," Bella blinked. "Was that not the single weirdest conversation I've ever had?"

"Do you have any idea what she was talking about?"

"Not a clue."

"You'll warn Edward then?"

"He's coming over after school. I'll do it then."

~*~*~*~*~*

"Now, Eddie, aren't you glad you stayed for dinner?" Charlie Swan had decided that 'Edward' was simply too formal and, while at the Swan residence, he would be simply referred to as 'Eddie' instead. Edward knew better than to argue with his girlfriend's armed father.

"Yes, Chief Swan, I am." He smiled at Bella as she handed him the dishes to dry.

"And Bells here is happy you stayed. She has someone to dry the dishes!" Charlie cackled at his own joke.

"Ha ha. Very funny, Charlie," Bella rolled her eyes at Edward.

The phone on the kitchen wall rang and Charlie got up to answer it. "Admit it, Eddie. My little girl is a great cook, even if there wasn't any meat in it," he picked up the phone. "Swan here."

Bella and Edward continued to wash and dry as Charlie listened to the person on the other end of the receiver.

"Oh hell. Again? Uh huh. Uh huh. Ok. Thanks." Charlie hung up the phone. "I have to run down to the station for a few minutes, kids."

"What happened?" Bella looked at her father.

"Jacob Black. 'Got into the firewater' again." Charlie shook his head.

"Again?" Bella frowned.

"What's going on?" Edward looked from Bella to Charlie.

"My buddy, Billy Black~the fellow I got Bella's truck from. His youngest boy, Jacob, got picked up for public intoxication and underage drinking again," Charlie sighed as he pulled on his gun belt.

"And when they pick him up, he likes to say he 'got into the firewater'," Bella shook her head.

"What's that mean?" Edward was clueless.

Charlie was yanking is jacket on. "The Blacks are from the Quileute reservation in La Push. Apparently, Jacob finds it funny to refer to alcohol 'firewater' when he's had too much. I'll be back in a few. Sorry to run out like this, Edward."

"No problem, Chief Swan. This is important," Edward was used to urgent situations arising. After all, his father was a doctor.

"Sam Uley driving Billy to town to bail him out?" The soap suds on Bella's hands were dripping on the floor as she turned to watch her father.

"Yeah, and I want to be there when they get there. Soften the blow a little, if I can, you know?" Billy was Charlie's oldest and dearest friend. To see Billy's youngest boy giving him such a hard time hurt Charlie deeply.

"Ok, we'll be here. I'll hold off brewing the coffee until you're back."

"Thanks, Bells," Charlie pecked his daughter on the forehead before nodding at Edward and leaving the house.

"So, Jacob Black does this often?" Edward went back to drying the wet dishes.

"Often enough that Charlie's starting to worry about it," Bella scrubbed the pan the lasagna had baked in.

"How old is he?"

"Sixteen. We used to play when I was little. I hadn't seen him in years. You should see him. He's huge. Looks a lot older than sixteen, which probably makes it pretty easier for him to get the booze, I'm sure."

"That's too bad. His dad doesn't drive?"

"Billy's a diabetic. He's in a wheelchair, so he can't drive. That's why Charlie bought his truck. Jacob kept that engine in tip top shape. He's got magic hands, that kid, but I guess the lure of his damn 'firewater' is far more appealing to him," she spat out the word 'firewater' in anger.

"That's too bad," Edward took the lasagna pan from Bella and dried it as she put the rest of the dried dishes away. "So, what do you want to do till your father gets back?"

"Well, there's no telling when he'll be back, so we can't risk sex," she deadpanned. While she longed for Edward in that way, he had been a perfect gentleman during their month long courtship. Not that she minded. She really did enjoy the way Edward treated her, opening doors and such. He made her feel like a lady. "And we will never hear the end of it if he walks in on a hot and heavy make out session," she winked at Edward. "So, how about a movie and a good cuddle on the sofa till he gets back?" She moved into the living room and plopped down on the sofa.

Edward followed her in. "Sounds good. Should I pick a movie?"

"Go for it, stud."

He looked over the large collection of DVD's in the case next to the giant plasma tv that hung on the wall of the small living room. "Quite a selection. Charlie likes movies."

"Actually, those are all mine," she smiled. "Charlie didn't even know that his fancy plasma hd sports machine on the wall there even had a DVD player in it until I got here."

"You're kidding," he looked at her in disbelief.

"Nope. But, Charlie knew I loved watching DVDs. So, when I got here, he had this fancy, expensive blue ray thing sitting on the coffee table with a giant blue bow on it, just waiting for me." She stretched and put her legs up on the coffee table, nervous about her mission tonight.

"That's kind of sweet, Bella," the crooked smile appeared on Edwards lips. The crooked smile that melted her heart every time she saw it.

"It was, but I made him return it. It was really expensive and we didn't need it, since the sports machine already had a dvd in it's belly. He said that he's getting me one of these for my room for Christmas, though," she waved her hand at the giant screen on the wall. "I told him it better come with cable."

Edward continued to peruse the DVD selections. "So, if these are all your DVD's, why is there a box set of all the Die Hard movies, but only one Harry Potter movie?"

Bella felt the color rise in her cheeks.

"Ha! Bella has a thing for Bruce Willis!" Edward cackled with glee. "You like old bald guys, Bella?"

"Oh, shut up, Edward!" She grabbed a throw pillow from the sofa and tossed it at Edward, failing miserably at hitting him.

He continued to grin like the Cheshire Cat. "So, I guess this means you'll still love me when I'm a bald, fat, middle aged dude?"

"Shut up and pick a movie, asshole," she tried desperately to keep a straight face but collapsed in a heap of giggles instead.

"And, out of all the stupid Harry Potter movies, the only one you have is Goblet of Fire? Why, Bella? Why?"

She sighed, picking at a piece of lint on her black shirt, not looking at him. "Because I maybe had a small thing for the guy who played Cedric Diggory?"

"The dead guy? You were in love with a corpse? Oh yeah, great actor, lying there dead and all," he held his arms out and mimicked playing dead. "Whatever happened to that guy, anyway?"

She shook her head. "Last time I saw him, he was standing naked in front of a mirror with his jibblies tucked."

Edward stared at her. "His…uh...what?"

"His jibblies. His bits? Junk?"

"Yeah, I got that, but tucked? What is old dead Ced doing? Making porn?"

"No, it was some artsy film."

"Yeah, that's what they all try to call porn," he snorted.

"No, he was playing some gay artist. He was standing in front of a mirror, and, you know, it was tucked."

"Tucked."

"Yeah, like, THE TUCK."

"But…how?" Edward stared at her in disbelief.

"Edward, I have no idea." Bella was losing her patience with her boyfriend. Maybe he was jealous of Cedric? "You have the equipment. Figure it out yourself!"

Edward giggled. "I'll pass on that, thank you very much."

"Just…pick a movie already!" He could be so exasperating at times!

"Ok, Goblet of Fire it is…just so my girlfriend can swoon over Cedric," he giggled as he slid the DVD into the side of the tv. How she loved that giggle.

"Well, you know, I did hear that he's been cast to play the lead in the teenage vampire in the movie they are making," she smirked at him.

"Oh, great! I guess that means I'll have to sit through that shitty movie for you?"

"Maybe, but if he still has the same affect on me that he had in Harry Potter, guess who'll reap the benefits?" Her long mascara'd eyelashes batted at Edward.

"Yeah, but call me 'Cedric' and you'll pay for it."

"Get your hot little ass over here, Cullen," Bella patted the sofa next to her and Edward gladly flopped down, pulling her into him as soon as he sat. "That's more like it, mister," she snuggled her head into his the crook between his shoulder and neck, breathing in his scent.

Edward wrapped both his arms around her, holding her tightly to him. He kissed the top of her head. "I bet I could beat Cedric at Quidditch."

"Bet Cedric would knock you off your broom and right onto that hot little ass of yours."

"Bet I kiss better than he does."

"Bet Cho wasn't complaining." She planted a light kiss on his neck and felt him shudder slightly.

"Bet Cho was shocked when she discovered Cedric had no~what was that word? Jibblies? Isn't the teenage vampire supposed to be anatomically correct?" Edward shifted uncomfortably.

Bella sighed and shifted, sitting up next to him. "Edward, we have to talk."

"What?" Edward grew concerned. "What is it?"

"It's about the party."

"Go on," he held his breath.

"Alice approached Jess today and asked if it was ok if she and the rest of your family come to the party."

Bella could see what little color there was in Edward's pale face drain. He ran his hand through his hair nervously.

"Wh-what did she tell her?"

"What could she do? It was an open invite party," Bella picked at a thread hanging from the hem of her skirt. Anything to not have to look at his face. That beautiful, disappointed face. She didn't want to see the dispair.

"I guess," he sighed and sat back on the sofa, running both hands through his hair.

"But she did tell her that if they made any trouble, they'd have to leave, since you are her friend and all."

"Gee thanks, Jess," sarcasm dripped from his voice.

"Look," She turned to face him finally. "She did the best she could. We are just going to go and have a good time." She ran her had down his chest lightly. "If they come, just ignore them. Let them make fools of themselves. Hell, half the student body hates them anyway because they are all so stuck up."

"Sure. That sounds like a great plan, Bella."

"And Mike and Tyler will be watching them, so you won't have to."

"Wow. I have body guards now." He burrowed the heels of his hands into his eyes.

"Edward, look at me," Bella pulled at his wrists. Slowly, he let her pull his hands away from his face. "Look at me. We don't have to go."

"And let them win? Fuck no!" She twisted her fingers into his. "Jess is your friend. This is her party. We are going. We'll just…just play it by ear, I guess."

"It's going to be all of our friends at the party, not theirs."

"I know."

"Edward, I'm sorry," she tossed her arms around his waist and laid her head on his chest, listening to the rhythmic thumping of his heart. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder while running his other hand through his mussed hair again.

"It's not your fault, baby. I should have realized this would happen," he sighed.

They sat in silence while Harry Potter battled flying dragons on the tv.

"Edward?"

"Hmmm?"

"Why don't you get along with your brothers and sisters?"

"Not tonight, Bella."

~*~*~*~*~*

A/N: This was sort of a transitional chapter and to be honest, was kind of difficult to write. I kept writing and deleting, changing directions, deleting, going back, deleting. Of course, being stuffed with Christmas cookies most of the time and trying to write between addressing cards and wrapping gifts didn't reall help my train of thought any. Hope you enjoy the end result.

Don't worry, the party's coming up! Costumes galore!

Oh, and I had to toss a little shout out in there for the LTR ladies...can you guess what it was? :D

Please review and let me know what you think!