Ok, my bad. Sorry for the delay in getting this chapter up. Real life struck yet again and gave me some writers block. It's not good to be aggravated when trying to write. Or maybe it's not good to try to write while aggravated? I swear, it's like The Fates get their jollies by making me miserable! Maybe I'm really one of the LOSTIES stuck on Craphole Island with Jack and Sawyer and Hurley? Mmm...Sawyer....uh...what was I saying? Oh yeah, sometimes, it feels that way!
Thanks to everyone who's stuck with my little story and to everyone who's reviewed it! I cannot begin to tell you how much I appreciate it!
The business side of things: Twilgiht, it's characters and it's situations, do not belong to me. They belong to that amazingly lucky woman, Stephenie Meyer. Because I have a black cloud hovering over my head, following me around everywhere I go, and everywhere she goes she gets sunshine and rainbows...grrrrrr....
I hope you enjoy the latest installment....:D
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Chapter 16: Bonzo Goes to Bitburg
Both Charlie and Edward turned their heads toward the entrance to the living room when they heard her enter.
In light of the night before, neither looked at all uncomfortable with the other. In fact, they looked downright cozy, sitting back and relaxing while players in white and red flitted across the flat screen. She noticed that Edward had a can of Coke in front of him on the table, and that her father had the ever present can of Vitamin R.
"Bells, you're home," Charlie almost sounded disappointed.
"Yeah…it was just an afternoon, not forever, Charlie…" she stared at Edward, who was looking at her intensely from his seat on the sofa.
"Did you have fun?" Charlie stood up and stretched. Edward remained seated, staring.
"Mhmm," she nodded, slipping her jacket off and hanging it on the coat rack in the hallway. "It was a really nice afternoon." She held up her hands to show off her manicure.
"Very nice," Charlie walked over to her, taking her hand in his and examining her long, shiny red nails. "Just plain red? You usually have all sorts of designs and crap on them. You know, unique and artistic nails," he smiled.
She shrugged. "I just wanted to keep it simple, you know?"
"Yeah," he reached up and cupped her chin in his hand. "I know. Sometimes keeping it simple is best," he winked at her. "Well, you have a little visitor here," he waved his hand at Edward, who waved self consciously at her. "I need to run to the Thriftway because we are out of coffee, and you know how cranky we cops can get without our coffee," he smiled.
"Yeah," she looked up at him, and he smiled at her, nodding slightly, telling her silently that he knew she could do this. That she knew she could do this. That they both knew she had to do this. "Wouldn't want you getting cranky, what with that gun and all."
Charlie grabbed his jacket off the coat rack by the door. "Be back in a few minutes, kids. Edward, you staying for dinner?" He slipped his arms into the jacket nonchalantly.
He jumped at the mention of his name. He hadn't planned that far in advance, really. His length of stay in the Swan house depended on his ability to apologize and put things with Bella right. More than that, it really depended on her reaction to what he had to say.
"I…I think my mother is expecting me home, Chief Swan," his voice was quiet.
"Well, you can let me know later if you decide. We're just going to order in some pizza, so no rush, ok?"
"Thank you, sir."
"Be back in a few," Charlie opened the door and waved as he slipped out.
Bella stood in the doorway, wrapping her arms around herself. She tried not to focus on Edward as his green eyes bored into her.
"H-hi Bella," he stood up slowly, turning to face her.
"Hey," she waved her hand tentatively, but still didn't look at him.
"Um…we…we need to talk," he sighed as he ran his hand through his wayward copper tresses.
"Do we?"
"Yeah, we do." He dug his hands into the pockets of his well worn jeans. He was crumpled. His shirt was wrinkled. His jeans were wrinkled. Edward was never wrinkled. Well, not like this. For all she knew, his underwear were wrinkled as well. He looked as thought he'd slept in his clothes, even if the dark circles under his puffy red eyes told her he'd not really slept at all.
She leaned against the door jam. "I'm listening."
"Bella, I…I'm…," his voice trailed off and he closed his eyes, taking a few deep breaths to steady himself. "I'm sorry about last night. I'm sorry for running out the way I did, without explaining why."
"No worries," she waved him off. "I understand."
"No, see, you…you don't." He shook his head. "I didn't really explain correctly."
"Your mother says you deal in the opaque."
"My mom's right," he shook his head. "Bella, I'm an idiot."
"Yeah, I got that. Got that loud and clear."
"I'm not going to say I don't deserve that, because I do. But, please Bella," he dropped his head down, and looked up at her through his long, lush lashes. "Please, hear me out."
"I told you, I'm listening," she adjusted her position against the wall.
"Please, come sit down?
She rolled her eyes and huffed out a breath of annoyance, flouncing over to where Edward stood and flopping down in Charlie's chair.
"Thank you," he sat down on the sofa, where he'd been sitting while watching the game with Charlie.
"Just…just speak, Edward." She closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the high back of the leather recliner.
He took a deep breath and sighed, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees. "I'm sorry, Bella. My mother is right. I'm not…clear. When I speak, I guess…I dunno. I guess I get caught up in memories and that's what I did last night." He looked down at his hands and shrugged. "My brother Jasper? He reminded me that, well, life with Victoria wasn't all roses and sunshine."
"I thought she was perfect?" Bella's voice was bitter and flat.
"Because I wasn't clear. I can't lie. I was in love with her, but…but things were far from perfect. Not really the way I led you to believe. I never really communicated that to you." He took a shaky breath.
"No, you didn't," she snorted. "You left that part out."
"And I apologize for that. I'm sorry that my inability to see things clearly, or to speak them clearly, made you feel like…like…" he paused, not wanting to say it.
"Like the consolation prize. It's ok, Edward. At least I know where my place is in your world." Her eyes were closed. She felt exhausted, but at the same time, wired, like she could buzz around the room like a hummingbird.
"But, you don't," he turned and looked at her. "You are not a consolation prize. If anything, you're the grand prize, Bella. It's like, like I hit the PowerBall jackpot and won a hundred million dollars, except I'd rather have you than money. You are my life, Bella."
He heard her breath hitch, and he continued, his voice low. "Victoria was, well, she was controlling. And she was manipulative. She was used to having her way. And I was more than willing to give in to her and let her control me. But, I failed to mention any of that."
Bella let out a bitter, little laugh. "And yet, you'd choose her over me?"
"I never said that, Bella. Don't put words in my mouth, please." His voice was steady and low.
"You never said you wouldn't," she looked at him with hard eyes.
"And that was my mistake. Instead of denying any of this, I just left. I was so shocked, so hurt that you could even think that I would choose her over you," he ran his hand through his hair and swallowed hard. "It's you, Bella. It's been you since the minute you walked into biology. I would choose death before I'd choose anyone else. Don't you understand?" He squinted his eyes before closing them and leaning his head back on the sofa, breathing deeply. She could see how dark the rings under his eyes were. He looked like he'd aged ten years in just one night.
"But you said you loved her," her voice was small and unsure.
"Yes, I said that. Because it was true. I was in love with her." He turned his head slightly and turned his intense green gaze on her. "I told you, I can't say that I wasn't in love with her, because that would be a lie, Bella. I was in love with her. It happened and I can't ever take the things we said or did back. Just like I can never take back the way I felt about her."
"I understand that, Edward," her tone was harsh. "But it's the idea that you still love her that hurts me. Can't you understand that?"
"I never said that," he shook his head before fisting his hands into his hair and tugging on the glistening strands. For some reason, the pain on his scalp took away a little of the pain in his heart.
"Yeah, you did. You said you still had feelings for her." Tears started to sting at her eyes yet again…and just when the soreness from the tears of the night before were starting to go away.
"Feelings, yes. But love?" He shook his head. "I don't think so. I never got any closure, Bella. I never got to say 'Goodbye. Have a nice life.' I never got to end things." He closed his eyes again and took a heavy breath.
"Then you can't be sure that you don't still love her." Hot tears once again spilled down her cheeks. The thought of Edward not being hers made her feel nauseas again.
"Yes, I can be, Bella."
"How? How can you be sure if you never got your precious closure?" She slapped at the tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Because I'm in love with you. And what I feel for you is so much more than anything I ever felt for her."
"Even when you were…" her voice trailed off. The thought of Edward, her Edward, loving anyone but her, being with anyone but her, made her sick to her stomach.
"Yes, even when we were…" he waved his hand. "I loved her, but…but it was a long time ago, Bella, and I was a different person back then."
"Then, if you feel so much more for me, why did you…" she stopped talking and shook her head. "Why was it ok to do it with her, but not with me?" She buried her face in her hands.
"Bella," he slipped off the sofa, and knelt on the floor in front of her, pulling her hands away from her face. "Don't you see? Don't you understand?"
"No," she shook her head. "No, Edward, I don't. Unlike you, I don't deal in opaque."
"I'm sorry, so very sorry, Bella. But, you have to understand. I'm…afraid now," his voice was soft and low as he hung his head, looking very much ashamed of himself.
"Afraid of what, Edward? Of me?" He looked at him, this poor, shamed, beautiful boy that she loved.
"I'm afraid of…of the humiliation, Bella. Not for me. For you. It's…it's very…" he sighed, closing his eyes, and breathing deeply through his nose. "When…when that door flew open, the fear and the embarrassment and the horror and the shame. All of that. Something personal and beautiful and intimate suddenly became…shameful." He looked up at her, his sad green eyes seeming to melt. "I don't want that for you. I want beauty and splendor and…and…euphoria. Not regrets and…no shame."
"Oh, Edward, how could I ever regret or be ashamed that I made love with you?" Fresh tears fell down her cheeks and he reached up, gently wiping them away with his soft fingers.
"You don't understand the shame that I felt. The hurt. The way my parents looked at me…" he looked down as his cheeks flushed at the memory. "I felt like I let them down. I let Victoria down. We had to leave Seattle. I…I let everyone down."
"You didn't, Edward. You were…just being a teenager in love," she smiled a sympathetic smile at him.
"But…the guilt. The guilt stays with you," he nodded as he spoke.
She slid from the chair onto the floor next to him, wrapping her arms around him. "You have nothing to feel guilty about," her fingers found his hair and he closed his eyes, sighing contentedly as she twisted her small hands into his wild russet locks.
"If anything like that ever happened to you, I couldn't live with myself, Bella. I mean it when I say I love you." He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her onto his lap. They sat there on the floor, wrapped around each other.
"I know you do, Edward. And I love you. So, if it makes you feel better, we can wait," she kissed his lips lightly.
"You'll be ok with waiting?"
"Now that I understand why you feel the way you do? Yes, I am," She slid her lips lightly down his neck.
He let out a breath. "Thank you," he kissed her gently on top of her head. "I'm so sorry that I upset you. I'm sorry that I was the cause of your tears," he rested his forehead against hers.
"I was the cause of my own tears, Edward," she shook her head. "As always, I just…jumped. I jump blindly. Into…things, to conclusions…hell, I almost jumped blindly off a cliff because someone suggested it to me."
"No you didn't," he let out a soft chuckle.
"Oh, I almost did," she leaned back from him and he brushed some wayward strands of hair that were stuck to her damp cheeks away. "Over in La Push, they cliff dive. Jacob Black took me to watch them when I first got here, and he said I should try it. I just started taking my boots off and getting ready to…well, jump off the cliff," she shrugged her shoulders and grinned sadly at him.
"When was this?" He squinted his eyes, examining her.
"My first weekend here. Charlie and I went out to visit the Blacks in La Push."
"And Jacob Black~he's the delinquent, right? He took you cliff diving?"
"Yes~No," she shook her head. "Yes, he's the delinquent, but he's not really. He's just sort of confused and misguided. But yeah, he took me out to watch a bunch of guys cliff diving, not to actually cliff dive."
"But…you wanted to?"
"Oh, Edward, it looked so thrilling!"
"And dangerous. Jesus, Bella, you do know that if you don't time it right with the tide you can be killed, don't you?" He looked at her, his face colored with concern.
"I do now. But at the time, it just looked so inviting."
"Promise me you won't be tempted to do anything stupid and reckless like that," his lips touched her forehead softly.
"I promise," she smiled.
He tightened his arms around her, holding her body tightly to his as they sat locked together on the floor.
"I love you," he murmured into her hair.
"I love you too," she whispered into his neck.
The door opened and Charlie sauntered into the room, several bags from the Thriftway in his hands.
"Oh, good. Things are all worked out," he smiled at them, curled up into one another on the floor, having known all along that they would indeed work things out. "So, Edward, pepperoni or sausage?"
Bella stood up, and reached her hand out to Edward, helping him up from the floor.
"Pepperoni is fine, sir," he whispered, shifting nervously as he stood holding Bella's hand.
"Calm down, kid. You make me nervous," Charlie walked through the living room and into the kitchen. "Either of you like root beer?"
"I do," Bella looked at Edward and smiled. At the very least, Charlie's calm demeanor should serve to show Edward that he was nothing like Victoria's uptight parents.
"Root beer is fine, sir."
"Good, because I bought us two six packs. And it was chilled," Charlie was sliding the cans into the open refrigerator.
"You know that small kid who stocks the soda, Edward?"
Bella led her boyfriend into the kitchen, still clasping his hand tightly in hers. "Alec?"
"I don't know his name, but he looks to be around twelve. He old enough to work?" Charlie closed the refrigerator door and tossed the empty plastic bags into the recycle bin.
Edward let out a nervous laugh. "He's a sophomore. He's fifteen, I think. He's old enough to work. Just looks really young."
"That he does. At first, I thought he was someone's lost kid," Charlie laughed. "Then I saw that he had a name tag on his shirt."
"Yeah, they make us wear name tags," Edward smiled as he started to feel more comfortable.
"Edward's says ''," Bella chimed in. "People call him Mr. Ward"
Edward smirked at her.
"Huh. You kidding?" Charlie leaned against the counter as he thumbed through the yellow pages. "Town this small and people don't realize that you're a Cullen?"
"People aren't always as observant as you are, sir."
Charlie turned around, an evil glint in his eye. Bella grimaced at the thought of what was to come for poor Edward.
"Look, Edward, is it safe to say you're going to be around for a while?"
"I…I guess so. It's Saturday, so I don't have to be home until midnight~"
Charlie cut him off. "No. No. No," he shook his head. "Damn, Bells, but your boy is dense!" She smiled back at him and shrugged. "I mean, is it safe to say you are going to be with my daughter for a while. You know, dating her? That the two of you aren't breaking up. Not any time soon, anyway?"
Edward stared at him, a fearful look on his face.
"I don't mean 'be with' in the Biblical sense, son." Charlie shook his head, letting out a low laugh. "Damn, Bells, you can find them!" He smiled at his daughter who giggled as she tightened her grip on her boyfriend's hand.
"No, sir. I believe we established that~"
"Edward, are you dating my daughter?" Charlie stood straight with his hands on his hips.
"Y-yes, sir." Edward's emerald eyes were huge.
"Then stop calling me 'sir' and 'Chief' and call me Charlie like everyone else in this God forsaken town does."
"Yes, sir...I mean Charlie."
"That's better. Now, help my girl set the table. I'm calling in the pizza order," he picked up the phone and began to dial. "Plain cheese for the vegetarian. And…meat for the men. You sure you don't want some nice savory ham or spicy sausage on yours Bella?" He winked at Edward, who smiled back nervously.
"Ugh. Charlie. You're just gloating that you have Edward here to share your meat pie with." She let go of Edward's hand and grabbed three pink placemats from the counter as Edward grabbed the plates from the cabinet. Silently, they set the table, moving in perfect harmony as Charlie ordered their dinner.
~*~*~*~*~*
Charlie leaned back in his chair and rubbed his full stomach. "I tell you what, that there is the best pizza this side of New York!"
"You've never even been to New York, Charlie, so how would you know?" She shook her head. "Watch out, Edward. If that button on his jeans goes, it's going to be lethal." Charlie snickered and undid the bulging top button on his jeans.
"We had some pretty amazing pizza in Chicago, Chie-Charlie," he caught himself.
"You have that deep dish crap, right?" Charlie leaned forward, placing his elbows on the table.
"Yes, sir-Charlie," he nodded. "It's thick, and chewy and just so gooey," He closed his eyes and smiled at the memory, his mouth watering.
"Do you miss it?" Bella looked at her boyfriend, caught up in another memory now. This one much safer than the last.
"Sometimes, I crave it," he smiled. "Sometimes, I just want to grab Dad and drive all night to get one."
"Have you ever?" Charlie smiled at him.
"Nah. My father likes this pizza from Cucina Volturi so much better than Pizzaria Uno in Chicago," Edward smiled a genuine smile at Charlie.
"But you prefer Chicago deep dish, huh?"
"Yeah," he played with the crust in his plate. "It was always a treat for me to go there. That's where I always had my birthday dinner." He smiled at the memory.
"Do you miss Chicago, Edward?" Charlie's voice was soft.
"Sometimes," he chewed on the crust absently. "I lived in cities so long that when it gets too quiet out here, I really wish I were home in Chicago. And, sometimes, I really miss Chicago when I think of my grandfather. Makes me a little sad."
"Carlisle's dad?"
"No, my real grandfather."
"Oh, I wasn't aware that you still had family in Chicago," Charlie looked surprised. Bella had never mentioned the details of Edward's adoption to him.
"My grandparents got custody of me after my…my real parents…," he sighed and ran a hand through his wild bronze hair, closing his eyes and swallowing hard. "My mother died of a drug overdose when I was six. My father, who was also a doctor, went to jail for her death and died in prison. My father's parents took custody of me, but by then, Grandmother had dementia and was put into a home. Grandfather cared for me as long as he could, but he was old and very ill himself." He opened his eyes and shifted in his chair uncomfortably as his clouded green eyes stared off into nothing while he told the rest of his story. "Grandfather was on the board at the hospital that Carlisle was doing his residency at. He knew that the Cullen's were looking to adopt, and since he loved Carlisle so much, he approached him about me, and arranged for the adoption." Edward's face grew sad at the memory and Bella slipped her small hand over his, wrapping her fingers around it tightly.
"Edward, I-I'm sorry. I didn't know your circumstances." Charlie fidgeted nervously.
"It's ok, Chief-Charlie," he frowned. "It was a long time ago, and, truthfully? I love Carlisle and Esme, sir. They are my parents. They saved me."
"Huh. Is your grandfather still in Chicago?"
"No, sir. He passed away before we moved to Seattle. It was stipulated in the adoption papers that we would stay in Chicago as long as my grandfather was alive, so he could stay in my life as long as it was possible."
"Wow," Charlie stared at him in amazement. "I-I knew your parents were extraordinary people, Edward, with a huge capacity to love, but I had no idea how amazing they really were."
"You have no idea, Chief Swan," his green eyes blazed at Charlie. "My parents, my mother in particular, are quite possibly the most amazing people I have ever met." A crooked smile twisted his lips up. "I don't know if they could love me any more if I were their actual biological child."
Charlie pressed on, intrigued by Edward's past. "You say that Carlisle and Esme saved you…from what?"
"My grandfather was my only living relative," he sighed. "If he had passed while I was in his custody, well, I would have been placed into the foster care system. That was the last thing my grandfather wanted."
"You'd have come out like Rose, no doubt," Bella sniffed as she twisted her tiny fingers between Edward's long, slim ones. His hand was cold and damp, and she was worried her father's interrogation was making him uncomfortable. She'd only just gotten him back, and she didn't want Charlie ruining it for her.
"Rose is the bad egg, right?"
"She's done horrible things to both Edward and Esme, Charlie." Bella pulled Edward's hand off the table and onto her lap and ran her other hand soothingly over Edwards.
"She's…she's not a nice person, Chief Swan. My sister…it's…it's complicated." Edward closed his eyes and nodded.
"I'll bet," Charlie stared at Edward for a moment, noting how pale and fragile he seemed. Kid could obviously use a good night's sleep. And maybe even another slice of sausage pizza. "Speaking of your siblings, how are Alice and Jasper doing?" Charlie changed the subject abruptly.
"Alice is coming along. Her boot finally came off the other day, but now she's got an air cast and has to go to therapy three times a week," he smiled and chuckled. "And she still can't fit back into her shoes. Her foot's all swollen. It's killing her that she has to wear giant sneakers to school." A big crooked grin took over his face.
"She looks adorable, though," Bella added. "Actually, anything looks adorable on her. She's so tiny, like a little pixie. I hate her."
"A poison pixie. She's a menace," Edward couldn't help the huge smile that crossed his lips when he spoke of his favorite sister. "Barks orders at poor Jasper. We can't wait until she's back to normal."
"I love her. She's my friend, so leave her alone," Bella shot him a look.
"You only like her because she groped you," he turned to Charlie, a wicked gleam in his eyes. "Halloween night, my sister just reached out and grabbed a hold of your daughter's…uh…boobs."
Charlie let out a loud guffaw. "You kidding? She felt Bella up? Tiny little Alice?" He chortled. "I didn't think she rolled that way!"
"She doesn't, but she has no limits, I'm afraid. It can be quite embarrassing if you're on the receiving end, right Bella?" Edward's grin was demonic.
"She's just a free spirit," Bella pinched the skin on the top of the hand she held tightly in her lap, smirking when he jumped.
"Damn, Bells. You must have enjoyed it, seeing how you're defending her and all," Charlie winked at Edward.
"Oh, she did. She did," Edward's wicked grin was wiped off and he winced slightly as Bella swatted his arm hard. "Hey!"
"Knock it off, Edward!"
Charlie snickered and cleared his throat. "And Jasper? How's the shoulder holding out?"
"Well, so far he's still having therapy and he's doing ok. They haven't ruled out surgery yet, but they want to try just therapy first, since surgery has such a long recovery time."
"Poor guy has to walk around school with that crazy sling on," Bella frowned. "His arm sticks out and people are always banging into him, which can't help."
"Well, on the bright side, he probably gets out of phys ed, I bet." Only Charlie could see the bright side of the situation.
"It's hard for them both, really," Edward admitted, "Alice limps along. Jasper has no range of motion, really. He's just kind of…there. It's taking a slight toll on them. And they never go out anymore. Just sit in the house. Alice was always so bubbly and social. Now she just…sits," he sighed.
"We should all go out one night, Edward. It would do them good." She looked up at her boyfriend, smiling at her own idea. "Go out to eat and take in a movie after. How about tomorrow afternoon? Are you working?"
"That's a good idea, Bells. You can all go for burgers." Charlie grinned as Edward snickered at her.
"As much as I'd love to go for burgers with you," Edward and Charlie exchanged narrow eyed glances, "I have to work tomorrow. But we can make plans for next weekend. Say, Saturday night. We can go to the Cattleman Steakhouse, ok?" Charlie let out a whoop of laughter as Edward sat giggling.
"Ok, the two of you have to be kept apart now. Because, together? Yeah, you're pure evil," she huffed and shook her head slowly as she dropped Edward's hand onto the table and scooted her chair back, getting up and stretching. It had been a long day. She was tired and full of pizza and still wearing the loose sweater and tight jeans with no makeup that she'd worn on her afternoon of pampering with Esme. It was a very un-Bella outfit, and Edward had not made a single comment about it. He must really love ME, she thought.
"So, you crazy kids have any plans for tonight?" Charlie broke the short silence.
Bella gave Edward's arm a parting swat as she leaned over and began clearing the dishes from the table. "Nope. None. You?"
"Not me," Charlie pushed his chair back from the table and leaned back. "Edward, you want to watch one of my daughter's billion dvd's?"
Edward smiled, his beautiful green eyes sparkling with mischief as he stood up to help Bella clear off the table. "Come to think of it, I could stand to watch that Harry Potter movie…which one was it again, Bella?" He smirked.
"Oh, shut up. We are so not watching that again, Edward!" She soaped up the dish in her hand.
"I think your dad would like it," he began to dry off the wet dish she handed him.
"What would I like?" Charlie was clearly intrigued.
"Bella's favorite Harry Potter movie. Actually, the only Harry Potter movie that even lives in her huge inventory of dvds." Bella flicked water at him and he giggled, ducking to avoid the spray.
"Sounds good. Those movies make a fortune at the box office, so they have to be pretty good, right?" Charlie watched his daughter and her boyfriend with wonder as they moved in perfect harmony while doing the dishes.
"We are not watching it, Charlie," Bella's voice was firm.
"Why not?" There must be something to this, Charlie mused.
"Because Edward will just tease me to death over it, and he'll get you to join in and the two of you will get your freakin' jollies over making my life miserable," she stopped washing the dish in her hand and turned to face her father. "You two are starting to gang up on me and it's not fair," she whined.
"Pffft. We aren't ganging up on you, are we, Edward?" Edward smiled and shook his head as Bella huffed at him. "No, we just have a partner to share our jokes with now!" Charlie stood up and went into the living room, leaving Bella and Edward to finish putting the newly washed and dried dishes into the cabinets.
"Which one is it," he called into the kitchen as Bella flicked more water at Edward while she washed out the sink.
"It's called Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," Edward called out to him, laughing as Bella yanked the dish towel out of his hand and swatted his ass with it.
"Why don't we watch Die Hard, Charlie," she called into the living room after him. "You love that movie."
"Nah, Edward has me intrigued now, Bells. I want to see exactly why you seem to like this movie so much!" She could hear the laughter in his voice and felt her pale face redden with embarrassment. Edward would tell him. Of course he would. Edward was a damn brown noser of the highest order when it came to her father. And then? Well, then the two of them were going to totally enjoy tormenting her for the rest of the night over it. If it even stopped at the night. She could envision Charlie ragging on her over it for the next week!
"Pay careful attention to the character of Cedric, Chie~Charlie." Edward instructed as he stood behind him, looking over his shoulder as Charlie searched the rows of dvd's for the movie. "There it is!" He pointed to the shelf below where Charlie had been thumbing through the cases. "She moved it from where it was last time. Thought she could hide it from us," he snickered.
"Oh, so it's this Cedric fellow that's got her all hot and bothered? What's so appealing about him?" Edward shrugged as Charlie pulled the dvd from its spot on the shelf and popped it into the tv before settling back in his chair. Edward made himself comfortable on the sofa, and patted the spot next to him for Bella to sit down. She sat down next to him, but not nearly as closely as he would have liked. She folded her arms over her chest in annoyance, sitting as rigidly as poossible as Edward's arm attempted to wrap itself around her shoulder and draw her closely up against him.
Charlie clicked the remote. "Ok, let's see what's so special about this Cedric character."
~*~*~*~*~*~
The door closed quietly behind him, the lock making a loud click as he turned the key, securing it tightly. He moved quietly through the dark house, holding his breath and hoping not to encounter anyone.
What had started off as one of the top ten worst days of his young life, a life that had seen more than it's fair share of worst days, had ended on a high note, with pizza and movies and laughter and a sweet, emotional kiss as the cherry on top.
Bella had understood. Chief Swan~Charlie~wasn't looking to poke his head on a stick and parade around downtown Forks with it. If he could just make it to his bedroom without confrontation, without encountering anyone on the second floor, if he could just get past his parents room, he would be home free and this would be a top ten best day.
He passed the dark second floor landing, sighing with relief as he noticed all the bedrooms were dark and quiet. He moved slowly up the stairs to the third floor, hoping against hope that his parents were asleep. It was a quarter of one, and he was forty-five minutes past his curfew. He knew he would be in trouble if he were caught.
Light spilled out of Carlisle and Esme's bedroom suite and lit up the entire third floor landing, as it always did when he was late. He sighed and ran his hand through his hair, walking into his parent's bedroom with slumped shoulders.
"Edward," Esme breathed as he shuffled into the room, head bowed contritely.
"Edward," Carlisle's face filled with relief. "We were so worried."
"I…I'm sorry," he hung his head.
"You weren't answering your phone," Esme moved to him, pulling him into her arms. He wrapped his arms around her back tightly, resting his head on her slender shoulder and sighing.
"I'm sorry, Mom. I left my phone in the car by accident. I wasn't really thinking when I got to their house. I'm sorry if I made you worry," he murmured into her neck.
"It's ok, darling. You're home now, and safe. That's what matters." She pulled out of the hug and ran her hands down his arms as if checking to make certain her son was whole. She then clasped his cheeks between her hands, her eyes meeting his, and smiled. "Come," she whispered, taking his hand and pulling him to the bed with her.
"Fifteen more minutes and we were going to call Charlie," Carlisle followed them, sitting down on the edge of the bed along with his wife, Edward between them. "We feared the worst, son," his brow furrowed.
"I'm really sorry, Dad," he looked down at his hands, clasped tightly between his mothers, her freshly polished nails a reminder of the great lengths she had gone to in order to ensure his happiness. "We ate pizza and then Chief Swan wanted to watch a movie, and, unless you've ever actually watched a movie with the chief, you just can't possibly understand what it's like."
"So, does this mean everything worked out ok with Bella?" His mother's eyes searched his face.
"Yeah," he smiled. "She totally understood everything."
"Oh, sweetheart, that's wonderful!" Esme kissed him on his cheek. "I told you everything would work out if you only explained things clearly, didn't I?" She gently tugged on his stubbled chin.
"Yes, you did," he smiled at her. "Thank you so much for your confidence in me, and for helping me out today." He leaned down and kissed her cheek.
"Baby, you know your father and I will do anything for you."
"I know, Mom."
"I'm just glad this is over. I'm not sure how much more of your angry pounding that poor piano could take," Carlisle tousled his hair.
"Thanks, Dad," he smiled. "And I really am sorry about the time. We started watching this movie that should have taken like, two hours. But Chief Swan, oh my God! He's got to stop, go back, watch it again, and then decide if it's plausible or not," he closed his eyes and shook his head. "He examines everything for validity."
"What movie were you watching? Some mystery or crime drama?" Carlisle's eyebrows knit together with curiousity.
"No way. It was some stupid Harry Potter movie. Bella has a thing for the guy in it," he smiled at his mother. "She thinks I look like him a little."
"Don't be silly, Edward. You look nothing like Harry Potter, sweetie." Esme laughed as she smoothed a wayward lock of hair from his face.
"You don't even wear glasses," Carlisle let out a loud laugh.
"No," Edward snickered. "Not Harry. This other character. He was only in this one particular movie, and then he dies in it. But, apparently I'm going to have to go see the stupid Teenage Vampire movie they are making with her now, because he's in that."
"These are the sacrifices we make for love, Edward," Carlisle put his hand on Edward's shoulder, trying desperately to keep a straight face.
"I doubt Mom made you sit through bad movies, Dad."
"Oh, but she did. Your mother had it bad for a certain actor," Carlisle grinned playfully.
"Who?" Esme shot back.
"What was that guys name? He made those movies with that little Danny DeVito fellow?" Carlisle frowned as he tried to think of the actor's name.
"Oh my…Michael Douglas," the color rushed to Esme's cheeks, flushing them a beautiful rose color.
"Mom!" Edward looked at his mother, shock forcing his mouth to hang open.
"Darling, I'm only human," she shrugged. "And don't let your father fool you. He enjoyed Kathleen Turner in those movies maybe a little bit too much himself," she winked at Carlisle.
"Ok," Edward stood up from the bed. "This is my stop. I'm getting off the 1980's way-back train."
"Wimp," Carlisle smiled.
"Yeah, well…hey, I'm really sorry if you were worried," he sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "I'm gonna get to bed. I didn't sleep last night, and I'm starting to come down from my Harry Potter high," he blinked his eyes hard, reaching back to scratch the back of his neck.
"Good night, sweetie. Sleep well," Esme stood up and wrapped her arms around him as he kissed the top of her head.
"Night, Mom. I love you," he smiled at her. "Sweet Michael Douglas dreams."
Esme smacked his black leather jacket lightly. "Get to bed, mister."
Edward laughed lightly. "Night Dad," he threw an arm around Carlisle's shoulder and hugged the older man tightly. "And thanks. I really do love you guys."
"We love you too, Edward," Carlisle walked his son to the door with his arm around his shoulder. "I'd wish you sweet dreams, but I'm sure you'll sleep like a log whether I do or not."
"I hope so," Edward laughed. He could feel himself crashing and he couldn't wait to get between the soft sheets on his big, comfortable bed, to dream of his Bella, hopefully with him and not with Cedric Diggory.
~*~*~*~*~*
See? Everything worked out in the end...or maybe just for now...you know how star~crossed some lovers can be....dun dun dunnnnn...
*evil grin*
Once again, a big thank you to everyone who's been reading this hot mess I'm making here. Reviews are greatly appreciated and actively solicited :D
I promise to try to get out from under my black cloud and get the next chapter up in a more timely fashion. The next few chapters...I expect them to be doozies....