This is a little bit bigger of a chapter, but this will be the standard size of chapters going forward - around 2.5-3.5K word count.

****EDITED TO MEET TOS CONTENT, UNEDITED VERSIONS ARE POSTED AT TWCS AND FICPAD****

Chapter 3

I put down the snacks and chips as Jasper brings in the beer. Rose and Alice are chatting away as they walk in behind him. We normally get together once a month and take turns at hosting at our homes.

"Where's Emmett?" Alice asks as she kisses my cheek.

"He's spent the day with his girlfriend in the city, and said she's making him dinner tonight," I say as I roll my eyes.

"Let me guess, another blonde bimbo?"

My eyes move to Rose and I chuckle.

"Not that I've seen her yet, but I'm sure she'll be a carbon copy of you."

"Hmm, well if she looks like me then he has great taste, much better than you. I mean, who likes the plain-Jane variety of girls."

I flip her off, before getting out the trivia games we play when we are here.

"Girls against the guys?" Rose says and I nod.

"You two are going to be married soon; don't you think you should team up?" Alice says, as she smiles at us.

"I'd rather marry Donald Duck," Rose snarks out.

Alice chuckles. "Come on, you two would make a hot couple," Alice chips in as she eyes Rose and I.

"No, we wouldn't – I would kill her before the Reverend said you may now kiss the bride." I declare making Jasper laugh, and Rose smack the back of my head.

"Hmm, you two have too much passion between you not to be fucking." Alice screws her eyes together as she speaks, almost as if she's trying to read Rose's and my minds.

"What?" Rose says giving her the 'are you fucking nuts' look.

"Alice seems to think you two are a couple, and this whole fighting thing between you is foreplay," Jasper clarifies for us.

"What the hell have you been drinking girl? Whatever it is, I'm staying away from it, because it's making you talk stupid," Rose snaps.

"Mark my words; one day you'll be a Cullen. If you don't come to me and tell me first, I'll be mad at you," Alice huffs as she sits down next to Rose.

"Not happening; I'll be a monk before Rose and I do the horizontal mambo."

"I have told her that you wouldn't touch Rose, but she's got it in her head that you two are made for each other. She even thinks it's the reason neither of you have ever found your one," Jasper says quietly as I sit down.

I roll my eyes. "I haven't found my 'one,' because I've been busy raising my son," I tell Jasper. The words I just said are true to a certain degree. I have put off finding myself a woman, because I didn't want Emmett exposed to that kind of a life, where women would come and go. There's also the small fact that I thought and still do, that no woman would stay with me long. It's just within the last two or so years I've been feeling lonely. I was about going to join a dating site when Emmett left for college, but that plan flipped upside down, when Emmett failed.

"Do you want me to set you up on a date?" Jasper asks.

My eyes go to the girls who are talking away. "Maybe, but just no one like Rose, please."

Jasper grins as he laughs gently.

"What?" I ask.

"Just for a father and son, one would think you and Emmett would have the same taste in women, but you are polar opposites."

"Are we starting this game, or what?" Rose asks, and I nod picking up the first card.

We each take a turn reading out the questions, and putting down one joint team answer. We're about halfway through the game when Emmett texts to say he's staying at his girlfriend Bella's house. I can't help feel this is more serious than I first thought. Thinking about it makes me plan to have a long talk with Emmett, about safe sex. As much as I love him, I don't want him to have to travel the same road I went down at his age.

"Emmett, come with me to my office," I say as I walk in the living room. I don't stop walking until I'm in my home office.

I keep my back to him as I take a deep breath. Letting out the breath, I get my game face on as I sit down. Opening the drawer, I pull out the brown paper bag and place it down in front of my seated son. Pulling out an information sheet, I hand him a copy and glance down at the information sheet.

"What's this about, Dad?" Emmett asks.

"I know things between you and your girlfriend—"

Emmett raises his eyebrows cutting me off. "Bella," he says.

"You and Bella are heating up, that's why I got this," I say pushing the bag closer to him.

He looks inside and begins to laugh.

"Just the one box, Dad, that's not gonna last too long?"

I sigh, most kids would be embarrassed about their parents giving them the safe sex talk and prophylactics, but no, not my son.

"Emmett, this is a serious talk about safe sex," I reprimand him.

"Don't worry, Dad, I make my partner come before I get to the good stuff."

I rub my face.

"Oh and she does come during, too—"

"Emmett," I say sharply interrupting his non-filtered spew. "You need to be safe; there are a lot of STIs and STDs that you can get if you don't wrap it up."

"Don't worry, Dad, we do, but we get the fun ones. Just so you know – times have moved on from these old plain ones."

"Emmett, sometimes things fail—"

"God no, I've never had a failed sexual experience. That must just be something that happens to you oldies," he states, having cut me off yet again.

I groan and start to shake my head, but his mouth keeps running.

"You're in luck, Dad; I've heard there are these pills you can take. I even have some sexy photos of some cheerleaders I can share with you—"

I hold my hand up cutting him off. "Just take the condoms and please get out."

Emmett jumps up grinning. "Nice talking with you, Dad; see you later."

"I'm sure he does that just to piss me off," I say out loud to myself.

~*MSG*~

I groan looking at the time I was meant to be home an hour ago to meet Bella. Due to a last minute meeting, I was held up at work. I messaged Emmett earlier to let him know about the last minute delay. He texted back and was upset asking if I just didn't want to meet her. I replied back to say that I wanted to meet her, and I'd hurry. It wasn't a complete lie; I mean, I'm not overly keen to meet her, but knowing she's important to Emmett I will make the effort. I stop off to get pizza and also pick up some flowers for Bella, to apologize for being late.

I walk in heading straight for the kitchen but stop as soon as I enter. There's a girl kneeling on my counter looking in one of the cabinets. As she has her back to me, my eyes drop to her feet seeing the she has blue sneakers on. Her pale legs are bare and seem to last for ages. As my eyes travel up her legs, they meet the blue skirt she has on. The skirt is short and I can actually see the bottom curve of her ass cheeks. Then I meet with some more skin showing her curvy figure. The dimples showing above the top of her skirt make my dick twitch. The flesh of her back is covered in places by the long, dark hair hanging down her back. The small top she's wearing is blue as well and where it covers her, it's tight and you can see her curves. The outfit covers more than the cheerleading outfits do, but it surely isn't by much.

"You must be Bella," I say making my presence known as I place the flowers and pizza down.

The girl jumps and promptly falls off the counter landing on her ass on the floor.

"Shit, I'm sorry," I say moving to her as she tries to pull herself up.

I watch flabbergasted as the drawer she's using to pull herself up, opens and she bashes her head against it. She falls back to the floor this time holding her head.

Kneeling and holding back my chuckle as I place my hand over hers. As soon as we have skin-to-skin or hair contact, my hand gets a shock. She looks up at me, and my whole world turns on its axis. I can't help but stare into the brown eyes of what must be the most beautiful girl in the world. I'm so fucked.

"Are you okay?" I ask softly as my other hand moves up to wipe the small amount of tears that have escaped her eyes.

"Yes," she replies as her eyes stay locked with mine.

Suddenly, she shakes her head dropping her eyes from mine.

"You must be Emmett's Dad?" She asks as she makes a move to get up.

"Yep, that's me," I say with a grin.

She looks at me with a smile; one that I know right away is fake.

Fuck, please don't let her be yet another fake bimbo. The last thing I need to do is fall for fake ass bimbos. Wait, damn it, she's Emmett's girlfriend, and is here for him, not me.

"It's nice to meet you, Ed." The sweetness in her voice does make hearing that name better, but it shouldn't, because I hate being called Ed.

Before I can reprimand her for calling me Ed, Emmett walks in.

"Hi, Dad, I see you've already met Bella," he says cheerfully hugging her to his side.

"We were just getting acquainted," I tell him as he frowns.

"Babe, what did you do to your head, you're bleeding."

Bella blushes and she lets out a breathless chuckle. "Same old stuff, you know me." Bella's eyes go from Emmett to mine.

"What am I going to do with you?" Emmett pulls Bella closer to him, and my body fills with rage as she giggles against his chest and her eyes go back to mine.

"I got pizza," I say closing my eyes knowing it came out a little snappy.

"Dad, is everything okay?" Emmett asks sounding worried.

"Yeah, I just had a bad day at work," I lie smoothly as I open the pizza box.

"These are for you, Bella," I say handing her the flowers.

"You got me flowers?" Bella asks in shock.

"Yes, just to say sorry for my tardiness."

I watch in surprise as her face becomes flushed.

"Thank you, they're beautiful," Bella says as Emmett rolls his eyes.

"They're just flowers, Bella, just like the ones in your garden."

"I know, but no one has ever bought me flowers before."

"Come on, both of you sit down and eat," I command.

I watch as Bella pulls at the bottom of her skirt a little. Emmett clasps her hand as they sit and he lays their joined hands on the top of Bella's leg.

"Oh, you got meat feast, my favorite," Emmett says taking the first slice out of the box.

I move to the counter getting napkins and drinks for everyone.

"Can I have a napkin please, Ed?" Bella asks softly.

"Sure, and it's Edward or Mr. Cullen, Bella," I tell her as I place the drinks down.

"Oh I ... I'm so ... sor ... sorry."

I look to Bella as she stutters. I frown when Emmett sniggers grinning at me.

"I ... I'll be ... ba ... back ..."

Before I can ask what's wrong, Bella jumps up, stumbles over the chair and then again on the step at the kitchen door.

"Bell's! Shit, I'm sorry," Emmett yells after her, getting up to follow her.

"Emmett?" I say before he can leave.

"It was meant to be a joke on you, not her," he tells me sounding like he's in pain.

"What was?" I ask starting to realize what my bone-headed, dumbass son has done.

"I told Bella that you would like her, and did not like your full name. I told her everyone calls you Ed."

I sigh and rub my face but my son carries on talking

"She said she would call you Mr. Cullen, since that would be the polite thing to do, and I told her you would hate that because it would make you feel old. All weekend I've been at her to call you Ed," he sighs looking down at the floor. "I just wanted to see that cringe on your face, which never happened by the way," Emmett says slowly like it was an afterthought.

I let out a breath. "Go and check on her," I tell him making him do the right thing. I sit at the kitchen table alone for another ten minutes before Emmett walks back in with Bella.

I tilt my head holding back my laugh seeing how my son towers over this tiny girl. Emmett towers over people a lot, after all, he hits six-foot seven, but Bella must be five foot, or just over, because she's not even at his chest level.

"Sorry," she says quickly sitting down.

"No problem, Bella, and Emmett told me what he told you. I'm sorry if I sounded harsh, I just hate all abbreviations of my name."

"Un ..." she stops talking and takes a deep breath, "understood."

"Dad, I was hoping to have a Halloween party here, if that's okay. Bella said she'd help set up, do the food, and you can even come, too," Emmett says as he eats and I hum at him.

"Will there be alcohol here?"

"Just a little, Dad."

"I want names, and house numbers, Emmett, that includes yours, Bella."

Bella just looks at me and nods, before going back to the slice of pizza she's been nibbling on.

"If the parents say no, to alcohol, then they cannot come, Emmett, you know the rules."

He lets out a sigh but nods at me.

Years ago, it was agreed at a town meeting that teens were going to party, and they were going to drink. As adults, we had a responsibility to safeguard them. So instead of having them do this in unsafe places or when parents were out of town we agreed that we would allow it, but with stipulations. Kids could only do it in their senior year, and not more than two parties a year. Parents of the person throwing the party had to contact the parents of the kids attending. The host of the party had to have someone over the age of twenty-one there, and alcohol amounts were limited. No one is allowed to leave after they drink, unless accompanied by a sober adult driver. I know there are many that disagree on what we do, but this way we have it more under our control so to speak.

Emmett and I carry on talking. After a while we move to the living room as we're talking about the upcoming game we are going to next weekend. It's not until Bella clears her throat that I remember she's here. I don't think she uttered one word since saying she understood about my name.

"I should go home," she says softly.

"Oh," Emmett says looking at the time. I follow seeing that it just after midnight.

"Give me a second and I'll grab my jacket," Emmett says and I grab his arm.

"Where are you going?" I ask.

"I'm giving her a ride, Dad," he says in a duh tone.

"I'll take her home, you get to bed. It's late. Come on, Bella."

Bella walks slowly behind me. I open my car door taking the flowers I got her from her hand letting her get in and belt up before handing them back to her.

"Where do you live?" I ask.

She rattles off her address, which is on the other side of town. The full twenty minute ride is quiet. When we pull up outside her home, the house is in complete darkness.

"Thank you, Mr. Cullen," Bella says getting out.

I shake my head.

"Call me Edward," I say as she closes the door.

I jump out moving quickly to her side seeing that I too tower over her. As I place my hand softly on her back she jumps looking at me.

"I was just going to make sure you get in okay, and tell your parents who are more than likely freaking out, that it's my fault you're home at such a ghastly hour on a school night."

Bella looks at me and then to the house frowning. "They're not home," she says quietly. "They're at work," she carries on and I look at my watch seeing that it's almost one in the morning now.

"At this time?"

"Yes," she carries on walking and I look at the house, which looks too dark to me.

"Then let me check your home over then," I tell her as she opens the door.

I move in front of her walking in. I switch on the light seeing the living room looks like it's in order, as does the bottom half of the house.

"I'll just look upstairs then be on my way," I say heading up the stairs.

The first room is clearly her parent's bedroom, the next is Bella's room, but it's not as teengirl looking as what I was thinking it would be. She has school papers and books laying around, but nothing else not even a computer or laptop.

I walk down the stairs finding Bella where I left her.

"Everything looks good," I say.

"Thank you," she says giving me a weak smile. This smile at least looks more real than the other she gave me earlier.

My heart starts to beat as I stare in her eyes. It's not until I feel my hormones raging and I've moved closer to her. Fuck, she's my son's girlfriend and a teenager.

"Will your parents be home soon?" I ask, not liking the fact I'll be leaving her here alone.

Bella just nods as she swallows still looking at me with eyes that seem to be begging me to kiss her.

I nod at her and leave. I drive home at twice the speed I drove there in. As soon as I'm home I go to my shower to get rid of my hormonal issue.

I muster up every image I can, but nothing seems to work until Bella appears in my mind on her hands and knees.

I bite my lip to hold in my groan, regaining my senses I taste the blood on my lips. I step fully under the water having no idea what just came over me.

A/N: So there is another chapter, we sure hope you liked his reaction to Bella. Let us know what you are thinking, because poor Edward doesn't seem to know what he is currently thinking.