29

EPOV

A few days later, on Sunday morning, I wake up around ten o'clock and immediately wish I could just stay in bed the next few days. It's Christmas Eve and Renee is flying in from Florida. It was over three weeks ago that Bella invited her mother to come visit us. Renee claimed that she pushed back the date of her visit because she wanted to be here for Christmas but Bella worried she was nervous about seeing us. She thinks her mother might not be as comfortable with our situation as she's letting on. I tried explaining to Bella that it will be nice to have her mother for the holiday, but really I'm also wondering if Renee just needed more time to come to terms with her daughter's lifestyle choices before meeting me.

The club is closed today, but I'm here anyway under the guise of filing deadlines for payroll tax and sales tax while Bella goes to pick up her mother from the airport. It's a farce; those reports aren't due until January 15th. Renee's not the only one who's a little nervous about this reunion. I don't suspect most Doms ever have to go through the torture of meeting their submissive's mother. On top of that awkwardness, I'm also meeting my future mother-in-law. Days like today I wish I was more of a drinker.

Bella also invited Esme and Carlisle over tonight for Christmas Eve dinner so that our parents can meet. Bella and Renee are cooking for the three of us, Charlie, and my parents. My only job in this is to make a good impression on my in-laws and pick up a few bottles of wine on my way home from work. Yeah, I really wish I was a drinker. The last time I consumed alcohol was after the house painting party and I still regret that, having never recovered the memories I lost between the fifth shot I downed and waking up the next morning.

I spend a few hours in my office doing whatever work I can think of to pass the time. Bella texts me at one o'clock to let me know Renee arrived safely and they are on their way home. I still need to pick up some wine for dinner so I gather my things and head out in search of a market that's open on Christmas Eve.

When I return home I can hear two women laughing in the kitchen. It sounds like Bella and Renee are making up for lost time and feeling rather comfortable with each other already. I on the other hand am even more nervous than I expected to be. I hug the brown bag of wine to my chest and force my feet to take me into the kitchen.

I see Bella first, stirring something in a mixing bowl and smiling. A slender auburn haired woman wearing a funky brown and orange top, a jean skirt, and brown leather boots is leaning against the counter beside her. I could have picked Bella's mother out in a crowd instantly. Besides fitting Bella's previous descriptions of her perfectly, she also has the same build, same facial features, and the same laugh as her daughter. I know Bella got her brown eyes and hair from Charlie, as well as a lot of his personality traits, but physically I can see how Bella takes after her mother.

I place the wine on the kitchen table and the clinking of the bottles alerts both women of my arrival. Renee shrieks when she sees me and runs over to give me a hug, which throws me completely off guard. Bella was right, her parents are polar opposites. I'm used to Bella's father, who has never touched me once, expect the one time he shook my hand and squeezed it so tightly I swear he was trying to break my fingers.

"I'm so excited to meet you, Edward!" Renee squeals, still holding me tightly. "My future son-in-law!"

"Mom," Bella cautions.

Renee lets me out of her death grip just enough to hold me out at arm's length so she can look me over. "Bella said you were handsome, but my word, you're practically a Greek god! Sweetie, how did you ever snag this one?"

I feel my cheeks turning pink and Bella smacks her hand against her forehead in exasperation. It leaves a white smudge of what looks like flour. I can't help but laugh and when Renee finally lets go of my arms I walk over to Bella and wipe the smudge away.

"Thanks," Bella replies and I lean in to kiss her forehead. I know she's nervous like I am and I need to be strong for her. This will only get more awkward once my parents and Charlie arrive.

"Oh, you two are so cute together!" Renee says behind me. "I can see why Bella lets you do all sorts of ungodly things to her."

"Mom!" Bella cries burying her face in my chest.

"What? You said he's comfortable talking about it! And I have questions." Renee retorts.

I step away from Bella so I can face Renee. It will probably be easier to get her questions answered now rather than after our other parents arrive.

"It's okay Bella," I comfort her as she is reluctant to let me go. "I'd be happy to answer any of your questions, Renee. The only time I have trouble talking about our lifestyle is with my mother or Charlie present. They both struggle with it," I explain hoping she gets the hint to tone down the BDSM talk later this evening.

"Wonderful! We'll chat while Bella and I finish preparing the desserts for tonight. You're just in time to give us your input, Edward. Would your parents prefer apple pie or chocolate cake?"

"Apple pie, I think." I pull out a chair from the kitchen table and take a seat.

"Alright, apple it is then. This is going to be so fun, getting to know one another! I want to hear all about the boy my little girl is going to marry."

For the next hour I answer all of Renee's probing questions. Pun intended. Bella looks like she's going to die of embarrassment when Renee asks if anal feels as good as some people say it does. She also wants to know all about exhibitionism and how I developed such an "odd fetish." Even though we are just meeting, I feel strangely comfortable with Renee. She just has a friendly, honest personality. There's no worrying about what she's thinking because she speaks her mind so freely. She sort of reminds me of Alice in that way.

"Okay, last question," Renee says while pushing the apple pie into the oven. "Bella told me that she struggled with boyfriends in the past and felt unfulfilled until she found this lifestyle. Did you feel that way too? Like you were lost?"

I glance over to Bella's who's setting the timer on the oven and biting her lip. We've talked about this a lot in the past but I still don't think Bella understands just how much she's changed my life.

"I didn't really feel lost in the beginning. Rosalie encouraged me to join her at Coming Attractions because she noticed Dom tendencies in my relationships with women and from hearing the way I talked about sex. Once I started learning about the lifestyle I knew I wanted to be part of it, and that it was a perfect fit for my sexual desires. It wasn't until a few years ago when I started feeling lost. I thought being a Dominant severely restricted my ability to date. No one wants to date a man with a submissive on the side and I didn't believe I could find a woman who could be both my submissive and my girlfriend. Every time I felt unfulfilled in my life, whether it was before I discovered BDSM or after becoming heavily involved in the community, it was only because I hadn't met Bella yet. I've been waiting for her my whole life."

Renee puts her hand over her heart and it seems like my answer secured my spot into Renee's good graces. Bella's blushing when I look over at her and she mouths "I love you" at me. I give her a warm smile and turn my attention back to her mother before my dick has a chance to respond to how sweet Bella looks right now. All this talk about sex and love is making me horny and I know I won't be getting any tonight.

With the sex inquisition over, Bella and her mom start talking about what else has to be done before our other guests arrive. Renee spies the wine I brought home, and opens one of the bottles of chardonnay and pours a hearty glassful. She literally fills the wine glass to the brim.

"What?" she says when I raise my eyebrow in her direction. "I haven't seen my ex husband in fourteen years. Trust me, I need this."

"It'll be okay, mom," Bella says to comfort her mother.

"Is he bringing Sue Clearwater? I haven't seen her since Harry was alive."

"No, Sue is spending today with her kids. She'll be at the Cullen's tomorrow though," Bella says and then she pours herself a full glass of the wine.

It hasn't really occurred to me until now how momentous this dinner is for Bella's family. She's visited her mother with some regularity over the years since Renee left Forks but somehow Renee and Charlie have avoided seeing one another since Bella was ten years old. That was when Renee abandoned both her husband and daughter for reasons I still don't fully understand. I'm not sure Bella knows the entire story either. Tonight Renee and Charlie will force themselves together for the sake of their daughter for the first time in a very long time. I suppose her parents realized that they'll have to face one another eventually if they both want to attend Bella's wedding.

I'm starting to feel nervous again so I go into the dining room to make myself useful by setting the table. Tonight will be awkward as Bella's and my parents get to know one another, but I'm really looking forward to tomorrow. We're all spending Christmas Day at my parents' condo with Jasper, Alice, Rose, and even Emmett. I hope Renee and Charlie don't make things uncomfortable for Bella. I really want her to enjoy the holiday surrounded by both our families.

Carlisle and Esme arrive right on time at six o'clock. My mother is wearing a bright red cable knit sweater with a snowman on the front and holding a big bowl of her famous cranberry stuffing. It reminds me of every Christmas I had growing up. Introductions are made all around and soon the five of us are sitting in the living room. Esme is asking Renee about the weather in Florida when there's a knock at the front door. Bella jumps up to answer it, knowing it must be Charlie. I see Renee gulp down the last of the chardonnay in her glass and quickly run her fingers through her hair.

Chief Swan follows Bella into the room wearing his leather cop jacket and blue jeans. I hope he isn't carrying his weapon. I swear he likes to intimidate me for fun. My parents have met Charlie a few times before so he greets them first and takes my mom's offer to sit beside her. Bella walks over to sit next to Renee who is staring at Charlie and biting her lip. That must be a familial trait too.

"Hello, Charlie," she says warmly.

I can see Bella's fists clenching as she waits to see how her father responds. He surprises everyone by looking over to his ex wife and smiling. "Hello, Reenie," he says. "Merry Christmas."

Renee lets out a big sigh of relief and smiles back at him. "Merry Christmas to you too, Champ."

He laughs at her use of what must be an old nickname. It brings tears to Bella's eyes that she discretely wipes away before anyone else notices. I think Esme might have seen it too because she quickly engages Renee in conversation again, asking if she's had any ideas about our wedding. Charlie and Carlisle start comparing fishing tips and Bella and I just stare at our parents in awe. The tense situation of Charlie and Renee reuniting seems to have dissipated and I'm so happy everyone is getting along. It was a good idea to have everyone meet now, instead of at the rehearsal dinner the night before our wedding.

The parents continue conversing while Bella and I slip into the kitchen alone for a minute. "How are you doing?" I ask while Bella pours another glass of wine for herself.

"I'm fine. What about you?"

"I'm perfect, just a little concerned about your alcohol intake. Are you still stressing? I thought that went well out there," I reply taking a step towards her. I can't tell how she's feeling and it's driving me nuts. I need to look into her eyes, and then I'll know.

She plugs the wine bottle and turns to face me. Her dark brown eyes look cautious but genuinely happy. "I imagined much worse reunion scenarios in my head. I guess I didn't think too much about how I would feel having both my parents in the same room after all these years. It makes me feel ten years old again."

I pull her into a loose hug, taking the glass of wine from her hand and sipping it. "You're not ten years old anymore. You've grown up, and it seems like maybe your parents have too. This is going to be a good Christmas."

Bella wraps her arms tight around my waist and snuggles her head against my chest. The hand not holding her wine moves up her spine and cups the back of her neck. I press my face against the top of her head, breathing in her scent.

"Are you smelling me?" she asks, her voice muffled by my t-shirt.

Damn, I'm busted for hair sniffing. "I can't help it. You smell so good. Like home."

"That's very sweet, but remember what I said. No boing-boing while my parents are staying with us."

I chuckle at her attempt to warn me off. If anyone has trouble keeping their hands to themselves it will be Bella. Charlie's just staying over tonight but Renee will be here all week. My little minx is going to be regretting the sex ban by day three. I guarantee it.

"What are you smiling like that for?" she asks accusingly.

"Nothing, love. Let's get back out there," I say leaning forward to kiss her lightly on the lips.

I can detect the wine on her mouth but resist tasting her more fully. I know she is expecting me to deepen the kiss as she leans into me, trying to keep our lips connected. See, she wants me already. Entwining my fingers with hers I drag Bella back into the living room as she pouts.

"Edward! There you are sweetheart," my mother calls to get my attention. "I was just telling Renee how beautiful your piano playing is. Grace us with some Christmas tunes, would you please?"

Now I'm the one pouting. I look down at Bella. "Come sit beside me?" I beg her. I don't really feel like playing but there's no use arguing with Esme. She's a world class guilt tripper.

My piano is located in the far corner of the living room near the fireplace. I play a number of classic Christmas songs and then pepper in a few other pieces I know to be my mother's favorites. At some point Bella leaves me to check on dinner but I keep playing. It does feel good to play again and I'm hoping to impress Charlie and Renee just a little. I don't want to look like a show off though so I refrain from doing and of the complicated pieces I wrote myself.

Finally Bella calls everyone to dinner and we all sit down at the dining room table. This is the first formal gathering since we bought the house and it feels good to host a party. There wasn't enough space in the townhome to pull this off. Bella and Renee made so much food, and everything is delicious. I take two helpings of Esme's stuffing, which I scarf down while everyone talks.

There's only one awkward moment when my father mentions Full Exposure. He was only asking how I was fairing from a managerial aspect but the mere mention of the club made Charlie look physically ill. Carlisle used to get that same look so I recognize it well. I answer his question quickly by letting him know the P&L statement is showing gains in the last quarter and we move on to other topics.

At the end of the night, after my parents leave, I'm finishing up the dishes in the kitchen sharing an uncomfortable silence with Charlie. He hasn't offered to help clean up, instead just watching me wash and dry on my own. Every so often he cracks his knuckles. Beanie sits beside my feet hoping I'll drop some leftovers. When everything is cleaned and put away I toss a little sliver of turkey in his bowl. I'm drying my hands on a dishtowel when Bella comes into the kitchen.

"Mom's all settled into the spare bedroom," she announces. "Are you sure you'll be okay on the sofa, dad?"

"Yes," he answers quickly before Bella can offer to make up the play room bed for him again. We've put away all the toys and props but regardless, Charlie's made his feelings on "that room" very clear. Truthfully, I can't blame him. "I'll be just fine on the couch, Bells. Don't worry about me. I think I might go take a shower though, if that's all right?"

A part of me really wants to clue Charlie in on how many times I've fucked Bella on that couch he'll be sleeping on, and in that shower stall too, but I hold my tongue.

"Yeah, of course. There are towels in the linen closet. Help yourself to anything you need," she replies.

After Charlie excuses himself upstairs Bella comes over to me and slumps against my chest. "Long day?" I tease.

"You can say that again. I am one hundred percent drained between the airport, cooking, entertaining, and the talk I just had with my mom upstairs."

"You talked? About what?" I ask pulling her down to sit on my lap in the kitchen chair Charlie had been occupying.

"Well, at first we were talking about the club. I told her about the scandal in Port Angeles and how it forced me to tell Charlie the truth. Then she acted concerned about my safety and wanted to know what my role was at the new club."

"What did you tell her?"

"I said we weren't performing weekly at Full Exposure like we had been used to doing. I tried to make it clear how much more security is present now and how careful we are. I told her how we were forced to come out of the playroom. And then had to explain what that means. I don't think she really understands that you and I are open about our lifestyle here in a way we weren't in PA."

"How does she feel about everything now that she knows? She seemed accepting when she grilled me with questions this afternoon."

Bella smiles. "Yeah, she's pretty cool with the sex stuff. The exhibitionism made her a little squeamish, but I think it had more to do with hearing about what happened to us."

"What else did you talk about?"

"My childhood mostly. She apologized for leaving me alone with my dad all those years ago. That's huge for me, Edward. She's mentioned it occasionally when we'd talk about him, but this was the first time she really admitted the way she handled the divorce was wrong."

"Wow. So do you feel like your relationship is stronger now?"

"Yes, I think so. And I'm so relieved at the way my parents are getting along. You should have seen them a few years ago. They wouldn't even speak on the phone. I had to pass messages back and forth. They couldn't have a five minute conversation without one of them yelling."

I hold her tighter in my arms, wishing I could wipe those bad memories from her mind. Bella and I had different struggles growing up but I know what it feels like to be helpless while your family goes through turmoil. I'm just glad the worst seems to be behind us both now.

Bella yawns and I lift her up into my arms as I stand. "Let's go to bed," I suggest setting her gently on her feet.

"Okay. I'm beat," she agrees and starts walking towards the stairs.

When we reach the top I can hear Charlie talking. I expected him to be in the bathroom but the sound of his voice is coming from the guest room where Renee is staying. Bella looks at me confused when she hears it too and we both tiptoe down the hall to eavesdrop on her parents' private conversation. I only intend to listen for a moment to ensure they aren't about to start arguing but something Renee says stops us both dead in our tracks.

"Do you trust Edward?" she asks Charlie.

"You mean with the... the sex stuff?"

"That's certainly a concern, but no. I mean you know him better than I do. Is he good enough for Bella?"

Charlie grumbles something unintelligible and then says, "He's a good man. But don't ever tell him I said that. I like the fact the he squirms when I narrow my eyes at him."

Bella giggles under her breath and I hold a finger to my lips to keep her quiet. This information is crucial to my survival as Charlie's son-in-law.

"Okay I get it. You wanna be all tough cop around him. But you trust him?" Renee replies.

"He'd never intentionally hurt her physically or emotionally. I watched that kid go through hell after they got exposed on the internet. He loves Bella. I'm sure of it."

"Okay, then. I believe you that he loves her. I see it too; in his eyes. But I'm surprised that you're comfortable with our daughter marrying the manager of a sex club."

"I already gave him my blessing, Reenie, although that was before he took that job. Honestly, I'd rather see him running the business than working as a performer every night," Charlie answers.

"I thought they do perform? Bella told me about the exhibitionism; the scenes they do in the theater."

Charlie groans like he's suffering from food poisoning. "Not as much as they used to. That scandal really shook them up. Carlisle thinks they spend more time managing at this new club than they do performing."

I look at Bella, wondering if she knew our fathers had talked about this. Her expression tells me she's as surprised as I am to learn this bit of information.

Renee asks, "I don't understand why Bella's so interested in that community. You should have seen the sparkle in her eye when she talked to me about it. At first I thought she was only going along with it for Edward's benefit."

Charlie shakes his head. "No, it's a mutual interest. Sometimes I get the feeling Bella's worse about it than him." Charlie is far more perceptive than I've given him credit for. "She's happy. I keep telling myself that's the most important thing."

"Yes, she really does seem happy," Renee agrees.

Charlie takes a step backwards into the hall and Bella and I quickly dart into our bedroom to keep from being seen. With our door open I can still hear their conversation.

"Wait, before you go… Um, I wanted to say thank you for being so nice to me today," Renee says. "I think its meant a lot to Bella having us both here."

"I agree. Our little girl's all grown up now. Everything that's happened is water under the bridge. And I've moved on," Charlie replies.

"Is Sue taking good care of you, Champ?"

"She's a good woman. I just hope Harry would approve..."

"I know he would," she assures him. "Don't beat yourself up over it."

On that note, Bella's parents say goodnight to one another and Charlie heads into the bathroom, shutting the door behind him. I look down at my fellow eavesdropper and see tears in her eyes.

I lift her chin until her wet eyes are gazing into mine. "What's the matter?" I ask worried that she's upset about something one of her parents said about me or the club. Obviously her parents aren't exactly excited about our involvement in public displays of sex, but overall they've handling it as well as can be expected. And they don't hate me. I consider that a victory.

Bella shakes her head and smiles. "Nothing's the matter. Everything is perfect, Edward. It's perfect."

A/N: Please leave a review!

And I also need your input on the next chapter. Mrs. Beagle makes a reappearance and I need to know if you think she deserves a little sample of Edward's talents after so many years of supporting Bella like the daughter she never had. I completely misjudged the way some of my readers would feel about the M-booth... I'm worried you may not like an old lady seeing a little masturbating peen... well not "little"... You know what I mean! Vote yes or no in your review and I'll decide whether or not to gloss over that part of next week's chapter. Thanks!