31:

EPOV

"Are you serious? Where the hell did this come from?" Emmett demands from the doorway of Rose's house.

It's nearly five o'clock before Bella and I return from our visit with Mrs. Beagle. I've had time to think during this short drive through town because Bella drove my Volvo and I'm behind the wheel of a 1979 Aston Martin, still trying to process all that happened in the last three hours. Bella warned me that Mrs. Beagle was an interesting old woman. She failed to mention Mrs. B is also tenacious, feisty, and overly generous. And I can't believe I actually masturbated in front of her.

I step out of the car just as Emmett reaches the driveway and starts looking over the fine British vehicle. "Is this what I think it is?" he asks.

"If you think it's my new Aston Martin, then yes," I reply just a little smug.

Bella rolls hers eyes at me and smiles. "I'll be inside with Rose. I'm sure she'll appreciate your help too when you're done showing Emmett your new toy."

"We'll be right in," I promise. She glances over to Emmett whose busy crawling into the passenger side. "Okay, Emmett might be a while, but I'll be there to help you in a few minutes."

Emmett pokes his head out the window to get my attention. "So where the fuck did you get this?" he demands.

"Bella's client. She wanted us to have a few things to remember her by. This belonged to her late husband."

"Was the old lady married to James Bond or something?"

"I don't think so. But if you like this, you'll really be impressed by the yacht," I say casually.

Emmett coughs and bangs his chest with his fist. "Excuse me?"

"Yeah, I know. It's insane. Mrs. Beagle is leaving Bella a sixty foot yacht in her will and gave her ownership this afternoon," I explain.

"Fuck, I knew Bella and the old lady were chums, but what did you do to deserve this sweet ride? I thought you'd never even met her before today?"

"I hadn't. Bella talked about me a lot though."

"So what did you do, fuck her?" Emmett jokes.

I feel my face blush slightly thinking back on my experience in Mrs. Beagle's house. Hopefully with the fading daylight Em can't see the color in my cheeks. I'm not ashamed of what I did for Delores. Bella was right about how special she is. Really, really special. I don't think I would have granted her erotic request if Bella hadn't been present. I did it as much for her as for Mrs. B.

"Shut up, Em. I didn't sleep with a 74 year old woman for a car! Come on, let's go help Rosalie," I reply.

The four of us work for a few hours getting the house ready for Alice's shower. Bella and Rose handle the food preparations while Emmett and I blow up balloons and set up folding chairs and card tables. By the time we're finished the house is covered in blue and pink. I am so thankful right now that I'm a man and get to miss this whole thing. It'll be fun hanging out with the guys tomorrow while Bella and Rosalie are stuck here guessing belly circumferences and eating cake shaped like a giant pacifier.

In the morning I wake up before Bella as usual. It's very strange for me waking up in my childhood bedroom. Esme hadn't changed anything when I left home for college and neither did I in the brief time I spent back here before buying the townhome. I'm not sure why Rose hasn't made use of the room since my parents moved away. Maybe she feels like since it's still technically their house Esme wouldn't want this room to change. But in its current state the room feels like a hundred and twenty square foot time capsule. The bedspread is still navy blue stripes; the posters of 90's bands still hang on the walls.

I glance around as Bella softly snores beside me. It's odd having her in this setting. Now I know what Bella meant when she told me having her parents together at Christmas made her feel like a child again. This room makes me feel like I'm sixteen and I've somehow snuck my girlfriend into my room without my parents finding us out. But having her in this space also feels so different than those times as a teenager. She's not some girl from school who I invited over to "study," and she isn't one of the many girlfriends I had when I was young. In my mind Bella is already my wife, and I'm just waiting for June so we can make it official.

I'm so eager to declare our love in front of all our family and friends because in my heart we're already joined. She's mine and has been since the first time I saw her, all nervous and excited backstage at Coming Attractions. I want to stay here in bed a while just to watch her sleep. I need to feel the warmth and comfort that comes from having Bella in my arms. Sometimes I feel like my whole life is just a dream, that it's too good to be true. Feeling her chest rise and fall with each intake of breath convinces me a little more that she is real.

"You okay?" she asks suddenly, squirming a little in my arms as she wakes. I realize I'm holding her tighter than normal.

"Sorry. I was just enjoying having you to myself. I want to stay like this a while longer before we have to go downstairs. I'm not ready to share you with Rose and Alice yet."

"You're so selfish," she teases turning around to face me. Her hair is matted and messy. She's never looked so beautiful.

"I won't get to see you most of the day," I remind her.

"True. I guess that means you haven't grown too sick of me yet. That typically happens after the wedding, though doesn't it?" she muses.

I watch her wipe the sleep from her eyes and snuggle into the crook of my arm. When I don't say anything for a few moments she looks up at me trying to figure out what I'm thinking. "So... morning sex?" she jokes.

"Oh, yes. Morning sex indeed," I respond in a very enthusiastic tone. Bella chuckles and slides on top of me.

"I love you," I say simply.

She looks at me intently and then kisses my chin. "I love you too."

By the time we make it downstairs it's nearly eleven o'clock. Alice and Jasper arrive just as we're finishing breakfast and I'm glad we spent some quiet time upstairs because I was right about losing Bella to the girls today. They are already in full party mode going over every detail. Emmett, Jasper, and I are just lounging around in the living room watching them. Jazz looks tired and I wonder why that is since the baby isn't even here yet.

Pregnancy looks good on Alice, and although it's strange seeing my formerly tiny little friend so round and plump, I think she's happier than I've ever seen her. She sits in an oversized chair with her feet propped up on an ottoman. Jasper is beside her holding her hand as she talks to Rosalie. And although Alice is currently complaining about swollen ankles, I look at my cousin and friend and see pure happiness.

Naturally, images of Bella keep popping into my head. I wonder if she'll glow as brightly as Alice when it's our turn to be parents? I hope becoming a mother makes Bella as happy as I think it will. Ever since Bella had that pregnancy scare I think she realizes she's closer to being ready than ever before. I haven't pushed her on that subject for a while, considering our wedding is still three months away, but that doesn't mean I'm not thinking about it.

The party doesn't start until one o'clock but Jasper, Emmett, and I are going to head out around lunchtime. We're meeting Jasper's friend Steve at the bar. He lives in Portland and I haven't seen him since Jasper's wedding. I also invited Zach and Martin from Channel 6's new station and was happy to get their text messages last night that they both want to come hang out with us. I'm looking forward to some male bonding.

"So we have news," Alice says breaking me from my scattered thoughts about babies and bars.

"You're pregnant?" Emmett jokes.

Alice tilts her head and gives him a dirty look. "Yeah, wise guy. I am! But no, I have another exciting thing to tell you all. We bought a house in Seattle!"

"You did?" Bella asks surprised. "That's great!"

"Yes! And it's only a few blocks from you and Edward, just like I said! 529 West Highland Drive."

Bella looks at me and then at Alice. "What? How did you manage that?"

"I can't believe you pulled it off, Tink," I add. "You literally will be three blocks from us."

She smiles triumphantly. "I had to sell my Porsche for the down payment but Jazz is right that it isn't the most practical family vehicle. Now all we need to do is get Rose to relocate," she says.

Rosalie looks around at all our faces and sighs. "I really loathe you all for leaving me. And leaving me with Emmett to boot! The man who has sexual fantasies about Jessica Rabbit."

Jasper and I laugh and Emmett nods his head confidently. I'd have to agree Jessica is one hot cartoon. I do feel sympathy for Rose though. She puts up a good front but I know it's been hard for her with Carlisle and Esme living in Seattle. Now that I'm there too and Jasper will be soon, I can understand why she feels abandoned. The truth, whether she wants to admit it or not, is that she does have a support system here in Port Angeles. The girls who work in her salon and at Coming Attractions are good friends. And I think Emmett is going to be the one. I foresee wedding bells in their future; maybe not for a few years, but I see the signs. It's in his eyes; he loves her unconditionally. There's no doubt in my mind.

Just as we're about to leave the ladies to their shower I see Jacob's ugly excuse for a car pull up into the driveway. I'm not usually a car snob but his Volkswagen Rabbit looks especially dumpy next to the Aston Martin. From the window I see Jacob open the passenger door for Angela and then immediately walk over and inspect Mrs. Beagle's gift.

I knew Angela was attending the baby shower but not that Jacob was joining her. It suddenly hits me that he's probably not; he'll be with the guys instead. I look over at Bella sitting across the room and she has a huge cheesy grin on her face. I'm not sure if that's her 'sorry I forgot to mention this' face or her 'I just set you up' face. I scowl at her but I can't keep up the act and my smile breaks through. She blows me a kiss and I pretend to have trouble catching it which makes her laugh.

Bella's been hoping that friendship will blossom between Jacob and me. She thinks of him as a brother and I know that means I have to start viewing him as my family too. It's been difficult for us to find common ground though with Jacob's disapproval of my preferred lifestyle and his history of dating my fiancé. The sex video scandal didn't help his opinion of me either. I've been procrastinating on this dilemma but I know it will make Bella happy if I put forth a little more effort to make friends with Jacob. I just hate always feeling like I need to prove myself to him.

Rose gets up to let Angela and Jacob in and everyone says hello and welcomes them. Angela deposits a shower gift on an empty party table and goes over to Alice to gush about how radiant she looks.

"Who's car?" Jacob asks coming to stand next to Emmett.

"Not mine," Em laughs. "Eddie's got himself a cougar."

Jacob looks at me with a scowl and I silently curse Emmett's sense of humor. As if Jacob needs another reason to distrust me. "Don't listen to him," I say coolly. "The car's mine, but it was a gift. An incredibly generous gift from Bella's client. We told her it was too much but she insisted." I still feel awkward about accepting such an expensive gift. I know Mrs. Beagle didn't have any children, but maybe the car would have been better suited for a charity auction or something along those lines instead of giving it to me.

I leave Rose's house with the other guys at noon and Emmett begs me to take the Aston to the bar. Jacob seconds the request and I finally relent, tossing him the keys. I agree it's a hot ride; just so ostentatious. I feel very out of place driving it through the quaint little town of Port Angeles. It doesn't seem to bother Jacob. He's more than happy behind the wheel and I think I scored a point or two in letting him drive, but unfortunately they continue to talk about the car for the entire ride.

Zach, Martin, and Steve are waiting for us when we pull into the parking lot. Jasper has chosen a restaurant style bar on the eastern side of town called Crawdad's. It's a cool place with lots of tables and flat screens on every wall. There aren't many other people there this early in the afternoon and the waitress takes special care of us as a result. She's petite and blonde, catching Steve and Zach's attention right away.

"My name is Molly and I'll be taking care of you. So how are you all doing?" she says with a bright smile.

Steve clears his throat to get Molly's attention and then makes some vague introductions. "Married, engaged, engaged, cohabitating, married..." Steve says pointing at Jasper, me, Jacob, Emmett and then Martin. "And I'm single," he says winking at her.

"I wonder why," she replies with a smirk but then pushes his shoulder with her hand in a flirty way. "What about him?" Molly asks pointing to Zach who Steve conveniently left out of his declaration.

Steve frowns. "He's single too."

"Hi there, beautiful," Zach chimes in.

Molly smiles back at him. "So what's the occasion, boys?"

"My man, Jasper over here is about to have a baby. We're here to get him drunk one last time," Emmett says.

"No," Jasper protests. "Not drunk. My wife's having her baby shower this afternoon."

Molly nods her head in understanding. "Okay, so you guys are all avoiding the girly stuff I assume? You know, I always thought how unfair that is that the mother-to-be gets a big party but not the father. So you get a free shot, Jasper! What would you like?"

Martin speaks up for the first time. "He'll take a jager bomb. Bring us a round, please Molly."

"You got it, Married," Molly says teasingly.

He blushes and replies, "It's Martin actually. And I'm separated."

"Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that. Okay, I'll go get your drinks. Feel free to look over the menus and I'll be right back."

Everyone picks up their menus and starts discussing what to order. I look across the table at Martin and tip his menu down with my hand. "Are you really separated?" I ask.

He gives me a glowing smile and nods. "I kicked that lying cheating whore out on her ass."

Zac laughs and looks at Martin. "You moved out in the middle of the night and are currently sleeping on your brother's couch," he corrects.

"Hey, I'm proud of you, man," I say encouragingly. "You deserved better than that."

"Thanks, Edward. You know, it hasn't been the same without you at the station. Everyone feels really bad about what happened," Martin replies.

"Jackie says hi," Zach snickers.

I roll my eyes. "You haven't been keeping her company for me?"

"Fuck no, I won't make that mistake again. Gary would kill me. Oh, speaking of the boss man..." Zach replies and reaches for his wallet. "Here, Gary gave me this to give you."

I take the white business card in my hand. It's one of Gary's but there's a name a phone number handwritten on the back. "Who's Patrick Harris?" I ask.

Zach shrugs. "I don't know. I told Gary we were hanging out with you and he told me to give it to you. I guess you're supposed to call the guy."

"Okay, well, tell him thanks I guess," I say shoving the card into my jeans pocket.

Molly returns with seven jager bombs and Emmett rubs his hands together excitedly.

"Wait a second," Jacob says holding his hand in the air. "Who's staying sober enough to drive that beautiful piece of British engineering back to the house?"

"I will," I say immediately. "Can I please have a Sprite, Molly?"

"Absolutely, sweetheart. Do any of you want to order food yet?"

Jacob asks for cheese fries and Emmett and Steve both want burgers. I decide to order a big greasy cheese steak since I'm passing on the alcohol. The other guys order appetizers and Jasper gets the salmon. After Molly leaves the table Emmett passes the shot glasses around to everyone and places mine in front of Jasper.

"Bottom's up, gentlemen!" Emmett says with a shot in his uplifted hand. "To Jasper, who's trading in good times like this for sleepless nights and dirty diapers."

"Cheers!" we all say and the others chug their drinks.

After a while I lose track of how much Emmett's had to drink but it's far surpassed Jasper whose been handing off his drinks to Jacob and Steve whenever Emmett's not looking. We've spent hours in the bar. Molly continues to flirt with everyone but gives the most attention to Steve and Zach. We're all having a good time and at some point Jacob ends up sitting next to me. I decide now is a good opportunity to build that bridge from acquaintances to friends.

"How's it going at the garage?" I say as a way to start things off. I don't know much about Jacob's job besides the fact that he works as a mechanic for his friend's business.

"It's been steady. Sam took a few days off to help Emily with the kids so with him gone we've all had to bust our asses to keep up," he replies.

I nod, not sure how to respond considering I don't know who Sam and Emily are. Bella's mentioned Emily a few times but the extent of my knowledge on her is that she's Bella's friend from Forks. Not very helpful. I can't think of a good follow up question.

"So, did Bella give you that line to use as an icebreaker?" Jacob asks smirking. "Because it worked wonders."

I let out the breath I'm holding and shrug. "I'm sorry. I guess there's a lot I don't know about you."

Jacob tosses back the last of his drink and pushes it away. "There's a lot about you I wish I didn't know."

I glance up at the other faces around the table. Zach and Martin know about my involvement in BDSM but I'm not sure about Steve. I also don't know if Jasper wants that can of worms opened today. Luckily he hears the direction of my conversation with Jacob and distracts Steve by inviting him to play darts on the other side of the bar. When they are out of earshot I look at Jacob again.

"Fair enough. But Bella wants us to be friends so maybe we should try to learn about each other. I'm trying here, for her sake."

"I know. I got the same speech from her. Many times. Look, it's not that I think you're a bad dude or anything. I just think of Bella as this sweet innocent bookworm that blushes when I make jokes about sex and who falls over the laces in her tennis shoes at least once a day."

"I guess my problem with that depiction of Bella is that I've never met that girl. The Bella I know is strong willed, stubborn... yet also submissive. She's adventurous and feisty. Loving and sweet, and yes... a little bit clumsy."

Jacob offers me a small smile. Molly has deposited another round of shots on the table and he reaches for one. I can tell Jake is feeling the effects of the alcohol but isn't as impaired as Emmett yet. He looks at me square in the eyes and says, "I've loved her like a sister since we were kids. We took care of each other, like when my mom died and after her mom left. And then I was her boyfriend, and suddenly I wasn't enough. The way I loved her all those years wasn't enough anymore."

"That's not your fault, Jacob. You didn't do anything to push her away. You might not have worked as a couple but that doesn't mean she can't still love you the way she always has."

"I thought she was looking for something that didn't exist," he says. "I'm not saying I was hoping she'd come back to me. I'm not in love with her anymore. But I thought she was lost, and that someday she'd come to her senses. After she met you I knew that was never going to happen."

"Jacob, let me ask you something," I say as he drinks the shot in front of him. "Are you the same person you were at seventeen?"

He looks at me strangely. "What?"

"I mean you've obviously grown and matured since you and Bella dated. You can't expect Bella to not have done the same. This new person she has become isn't bad and I think you know that. It's her sex life that you think is bad."

"I'd say it's a legitimate concern of mine that she likes to get ordered around and be made to perform sexual acts in front of a room full of other people," Jacob counters. He's beginning to get worked up and this conversation was meant to mend our relationship, not make things worse. I need to find a way to make him understand.

"Do you like getting blow jobs?" I ask bluntly. My question gets the attention of the other guys at the table.

"Don't change the subject. And what kind of question is that?"

"Humor me," I reply.

"I like blow jobs, Edward," Zach says smirking. Great, this horror has turned into a group discussion.

I ignore Zach's laughter behind me and focus on Jake's harsh expression. "You are a man so I will assume your answer is yes. Have you ever asked Angela to kneel on the floor while she does it?"

Jacob rolls his eyes. "Yes. What is your point."

"Why? It's more comfortable to lie down so why do you like it that way? Could it be because you enjoy watching her do it? It turns you on more to stand tall and look down at her mouth servicing you, right? It makes you feel powerful."

Jacob shrugs.

"That's dominance," I explain. "In its most basic and common form, but that's what it is. You enjoy watching her pleasure you. And if you've ever seen a BDSM scene before you'd realize that most of what occurs during a scene is the Dom striving to pleasure the submissive. It's just sex, Jacob. It's just a different, more exciting kind of sex."

"Fuck. You're really into that stuff aren't you." Martin states. "Like... really hard core."

I shake my head. "Believe it or not I'm considered tame in many regards. I don't do asphyxiation or pain play. I'm not big on punishments. I don't live the lifestyle more than one day a week. Most Doms do two or three days."

Jacob shifts in his seat and his expression softens slightly. I think he's nervous having this conversation with the other guys watching. "If it's just sex, as you say, then what's the whole power exchange thing about? And the punishments you mentioned?"

"Foreplay, plain and simple. And I don't really punish Bella much. When it happens I never hurt her, that's one of the characteristics that makes me a tame Dom. That and the fact that I love her. She's not just my submissive, Jacob. She's my whole life."

"I know that. And I understand how being in love like that feels. But I'd never want to share Angela with other people. Just the thought of one of these guys or you seeing her naked... I don't get that part of what you do with Bella," Jacob says honestly.

This isn't an easy conversation for either of us but I'm glad we're finally having it. I know deep down his reservations about me are rooted in his protective feelings for Bella. I'm glad she has such loyal and caring friends as Jacob and Angela. Hopefully we'll walk away tonight with an understanding.

"I've never seen Bella naked," Martin offers.

Zach chuckles. "Me either, dude. What's up with that?" he jokes.

"I would hope not, since you've never been to either of the clubs where we've performed," I reply. "To answer your question, Jacob, to people like Bella and me nudity isn't something to be ashamed of. It has its purpose like anything else. The human form is arousing. We use it as a tool in the power exchange and as part of the foreplay."

Emmett leans forward in his chair to join the round table discussion. "And Bella is hot stuff, man. She's not afraid to flaunt those titties. Inside the club at least."

"Comments like that don't make you wanna smack him?" Jacob asks me.

"Not at all. I'm proud to have Bella next to me in that state with other men staring at her. Again, it's a power thing. I know she belongs to me. It doesn't bother me that Emmett has seen Bella naked. He's witnessed our scenes and learned from them."

"He's watched you fuck her," Jacob amends.

"Yes, as a form of sexual expression. Think of the theater like an art exhibit."

"You make yourself sound like fucking Van Gough or some shit."

"Not exactly. Maybe it will all make sense one day when you read her book," I say knowing this will change the course of conversation off foreplay and nudity.

"She's writing a book?" Jacob asks disbelievingly.

"Yes, a novel. She's really excited about it. You know, putting her literature degree to use."

Jake looks thoughtful for a moment. "That's great I guess. So what is she writing about?"

"It's an erotic romance based on our lives," I reply smiling.

Jacob rolls his eyes. "Why am I even surprised by that at this point?"

I chuckle. "Bella surprises me every day. It's one of the things I love about her."

~#~

The baby shower is over by the time we return to the house and just about every guest is gone. Rose is working hard to get the house back in order and I offer to help her pick up trash and take the bags of wrapping paper and paper plates out to the garage.

"Edward, come look at this," Bella calls from the living room as I return from taking out the trash. Walking into the room I find Emmett has already crashed on the sofa. His long legs are hanging off one end and he's snoring loudly.

"He drank for Jasper and me," I explain smiling.

Bella comes to stand beside me and reaches up on her tiptoes to kiss my cheek. A part of me is wondering if she does so to assess my own level of sobriety. We watch Emmett sleep soundly while Alice takes one of the baby bibs she received as a shower gift and places it around his neck. Bella pulls out her phone and quickly snaps a picture of Emmett wearing a yellow bib that reads Captain Drool across the front. I don't even try to stop them, enjoying their playful antics.

When the girls are finished making Emmett pay for falling asleep I put my arm around Bella and whisper in her ear. "Are you really fond of that Aston Martin?"

She looks at me confused. "I've never even heard of such a car until yesterday. Why?"

"I was thinking of letting Jacob have it. It's really too flashy for me. He drives that piece of shit. I just think he'd appreciate it and take better care of it than me."

"Did the bonding not go well at the bar?" she questions suspiciously. "Are you trying to buy his love?"

I roll my eyes. Yes, of course that's what I'm doing. "I just think he'd give it a better home, Bella. And the bonding went well. Pretty well. Fair."

"Do whatever you want with it," she replies. "But we're keeping the yacht."

I laugh at her serious expression. "Okay, love. So are you going to tell Jacob or am I?"

"You're the one bribing him," she reminds me.

"Fine. Excuse me a moment, would you?"

She nods and pats my behind as I walk away in search of Jacob. I think he and I made a little headway today but it will clearly take more than one afternoon together to become friends. I really have no use for the Aston, so if this doesn't win Jacob over, nothing will.

A/N: Next week is the end! So take the opportunity now to leave a review! See you all next Wednesday!