Thanks so much to Hadley Hemingway for sticking this one out with us, we appreciate you so much!

EPOV

I select the last class for spring semester and log off the school website. Architecture's a five year course, but I'm gonna go at it full force and hope to get it done in four. It was hard accepting Bella's help to pay for college, but she's right. If the shoe was on the other foot, I'd expect her to let me help.

No matter how it gets done, it's going to be what's best for my family. By the time I'm finished, I'll be able to find a real job that pays good money. Only then, can I contribute my part. That's what really matters to me.

I close the laptop and sigh. Now I gotta face the present. Mom and Pop. They're making the trip here today, and we're going to supper tomorrow night. I'm not worried, though, I really did mean what I told Bella. Those people don't have the power to hurt me. Maybe Emmett, but he seems to not be sweating it at all. He's spending all his time playing with Rose these days.

I get up and make my way to Bella's music room. She's been spending a lotta time in there lately, just writing away. I been hoping to get a peek at some of it, but every time I go in, she distracts me with… other things.

My mind wanders to those things and I feel my pants tighten. Don't get me wrong, those other things are way better than reading some music, but I can't help thinking she doesn't want me seeing something, and my curiosity's getting the best of me.

When I walk in, she's scribbling away until she hears my footsteps, then she's sliding that page under the others. "Hey, baby, you get all registered for your classes?" She looks up at me.

I nod and lean down to give her a quick peck. She tries to deepen it, but I pull back. "Yep, sure did." I slide my hand over her sheets and start fingering through 'em. "What'cha workin' on in here?"

She grabs my fingers. "Nah, ah, ah, Mr. Cullen. Those are for my eyes only… for now." She gives me a cheeky wink.

"Oh, really?" I lean down closer to her. "Ya don't think ya could be persuaded into showin' 'em to me?" I lick her lips, and she opens readily. Sliding my tongue in, I explore her mouth with my own. Slow and sensuous, twirling and tasting, thrusting and withdrawing.

When I pull back, she's a panting mess. She whimpers and tries to pull me back, but I resist. "Uh, uh, Miss Swan. You gonna lemme see what'cha workin' on?"

She puts on her most sexy pout. It drives me crazy and she knows it. "I am, but it's gotta be perfect. I promise you'll be the first to hear it." She slides her fingers down my neck, to the top button of my shirt and flicks it open. "But in the meantime, we can surely find somethin' else to do." Her smile is wicked, and I'm only a man.

I pull her from the chair and back her into the wall. Then I proceed to show her exactly what somethin' else feels like.

~~~~~SMOKE~~~~~

"Hey, Edward," Emmett says, as he walks into my room. "Can ya tie this for me?" He's got a tie 'round his neck and looks like he's scared to death of it.

"Em, what the hell ya even need that for?" I take a better look and notice he's dressed in the only suit he owns. It's two sizes too small and makes him look ridiculous. "Com'ere, man. What ya wearing this stuff for?" He approaches, so I reach up and put my hand at the nape of his neck. "Listen to me. You ain't got no reason to try and impress these people. Yeah, they're your Mom and Pop, but they lost that title all on their own. You didn't have anythin' to do with that. Now go put on some normal clothes and just be yourself."

He nods. "I don't know what I'm thinkin'. Even though I'd never live with 'em again, I still want 'em to like me, ya know? I want 'em to see what they missed out on."

I grab my brother and give him a good, hard hug. After pulling back, I place a hand on each shoulder and look directly into his eyes. "Trust me, they know. But what's the matter with them is a sickness. Sure, there's help out there for it, but ya gotta wanna get that help. They been away for a while, so they might seem cured, but I can tell ya they're not. It's never worked before. I don't want'cha to get ya hopes up. You're a special kid, and if they couldn't ever see that, then it's on them."

"I love ya, Edward. I don't know if I tell ya enough, but I do." He looks off to the side, embarrassed to be sharing his feelings.

I smile. "I love ya, too, kid. More than anything."

His head whips back in my direction. "More than Bella?" He smirks.

I think 'bout that for a second before answering. "That's a whole different kinda love."

Emmett shakes his head and says, "Yeah, don't I know it," before turning and leaving the room.

I don't even know what to make of that, so I grab my clothes and head for the shower. Just as I'm soaping my hair, a naked goddess slides in and gets on her knees in front of me. I freeze, slack-jawed and watch her take my already thickening dick between her plump, wet lips.

I allow her to slide back and forth 'bout twice before I grab her hair and pull her up to me, slamming my tongue down her throat. I'm savage and unforgiving as I explore every inch inside. I twist and pull her hair, guiding her mouth to bend to my needs.

With equal savagery, I slide one hand down to lock 'round her leg, lifting her up and bringing her heat to where I need it. Lining up, I push forward with one long, deep thrust.

Our mouths separate as I thrust into her over and over, claiming every inch of her. She braces against the shower wall and takes it all. In and out, up and down she bounces, riding my dick as I consume her from the inside.

Eyes locked, she begins to moan and pant. I release her hair and slide my fingers to that secret place. The one that makes her cry out my name over and over. With one final push, I release and collapse against her, barely able to stand on my own.

I place soft, easy kisses everywhere my lips pass. "I'm sorry, baby. I didn't hurt ya, did I?"

She chuckles. "Never. I kinda like it when ya lose it like that."

"I didn't mean to be so rough. I guess this Mom and Pop thing's got me more on edge than I thought." I continue kissing her bare skin.

She pulls my face up, cradling it between her hands. "Baby, that's what I'm here for." She pecks my lips. "And, besides, I like it rough." She winks and instantly takes my worries away.

I smirk at her. "Really? I'll be sure to remember that." I smack her ass… hard, then I soothe it with my palm. "Now let's get clean and get outta here."

~~~~~SMOKE~~~~~

We're already seated at the restaurant when I hear my Mom's voice across the room. I tense up, just slightly. With a deep breath, I allow myself to relax. Thank God for Bella; I'd be wound too tight if it hadn't been for her anticipating my needs.

I jerk my chin in their direction. "Showtime, Em. Mom and Pop just walked in the door."

He fidgets just a little, before Bella places her hand over his. "Em, sweetie, you've got nothin' to be nervous about. These people better be worried 'bout impressin' you. Not the other way around."

"Look, Carlisle, over there." Mom says getting closer to us.

I lay my hand over Bella's and Emmett's and give them both a firm squeeze. "We got this… As a family." I smile at them and stand to greet the people who created me.

Mom rushes forward and wraps me in her arms. I stand stiff, barely able to pretend. When the proper amount of time has passed, I pull back from her. "Esme, so nice of you and Carlisle to come and visit us," I say, reaching over to accept his handshake. "Won't you have a seat?"

Confusion is the overwhelming expression on their faces as they sit down in the two empty chairs. Pop seems quiet and contemplative, sitting there deciding his next move, while Mom appears hurt. I'm sorry for that, but until I find out why they're here, they won't get any niceties from me.

I wave my hand in their direction. "Bella, this is Carlisle and Esme Cullen."

"So nice to finally meet you, Bella. We've listened to all your music." Mom beams at her.

Bella gives her a smile and a slight nod, not sure how to respond to that. What she knows 'bout 'em is what she's heard from me, and it ain't good at all, so she's gonna be a little reserved.

As she should.

These people have been in and outta my life since I can remember. If it hadn't been for Granny Cullen, there's no telling where I'd've ended up. She never failed to take me in every time they'd get thrown back in jail. She died when I was sixteen. Bella knows all of it, so I don't see her making nice right away.

"So," I start. "What brings you to Nashville?"

Mom huffs. "Edward, you know why we're here. We came to see our boys!"

"Oh? Is that all?" I play dumb, acting as if I have no clue why they came.

"That's enough, Edward," my pop speaks up. "You won't be treatin' your mother this way."

I raise a brow at him. "Won't I? I haven't seen you in four years, and now, suddenly, you're interested in us?"

My mom sniffles. "We've always been interested in our boys."

"No, you haven't." Emmett breaks his silence. "If you cared 'bout us, you'd have straightened out and took care of us."

Then, the real waterworks start. Pop's sitting over there fuming, while Mom cries away. I glance at Bella, looking for guidance.

She considers her words carefully before opening her mouth. "Mr. and Mrs. Cullen, as you can tell, the boys might have a little doubt of your intentions. You see, you haven't been there for them, hardly at all, and now you pop up when they're really happy. Do you understand how that might seem suspicious?"

My pop leans forward. "And who are you to act like ya know this family? How we've treated our kids?"

"Don't talk to her like that!" Emmett explodes. "You don't get to talk to her like that. She's been here for me… for us, and you wasn't, so don't you dare talk to her like that!"

"And Bella is part of this family," I tack on to Em's speech, motioning between the three of us.

The waiter comes and takes our orders among the silence that follows Em's blowup. Seems no one knows exactly where to take the conversation. I finally decide it's on me, as the head of the family, to try and mend things a little bit.

I lean forward and prop my arms on the table. "Look, it wasn't our intention to come here and be rude. Obviously, you've left some hurt behind. We might like to get to know ya again"—a smile takes over Mom's face—"but only if ya plan on stayin' outta the slammer and off them drugs. Me and Bella won't allow that shit or anyone on it 'round Emmett."

Mom's smile never waivers. 'Of course, honey. We're done with that for good. I promise."

I turn to Pop. "What about you?"

He nods. "We are done. We're too old to sit wastin' our lives behind bars."

"Well, I'm gonna be honest and let'cha know that promises don't mean shit to me; I've heard 'em all my life and they never held. But, Em's still young enough that ya can make a difference to him, so for that, we'll give ya a chance. But if ya mess up this time, I doubt we'll ever give ya another shot. I know I won't. I've got everythin' I ever dreamed of these days, and I won't allow no one to bring their crap in affectin' that," I say, meaning every word that just left my mouth. I'll never allow them and their problems to affect the life I have now.

The waiter brings our food out at that moment. It's like he was standing in the wings, waiting for my speech to end. We sit and eat slowly. Eventually everybody starts to loosen up, and the chatter begins. We catch 'em up on some aspects of our lives, while keeping other things to ourselves. We learn that they're out on parole and passing weekly drug tests. They're both working low-paying jobs, but lucky for them, they didn't even hint at wanting any money.

All in all, it was a successful first get-together … after we cleared the air. Emmett even agreed to let Mom call him and gave 'em a hug when they left. I didn't, but it's clear that I'm not the one they need to be trying to make things up to.

Later that night, I'm lying in bed, waiting on Bella. She enters already pulling her shirt over her head. My dick takes notice, and I groan. "God, woman, the things ya do to me." She watches as my hand slides down to adjust.

Her brow lifts, and a delicious smirk curls up on her lip. "Copperfield not had enough today?"

This time I press myself harder, thrusting up to meet my hand. "Of you? Never."

Her bra slings across the room, followed by her pants and panties. She saunters her way over and crawls up beside me.

Tonight, I end up loving her slow and sweet, like she's my whole world.

And turns out, she really is.

How do y'all think they handled Mom and Pop?

Two more chapters!

See ya soon!