A/N: As Always, thanks to my beta team SSHG316, Charmie77 and acireamos for beta'ing and helping me in unique ways that encourage and inspire me. I am thankful for them because I totally depend on them and without their input, I would surely crash and burn. I had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I entertained six additional family members for a total of twelve of us celebrating the holidays together. It wasn't Norman Rockwellian, because we had our drama, but good times prevailed. I am glad to have an extended family that loves me, since my parents are no longer with us. My advice to all of you is to cherish family even when they are imperfect, as we all are, and sometimes get on your last nerve!
Trust, Loyalty, Commitment
Seasons Change
by Corinne Bailey Rae
Maybe you've been pouring everything into this
your mistake of this attends to agony,
you can't predict this when it comes to it,
You can't hide from me, but don't you surrender anything..
Hurts me to see you feel this way but it won't be always,
don't you know everything got to change...
feels like all your hope is gone, you can't carry on,
but there's nothing, you don't have to pretend with me,
Don't you know that, patience is a virtue (yes it is),
and life is a waiting game...don't you know that, peace must be nurtured
All the money in the world can buy you nothing, (let me tell you that)...
All these things happen, all these things happen for a reason...
don't you go and throw it all away, when the seasons change
When the seasons change
"He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning."
-- Daniel 2:21 NIV
Chapter 16 - Things Happen For A Reason
EPOV
The canopy of trees on St. Augustine Road was quite beautiful, making for a very scenic run on Tuesday morning. However, the narrowness of the road and the cars passing a little too close to Bella had Edward concerned for her safety as they ran together for the second time that week. On Monday morning when they had first run together, he had not been satisfied with the decidedly girly and not very supportive running shoes she had been wearing. Therefore, he had encouraged her to go to Shaw's Athletics and get a new pair. When she left the Center on Monday after work, he'd already set up an appointment for her to go in and be fitted for a pair of Brooks running shoes.
So today, she was wearing the new pair of Brooks Adrenaline GTS Nines, which were much like the ones he wore. She had given him a check for the shoes, because the salesman at Shaw's had refused to take her payment, just as he had instructed them to do. Edward had already paid for the shoes and had decided he wouldn't argue with her about it, but would just never cash her check. She could be stubborn, but what she didn't know wouldn't hurt her. He smiled as he glanced at her again, running beside him, the high ponytail on the back of her head bouncing jauntily. She smiled back and accelerated just a bit as they rounded the corner.
Edward was relieved when they finally reached Blairstone again and headed south on a gradual downhill slope toward her sleepy community in Southwood. Blairstone was wider and boasted the relative safety of a sidewalk all the way. They were back at her place in no time, where she insisted she would make them omelettes for breakfast. While Bella assembled everything in the kitchen, Edward took a quick shower. His intentions had been to run back by his place and shower and change before going to his 9:30 appointment with Dr. Levy, but he couldn't resist taking Bella up on her offer. He couldn't get enough of being with her, and luckily, he had his duffel bag and a uniform in the car.
When he emerged from the bathroom, she instructed him to leave everything as it was until she returned. There was an assortment of fresh fruit, wheat bread for toast, omelette fixings, and fresh squeezed orange juice. He heard the shower go on and immediately got a visual of her lathering that wet wonderland that was her sexy body. He then decided he needed to do something to keep his mind off what was going on in the other room, because he did not want to embarrass himself or anger her by acting on his overwhelming desire to go in there and join her. Instead, he decided to refocus his attention and went into the kitchen to finish up breakfast. Of course, there was the added benefit that they could eat, relax for a few minutes, and possibly fool around a bit before he had to leave. His mouth curved into a smug smile, and he quickly got busy mixing up the eggs with the ingredients Bella had already chopped up. He was flipping the second omelette onto a plate when Bella reappeared.
"You didn't follow my instructions," she admonished him. Her mouth was turned up in a teasing smirk.
Glancing over at her while he balanced the two plates in his hands, his heart rate accelerated until he felt as if he were still running. Edward had come to the conclusion that, no matter what Bella wore, he would have some physical reaction to her beauty whenever he was in her presence. Her sleeveless dress was simple, nothing fancy, but he was mesmerized by how the bright blue color made her exotic skin seem to glow; she looked even more delicious than the breakfast they were about to consume. He had never hummed "Taps" so much in his life, but he would do it for her for as long as he had to.
"You did all the prep work, so this was a piece of cake," he said with a wry smile. "Besides, now we can sit down and eat." He carried both plates to the table where the toast, fresh fruit, and orange juice were already waiting for them. He held out a chair for Bella, and she smiled up at him.
"Hey, I could get used to this," she said, taking the proffered seat and placing the napkin in her lap.
Edward took his own seat and mimicked her actions. "I could do this as often as you'd like—that is, until you get tired of omelettes, pasta, steak and potatoes. That's the extent of my cooking repertoire."
"I love pasta. Bring it on, baby." She ate a forkful of omelette, not taking her eyes off of him. "Mmm, this is perfect."
It didn't go unnoticed that she'd called him "baby." His lips turned up into a smile. "I make a mean lasagna, but I don't do it often because I get tired of eating it for days on end. I could make it for us tonight." He took a forkful of his omelette and a bite of toast.
"Make that tomorrow night, and you've got yourself a deal. I'm having dinner at the parents' tonight." Bella grimaced slightly.
"What? Is your mom not a good cook?" he asked.
She took a sip of her juice and then shook her head. "No, my mother is an excellent cook. I'm just not looking forward to the questions I'll undoubtedly get about James… and probably about you, too."
"Oh, right. They're good friends of the Halls'."
"Exactly. But it's not my mother I'm worried about," she admitted ruefully.
He frowned. "Your dad doesn't have reservations about me, does he?"
"Not you per se. My dad has never met anyone who's passed his litmus test… yet." she sighed heavily. She drank another sip of orange juice, wiped her mouth with her napkin, and placed it back in her lap.
"Didn't young Reverend Hall pass muster?" he asked incredulously.
"James and I just went out on a few dates; he was never presented to my parents as a serious boyfriend. And just because my dad's known his dad a long time didn't mean he was an automatic shoo-in, either."
"Don't I get any points from Reverend Swan for being his comrade in blue?" he asked, tongue-in-cheek.
"Maybe," she said, smiling. "But be warned, Charlie Swan doesn't grant points as quickly as his daughter does."
"I'll just have to figure out how to win him over. In the mean time, tomorrow night, dinner at my place." He smiled.
After breakfast was eaten and they did a quick cleanup, there was about a half-hour to spare before Edward needed to leave for his appointment with Dr. Levy. Bella put her iPod on the home base and played a shuffle of soft jazz tunes while they lounged on the sofa. Deciding she wasn't close enough, he eased her closer until her back was flush against his chest. She leaned her head back slightly and sniffed.
"You always smell so good," she said, reaching up and touching his clean shaven cheek with her hand. "What cologne do you wear?"
"L'eau D'Issey Pour Homme. Glad you like it." He wrapped his arms around her and gave her a slight squeeze, dragging his nose along an exposed part of her neck. "I cheated, " he confessed. "I read the name of your fragrance on your shower gel this morning." He moved her hair across the back of her neck to one shoulder to have unhindered access and laid a generous kiss on her neck. Then he whispered against her silky skin, "I thank Mr. Dolce and Mr. Gabana for making you even more irresistible than you already are."
Bella giggled, and he felt the vibration of her body in his chest. "And I thank Mr. Miyake for enhancing that wonderful Edward smell you've got going on," she said.
He chuckled. "While you're at it let's thank soap and water for keeping that Edward smell pleasant. I never appreciated it more until I spent several years in the Middle East."
"And I complained when we did gymnastics drills in the summer. Sweat and humidity is not a friend to any woman's hair, especially women of my ethnicity. I personally thank my African American and European ancestors for a mixture that is tolerable."
He buried his nose in her hair. "Your hair feels like silk and smells like honeysuckle."
"I owe that to my mother, her ambiguous ethnic background, and great shampoo. Alice likes to call us beautiful mutts."
"Leave it to Alice to say something so utterly inappropriate, yet somehow endearing." He ran his hands down the smooth skin on her arms, leaving tiny goosebumps in his wake.
"I know, right? She and Angela are probably the only two women who could say that to me." He smiled as Bella shivered involuntarily at his touch. "I had a hard time making lasting girlfriends when I was growing up."
"How is that possible?" he asked. "You're one of the most selfless people I've ever met."
She shrugged. "I suppose it was because I was shy and blushed at the slightest provocation which some people may have misconstrued as standoffishness. Middle school was really the worst. I had to grow a backbone pretty quickly, or be swallowed up by the mean girls. I wasn't black enough for the black girls or the white girls. The black girls thought I wasn't 'keeping it real' enough and the white girls wanted me to be more ghetto fabulous or something. It was crazy, but my parents were always there for me. When Angela came to live with us in the 9th grade, she was my very first girlfriend who didn't judge me in some way. Things got better as I became more assertive. My mother taught me how to fight with words, and my dad taught me a little self-defense."
Edward tightened his arms around her, even though he knew his comfort couldn't erase the past. Children could be cruel, but he had no idea that Bella had suffered so much when she'd been younger. Despite his mother's belief in the COGS dogma that eschewed mixed race couples, she had been right about one thing: It had been rather difficult for Bella growing up. He felt even closer to her now, knowing that they'd had similar experiences as children making friends. Thankfully, she'd gotten Angela and he'd had Emmett to make growing up just a little more tolerable.
"I imagine that people have always been uncomfortable with anyone who doesn't look and act just like them. I've always believed the world would be a better place if people realized that no matter what color we are, we all really want the same things in life. We just might go about different ways of getting them," he stated with conviction.
"You understand people of other cultures really well. That had to be an advantage for you in the Middle East. You remind me of our missionary friends from the Ivory Coast. They were the first white couple that really accepted my parents… especially my mom. I spent a couple of summers helping them in the urban areas of Abidjan on mission trips with our church when I was in high school."
"That's why your French is so good," he murmured. "I learned just enough Arabic to get by in Iraq and a few Dari and Pashto greetings while in Afghanistan. We always had translators around for more intense conversations."
"Nothing like total immersion into a language," she said. "I took French in school before I visited, but it didn't come alive to me until I heard it spoken by the natives and had to sink or swim."
"I'm glad you swam, because hearing you speak French is extremely sexy. I feel like Gomez Addams. 'Speak French to me, baby,' he'd say, then Morticia would say something mundane in French and he would get absolutely amorous with her arm." He kissed a trail down her arm in demonstration.
Bella giggled. "That tickles. How did Morticia ever keep a straight face?"
"She was a monster with unbelievable self-control," he answered.
"I kind of envy her that," Bella said, turning to face him. "I forget what that is when I'm around you."
"Me, too," he whispered, pressing his lips firmly against hers and losing himself in her once again.
He had to speed to make it to Dr. Levy's office on time.
~888~
"Edward," Dr. Levy said as he scribbled something on his pad, "there is a USMC Support Group at the VA Outpatient Clinic that I think you should consider attending."
Involvement in group therapy had been somewhat of a sticking point for him when he'd been in therapy before. It was one thing to share one-on-one with a therapist, but wholly another thing to share private personal information with a room full of strangers. But this time, if it would get him where he needed to be quicker... For Bella, he would be willing to try it.
"In your professional opinion, will my involvement in a group session speed up my progress?" Edward asked.
"I've found that sharing with other brothers-in-arms brings a facet to your therapy that I can't provide having never been in the military," Dr. Levy answered evenly. "Only another Marine who has seen what you've seen can truly relate to your tour and the death of a fallen comrade."
Edward hesitated only briefly. "When do I start?"
Dr. Levy looked in another file on his desk. "There's a group that meets on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 7:30 to 8:30."
"I guess I'll go tonight, then." Bella was eating dinner at her parents', so it worked out perfectly.
"Good." Dr. Levy smiled. "I think we're making progress on the incident at COGS. Next session, we'll be moving on with some interpersonal issues. One last thing for today. I assume you work out?"
Edward nodded.
"Good. Do you have access to a speed or heavy bag?"
"Yeah, there's a gym at my apartment complex."
"Okay, for next session, I want you to really think about the lifestyle you led with both your parents, but only when you've got access to the punching bag. I want you to channel all your anger into that bag. Visualize Aro or Marcus Volturi, your dad, or whomever you have to, to make it real."
"That I can do," Edward said. His hands balled into fists almost involuntarily.
"How's it going with that special lady in your life?" Dr. Levy was a master at mood control. Edward's countenance changed immediately.
"Unbelievably well," Edward said truthfully, a huge grin splayed across his face. "She is amazing."
"That's great, Edward." Dr. Levy stood up and extended his hand. "Our time is up, now. But we'll get a chance to talk about her more in depth soon, I'm sure."
Edward shook Dr. Levy's hand. "Now, Bella's a subject I can talk about without needing a punching bag."
"A significant other can be an unbelievably soothing and stabilizing influence in our lives. I thank God for my wife."
Edward had never thought of Dr. Levy as a man of faith before, but it figured. He was a friend of Jasper's after all. "I am thankful for Bella," Edward said simply.
~888~
BPOV
Bella left the Center shortly after the volunteers and headed to her parents home. She had spent a few minutes with Edward after closing, and he'd told her about the new group therapy sessions he would be attending. They'd made tentative plans to meet at her apartment after their separate engagements. While traveling north on Thomasville Road, she couldn't help but think about James and wonder how he was doing. The silence between them was excruciating. She realized that she had hurt him with her decision, but still hoped that they would eventually be friends.
She pulled into the circular drive and parked in front of the garage to the left of the house. Despite leaving a little later than planned, apparently she had still beaten Angela there. She entered the house through the front door and from the heavenly smell wafting through the house, Bella knew that her mother had made something with garlic. Having eaten only a salad for lunch, the overpowering smell was enough to get her mouth watering. She found her mother in the kitchen, chopping salad fixings. Bella set her purse on a bar stool and joined her mom at the island, giving her a side hug so as to not disturb her cutting.
"Hey, Mom," she murmured. "Something smells delicious."
"Lovely," Renee crooned. She kissed her daughter's cheek, as her hands were otherwise occupied. "I'm making your favorite chicken dish."
"Lime Garlic Chicken?" Bella asked, enthused.
Renee smiled. "Yes, with wild rice pilaf, green beans almondine, and a salad."
"Ange will be happy, too. It's also her favorite."
"Like I would forget that. You girls used to bribe me into making it all the time."
"Yeah, you got a lot of household chores done in exchange for it, as I recall." Bella grabbed a piece of carrot off the cutting board and popped it into her mouth.
Renee turned off the heat on the stove.
"Can I do anything to help you, Mom?" Bella asked.
"Actually, the table's set and the salad was the last of the prep work." Renee pulled out a stool and sat down. "You can sit here and talk to me until the chicken is done or Angela and your father get here, whichever comes first."
"Okay," Bella acquiesced and occupied the stool next to her mother. "So, how are are things at Swan, Thomas, Zachary, and Brewster, PA?"
"Things are fine at the firm. But I don't want to talk about work. I want to know how things are going with you. Laura tells me that you and James aren't seeing one another anymore."
Way to get straight to the point, Mom.
Bella almost felt like she had when she was a little girl and had gotten into trouble with her mother, which thankfully hadn't been very often. She could tell that her mother wanted some answers, so she didn't equivocate. She looked squarely into her mother's hazel eyes.
"James will make some woman very happy, but I couldn't continue to string him along when I realized I didn't have strong enough feelings for him to build a good foundation for a relationship. I liked him a lot, and still do, but only in a purely platonic way."
Renee frowned slightly. "I understand, baby. Laura's just a bit concerned about James' emotional state right now. They haven't seen him since the first day they moved in. He's reporting to work, but keeping to himself in the music hall."
Bella got a sinking feeling in her stomach. "Mom, I never meant to hurt him, I promise," she whispered through a tightening throat. She hung her head, steeling herself not to cry.
Renee smiled ruefully, touched her daughter's chin, and nudged it up determinedly. "There are so many other things that could be stressing that young man out right now. Don't blame yourself entirely for something that just couldn't be helped."
"I've wanted to call him, but he asked me to give him time to adjust, so I haven't pushed it. I'll call him later tonight," Bella vowed.
Renee prepared herself for the next question, much like Bella had seen her do in the courtroom when she was trying cases. "Does your lackluster affection for James have anything to do with a bronze-haired, green-eyed cop who escorted you around the concert last weekend?"
Much like the defendant being interrogated by her mother, Bella attempted to resist. "Why do you ask that?"
"Because any observant mother could see that you two were oddly oriented toward one another. That young man couldn't keep his eyes off you and neither could you keep yours off him."
Cornered by her mother's skillful questioning, Bella found herself spilling her guts. "Okay, yes... Edward has become extremely important to me in the month we've worked together at the Center. Was it really that obvious Saturday?"
"Do bees make honey?" Renee asked sardonically.
"Did you discuss this with Dad?"
"No, not yet. Men can be strangely oblivious to affairs of the heart until it's painfully obvious. I wanted to be sure I was actually seeing what I thought I was seeing first. Anyway, would it be so bad for your father to know that you're dating someone special now? We discussed the brief James interlude, and while he wasn't completely over the moon about it, he thought you could probably do worse," Renee said, smiling.
"That's exactly why I don't want Dad to know, yet. He's been leery of every guy I've ever brought home, and I don't want to jinx this. We just became official on Saturday night and want to make sure it's real and sustainable before we make the formal parental introductions, okay?"
"Okay, baby. I'll give you time to get to know your new beau before I clamor for some mom time with the young man who could become my future son-in-law," Renee said, grinning mischievously.
Sighing dramatically, Bella rolled her eyes. "Here you go with the 'beau' and 'future son-in-law' thing again. We haven't made any declarations of everlasting love and devotion, or anything, Mom."
"I think that waltz was his way of sweeping you off your feet. And the way you two were devouring one another with your eyes, it won't be long," Renee said with a knowing smile. "You mark my words."
~888~
Dinner was as delicious as it smelled. Bella felt like she was back in high school with her mom, dad, and Angela all around the table at one time again. They all caught up and thoroughly enjoyed each other's company. Angela shared the highlights of her trip to Malta, and Charlie teased her about engagement announcements coming soon now that Ben had met her parents.
"Actually, I talked to my little brother today, and he let it slip that Ben had talked to Dad about his intentions the day before we left," Angela said coyly as she noshed on a green bean.
"Aww," Renee said. "You must tell us as soon as he pops the question."
"Don't worry," Angela assured her. "Believe me, when that happens, I'm going public—big time."
Bella grinned. "I can see us now touring around Tallahassee in a convertible, Angela perched on the back with a bullhorn, doing a little left-handed pageant girl wave, so all the locals can see the rock Ben has placed on her ring finger."
They all laughed. "That's really not a bad idea," Angela said, looking for all the world like she was very serious.
Bella's eyes widened and her jaw dropped, appalled that Angela might be considering such a thing.
Angela giggled. "Just kidding. I'm not that gauche."
Renee and Charlie shared the look of proud parents as they regarded the girls bantering like they'd done when they were living in the house with them in high school.
"We know the end of year festival is going on at the Center this weekend, but remember the family get together for Memorial Day, girls," Renee said.
"Yeah, be sure to extend Ben an invitation, Ange," Charlie said. "He might have passed muster with your dad, but he has yet to obtain my blessing."
"Daddy Swan, you've only known Ben for three years," Angela complained.
"Knowing him and him wanting to marry my surrogate daughter are two separate things," Charlie said. "I promise not to make him squirm too much… I'm saving that for Bella's fiancé."
Bella whipped her head around, stunned by her father's sudden pronouncement. She and Angela then looked pleadingly to Renee.
"Now honey, give the girls a break," Renee encouraged. "Bring Ben, Angela. I'll rein Daddy Swan in, I promise. Bella, you should bring a date, too," Renee said, winking when she saw that Charlie was busy cutting his chicken.
Bella practically choked on her wine, and her dad commenced to patting her firmly yet gently on her back.
"You probably shouldn't breathe in while you're swallowing, Bells," Charlie teased. "We know you're not going out with James anymore. Maybe you should bring Officer Cullen—you two dance really well together."
Bella gasped and fell into another coughing jag. Renee's eyes got as big as saucers, and Angela started coughing, too, in a desperate attempt to disguise her desire to laugh out loud.
~888~
Renee sent both Bella and Angela home with leftovers, declaring that it would go to waste since she and Charlie were going to be out entertaining either clients or church members the rest of the week. Bella happily took her portion. She would surprise Edward with the food. He'd gone straight to his group therapy session after work, so he would probably be hungry when he dropped by her place afterwards. She parked in her customary parking spot in front of her apartment building, and was about to head up the stairs, when she spotted James' gold Audi parked three spaces over from her.
She had intended to call him tonight, but a face-to-face talk might be even better. She hadn't expected this surprise, but she put on a smile and walked around to the driver side of the car. She really wanted to see him and find out how he was doing for herself. As she approached, she realized he was slumped over the steering wheel. She frowned as she became increasingly concerned. She knocked on his window and saw him move slightly. Knocking harder with her knuckles, he finally sat up and peered through the window at her through bleary eyes. Bella was alarmed to see his hair oily and in a wild disarray, his clothing wrinkled and disheveled.
"James!" she said as she motioned for him to let his window down. His reaction was a bit delayed, but he finally acquiesced to her demand and the window powered down.
With his window down, she was hit full force with the overwhelming scent of alcohol. It was so strong, it seemed to be seeping from his pores.
"Hey," she said, trying to sound calm. "What's going on with you?"
"Bellaaa… just wanted to s-see you," he slurred, a sloppy grin on his face.
"James, you've been drinking. Why are you driving like this?" She regarded him with a mixture of chagrin and concern.
"I jus—wanted to see you," he repeated.
Bella pulled on his door handle, but it wouldn't budge. "Unlock the door," she said gently. He hit the auto door lock and she pulled the door open. "Get out, and come with me," she ordered. They may not be dating anymore, but she couldn't send him away in this state. He really did not need to be behind the wheel of his car right now.
He seemed to be doing everything in slow motion. He took his keys out of the ignition and threw his left leg out of the car. Bella braced herself, shifted her purse on one arm and the bag of food in the other. She wasn't sure what she was going to do, but she would begin by making a pot of coffee and trying to sober him up so they could talk. He finally got both legs out and stood up, steadying himself by using Bella's shoulders as a stabilizer. When he cleared the car door, she took his keys and shut and locked the doors. Maneuvering him toward the stairs, she allowed him to generously lean on her when he wobbled.
"I missss you… Bellaaa," he said.
"I miss you, too, James. But it's not making me happy to see you like this right now," she said, hoping her honesty would somehow spur him to sober up so she could really talk to him.
He stumbled on the second step on the stairs, and she steadied him as much as her slight frame was able.
"S-sorry," he mumbled.
"Can you make it up the steps with me?" she asked, breathing heavily from the strain of trying to support his solid muscular weight up the steps.
"I think s-so," he said. "Let me hold this, so I won't h-hurt you." He reached for the banister and held it as they made the next few steps. It did ease the burden on her considerably, and they were at her door within thirty seconds. She ushered him in and deposited him on the sofa, where he promptly lay down and closed his eyes. She rushed back to the door to close it and then watched him warily as she took the food into the kitchen and placed it in the fridge. She started the coffee brewing and took a few calming breaths. She hoped that he hadn't descended completely back into the hell he'd suffered a few years ago. She went back into the living room where he was sprawled on the sofa and sat on the coffee table in front of him. She shook him vigorously.
"James, wake up," she said forcefully. "Have you had anything besides something to drink?" If he had ingested any drugs, she didn't want him to go to sleep and never wake up again.
He opened his eyes briefly but then promptly closed them again. He massaged his eyelids with the thumb and little finger of his right hand and opened his eyes again. He smiled at her, and Bella gave him a tentative smile back.
"Have you had anything besides something to drink?" she repeated.
"No," he said. "I don d-do drugs anymore, Bella. You know that…" He sounded like a hurt little boy.
"Yes, I know, sweetie, but if you keep drinking like this, you might. Do you think you could drink some coffee for me?"
"I'd d-do any… anything for you…" he said and began to drift off again. She looked over the bar into the kitchen at the coffeepot. The coffee wasn't brewing fast enough. She felt her cell phone vibrate in her pocket. Checking the display, she saw it was a text from Edward. He wanted her to know he was on his way and asked if she needed him to bring anything. She decided that a text message conversation wouldn't suffice for this one. Leaving James on the sofa, she went into the kitchen to call Edward.
"Hello, beautiful," he said. "I was gonna' grab something on my way over. Do you need anything?"
"Hey, handsome. Um… no, I'm good. Can you just come on over… now? I've got some of my mom's famous Lime Garlic Chicken for you."
"That sounds fantastic. I'm on my w—"
"And Edward," she interrupted.
"Yeah."
"James is here. He was passed out drunk in his car when I got home. I'm making coffee and hoping to get him sober enough to talk to him, so I can get him home. But I need your help." She said it all in a rush.
"I'll be right there," he said without hesitation.
Clicking her phone shut, she slid it back into her pocket. She grabbed a mug out of the cabinet and poured it three quarters full. It would be a travesty if he scalded himself while trying to drink the coffee. Carrying the cup over to the coffee table, she set it down and shook James again. He opened his eyes and smiled up at her.
"Hey," she said. "I've got some coffee here for you. You think you can drink it?"
"Okay…" He struggled to sit up, and she stood to assist him. Once he was settled, she sat back down on the coffee table in front of him and handed him the mug.
He took it gingerly and blew sloppily across the top of the coffee. She was glad she hadn't filled it up, the way it was sloshing around in the mug. She cupped his hands around the mug and helped him bring it to his lips. He took a sip.
"You m-make grrreat coffee, Bellaaa," he said. "Jus like Mom's."
"Thanks," she said with a smirk, in spite of herself. "Speaking of your mom, you know she's worried about you, right?"
"You talked to Mom?" he asked. His cobalt blue eyes looked lucid for the first time.
"No, actually your mom talked to my mom, and then my mom told me," she said as if she were talking to one of her students at the Center. "James, please promise me you will not do anything to break your mother's heart… or mine."
"I promissse," he said, looking like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
"Here, drink some more coffee," she said as she helped him bring the mug back to his lips. He took a rather big gulp this time and scowled as the hot coffee undoubtedly scalded his mouth. "Take it easy," she said. "You don't need to burn those beautiful vocal cords. They are your livelihood, you know."
"Yeah," he whispered, still grimacing from the burn.
"Do you need me to call your sponsor?" Bella asked. "Edward is coming and we can get you back home."
James closed his eyes again when she said Edward's name.
"Why did you call him?" James asked, irritation evident in his tone.
"We already had plans to meet here," she said. "He will help you, James. You may see him as the guy who stole me away from you, but he is very kind and compassionate. He takes his oath to protect and serve seriously."
James set the mug on the table next to her as they heard someone, most likely Edward, bounding up the stairs before coming to a stop at her door. The doorbell rang once, and then the door swung open. Edward had a wild look about him, but he calmed visibly when he saw everything was under control. He looked pointedly at the doorknob still in his hand.
"Locks, Bella?" he asked.
"I knew you were coming," she explained.
James rubbed his face with both hands and picked up the coffee mug again, this time swallowing half of what was left. "Good," she said smiling at him.
Bella stood up and walked over to greet Edward who had finally closed the door and locked it. She had to tiptoe just to reach his cheek, which she kissed and briefly embraced him. "Thank you so much for coming," she said. She looked back at James who sat with his head in his hands and his elbows on his knees.
"So, you really think it was just alcohol?" Edward whispered.
"Yeah," she said softly. "I don't think he would lie to me, and he seems to be responding to the coffee." She walked back over to the table. Edward followed. "I'll top you off again," she said to James, who with eyes still closed was leaning toward reclining again. Aloud, she said to Edward with a smile, "I'll heat dinner for you, while I'm at it," then mouthed, "Talk to him."
Edward, looking alarmed, mouthed back with accentuating hand gestures, "Me? What am I supposed to say to him?"
"You'll think of something," she stage-whispered, then stalked off into the kitchen.
~888~
EPOV
Edward cleared his throat. "James…"
"Edward," James replied, saying it like it was a greeting, but he still didn't open his eyes or look at him.
"James… I was right where you are a few weeks ago," Edward said, beginning again. "Believe me, I feel your pain. There's just something about the thought of losing Bella that makes you want to drink all the alcohol in Tallahassee, isn't there?"
"I heard that!" Bella yelled from the kitchen. "I asked you to talk to him, Edward, not make it my fault that grown men choose to try to drink all the freaking alcohol in Tallahassee."
James started to laugh. Edward joined him as he took up residence on the recliner. When Bella came back with James' coffee mug, she set it on the table in front of him with a thud so hard it made a bit of it slosh over the side. She headed back to the kitchen, but Edward grabbed her hand and looked up at her with his best rendition of "puppy dog eyes" he could muster. She slapped his hand away and went back into the kitchen. There was a fresh round of laughter as they realized Bella was totally miffed at them both.
When their laughter subsided, James shook his head and picked up the mug and blew on the coffee. He took a huge sip and set it back on the table. "You know, it wasn't really a bright idea for me to come here like this," James said with a wry smile. "You could've had me arrested for DUI or stalking, or something."
"Well, yeah, I could've," Edward said. "But that wouldn't have made Bella happy with me."
"James, would you like something to eat?" Bella called out of the kitchen. She was ever the polite hostess despite her current displeasure with her guests.
James looked at Edward as if asking him for permission to answer. Edward threw his hands up as if to say "whatever." If James Hall hadn't been in such a pitiful state, and he could do it without Bella knowing, he would kick his ass out. As it was, Edward was not happy that James was horning in on some serious make-out time with Bella.
"Don't go to any extra trouble, but if you have some to spare…" James yelled back rather sheepishly.
Edward rolled his eyes laboriously and said to James under his breath, "Eat fast, Hall. You've got fifteen minutes."
James just sighed and leaned back into the sofa, both arms resting across the back of it, kind of gloating at Edward.
Edward scowled at him and stood up. "You need help in there, babe?" he called out.
James narrowed his eyes at Edward, picked up the mug and took another swig of coffee.
In answer, Bella came out of the kitchen carrying two plates heaping with food and set them on the dining table. "All right boys," she said. "Renee Swan's Lime Garlic Chicken is now served. Eat up."
~888~
By the time they got James back to his place with instructions for him to call his NA sponsor and drink plenty of water until he got sleepy, it was almost ten. Bella didn't send him away, though, so Edward followed her back upstairs when they returned to her place. They were barely inside the door when she attacked his happy ass. It played out very much like the morning session, except they began against her door and worked their way to the sofa.
This time, he was only too surprised when she placed his hand on her breast. He felt like a teenager again, getting lucky for the first time. This was a clothing-still-on caress, and purely above the waist, but he couldn't contain his excitement with this new liberty she had given him. He had worshipped her beautiful breasts from afar and rubbed them against his chest whenever he held her close, but touching them through her shirt thrilled him enough to bring him almost to the brink of the beginning of an orgasm. They were small in comparison to some he'd known, but he was of the "more than a handful is a waste" club. There was no waste here, just perfection that responded as if they recognized his touch.
Her nipples pebbled exquisitely under his gentle ministrations, and she moaned with delight, the sound shooting straight to his groin. He would need a long, cold shower tonight, he decided as he released her lips, only to blaze a trail of kisses from her mouth to her collar bone. His hands were still busy with his newly discovered playthings, as he licked and sucked every inch of exposed skin she granted him access to. He moved his head lower and kissed first one peak and then the other through the fabric, all the while being careful not to crush her tiny frame with his own. She fisted her hands in his hair and held his head still as she shivered involuntarily against him.
Edward shifted on the sofa and rolled them both over, with Bella now on top. She explored every inch of his chest with her hands as she now kissed his mouth, his neck, and finally his chest through his shirt, as well. It was her chance to reciprocate everything he'd done to her, and he couldn't refuse her; just this bit of intimacy with her made him feel like he was finally worth of her.
Before Bella, being with a woman like this had meant getting laid, and that's all it was—a means to getting himself off. But this was… more. The connection he was establishing with Bella already meant more to him than any one-night stand or marathon hook-up he'd shared with any other woman. Like James, he had fallen into self-destructive behavior when he thought he'd lost her. He wouldn't make that mistake again, if he could help it.
He claimed her lips again, for what he told himself would be the final time tonight before he went home. Fuck! He was harder than a titanium rod, and he needed to get home to the release that for now he would only find in his shower. He released her lips and opened his eyes. Bella was extraordinarily beautiful when she was thoroughly kissed. He couldn't wait to see what she looked like during and after an orgasm. Those might be attainable goals in the short term. Seeing her after she'd been thoroughly made love to… that would take a while. Despite the painful hard-on tenting his pants, he couldn't help but smile at the thought of pleasures to come.
"What?" Bella asked as she opened her eyes to see his wide smile.
He sat up, being careful to haul her up with him so they wouldn't have a repeat of Saturday night. He laced her hand through his, humming "Taps" in his head. He didn't want to have to adjust himself in front of her.
"It's just getting late," he said in answer.
"Yeah, I guess we need to get some sleep if we're going to run in the morning," she said. "These early mornings are going to eventually catch up with me, non-morning person that I am."
"Why don't we skip the run in the morning," he suggested. He needed to practice the therapy techniques that Dr. Levy had asked him to try.
"Okay," she agreed, without hesitation. She stood up, took his hands, and assisted in pulling him up off the sofa. She wound her arms around his waist and gave him a squeeze. "Thanks again for helping James."
He was blown away at how caring she was. Most girls could dump a guy and not give him a second thought. But here she even had him caring for a guy she had dumped.
"Maybe if we hadn't gone after the same girl, James and I might have been friends," he said, planting a kiss on the top of her head.
"You still might be, eventually," she mumbled against his chest, stifling a yawn.
"See, you're tired, and you need a good night's rest." He pulled her in for a hug. "I'll be in at eleven in the morning, okay? I've got a date with a punching bag, and I really need to spend some time on the range before I come in."
"Oh fun!" she exclaimed with mock enthusiasm.
"I can still give you a wake-up call at six so you can join me," he teased. He released her from his embrace but threw an arm around her shoulders, and she kept an arm around his waist as they walked together to the door.
"I'll hunt you down like a fugitive if you wake me before eight in the morning."
"The grumpy non-morning person emerges." He kissed her soundly on the lips and then gave her a wink before he exited her door and headed home.
~888~
E/N: Stories I have been enamored with lately: "Last Rites" by halojones; "The Cannabean Bethrothal" by ItzMegan73; and "Daedalus in Exile" by EZRocksAngel (I won a preview of a chap of this story in the Fandom Gives Back. Yay!). I just discovered the incomparable Ms. Halo Jones and I have been stalking her all over the fandom. If you know her, tell her I'm her newest crazy fangirl. ItzMegan73 was introduced to me by JennDay on an episode of Dancing With Jen and Tor, where JennDay also rec'd my story. Many of you in the fandom probably know EZRocksAngel and her beautiful lyrical stories. She was one of the first authors to give me a read and offer constructive criticism, for which I will forever be grateful. Go read these three stories, you won't regret it.
Look back in previous chapters for earlier recommendations. I still love all those stories, too.
Oh, and uh, please REVIEW, some of my faithful have fallen away. If you don't review I don't know whether you're still reading or enjoying, or if you think I've simply "Jumped The Shark." I need to know these things!