A/N: I know, I have kept you all waiting far too long for this update. Please forgive me. I hope this new chapter makes up for it. I think I missed the characters as much as you guys did. Thanks to the readers who were concerned enough to write and ask if I had lost my mind. LOL (Just kidding, but some did write to ask when I was updating). As Always, thanks to my beta team SSHG316, Charmie77, acireamos for beta'ing and helping me even when I'm pushy and asking them to work on my schedule. I also want to welcome SavageWoman to the beta team. She graciously offered to read for me while I was agonizing over this new chapter, and chomping at the bit to get it done. Also want to specially thank Charmie77 for helping me come up with a special ending, and Shug because I took her away from her family on a Friday night to help me finalize the chapter. They all challenge me in unique ways that encourage and inspire me. I am thankful for them because they don't sell me a bill of goods. They actually tell me like it is. And I like that.
Trust, Loyalty, Commitment
"Forgiveness is the economy of the heart... forgiveness saves the expense of anger, the cost of hatred, the waste of spirits."
by Hannah Moore
"The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the Strong."
by Mahatma Gandhi
"If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you O Lord there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared."
-- Psalm 130:3-4
Chapter 17 - To Err Is Human To Forgive Is Divine
EPOV
Edward rushed into his apartment, grabbed the lasagna he'd made before going to work out of the fridge, and popped it into the oven. He'd barely gotten over the threshold of his bedroom door before he began shucking his service belt and talkie, then his uniform, as he stepped purposefully into the shower. From rough calculations, he had about 25 minutes before Bella would be ringing his doorbell, and he wanted everything to be ready for their first dinner at his place.
As he scrubbed the grime of another workday spent in the stifling humidity in the Florida panhandle from his body, he ruminated on just how good life was for him at the moment. He was making headway in therapy for the first time in a long while. Work was extremely gratifying, good friendships were firm fixtures in his life, and he had finally found someone with whom he had shared everything about himself, and she didn't think he was the fucking psycho he believed himself to be. Surely she would have run in the other direction if she felt he was on par with a Norman Bates or Francis Dolarhyde.
Edward Cullen, Sr. and Elizabeth Masen Cullen were both several degrees of fucked up, but they had some fairly redeeming qualities and genetic characteristics that they'd passed on to him. Despite all the screwy religious dogma his mother tried to feed him in his formative years, he had inherited his musical ability, his wild red hair, and green eyes from her gene pool; things that women found appealing for reasons beyond his comprehension. Thankfully, she hadn't done the unthinkable, abhorrent things that Mrs. Bates and Mrs. Dolarhyde had done to their sons. If those things had transpired, he would have ended up squarely on the other side of law, most likely a raging serial killer instead of a frenzied commitment-phobe who happened to be a police officer. From Edward, Senior, he received his looks, his charm, his dogged pursuit of life in general, and his propensity for dabbling in the excesses of life.
His desire to be better than the example he was shown by his parents had caused his proverbial apple to fall far enough away from the tree that he was able to change. Joining the Marines had given him the discipline and fortitude he'd needed to become a man, and his feelings for Bella made him strive to become a more honorable one at that.
Edward had thought about his mother several times since he'd left Crawfordville when she'd made those malicious remarks about Bella's ethnicity. He was still pissed off with her about it, but couldn't help but wonder how she was fairing on her ankle, especially getting around in her car, should she need to. He had believed that she would call him when she needed to go to her appointments, but she stubbornly had not. Now he didn't feel like her predicament merited thought anymore. Clearly, she was holding to her faulty beliefs. The inroads they had made to restore their relationship had been lost with a few misspoken words. That, it seemed, was the story of his life. He would discuss that turn of events with Dr. Levy next time; because he had no fucking clue how to handle it.
Quickly dressing in a golf shirt and blue jean shorts, he dismissed thoughts of his mother and thought instead about his beautiful girlfriend who was coming for dinner. There was a woman he knew he could count on. She was stunningly beautiful, compassionate, kind, caring, secure in who she was, confident, and very accomplished. He would never have to worry that she would let him down, as she was so well-adjusted herself and in tune with others' feelings, that she was always going the extra mile to avoid hurting anyone. This humbled him, yet scared him to death because he didn't know yet if he was able to reciprocate fully.
His latest session with the heavy bag had dredged up some feelings about his dad and Marcus Volturi that had left his knuckles burning. He flatly refused to revisit the feelings he had about his mother's culpability in his upbringing merely because she was in closer proximity to him physically. And if he had to be around her at some point, he really didn't know if he was ready to deal with the feelings she was evoking in him right now, especially those that had to do with Bella. Truth be told, it disgusted him how cold and callous his mother could be over the color of someone's skin.
He put on "Moonlight," a CD filled with eleven of his favorite Beethoven piano pieces. He then set the table, lit some candles, and put the garlic bread in the oven. He removed the salad from the fridge, set it on the table, and took a nice Pinot Grigio off the wine rack, before searching for the corkscrew and a couple of wine glasses. There was a half-gallon of Bluebell Ice cream in the freezer for dessert, or they could substitute themselves for an even sweeter treat. He voted for the latter but would allow Bella to make the choice. The corkscrew was hiding in the dishwasher, and he was retrieving it when the doorbell rang. He ran his hand through his still rather damp hair as he went to get the door.
Bella had changed and was now wearing a blue halter, a white pair of mid-thigh shorts, and a smile just for him. She was gorgeous even dressed down. He gently pulled her into the room and pushed the door shut with his foot. "Hello, again," he murmured, sweeping her into his arms and kissing her soundly before she could reply.
"Well, hello there," Bella said breathlessly when they came up for air. "If this is the kind of greeting I'll get every time I see you, maybe I need to come by more often," she said emphasizing her words with a firm squeeze around his waist.
He squeezed back, reveling in the feel of having her in his arms. "That can be arranged," he said, kissing her again. Taking her hand and leading her to kitchen, he replied, "This is a bit of a late dinner for you, so let's do this."
"Yeah, fifteen minutes more and I would have come in the door biting your head off," Bella teased.
"You know, I have yet to see that full-on grumpy person who emerges when you're hungry or sleepy." Edward pulled out a chair from the table for her. "Sit here, mademoiselle. I'll bring in the bread and the main course." He moved into the kitchen to retrieve the bread and lasagna.
"Thank you," she offered in response to him holding her chair before she looked at him mischievously. "I've been keeping her under wraps. I can't go showing my bad side until my good side has you sufficiently charmed."
He glared playfully at her through the archway over the bar as he took the lasagna and bread out of the oven. "And here I thought you were guileless, the most pure and honest woman I've ever met." He carried the bread bowl and lasagna to the table and put them down in the center of it.
"Not all womanly charms are duplicitous, I'll have you know," she retorted lightheartedly. "How dare you insult my virtue!"
"I fantasize about doing a lot of things to your virtue, but insulting it isn't one of them." He smirked. "Now, assaulting might be a better word." He sat in a chair to her left and began serving lasagna on their plates.
Bella blushed profusely but didn't back down. "And this type of behavior from an officer of the law? I just might have to make a citizen's arrest."
"I have handcuffs on my service belt," he offered almost too eagerly.
Bella giggled. "I can see the headlines now: 'Tallahassee Police Officer Subdued in Own Handcuffs'."
He laughed. "The Tallahassee Democrat and all the local news affiliates would eat that up." He began pouring wine in their glasses.
"In a heartbeat," Bella agreed, taking a bite of her lasagna.
Edward watched for her reaction. "Oh my gosh, this is delicious," she said. "You've got some kind of secret ingredient in this. I can tell. Are you going to share?" The doorbell rang, and he looked at Bella quizzically.
"I wasn't expecting anyone else for dinner," he mused as he stood and moved toward the door. "Excuse me."
Edward wondered who it might be, and he crossed his fingers, hoping that it wasn't one of the residents with whom he'd had a previous hook-up. That would be awkward to say the least. He punked out and made a conscious decision not to look through the peephole. Opting to face whoever it was without warning, he flung the door open.
There stood Elizabeth Masen Cullen in the flesh, ankle still trussed up in her supportive boot and leaning on the crutches that had helped her propel herself to his door. She looked apologetic, but he wasn't buying her crow-eating act just yet. He wanted to close the door, but she looked so vulnerable standing there that he didn't have the heart to do it. Besides what kind of monster would he then look like to Bella?
"Mother," he grumbled tersely.
"Edward, I hope I'm not intruding. I wanted to talk to you, and I preferred it not be over the telephone," she began. She looked in and saw Bella at the table. "Oh, I've interrupted a dinner date, please forgive me."
He turned to look at Bella, his eyes silently questioning if it was all right. Although, he knew Bella would be fine with it. He would have been surprised if she were not.
Bella smiled and stood up. "Hello Mrs. Cullen. You're not imposing, really."
"Hello, Bella," Mrs. Cullen said warmly.
Edward took the crutches, helped his mother over the threshold, and closed the door. Bella took the crutches from his hand and stowed them in the corner as Edward helped his mother to the table and pulled out a chair for her.
"This is quite the surprise," Edward quipped. "We were about to eat a late dinner. Would you care for something to eat?" He held Bella's chair again as she sat, too.
"You've made my mother's lasagna," Elizabeth gushed, her green eyes twinkling. "I really shouldn't eat this late, but it smells heavenly. I think I will have some." She looked at Bella, smiling as if they were old friends. "Bella, this is the only recipe my son has ever asked me for. It has always been his favorite." Edward went into the kitchen and got another place setting for his mother, resigned to the fact that she really was crashing his date.
"I was just asking him what the secret ingredient was in it. It is absolutely delicious," Bella admitted to his mother. She then looked up at Edward who was quietly setting dishes and silverware in front of his mother. "I think he was planning on holding out on me."
Edward tried to smile but it felt stilted, and he knew it probably didn't reach his eyes. This was beyond fucked up. Since when did Elizabeth Masen Cullen just drive up and drop in on him unannounced? Now she was sitting there having a conversation with his girlfriend like this was a common occurrence.
"The secret is a layer of walnut and spinach pesto, and another layer of crushed olives and artichoke hearts," Elizabeth stage-whispered conspiratorially. Edward served his mother a helping of lasagna and salad before taking his seat.
"I'll have to remember that next time I'm making lasagna," Bella said.
"Oh no," Elizabeth laughed. "Let Edward make it for you as long as he's willing. I say let men do whatever they have the skill and spirit for doing. If you get too good at, he may never make it for you again."
Edward cut a piece of lasagna with his fork and stabbed it as if it offended him.
"That is great advice," Bella declared. "And I took you to be an old school, Proverbs 31 woman, Mrs. Cullen, but I see you're definitely a progressive."
"God desires us to be meek, not weak," Elizabeth joked with an impish grin. Edward looked like he wanted to punch something.
Bella laughed heartily. When she saw the look on Edward's face, she stopped abruptly and struggled to look as impassive as she could, but her shoulders continued to shake. Edward couldn't help it, seeing Bella in such obvious discomfort, torn between laughing at his mother's tepid joke or being loyal to him and not getting on with his mother so famously, he began to laugh, too.
Having broken the figurative ice, they had a surprisingly pleasant meal together. Elizabeth got her opportunity to grill Bella about the Center after all. Bella answered every question she posed, and his mother seemed genuinely impressed. Elizabeth even talked to Bella about her father's church and promised to visit. That conversation made Edward just a bit uneasy because he just knew the next suggestion would be that Bella invite him, too. However, his mother surprised him, yet again. She moved on to ask Bella about her vision for the Center in the future, and Bella told her about her dream of having a gym so the children could get exercise as well as tutoring. Edward was still curious about what had precipitated the visit, but for the time being, he was just happy his mother hadn't embarrassed him in front of Bella. When they finished eating, Bella stood to help him clear the table.
"I'll get it, ba—Bella," Edward said, but Bella continued carrying dishes into the kitchen. He followed close behind her with a stack of his own.
"I really should probably go now, so you and your mother can talk," Bella whispered, setting the dishes in the sink.
"No, please don't leave," he whispered back. "Either she'll talk with you here, or we'll talk later."
Elizabeth cleared her throat and yelled loudly, "You know, I really should be getting home. Edward, would you mind terribly helping me to my car?"
Edward and Bella looked at each other and then at Elizabeth. "I've crashed your date long enough, don't you think?" Elizabeth asked with a smile.
Bella smiled, and Edward moved automatically toward his mother.
"Sure," he said, holding the chair and helping her from her seat. He looked to Bella who busied herself rinsing dishes and loading the dishwasher. "I'll be right back. Bella, please leave the dishes; I'll take care of that later." Retrieving the crutches from the corner, Edward supported his mother on one side while she wielded one crutch on the other.
Bella turned off the water and joined them in the living room. Elizabeth approached Bella on her solitary crutch. "It was a pleasure talking to you, Bella," Elizabeth said. "And I really would love to have you both out for dinner at the house sometime soon. Work on this one, will you?" She gestured toward her son.
"It was nice seeing you again too, Mrs. Cullen," Bella returned. "I'll do my best."
Then his mother did the damnedest thing—she actually hugged Bella. Was this the same woman who had spoken rather disparagingly of her colorful lineage? Edward couldn't wait now to see what had precipitated this drastic change of heart. Elizabeth took his arm again before they exited his apartment and headed for her car, which was conveniently parked next to his cruiser.
"Edward," Elizabeth chided lightly, "Bella really is a delightful young woman and a marked improvement over the type of girl you usually date."
Edward stopped on the sidewalk before they stepped off the curb, his brow knitted in frustrated confusion. "That's in stark contrast to what you had to say about her several days ago, mother. Why the about-face?"
Elizabeth looked embarrassed. "I had a heart-to-heart talk with my therapist. She made me see the error of my ways, so to speak."
"Is that right?" Edward surmised sarcastically.
"Son, I really am sorry about what I said. Even more so now, after talking to Carlisle and Esme before I dropped by here tonight. Their take on things lined right up with my therapist's. The Church of the Greater Son had it all wrong. They took Scripture out of context, and I didn't have the knowledge or the wherewithal to contradict Aro and his teachings," Elizabeth said, her green eyes moist and sincere.
"Maybe you should have said all this to Bella," Edward countered coolly. "I'm sure she would have appreciated an apology, as well."
"Oh no, Edward. You told her what I said?" Elizabeth looked aghast. "She must think I'm an awful woman."
"That's the wonderful thing about Bella, Mother—she is very forgiving person, warts and all," he said proudly.
"Then I will try not to worry that she will judge me harshly. Please offer my sincerest apology to her. I would go back in and do it myself, but I've taken up enough of your date time already."
They walked in silence to her car. Edward took the keys and opened the door for her. When she was settled in, she looked up at him. "You have turned out to be a good man in spite of your father's and my failed attempts at raising you, Edward. You would do well to hold on to that girl in there. She has something that you need, and once you've taken hold of it, you will be complete."
So now his mother had gone to speaking in parables. He was not going to ask her what she meant by those cryptic words, because Bella was waiting for him. And that answer might turn into a treatise on existentialism or some shit.
"That is my plan—for as long as she'll have me," he answered. "Goodnight, Mother."
"Goodnight, son," she said and closed her door.
While he helped his mother into her car, he thought he saw someone sitting in a vehicle parked about fifty yards away watching them. When his mother began to pull away, he walked toward the car in an effort to get a better look, but whoever it was, they pulled away before he walked fifteen feet. The car was gold, but he wasn't able to get a make or model and it was too dark to get a license plate number. He would make sure to check the parking lot before Bella left and maybe follow her to her place, just to be safe.
~888~
When Edward returned to his apartment, he found Bella lounging on the sofa and reading a book as she listened to "The Evolution Robin of Thicke" on his stereo. She smiled up at him briefly as he entered the room and kept reading. As he slid next to her and wound his arms around her, she caressed his thigh with her left hand, but kept her eyes glued to the page. That was not the right move if she wanted to continue reading. He kissed her temple, and she patted his thigh again absentmindedly.
"Let me just finish this paragraph." She sighed dreamily, scooting closer to him.
He nuzzled her cheek, around her ear, and then her neck.
"Ugh," she grumbled in mock exasperation. She put the book down on the table and gave him better access to her neck. "I can't concentrate now anyway."
He kissed a trail along her neck until he got to her throbbing pulse point and sucked it gently into his mouth. She moaned appreciatively and asked, "Is this dessert?"
He straightened up, smiling sheepishly. "Oh, right—um, there's some Blue Bell ice cream in the freezer, or we can continue. You decide."
Bella took his hand. "I'll take you over Blue Bell ice cream any day, but I wanted to know first—is everything all right with you and your mom now?"
"As right as it can be, I suppose," he replied.. "She apologized for the remarks she made last weekend, and she asked me to be sure to apologize for her."
"You told her that you told me about that?" Bella asked incredulously.
"And she was just as surprised about it as you are."
"It's just that I wouldn't want her to think that I didn't honestly enjoy talking to her tonight." Bella chewed on her lip nervously.
"You know, she was afraid that you would think she was an awful woman. But I assured her that you weren't someone to hold a grudge."
"You must have been very persuasive to get her to see your point of view," Bella purred, winding her arms around his neck.
Edward slid his arms around her waist and kissed her softly on the lips. "Well, actually, she had a conversation with her therapist and then Uncle Carlisle and Aunt Esme."
"So, she's not afraid anymore that my tainted gene pool might contaminate the Cullen bloodline?" Bella quipped.
"Actually, I think she's convinced now that you have something that I need, and I think she might be right." He kissed her again, deeper this time, and they got lost in each other while Robin Thicke serenaded them in the background: I'm lost without you. Can't help myself. How does it feel to know that I love you, baby.
BPOV
The City of Hope Community Year-End Festival took place on a beautiful sunny Saturday morning. Bella, the volunteers, their partner churches, the residents, and people in the community all converged on the Center grounds to close the school year out for the community's children. There were blow-up bouncers, game booths, community organizations handing out information pamphlets and freebies, food vendors giving out free goodies, and a central entertainment stage with a DJ.
The week had gone by quickly due mostly to all the preparations for the festival. Even as busy as she'd been, she'd missed Edward. After their eventful dinner on Wednesday night with Edward's mother, which had ended again with a hot and heavy make-out session, both their weeks had gotten too crazy for them to eke out any time alone together. They had been together every day at work, of course, and all of Friday, but not really together, because all the volunteers were around as they made the final preparations for the festival.
Finishing up shortly after eleven pm on Friday night, they each had gone to their respective homes for the evening. Bella had noticed a light colored vehicle in the farthest corner of the Center's parking lot on Friday night, and she couldn't be sure, but thought she saw it again on her drive home, as well. She'd thought perhaps she had been seeing things from exhaustion. Just to be safe, she'd run up the stairs into her apartment, bolted the door, and checked all the windows, after which she'd fallen into bed and slept like a log, only to return to the Center at eight am the following morning to set up for the actual event.
While practicing her spiel for the welcome in her office, Bella saw Edward enter the Center through the main door. He carried some items into the common room for Alice as she flitted happily behind him. He'd opted not to wear his uniform, but was looking great in a white Polo shirt, blue and white plaid shorts, and a pair of navy top-siders with no socks. Bella had to admit, her man had great genes. She shook her head as if to clear her thoughts and walked into the common room to get the wireless microphone she would need to use during the program.
"Hey, everybody, listen up," she addressed all the volunteers at once as she checked the mic for batteries. "We will be starting the program portion of our day in about fifteen minutes. The Mayor, Captain Black, and a couple of commissioners are planning to attend today. Please man your areas and make sure that the temporary volunteers change out smoothly. We should have plenty of everything to go around, but make sure all the children from this community get goody bags before they leave, okay?"
They all answered back with the expected yeses, okays, and all rights. Edward smiled and winked. Bella, trying to keep a professional demeanor in front of the volunteers, ducked back into her office to hide the goofy grin on her face. She gathered the gift cards to give away during the day's activities. As she placed these into a festively decorated basket, Edward sauntered into her office.
"Captain Black has two units patrolling today and several off-duty cops on foot, so security's good, Ms. Swan," he said, adopting his all business facade.
"That's great," Bella praised. "Wish we could've gotten the city to pay you guys for the hours you're working today," she said with a frown.
"I'm sure the guys don't mind," he asserted loudly. Then for her ears only, he whispered huskily, "Paid or not, nothing could keep me away from you on this or any other day." His eyes made a hungry sweep of her form.
"Careful, Officer Cullen," she whispered back, her eyes narrowed appraisingly. "You keep looking at me like that, and I might have to go into attack mode."
"I haven't had you in my arms since Wednesday night; if you go into attack mode we won't be able to leave this room for a while." Green eyes smoldering, he gave her a sexy smile before he continued. "Anyway, I promised the kids I would be here so they could make fun of me in regular clothes, beat me at a few games, and show me how to do the 'cha-cha' slide."
"You've got quite a few promises to fulfill there, mister. Good luck."
"And one more thing." Edward paused for effect. "You have to sing for them and do the 'cha cha' slide with us too."
"Edward!" She couldn't believe he had involved her in the children's shenanigans. "Oh, well, not at the same time, right?" Then she thought again about what he was planning to do. "You are going to do the 'cha-cha' slide?"
"The kids say it's easy." He seemed really confident. "From the way they described it, it's kind of like country line dancing, am I right?"
Rolling her eyes heavenward and shaking her head, Bella picked up her basket and headed for the door. "We'll see."
~888~
Bella visited all the booths, greeting the volunteers and the children from the Center she encountered on the way. Some had been able to drag their parents along, but others had come alone and were braving all the activities on their own. Unfortunately, this was a reality for many of the children every day: no parental involvement. When Bella returned to the Center's booth near the stage, she saw that Mayor Barksdale had arrived and was talking to Captain Black and her father. True to his word, Edward was on the dance floor with Angela, Jacob, Alice, and some of the children doing the "cha-cha" slide, and holding his own rather nicely. When he saw Bella, he stopped and crooked his index finger in a "come hither" motion. Bella grinned, vigorously shook her head in the negative, and walked quickly over to greet Mayor Barksdale. She reached out to shake his hand, but he stood there looking at her, arms akimbo in mock exasperation and pursed his lips.
"I was there when you were just a gleam in your Daddy's eye, young lady. I know I deserve more than a tired old handshake!" He held his arms open, and Bella hugged this man who was more like an uncle to her than his honor, the Mayor of Tallahassee.
"Good to see you, Mr. Mayor."
He smiled. "Marva and I were just saying Sunday when you sang that solo at church how much we wished we had a son your age." Mayor Barksdale and his wife had two grown daughters who were living in the DC area.
"Shannon and Rachel aren't any closer to making you a father-in-law?" Bella asked in mock horror.
"As a matter of fact, Rachel just got engaged a few weeks ago to some hot shot Lobbyist on the hill, and Shannon is fit to be tied because her little sister is getting married first." He said this like it was a complaint, but Bella could tell he was very proud.
"Well, I can totally identify with Shannon. I think Angela, my surrogate sister, will be getting married before I do, right, Dad?"
"Yep, and I can't wait to give him the third degree," Charlie said mischievously.
"You gotta give it to Ben, he's a young man who knows what he wants." Captain Black grimaced. "Jacob hasn't dated a nice girl since he took you out last year, Bella. You didn't break my poor boy's heart, did you?"
"Not that I recall," she teased lightly. "I just don't think I was his type." It was clearly time for her to escape. Jacob's inability to find a girl to date was not a conversation she wanted to have with Captain Black.
Bella excused herself and made another couple of rounds through the crowd, ensuring that everyone was getting the full benefit of the event. She found Angela and Jacob on the dance floor when she returned and joined them there. Out of the corner of her eye, Bella saw Alice and Edward join a group of the children from the Center on the dance floor, but she continued dancing with Angela, sharing Jacob. Then something unexpected happened. A rather uncouth, somewhat familiar-looking guy danced over to Bella and joined them on the floor. He had dreds that almost touched his waist and wore a white, wifebeater t-shirt and the trademark baggy jeans with boxers peeking out at the waist of his sagging pants. Both his muscled arms were covered in a full sleeve of tattoos. Bella decided it was okay to dance with this stranger through a fast song, so she continued to move with the music. He leaned over to speak to her.
"You don't remember me, do you?"
Bella kept moving to the music. "No, should I?"
"I'm Laurent," he said with a gold, toothy smile.
"Laurent Beauvoir?" The dreds and that fact that he had gained probably fifty pounds of muscle since she'd last seen him, adorned himself with tattoos, and grown a mustache were probably the reasons why she hadn't recognized him right away. He also wore what looked to be diamonds in his ears, gold chains around his neck, and rings on several fingers of his hands. His personal style and all the "bling bling" did not impress her.
"One and the same, baby." He did a rather flamboyant dance move and smiled as the smile on Bella's face faded.
She was annoyed. "I am not your baby, Laurent."
"But we can change that, can't we?"
Bella ignored him and continued to dance, remembering what a troubled child he had been. Laurent Beauvoir had been the poster child for at-risk youth when they were growing up. His father had been a heroin addict, and his mother had sought refuge at City of Hope Church when her husband died from an overdose. They remained members of the church for several years; long enough for Laurent to fancy that he liked Bella as a girlfriend.
Rev. Charlie Swan was nothing if not a man who didn't tolerate children growing up before their time. Laurent and his mother had a hard life, and though Charlie had wanted to help them, he didn't want his child falling prey to the same temptations. He had overheard Laurent declaring his love for Bella at a church picnic when they were in the second semester of sixth grade.
Her father had been firm and very clear. "Young man, you don't know what romantic love is yet. You are a child. Bella is a child. You would be better served to get a good education and help take care of your mama, boy!"
Bella had been thankful for her father's intervention, but Laurent thought that her father had been making sure that she was never in a social situation with him again. Laurent had accosted Bella at school a couple of days later and sneered, "I know your daddy don't like me!" However, Bella had pulled away from Laurent on her own because he was so intense, even as a little boy, and frankly, he had scared her. She'd received a scholarship to McClay, a northside prep school when she entered High School, so she had never seen Laurent again after that. Later, she'd heard that his grandmother moved him away to Miami when it was whispered that Laurent's mother was dying of AIDS. Bella had prayed for that family so much in those days. She had been taught by her parents to love unconditionally, but they didn't raise a fool. She was an impeccable judge of character and was not attracted to "bad boys," even those who had the potential to be.
She changed the subject. "So what brings you back to Tallahassee, Laurent?" She was well aware of the activities he had been up to since he had been back.
"'Business," he smirked, showing his glittering gold grill. "I sell a valuable product to a select clientele. I have about fifteen salesmen working for me."
"Impressive." Bella's tone was sarcastic. She didn't need to guess what the valuable product was.
"I saw your pops here earlier," he said. "Is he still trying to keep you on lockdown from certain people?"
"We're not children anymore, Laurent. And my dad never kept me on lockdown, even when I was a child."
"So, I guess you free to date who you want to, now that you all grown up and everything?"
"Yes, I am. And I'm already dating someone at the moment, so—" Bella didn't feel the need to justify her choices to him. She willed the song to end, quickly. It wasn't ending fast enough, in her opinion.
Laurent tried again. "So, they havin' this sick party over at The Moon tonight, right. Make Laurent a happy man by lettin' him escort the most beautiful girl there tonight as friends."
Bella wanted to gag when he began referring to himself in third person. She made an immediate excuse. "Sorry. This event isn't going to clean itself up. I'm here 'til late."
The song ended, but the DJ immediately played a slow song. Bella decided to beat a hasty retreat.
Laurent grabbed her hand before she could get clear of him. 'Come on now, girl. You can at least take this slow one with me, since you won't go out with me tonight."
Bella slid her hand out of his and began to walk away again. "Sorry, I've got to prepare for another raffle announcement. You have a good time, okay."
He grabbed her arm and held it tight, his hot, putrid breath burning her ear. "So, you still think you too good for a brother, huh?"
Bella was appalled at his forwardness but didn't want to make a scene, so she didn't protest loudly. In the calmest voice she could muster, she said, "Laurent, let go of my arm."
"I'll let go after we take this last dance together," he smiled and pulled her roughly toward him.
"Laurent," Bella said a little more forcefully. "Let me go."
"Aw, come on now, Bella." He held both her arms tightly and wouldn't release her, gazing mockingly into her eyes. His breath smelled like cigarette butts and stale beer. His clothes and hair reeked of marijuana.
"No. Laurent, I said no." Bella was beginning to panic.
Never had she felt such relief as when she heard Edward's voice, rough and venomous though it was. "Let. Her. Go," Edward growled through clenched teeth. He grabbed Laurent in a reverse half-nelson until he released her. When Edward saw that Bella was free, he relaxed his grip. Laurent pulled away roughly, and Edward stepped between him and Bella.
"If I were you, I'd listen the next time a lady says no, especially if you like having the use of all your limbs." Edward's green eyes were lethal.
Laurent sneered. "So, y'all got a little 'jungle fever' thang going on, huh? I knew you and yo' family liked white bread when they sent you to that fancy school out north."
Edward pushed right up to Laurent and looked directly into his eyes. His tone was positively vitriolic. "Why are you still talking, punk?"
Laurent returned Edward's stare with the most vicious one he could muster. The tension between them was palpable.
After they engaged in a stare-down for a few seconds, Laurent capitulated with a derisive laugh. Then, in a foolhardily move, he tried to use the element of surprise to throw a sucker punch at Edward. Edward maneuvered away from the ill-thrown punch. People on the dance floor scattered, and the DJ stopped the music and began paging TPD. Bella was stunned and unable to move. Edward launched himself at Laurent, hitting him square in the mouth and landing a textbook right hook. Laurent staggered backward and fell into the waiting hands of Officer Clearwater and Captain Black, who locked Laurent's arms behind him and had him in cuffs before anyone could blink. Laurent's lip was swelling fast and bleeding all over his white wifebeater and expensive gold "bling bling." Officer Clearwater led him away to his squad car, reading him his rights, with Laurent hurling epithets all the way.
Captain Black patted Edward's shoulder. "Good looking out, Officer Cullen. That is the infamous Laurent Beauvoir. We want him on drug trafficking, but we'll take him for assault on a law enforcement officer and see if that sticks." With that, Captain Black left, following close behind Officer Clearwater and his prisoner.
Edward's eyes sought Bella's anxiously. "Are you okay?" He examined her arms where Laurent's grip had spawned angry red bruises.
Edward scowled. "Damn, I should have gotten to you sooner. He could have really hurt you."
"I-I'm alright," she stammered, smiling appreciatively up into his green eyes. She was shaken by the incident but not physically hurt.
Angela and Jacob rushed over to them. "What was that all about?" Angela demanded.
"Laurent Beauvoir being the same troublemaker he's always been, I'll bet." Jacob said before Bella could answer.
"Is that the dude your dad called out for having a crush on you in middle school, Bella?" Angela asked.
"Y-yeah, that was him." Bella hadn't been aware that she was shaking physically until she tried to talk again. "Ange, Jake, please get the DJ to start the music again and let the kids know they can continue to dance and have fun."
They nodded and left her with Edward.
""You need a break," he ordered. "You've been going non-stop all morning and afternoon. The volunteers will make sure everything keeps going for fifteen minutes." Edward wrapped his arm around her and began steering her toward the Center and the solitude of her office. Bella, it seemed, did not have the energy or the inclination to fight. She was exhausted. Edward took her keys and was about to open the door when her dad ran up to them.
"Bella!" Charlie was frantic. "Are you okay?"
Charlie cupped her cheeks and examined her face. Then his eyes found the bruises on her arms. "Did Beauvoir do this to you?"
"It looks worst than it really is, Dad," Bella soothed.
"I took care of him, Rev. Swan," Edward admitted without remorse. "He'll need to see a dentist when he gets out of jail."
"Thanks again, Officer Cullen." Charlie reached out to shake Edward's hand. "I've never been so glad to have a good liaison on board here at the Center. You do us proud, son."
"You're welcome," Edward said, accepting Charlie's hand. "I thought it might be a good idea for Bella to take a break for a while."
"Not for long," Bella piped up. "Who's going to do the raffles?"
"I can do that," Charlie offered.
"And I need to see the children off at the end of the festival and make sure the goody bags are distributed." Bella glanced anxiously between her dad and Edward. "Which is about an hour away."
Edward shook his head. "Alice and Sean can do that."
"And you really don't need to supervise everything personally, Bells," Charlie reminded her. "Take a breather. That's an order. I am technically your supervisor."
Bella finally capitulated, and Edward breathed a sigh of relief.
~888~
EPOV
Placing his hand firmly in the small of Bella's back, Edward escorted her into her office, locking the door behind them. She made a beeline for the leather bench against the wall where she spread a throw over it and lay down. He got two bottles of water out of the fridge in the common room and brought them back into her office. Bella sat up when he reentered the room. Pulling a chair up next to her, he opened one of the bottles and handed it to her.
"Thanks." She sighed tiredly. "I just realized how thirsty I am." She took a big gulp of water and smiled wanly.
"Is this the first water you've had all day?" he asked suspiciously. It wouldn't surprise him if it was if the work ethic she'd kept up all week were any indication. She had worked tirelessly, above and beyond the call of duty, to make sure this event went off without a hitch. They had all worked, but Bella had been like an Alice clone on steroids by the end of the week. And rightfully so. This event was her brainchild and the culmination of the Center's year. He opened his own bottle and drank almost half in one swallow.
"I had lemonade earlier," she replied and took another long drink.
"You need to take better care of yourself, especially when you work as hard as you have the last month. Staying hydrated in this sweltering heat is important," he scolded good-naturedly. He recapped his water bottle and set it on the floor.
"You're right," she finally admitted. "I just get so caught up in doing things for the kids and the Center, I forget."
Edward was not surprised. Now that he knew how vulnerable she was, he was glad to be around and available to keep her protected and safe. Since the beginning, when he found out she was working in a place where unlawful activities took place on a daily basis, he had been concerned that a woman who looked like her, and Alice, for that matter, were targets for being harassed by self-proclaimed thugs and small-time gangsters who lived in and around the neighborhood. Now a former classmate of hers, who just happened to be a drug dealer, had assaulted Bella. Edward knew he was going to need to be up on his game so he could keep her safe. Laurent Beauvoir was a slippery bastard with a savvy lawyer who made sure he escaped virtually unscathed from all his run-ins with the law. Edward had little hope that the charges they threw at him would stick. He needed to protect Bella, and he would do whatever was necessary to do so. He would begin making plans, he decided, after she fell asleep.
"I won't let you forget again, if I can help it," he said, caressing her cheek gently. "Why don't you try to get some rest?"
"I don't know..." she began, setting her now empty water bottle on the floor.
"I promise to wake you up just before everything is over," he coaxed.
"But—"
He took both her hands in his. "And I'll stay here while you're sleeping."
"Okay," she acquiesced. Then her eyes lit up. "Will you play for me until I fall asleep?
"All right." He released her hands and moved toward the door to the common area. "Any requests?"
"Claire de Lune." She stifled a yawn as she lay down on the bench. "And your choice after that."
Edward rolled the piano as close to the door to Bella's office as he could, angling the piano bench so that it allowed him to keep an eye on her while he was playing. The hit Edward landed to Beauvoir had caused his knuckles on his right hand to swell slightly, but he played through the pain. Halfway through Claire de Lune, Bella fell asleep lying on her side with her knees slightly bent and using her hands as a pillow. Her coal black lashes fanned out over her cheeks. He then played the Moonlight Sonata, Fur Elise, and Pathetique Sonata - Adagio Cantabile, just for good measure and because he was pleased to be playing again for the first time since the concert.
While the music flowed beneath his fingers, he thought about ways that he could protect Bella even when he couldn't be around her. Today's scare with Laurent Beauvoir had him so keyed up, he wanted to volunteer as her own personal bodyguard, but he knew Bella would balk at that idea. They were a couple of weeks into their relationship and he wanted to move in? He figured that would go over like a lead balloon. He decided that even though her apartment was on the second floor, she could still benefit from an alarm system. She could also keep pepper spray or a taser on her person at all times, just in case someone threatened her when she wasn't at home. This was the first line of defense he would suggest to her. Maybe he could get the reverend on board, too. That might make it easier to convince Bella that she needed to take precautions.
She slept so peacefully; he hated to wake her up but knew that if he didn't, she would be disappointed about missing the end of the festival. Not wanting to wake her before it was absolutely necessary, he quietly rolled the piano back into the corner in the common room and then went back into her office where she lay on the bench. He kneeled down so she wouldn't have to strain to look up so far, then he gently caressed her arm.
"Bella," he whispered. "Time to wake up, sweetheart."
She smiled before opening her eyes. "I wish I had an alarm like this all the time," she murmured sleepily. Her eyes fluttered open, and her beautiful brown orbs smiled up at him, too.
"I'm available to you in any capacity you desire, Ms. Swan," he said with a smirk.
She moved to get up, and Edward helped her to sit up.
"I might take you up on that, Officer Cullen," she teased.
His eyes went immediately to the bruises on her arms, and he got angry all over again. "I should've done more than loosen a couple of Beauvoir's teeth."
She examined the bruises on her arms again. "They'll fade in a couple of days," she insisted. "I haven't thanked you properly for getting me out of that sticky situation."
Bella stood up and stepped into his waiting arms, her small arms squeezing as tightly as they could.
"Let me freshen up just a bit," she said as she moved to her desk. Taking out the toothbrush she kept there, she retreated into the tiny bathroom just off her office.
She left the door open, and over the din of running water, Edward began his quest to convince her to accept his protection.
"Bella, this thing with Beauvoir got me to thinking about you and Alice and all the women's safety here at the Center," he began. "I think we need to talk about taking some precautions while you're here and to institute some safety measures in your homes."
She peeked out the door at him. "You really think that's necessary? We've always tried to be safe by arriving around the same time and leaving together. There haven't been any problems for a year. That thing with Laurent was probably a coincidence. He's apparently just come back to Tallahassee to expand his drug business."
Moving back to the sink, she took a cup and held it under the running water.
Edward tried another tact. "There was a car outside the apartment the other night when my mother stopped by unannounced," he said. "That's why I insisted on following you home. It makes me wonder if Beauvoir was stalking you before today."
Bella turned off the water and came out of the bathroom. She looked like she was deep in thought.
"What?" he asked.
"There was a car outside the Center last night in a darkened corner of the lot when we left," she answered. "I think I saw the same one on Blairstone on my way home, but I was so tired. When I got to my apartment, I ran up the stairs and bolted the door. I also checked all the windows and made sure they were secure. I am the daughter of an ex-cop, so I know a little bit about safety."
"Even so, I think we need to take some extra precautions where you're concerned right now. Beauvoir probably already has a lawyer springing him as we speak." He looked grim. "Bella, you probably shouldn't stay in your apartment alone tonight. Maybe not for the next couple of nights, until we can get an alarm installed there and get all the women at the Center some pepper spray or tasers to keep on you at all times."
She walked over to him and wound her arms around his waist. "Aw, sheriff," she teased. "Why don't you just deputize all of us and give us six shooters or something. Really, baby, I don't think it's that serious."
"I'd rather be safe than sorry, and I will not take any chances with your safety, Bella. Humor me," he pleaded.
Her brown eyes softened. "Okay, but I'd rather have pepper spray than a taser. Those things can accidentally kill people. Remember that young boy at boot camp? Oh, you were probably in Terre Haute when that happened."
"Seth told me something about that. Okay, pepper spray it is then." It surprised Edward at how relatively painless that had been.
"Now that this safety stuff is out of the way, can you just kiss me already?" She tipped her head back, and he descended on her lips like a man dying of thirst in the desert. Their tongues wrestled in a deep, no-holds-barred kiss that made him go mindless and hard. She tasted of a hint of sweet minty toothpaste and fresh and natural Bella, which he found incredibly sexy. He had to struggle to remember his Taps trick, and when he finally broke the kiss, they were both breathing like they needed to be hooked to an oxygen tank.
Recovering first, Edward began to ask the question that begged to be answered immediately. "Now, about where you're going to be staying...."
~888~
E/N: Stories I have been enamored with lately: "Ithaca Is Gorges" by Gisellelx; "Counterpoint" by Sleepyvalentina; and "Breaking News" by WriteOnTime. Ithaca Is Gorges is a beautiful complete story which accounts for the time that Edward and his family left Bella in Forks in New Moon and picks back up where they return. It is told in both Carlisle and Edward's points of view and is a moving story of the effects a son's choice has on himself, his father and his entire family. Counterpointis Edward's point of view of the story that the fandom fell in love with in Art After Fivehowever it does not in any way regurgitate everything that occurred in AA5 and shares more of the story than AA5. Edward is sixteen year old a genius who falls love with a more mature Bella, whom he meets at an Art Museum. It is authentic and beautifully written as is all of Sleepyval's work. Breaking News is the story of two network news anchors who are equally brilliant in their areas of expertise, but who get off on the wrong foot. They work through their dislike for one another which is fueled, they eventually discover, by a volatile chemisty that they haven't identified or admitted to, yet. What I find so engaging about WriteOnTime and her stories is they are exceptionally well-written, and she has a true penchant for humor. I'm not talking weak giggles here, but most often, huge belly laughs. Just like in The Port Angeles Players, her Breaking News characters spew out one-liners and sound bites that keep you entertained from beginning to end.
God Bless Haiti: I am submitting something for MsKathy's Haiti fic compilation. If you donate an organization helping out during this disaster and send her the receipt, she'll send you a compilation document of stories gathered to support this cause. You can help the survivors of Haiti's devastating earthquake and enjoy some stories by going to this link: mskathyff(dot)blogspot(dot)com/2010/01/haiti(dot)html
I have written a Gift Exchange Fic, which stole my heart for a time from TLC, which will be posted at the Twilight Gift Exchange. Check it out here: http: // community dot livejournal dot com / twi_exchange / They will be anonymous for a while, so you'll have to guess which one is mine. Ha!
Also, if you haven't already done so, go nominate some of the little known fics you love in the Indie Twific Awards: indietwificawards dot com