FAMILY: Syllabification: fam·i·ly Noun.1) A group of people related to one another by blood or marriage. Example: What matters most is that their families and friends fully support their marriage.

CHAPTER SIX

There is no better feeling in the world then to have a fire crackling in the fireplace, a hot mug of cocoa in my hand and my boyfriend, the man I love sitting on the opposite side of the couch, massaging my feet. With the Christmas gifts long forgotten, I sat staring out the window to the garden and baring witness to cool seventy degree temps of Southern California during the holiday season. How I wished for snow. There is nothing more magical than the beautiful blanket of snow on Christmas day and it is something I had yet to experience.

I pulled out my book from the side table and scribbled something down inside it.

Experience snow on Christmas morning.

"Whatcha doin over there?" Edward's voice called me out of my day dreaming.

I smiled over at him and closed the book, placing it back on the table. I pulled my legs up and slowly crawled over to him, a feat I will tell you.

"Wanna have sex?" I smiled mischievously. I straddled his legs and felt him rest his hands on my butt.

"You know we don't have the time."

"Says who? It's Christmas…all we have is time."

"Bella." His tone warned. "We have to be at my parents' house in an hour."

I began to pout. "Well, technically…we don't have to be anywhere we don't want to be. We are fully grown adults who are capable of making their own decisions. It's about time we cut the umbilical cords and end our rally with a, Hell no! We won't go!"

"You love Christmas dinner at my parents' house. Last year, I had to pry you away from the dinner table so we could open gifts."

"I wasn't that bad." I rolled my eyes.

"The only way you would come is if you were allowed to bring the rest of your lamb."

"It's not my fault your freaky family eats so quickly. I hadn't consumed a decent meal in days, of course I was hungry. Of course, I wanted to finish my meal." I defended.

"You ate a whole rack of lamb on your own. You scared the wait staff."

"Fine! I'm a fat ass." I exclaimed pulling myself off of him, "Why don't you just go and tell it on the mountain for Pete sakes."

"Or you could just tell me the truth, Bella. I know it may taste foreign in your mouth but don't worry, that will pass."

I stood facing the fire with my back turned.

"Tell me, Bella. Say, I don't want to go to your family's house today because your father upset me."

I stood there not saying a word.

"Okay, fine. You don't want to converse with me, I will have this whole discussion without you. Ladies and gentleman, tonight the role of the ever so stubborn, Bella Swan will be played by the multi-talented, Edward Cullen." He cleared his throat and I could tell he stood up by how close he suddenly became to me, "I don't want to go to your family's house tonight. But darling, don't you know it's Christmas and they'll be expecting us?"

I rolled my eyes at his attempt of humor.

"I don't care. I'm upset and I want to sit here and wallow my whole night away. I don't want the rack of lamb or the Oreo marshmallow chocolate pie your mom made especially for me."

Damn, I had forgotten about the pie.

"Oh honey, don't you know that you don't have a choice. I am building a time machine and sending us back a hundred years. I'm the man of the household and you will do what you're told. Now get in that bathroom and remove some of that makeup, I can't be seen with a painted lady."

I turned around and looked at him disgusted. "Excuse me? Do what I'm told?"

"Hey, got you to talk to me." Edward winked.

"You're stupid." I grumbled.

"I know you are but what am I?" He teased. He pulled me closer to him and I half-heartedly fought him. "Please, this means the world to me, you know that right?"

I sighed, "Of course I know that. You actually like your family."

"You have Michael." He reminded.

"Yeah…I have Michael."

"And…my family will be your family someday. I have faith that it will be so."

"Well, Nineteen fourteen Edward, good luck on negotiating that dowry. Whichever father of mine you decide to petition, I think you'll have your work cut out for you."

"Bella…it's Christmas….so can we go?"

"I would never deny you a chance to spend time with your family on a major holiday. I will sit at the opposite side of the table from your father."

"My mom has always sat us in a specific order…Bella…it's Christmas, for me can't you just forget what my father did to you? Please."

I could sense the frustration and I hated that I was causing this turmoil but I was also a tad irritated that he didn't seemed at all upset by what his father did.

"Fine." I turned quickly and headed off to the bedroom to find suitable attire for the Cullen Casa. I pulled out some black slacks and a cashmere sweater. Edward came into the closet and I could feel him watching me as he picked out what he was going to wear.

"Is that what you're wearing?" He asked cautiously.

"Is there a problem?" I huffed looking over to him. "Sure, it's not my best attire for my visit to Versailles but I thought it was decent enough."

He sighed and shook his head looking back to the closet.

"It's just…mom requested red for the family photo…remember?"

Fuck! I forgot about the request. At the time, I hadn't really thought about accepting Esme's wish but now I wanted to wear a color that best represented my mood.

"I shouldn't even be in the family photo. I'm not family…yet at least. It's weird."

I could see Edward debating in his mind if he wanted to go into battle. Most of the time lately, he would let it past and just smile at me a "fine" and then move on but as I saw his eyes become narrower, I readied my infantry.

"My mother isn't the one you're upset with. You agreed to wear red two weeks ago, Bella. In fact, you even went out to your favorite boutique that you hadn't been to in months to purchase the red dress you just had to have. A wastefully expensive dress but it's the one you wanted and now you're not even going to wear it?"

"It's too cold for the dress and who cares if I come in red or not. I'm not going to be in the stupid photo. I wasn't in the one last year so what's the big deal if I'm not in this one."

"We didn't take one last year and don't give me that crap about your dress not being weather friendly, we'll be inside the whole day which is what you told me when I pointed out that you may be too cold to wear that dress in the first place but you just had to have it. So wear the damn dress!"

I grabbed the garment bag and stormed off toward the restroom. I was absolutely furious as I pulled off the tags and unzipped the silly red dress I had bought. I slid right into it and it was a shame that I did love this dress because right now, I wanted to hate it. I came out of the bathroom to find Edward in his black pants and red sweater while he dabbed on some cologne.

I looked at him in the mirror as I started to touch-up my makeup. I could see his challenging gaze back at me so I decided to inform him of a few fetching points to his new demeanor.

"Just so you know, if this is going to be a thing…this whole nineteen fourteen Edward who tells me what to do and what to wear, then I think I should tell you that it was highly inappropriate back in the early nineteen hundreds for a man to live with a woman before marriage. So…if you want to keep up this charade then I suggest you move out."

He turned sharply toward me and walked straight up to me till he was mere inches from my face.

"I will out when you move back in with your father. If that is really how you want to play this."

I turned and stared directly into his eyes and I could see the fury behind them but I also saw defeat and that made me feel defeated as well because I didn't like seeing Edward in pain or hurting which is why I was so upset about the Carlisle thing. I thought he was going to die and I hadn't known him too long so of course I would be sad but knowing Edward was going to be in pain was unbearable.

I did the only thing I could think of to get us both out of this funk. It was Christmas and there were certain things that should be exempt from Christmas and one of those things is fighting. Peace on earth and all that crap.

I launched myself at Edward and thankfully he accepted or else the moment my mouth collided with his, it could have turned very ugly but, not my Edward. He knew to just go with it and accept my offering. Quickly he lifted me up onto the sink and began to lift my dress moving quickly on to his pants as he wrestled the zipper down.

"Wait!" I pulled back stopping us, "Let me take off the dress first."

"Bella." He complained. "This in the moment thing doesn't work if you have stipulations."

"But this dress is expensive and sometimes you get downright violent with my clothing. If you annihilate this dress, then I will have nothing red to wear for your family photo."

He thought about it for two seconds before pulling me off of the sink. He rushed to pull me out of the dress and then tossed it aside. Before I could reprimand him about wrinkles he flipped me around and bent me over, pushing straight into me.

"Wrinkles." I tried to get out.

"You weren't wearing panties…you were going to my parents' house without panties." He grunted.

"It was all payback…planned on flashing your brother during gift giving."

I felt a slap come across my ass and I yet out a scream.

"Edward!" I admonished.

"That's what you get for being crude. Now shut up while I fuck you."

His rhythm quickened and his grip on my ass tightened. I met him thrust for thrust, desperate for my own release. I knew that Edward never held out long for makeup sex…angry sex…nearly any kind of sex unless it was love-making which was well and fine but lovemaking was like a marathon event. You had to have the proper stamina, chug a crap ton of water, eat pasta the night before…

"Come on!" Edward grunted.

What the hell was I doing thinking of pasta and water at a time like this? I looked down and saw a stray hair on the sink and reached out to grab it.

"Bella! What is the matter with you?" Edward skid to a halt and I looked up at him through the mirror.

"I don't know. I don't like this position….I get too easily distracted when I can't see your face." I stuttered.

"You're kind of hurting my ego over here." He huffed pulling out of me.

He turned me around and slide straight into me.

"Now…is there anything else you need for ambiance or can we cum now?"

"Commence with cuming." I waved him on.

"I could find some candles….put on a Marvin Gaye CD. Make a bed of roses…"

"All right, I get it!" I snapped. "Just looking at your cum face is all I need to get off. Giddy up!"

Edward shook his head and then started once more. This time I could focus on the big show and it didn't take me long to be screaming expletives that would make a sailor blush. We didn't even make it back to the bed, instead, Edward pulled me to the ground with him and the cool tile was a welcome relief from our sweaty bodies.

"Were you really going panty-less to my parents?" He asked after I had finally caught my breath.

"My own form of revenge."

"And you were also planning on flashing my brother?"

"Yeah and I was also planning on thinking dirty thoughts so I could leave a nice juicy stain on your mother's couch."

"Bella."

"Obviously I'm joking." Duh!

We were both quiet for a few minute while we contemplated. I was contemplating spending the rest of my life down on the cool tile but Edward looked like he was contemplating something weightier.

"I…think…I would kill anyone who ever got a look at your goods."

I pushed myself to look at him. "Are you serious? Because you know there have been a few riders who have come before you that got a look at the goods. Are you going to search them out and kill them too or is this just for newcomers?"

"There isn't going to be any newcomers." He snapped.

"Whoa, I'm just screwing with you, Edward." I held up my hands. "Is…everything okay?"

He sighed and looked toward the clock. "We're going to be late."

He picked himself up and gathered his clothes walking away from me while I laid on the ground wondering what the fuck just happened. I didn't see Edward again until I met him at our front door, still brooding over whatever was going on with him. Silently we left the house and got into the car and it wasn't a whole lot better the whole drive to his parents' house. I could feel the unbearable tension and knowing I was going to have to deal with Carlisle on top of all this, made me want to turn the car around…if I was driving of course.

We pulled up to the illustrious estate of Cullen and after a nice thirty minute silent drive, I was not about to enter that house without a word with Edward first.

"Hold it." I requested as Edward went to open his door. "I am not getting out of this car until you tell me what the hell is going on with you? Now, I will admit that this morning's discussion was rather intense and I say discussion since there is no fighting on Christmas but then I thought we had a very nice round of angry makeup sex and suddenly you're positively violent over something I was never planning on doing and I am not going into your family's house with not even one ally on my side."

"Alice." He stated. "I'm pretty sure she likes you more than me."

"So…you're not on my side?" I asked.

"I never said that."

"Because if you're not for me then you're against me."

"I never said I was against you." He replied flustered.

"Who said that exactly? I mean who was the first…because I know there are numerous people throughout history and plus some rather frightful characters in pop culture…"

"It's from the Bible, Bella." Edward cut off to stop me from a rant. "Matthew twelve-thirty, whomever is not with me is against me."

"Oh well, you really do learn something new every day."

"Bella." He said my name and then took a pause. "I don't know what's wrong with me. I don't know how to describe it. Sometimes, I feel like I'm losing you and…"

"What! Why would you think that? Because I challenge you and your thinking? You think I want out…well…I mean…I only want out because I want better for you." I said remembering why he may suddenly feel that way. "Isn't that what people who love people do? They want to give them the best even if that means they have to let that person go?"

"I don't want you to go." He replied softly.

"Then…I'm here. But…I may not want to be here if you keep sulking. Good lord knows that this relationship cannot work with too overly emo people. This week was my week. I will be sure to pass on the eyeliner and crown of deaden black roses onto you for next week, deal?"

He smiled and looked at me with his lighter eyes. "Deal."

I leaned over and kissed him one more time for good measure and then went to exit the car.

"It really is a tad too cold for this dress after all." I said rubbing my bear arms. "Hurry! I want to get into the house."

Edward pulled the box out of the back with our Christmas gifts and trotted along after me. We walked up to the looming dark wooden door and rapped on the knocker a couple of times. How I wished this home was just a tad smaller so that it wouldn't take a person ten minutes to locate the door. I could feel my legs and arms bump up from the cold and Edward stood there, all knowing that he was right about this dress.

"Welcome!" Esme greeted us, "Ooo Bella you must be freezing."

Esme, dressed in a cherry red skirt and a top with crystals embedded into it, pulled us into the foyer and I was never happier for heat then at that moment.

"I tried telling her that it was more of a summer dress." Edward laughed.

"It was the only thing in red I could find." I defended.

"Well, you are the last to arrive. Everyone's in the common room having a drink. Edward, why don't you go ahead…I want to speak to Bella for a moment."

My eyes popped a little wide and I looked over to Edward giving him that certain look. Come on, ally!

"Okay mother." He smiled at me and turned on his heel while Esme wrapped her arm around my shoulders and steered me into the office off to the side.

"What would you like to speak about, Esme?" I had hoped my voice didn't give away my trepidation but I looked down at my hands and quickly stopped from wringing them.

"I wanted to apologize to you for last night. I…don't know what my husband was thinking but I hope you can forgive us. It's very important that our relationship wasn't hindered because of some silly albeit stupid joke."

"I was never upset with you, Esme."

"I know but you're upset with my husband and so by extension me. Someday you'll understand. Carlisle played a cruel joke on you, I'm sure it had to have hurt but we were heart-broken when we heard you had turned down Edward's proposal and I think Carlisle saw an opportunity to ensure that in the end you will make the right choice."

I laughed shortly, "You know it's funny but it seems silly that you would want Edward to be with me. Normally people in your position in society would want better for their children. People with the proper breeding and education. I don't have either anymore. My biological father was no more than a caddy at a golf club and I haven't obtained any degrees…hell I'm not even good enough to be a housewife. I don't know how to cook. Edward complains that I'm messy. I have no maternal instinct…"

"And my son still loves you in spite of all that. Which tells me that there must be something special about you."

"Or I'm just really good at sex."

"Well…then that's something." Esme replied, rolling with the punches. "But, I think you're being a little too critical of yourself."

I shrugged.

"Let's get you some dinner. I know how much you loved the lamb last year." Esme linked her arm with mine. "So, are we good?"

I looked at her worried eyes and I returned her question with a small head nod.

The party was under way as we arrived finally. I could see the table lined with all my favorites and I swear, that alone was enough to get me to say yes to Edward's proposal. I greeted everyone with a standard hello and then Esme called everyone to dinner. I could see Carlisle in my peripheral and I tried not to make eye contact but I could see him sitting in his high back chair watching me.

"So what did my mom want to talk to you about?" Edward asked handing me a martini.

"She wondered about our sex life."

"What?" He gasped.

I shrugged once more, "Ask her yourself. I thought it was rather strange too but hey, it's your mom. I couldn't very well lie to her. But don't worry I gave her an outstanding progress report."

"Please tell me you're joking."

"Well…sex was mentioned…but we can talk about that later. Emmett!" I called out, "You better leave that lamb to me."

"Hell no! I got get in there quick or god knows I won't get any again like last year." Emmett challenged.

We all took our seats at the table and after Carlisle said a brief prayer, we all jumped on the food like a pack of ravaged beasts. We rotated the dishes to the left and filled our plates while discussion broke out.

"So…are we going to talk about the elephant in the room or not?" Emmett announced.

"Why would we want to talk about you?" I quipped and everyone laughed.

"Well, I'm not the one off her rocker, dancing around in fountains and shit." He replied and Esme smacked him upside the head.

"You see. There is a method to my mom's seating chart. This way she can keep Emmett in check." Edward whispered to me.

"It was a rather curious thing." Alice cringed looking at me.

I sighed and prepared my statement, "I found out that my biological father is dead and it was a little hard to handle but when I met with his widow yesterday, she gave me an old book of his. In the back of the book was a list of ten things he always wanted to do so…I know this sounds stupid but I thought that if I could fulfill his magical bucket list then maybe I can feel like I knew him…be closer to him. Something I will never have."

"So swimming in a fountain." Rosalie replied.

"Number four." Alice said.

"Number four." I repeated.

"Well, I think that's a lovely idea and a great way to honor your father." Esme smiled.

"What kind of other things are on the list…you know just so we have an explanation next time you're being weird." Emmett laughed.

"All kinds of things." I said through a mouth full of lamb. "I have to get a tattoo, go scuba diving…go in a hot air balloon…"

"Enter a pie eating contest." Edward interjected.

"That's awesome!" Emmett bellowed. "I have to see that."

"Sky diving, and a really vague one on doing something that frightens me." I rambled.

"Well, that would be two birds one stone for me." Rosalie commented.

"Get a traffic ticket and go to some boring golf course in Scotland and play a round and apparently it's not the fun kind of golf with windmills and stuff."

"St. Andrews?" Carlisle finally spoke up. So far he had yet to say anything to me or anything at dinner except for the prayer.

"Uh…yeah…St. Andrews. How did you know?" I asked.

"It's probably the most famous golf course in the world but it can be rather tough to get tee time." He replied.

"Tea time? You have to drink tea too?"

Everyone laughed. "No Bella. T-E-E not T-E-A." Edward spelled out.

"If you like, we have a residence there and I could talk to the club to get you a time set up." Carlisle offered.

"Thanks but we will probably have to hold off on the trip to Scotland for a while. We need to save up money for that kind of endeavor." Edward replied.

"Dude, you're girlfriend's loaded and you're not exactly doing so poorly yourself." Emmett replied.

"That's not the point, Emmett. We aren't going to be frivolous with our money any longer." Edward countered.

"Whatever." Emmett rolled his eyes and internally I wanted to do the same.

"Well then, I'll pay for it. We can go for New Year's with the whole family." Carlisle proclaimed.

"Scotland? For New Years?" Alice had hope in her eyes, "How romantic. It could be like a baby moon."

"Plus I hear that the Scottish men are mighty tasty." Rosalie added with a wink.

"Hey!"

"I don't know how I feel about this now." Edward added.

"Don't worry Edward, contrary to what you may believe, the last thing I want to do is be with a man who looks better in a skirt then I do."

"There it's settled. I will call the residence and tell them to expect our arrival. " Esme added.

"I'm honored really but you guys don't need to do all this. It's…too much." I stated awkwardly.

The room was quiet and I wondered if I had offended them somehow. I could see a few head shakes and looks of concern.

"She still doesn't get it." Emmett said.

"I know." Edward replied.

"Get what?" I asked confused.

"That even though you and Edward aren't married, Bella…you're still family." Carlisle declared. "And family will always be there for one another no matter what. You are family."

AN: Thank you soo much for reading and reviewing. I want to welcome newcomers to the story. I know that some of you have recently come over thanks to Twifanfictionrecs dot com who recently names The Lottery of Life one of the ten best completed fics of September. Thank you again Twifanfictionrecs and thank you soo much for all of you who took the time to vote. I am truly honored!

Thank you to my wonderful beta, Robstenvampgirl for her continued work on all of my stories! You're the best!

Disclaimer: Characters belong to Stephanie Meyer. Story is mine.