A/N: Life's been shit lately, but I'm still standing.
Hope you enjoy. Hopefully my suckage starts to fizzle out soon.
Thank you for all your reviews. I appreciate every one and really enjoy reading them.

Footprints in the Sand

Chapter 17

I don't get a spare moment to speak to Alice all week, and after my three-day, almost fifty hour shift, we meet for coffee at our usual haunt at Al Marzocco Friday at noon.

Alice is already waiting when I arrive, waving me over from the sofa in the center of the room.

With my grin mirroring hers, I head toward her and lean in to accept the kiss she plants on my cheek.

"I already ordered your coffee—how've you been?" she asks brightly.

"Good—though, I'm having dinner at Edward's parents tonight." I grimace, sitting myself beside her and dropping my purse at my feet.

"Already?" Alice notes in surprise. "Good sign."

"Not really. Addie outed us," I say ruefully.

She chuckles. "Speaking of Addie, I messaged Edward, asking him if I could take her out tomorrow to get her bridesmaid's dress..."

"And?" I coax her to continue when she's deliberately elusive.

"He said sure, so long as you're there as well. Honestly, I'm not sure whether to be offended that he doesn't trust me with his daughter, or flattered on your behalf that he trusts you with her," she relays wryly as my heart immediately warms.

"Well..." I murmur, smiling hopelessly to myself. "He's..." But quickly clearing my throat, I change the subject, "he might stop by and join us."

Aside from the odd, sporadic texts in the mornings before work, I haven't really spoken that much to him since Monday. He called me late this morning, just after I woke up to tell me what time dinner's on tonight. I invited him to coffee with me and Al, but it's not a definite; by all accounts he's busy.

When I meet Alice's gaze I realize she's grinning knowingly. "Sounds like things are going well."

"Yeah they are," I agree, "but..."

"But?"

"I keep forgetting to ask him—Jesus, Al, the man makes me lose my head," I admit, wanting to laugh ironically to myself because tip of the iceberg.

"Ask him what?" She tilts her head curiously.

"Why he's never brought up birth control with me," I answer, deliberately lowering the tone of my voice.

"Have you had sex again?" she teases me in imitation.

"Of course we have," I proclaim. Sometimes I swear Alice still thinks I'm an awkward sixteen year old.

"And...?" She angles her head almost subconsciously closer to me.

"And... it's amazing." I scoff softly to myself; amazing barely cuts it.

Best sex I've ever had, and despite Edward's dry spell, he's by no means a novice.

Our coffee arrives, and cheesecake along with Alice's.

"I know," she says, noticing my pointed brow; she's been on a strict eating plan since she got engaged, convinced she won't fit into her wedding dress otherwise, "but I'm stressed."

"Florist? Church? Place cards?" I pre-empt her.

"Family," she mutters, rolling her eyes. "Honestly, I'm beginning to think we should have just ditched all this wedding nonsense and went to Bora Bora instead."

"It'll all work out, Al," I assure her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and squeezing gently. "Six weeks to go."

"I know..." she echoes with an over exaggerated sigh before swallowing a mouthful of dessert. "So, you're free tomorrow?"

"Sure," I say simply.

"Aside from tonight are you two doing anything this weekend?" she continues to pry after another rather large bite of cheesecake.

"Hmm... not sure." I ponder it. "Edward only really gets one weekend free a month when Addie visits her mother's family, and he doesn't want her knowing about us just yet."

"Hang on, I thought Addie already knew about the two of you?" she questions.

"She does, but not officially," I explain, bringing the coffee to my nose and inhaling the aroma deep into my lungs.

"She's so cute." Taking a breath, Alice hums wistfully. "Jay and I agreed to wait until we're in our thirties to start a family, but I think I might want a baby...soon-ish."

"Soon-ish?"

"I wanna try when we get home from our honeymoon," she clarifies.

"Think Jay will be on board with that?"

She shrugs a single shoulder and breaks into a canny grin. "I can talk him around. What about you?"

"What about me?" I ask dubiously. "I've been in a relationship for what?—a week."

"It's been longer than a week," she challenges me.

"Okay, two weeks, and you're talking to me about babies?" I assert incredulously, instantly reminded of Addie's words to me not that long ago.

Her father doesn't like babies.

"It's never too early to plan ahead," she insists, raising both shoulders this time and forking the last of her cake into her mouth. "God this is good... I might need to come running with you, Bells."

"How?" I put to her skeptically. "You can't keep up with me, and I can't wait for you."

"I can keep up with you!" she insists, sounding suddenly affronted. "I went running with you once before, remember?"

"You gave up half way and caught a cab home," I remind her, chuckling lightly from her expression.

"Well, okay," she waves her hand, "you have me there. I haven't put on weight, though, have I?" she asks, appearing suddenly uncertain.

"Of course you haven't," I reassure her. "Al, you've worn the same size since you were in high school."

"God, this wedding is making me so neurotic!" she bursts with a groan. "Honestly, I really can't wait until it's all over."

"You don't mean that," I chide her, coming close to rolling my eyes. She's been planning her wedding since she was in kindergarten, after all.

"They say building a house is more stressful. I beg to differ," she speaks to her coffee.

"Hmm," I mumble, glancing absently over my shoulder only to find myself suddenly caught in an intense pair of clear green eyes.

He breaks into an immediate smile; mine quickly follows before he motions to the counter to order.

I nod and turn back to Alice with the grin across my face broad.

"I envy you, Bells," she says, nudging me playfully.

"How so?"

"You're in the part of your relationship where everything is new and exciting. Jay and I argue buck naked now. Not long ago I couldn't even flash him my bra without him jumping me." Smirking to herself she takes a sip of her coffee, then leans closer and adds, "How the hell do you resist him?"

"I don't," I admit, just as Edward sits himself beside me, take-away paper cup in hand.

"Hey, Edward," Alice says cheerfully.

"Alice," he replies with a quick grin before turning to me to press his lips tenderly to mine. "Hi."

"Hi," I echo, my voice unintentionally soft.

He's wearing a black pinstripe, and Jesus, he's sexy.

"How's things?" Alice asks him, taking another casual sip of her coffee.

"Things are not bad. How are you?"

"Coasting," she replies as Edward's grin pushes softly through his nose. "Bella's coming tomorrow, just an F.Y.I."

"That's good," he says, turning to face me and dropping his palm to my knee. "I'm sorry I didn't run it by you first," he murmurs against my earlobe, flooding me in the scent of his aftershave in the process.

"It's fine," I assure him feeling like I'm momentarily swaying, but instead of bringing those two words to my attention, he only breaks into a smile and tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

"You two are nauseating," Alice quips drolly. "Staying long, Edward?"

"Not too long," he replies. "I have to get back soon."

"Still busy?" I surmise, placing my hand over his.

"Hmm, I have a case that looks like it's going to wind up in court." He frowns, takes my hand and curls his long fingers around mine.

"Litigation failed?" Alice ventures.

"Looks that way. They're being stubborn," he says in a quiet voice before emptying half his coffee in a single mouthful.

I squeeze his hand and follow suit, drinking mine not nearly as quickly.

"There's been a change of plans," he confides in me a moment later.

"Hm?" My brows raise in question.

"I couldn't get a sitter, so Addie's going to sleep at my parent's. Dinner will be later than usual—after I put her to bed. That okay?"

"I'll babysit her, Edward?" Alice offers, inserting herself into the conversation before I can answer.

"Uh..." he utters with obvious apprehension. "I can't ask you to do that."

"Why not? We're going to be family soon," she points out, her tone cavalier.

"I'm sure you and Jay..." He's cut short by the ringtone of his phone. "Just a moment—what is it!?" he snaps, his entire demeanor changing in an instant. He listens briefly, his frown rapidly turning to a scowl, when he practically explodes. "What do you mean you can't find them? You have exactly twenty minutes to place them on my desk or consider yourself unemployed!" He hangs up, aggressively shoving his phone back in the inside pocket of his suit before he slides up his sleeve to glance at his watch. "I need to get going," he says to me apologetically, despite the anger continuing to constrict his voice.

"That's okay. I'll see you tonight," I reassure him, donging his knee playfully.

He breaks into an almost reluctant smile before hastily planting a kiss to my brow. "I'll call you after work."

"Okay."

"Alice," he says in farewell, then pulling himself to his feet, he buttons up his single-breasted suit jacket and leaves.

"Wow..." Alice says after watching him go, her eyes becoming almost dazed. "I can see why you can't resist him."

"He's just as intimidating as he appears," I agree, nodding my head slowly in further emphasis. He left his coffee cup on the table, and picking it up I quickly realize it's empty. "Jesus he drinks fast."

"He was never going to let me..." Her message alert tone beeps and picking it up she smirks to herself. "Thought so." Turning the screen to me, she shows me Edward's text: Another time.

"Don't take it personally, he's just—" Right on cue, my phone beeps with two very different words.

I'm sorry.

It's fine. I reply.

Bella. Just my name again.

"Ugh, remind me to find another phrase for 'it's fine'," I mumble, typing his name in response.

Edward.

"Hmm... No worries?" Alice suggests before breaking out into Hakuna Matata. "It means no worries, for the rest of your days..."

"Please stop," I say, shaking my head with bemusement. "What should I wear tonight?"

"To his parents?" she quizzes. I nod. "Black. Black is always safe."

. . .

I met Tyler's parents once; his mother told me explicitly not to marry him—giant red flag, but Mr. and Mrs. Cullen are different. I want them to like me, to believe I'm good enough for their son and granddaughter.

After leaving Al Marzocco, I head to the nearest florist. My father's rules for meeting my boyfriend's parents; always come with a gift. It shows respect.

After purchasing a bouquet of Stargazer Lilies for Mrs. Cullen, I drive home and get dressed to go for a run.

Addie's not waiting for me when I return, but I normally don't run in the afternoons. Plus, it's beginning to snow, and she's still recovering from the flu.

I'll see her tomorrow, I remind myself as I'm trudging up the single flight of stairs to my apartment, my grin tugging broad. The twinge in my heart I often feel over letting myself get attached to someone else's child is unusually AWOL. So is the fear in the pit of my stomach that I'm falling in love with her father.

I can't deny it anymore.

. . .

Edward texts just after six to inform me that dinner is for 7:45. By seven p.m I'm starving, and after making coffee as my only consolation, I get dressed in the most conservative, black dress I own. It's long sleeved and falls to my knees, and along with a pair of black knee-high boots I'm satisfied I'm not showing too much skin. I straighten my hair and put very little make-up on, and with five minutes to spare there's a knock on my door.

The sound of it is very distinctly Edward, and I open it to him looking more than a little agitated.

"Sorry, one of your neighbors let me in," he says by way of explanation, bending down to plant his lips to my cheek.

He's wearing the same black pin-stripe suit, so he hasn't been home to change, and he's not nearly as put-together as he usually is.

"It's—no worries," I hastily correct myself as a faint smirk lights up on his face; he knows exactly what I'm doing.

"For the record, I prefer 'it's fine'."

"Hmm, but you've made me too self-conscious about it," I mumble, my smile already wide as I straighten his tie. It's pulled loose, the first two buttons of his shirt undone. "Rough day?"

"Rough..." he repeats dryly. "You could say that. Bella..."

"Yeah?" I meet his harrowed eyes realizing they're practically bloodshot.

"My mother invited Emmett and Rose as well—I only realized when they showed up at the damn house," he hastily adds, dragging his hand back through his already disheveled hair.

"Oh, well...it's fine..." I say just as a genuine smile breaks across his too handsome features, immediately distracting me from how weary I suddenly feel.

I was not anticipating another night with Rosalie so soon.

"It's not fine. She's really pissing me off today," he adds as more of an afterthought, his expression momentarily darkening.

"Was that who you were yelling at in the café at lunch?" I ask lightly, and I'm not exactly averse to that idea.

"No," he admits his smile returning. "My assistant. She's a complete basket case at the moment, but she's going through IVF... and well, without me paying her well above what she'd make anywhere else, she wouldn't be able to afford it."

"So, you're really a softie underneath despite the fact you threatened to fire her," I tease him, tugging his tie playfully.

It's another layer in the many that safeguards who he really is. One which surprises me to know.

"Not really," he says, scoffing softly to himself, but then everything I say seems to amuse him. "You still okay about tonight?"

"Of course I am," I insist. It usually takes a lot more than someone like Rosalie Hale to chase me away. I'm still Charlie Swan's daughter deep down, somewhere.

"Good. Ready to go?"

Turning, I grab my purse and the bouquet of lilies from my kitchen counter. "I am now."

"Those aren't for me, are they?" he puts to me skeptically, placing his hand to my lower back and hurrying me along.

"Your mother," I say drolly, nudging him before locking my apartment behind me and allowing him to lead me down the stairs, my hand wrapped warmly in his.

Large hands, large... So, the saying's true.

"What are you smiling about?" he notes, pulling me closer to him when we step out into the early evening chill air.

"Nothing. How's Addie?" I change the subject.

"Good—asleep. It's the only plus side to her getting sick. The medicine always knocks her out."

"Benadryl knocks me out," I say as he chuckles, and squeezing my hand he quickens his step.

Before Edward can reach for the door knob of the Dutch Colonial it's suddenly pulled open, revealing his mother behind it.

"Hello, Bella, dear. "You look lovely," she greets me warmly, leaning forward to kiss my cheek.

"Hi, Mrs.—Esme," I promptly recover in response to Edward's not-so-subtle clearing of his throat. "Thank you for inviting me." I hold out the lilies and am almost positive she blushes.

"Oh, how lovely." She takes them from me and brings them to her nose. "Quickly come inside out of the cold." Holding her arm open, she ushers us indoors.

Doctor Cullen walks into the foyer to meet us, a very distinguished older version of Edward, looking debonair in a grey wool suit and red bowtie.

"Miss. Swan," he acknowledges me, holding his hand out. I offer him mine and he brings the back of it to his lips. "I recognize you from Harborview."

"Pleased to meet you, Doctor Cullen," I greet him in return as my knees all but give way beneath me. To most medical staff he's practically royalty, and as handsome as all the rumors about him.

"The pleasure is mine. I'm sorry, I didn't catch what field you're in. Emergency?"

"Labor and Delivery," I correct him as something starts in his expression and his gaze immediately darts to Edward.

I pause with apprehension, but it's a moment that's fleeting, and before I can over analyze it, I make up my mind that I imagined it. Rosalie helps as a distraction.

She idles into the room dressed obviously in her work clothes as well, a glass of red in hand as Doctor Cullen trails after his wife into the kitchen.

"So, we meet again," she says decidedly unironically, and like she did the weekend before she smacks her lips to my cheek, no doubt leaving behind the bright red residue of her gloss. "Red?" She holds up her glass in some kind of emphasis.

"Hm? Oh—no, sorry, I'm not drinking tonight," I blurt when the penny drops.

"Shame. Just as well." She half shrugs a single shoulder dismissively, and turns her attention to Edward. "God, don't tell me you're still in a mood."

"Try me and see for yourself," Edward replies with more than a threatening undertone.

"Oh, lighten up, Edward." She rolls her eyes to herself, turning to me with a wink as though I'm supposed to understand why she's being such a patronizing bitch to him.

Edward opens his mouth, looking on the verge of an angry tirade, when his brother suddenly slaps him on the back and moves to greet me. "Good to see you again, Bella," he says cheerfully.

"You too," I reply with genuine sincerity. His terrible taste in women notwithstanding, I like Edward's brother.

A moment later I'm in his mammoth embrace, and then dinner's being called.

Doctor Cullen is seated at the head of the table with Esme opposite. Edward and I are to the left of her, adjacent Rosalie and Emmett.

The starters and main course are served at the same time; shrimp and lamb. An interesting combination but I'm starving and it smells amazing.

For the most part everything goes smoothly. Doctor Cullen asks a few polite questions in regards to working at Harborview and how long I've lived next door, until Mrs. Cullen, noticing I'm not drinking, offers me wine.

That's when things quickly go south.

"I wouldn't. Bella's a lightweight," Rose intercepts before I get the chance to open my mouth, and just as Edward slams down his knife and fork so hard I'm surprised he doesn't break his plate.

"Pardon?" Mrs. Cullen is understandably confused. At least I hope she's confused and is none the wiser over what transpired at Rosalie's cocktail party the weekend before.

"I am compared to Rose." I decide to keep the peace and laugh it off, and not only because the man beside me is becoming increasingly more irate as the minutes tick by.

"Everyone on the damn planet is a lightweight compared to Rose," Edward mutters not nearly as beneath his breath as I think he intended.

"Funny, Edward," Rosalie retorts dryly. "Working with you would drive anyone to drink. He's such a control freak—figured that out yet?" she directs her question toward me.

"Rosalie!" Esme reprimands her.

"Um, no..." I murmur glancing discreetly toward Edward. His anger is practically palpable.

"They butt heads," Mrs. Cullen attempts to salvage it, looking from Rosalie to Edward as her expression turns steadily anxious.

"Not for long. I'm buying her out," Edward suddenly declares, picking up his utensils again and cutting into his meat.

Silence immediately befalls the room, the only sound the tinkering of silver on china as Edward continues eating, deliberately feigning oblivion.

"And you announce this right now?" Rosalie struggles to articulate, more than a little ruffled despite the definite edge to her voice.

"Bro, come on," Emmett appeals to him. "I know you've had a bad day today—"

"I've made up my mind," Edward interjects, completely nonchalant.

"I'm terribly sorry, Bella," Mrs. Cullen feels the need to apologize.

"It's—"

"Fine," Edward cuts me off, his voice soft before his hand drops to my knee below the table.

"This is a conversation better suited for another time, son," Doctor Cullen speaks up, frowning at Edward and looking unnervingly like him.

If Edward was blond they'd be virtual clones.

"And we have guests," Esme adds, smiling at me with evident guilt.

I immediately return it but there's no disguising the discomfort rapidly infecting everyone.

"Guest," Edward corrects his mother without severing his gaze from his meal, "but Rosalie didn't seem to get the memo."

"Oh, screw you, Edward," Rose snaps, appearing genuinely annoyed for the first time.

"Need I remind you two...?" Doctor Cullen begins, but throwing her napkin to her plate of half-eaten food, Rosalie angrily gets to her feet.

"I don't have to sit here and listen to this," she declares, shoving her chair back and storming from the room.

Emmett dutifully follows her with a quiet, wearied sigh, while Edward completely ignores them both.

"Edward..." Esme quietly complains, momentarily resting her forehead in her palm.

"You know what she's like but you invited her anyway," Edward speaks lowly, glancing up at his mother with accusation burning behind his eyes.

"I realize that, but she's still family." Releasing her breath she abandons whatever she was about to add and returns to her meal.

"Family..." Edward echoes bitterly, loud enough that his father hears him as well.

"Miss Swan," Doctor Cullen pipes up in an obvious effort to dispel all the awkwardness, "are you acquainted with a Mr. Crowley—"

"He's Bella's ex-boyfriend," Edward quickly interrupts, squeezing my knee beneath the table, his eyes overrun with obvious apologies.

I smile at him in return; it's all I'm really capable of.

"Oh, erm...he's the son of... never mind, then." Clearing his throat, Doctor Cullen returns to his meal with his ears turning beet red.

"It's fine," I reassure him, overlooking the words I just used.

Edward brings them to my attention by sliding his hand down my inner thigh, but with Rosalie now absent his mood has lifted by half, and this is despite the fact that something is definitely up with him. I'm beginning to suspect there's a lot more going on than just the fact they're at odds professionally.

. . .

Mrs. Cullen forgoes dessert, and serves coffee in the living room. This is when Edward turns quiet and broody, with his trademark frown back front and center. He sits beside me on one of the two matching sofas, clutching his empty cup—that he drank way too quickly as usual—and there's no denying the quiet discomfort his mother keeps directing toward him every so often.

Conversation from him is sparse. I'm forced to engage in it with his parents which is awkward at best.

After forty-five minutes of it I can't stand another second, and with the objective of throwing in the towel, I pull myself to my feet as politely as possible.

"I really should get going. Thank you for dinner, Mrs. Cullen. Doctor Cullen."

They both rise after me offering their pleasantries, while Edward leans closer to me and murmurs against my ear, "I'll be back in a moment." Then, planting his hand to my shoulder he turns and disappears up the staircase.

I nod blankly, watching him go, unsure whether or not I'm overreacting, or what the hell is even going on.

He's going to check in on Addie, I assure myself, taking a measured breath and talking myself out of overanalyzing every little action he makes.

"Bella, pleasure to meet you," Doctor Cullen says, taking my hand warmly in both of his before Mrs. Cullen wraps her arm around my shoulders and walks me to the door.

"I do apologize again for Rosalie," she says regrettably, looking genuinely pained.

I shake my head to placate her. "It's not your fault, Mrs. Cullen.

"Please call me—"

"I'll be back in a couple of hours to take Addie home," Edward suddenly informs his mother, cutting her off mid-sentence.

"Don't be ridiculous. She can stay the night," Esme insists.

Expelling a jaded breath, his frown deepens. "Are you sure?"

"Of course I am. See you soon, Bella dear," she says hastily before all but shutting the door on the both of us.

Scoffing to himself, Edward trains those intense eyes of his on me. "Are you angry?"

"At who?" I reply, gazing up at him with confusion.

"Never mind. Come on." Taking my hand he leads me stiffly away from the Dutch Colonial, and without another word, he follows me into my apartment block, and up the flight of stairs.

His silence is deafening.

"Do you want to come in?" I offer, second-guessing myself as I wrangle my keys from my purse.

He almost manages a smile and nods his head, and with a small discreet sigh, I unlock my door and step inside with him close behind.

"Bella," he speaks up after a pause, sounding as troubled as he appears.

"Hmm?" I ask, glancing at him over my shoulder even as my heart threatens to stall.

"I..." he breaks my gaze and drops his to the floor with his brow heavily furrowed, "I need to tell you something."

A/N: Thanks for reading, and you know your poison - review or lurk, it's all good.