Happy Sunday everyone! Alright so, I want to hear everyone's guesses. What is the connection between Bella and Aro? Let me know in the reviews. Enjoy!

Chapter Thirty-Seven

I stared at the garment bag that my twenty-five-thousand-dollar dress was sitting in. I've been staring at it for the past twenty minutes. I wasn't sure what to do with it or myself.

I was so consumed with staring at the dress that I actually jumped when my phone rang loudly. It was my mother; I had completely forgotten to call her after dress shopping. I quickly answered it.

"Hey mom."

"Hey baby. Did you find a dress?"

"Yeah."

"Was it the one you sent me a picture of?" She asked. "You looked so beautiful. I loved that dress."

"Yeah."

"What's wrong? You don't sound happy. Is everything okay?"

"I'm just… regretting letting your friend get it for me. It was so expensive."

"How expensive?"

I bit my lip a little before telling her. "Twenty-five thousand."

"Oh my god, you did not say twenty-five thousand did you?"

My eyes closed. "Yeah mom, I did. I tried to tell him I wanted a cheaper dress, but he wouldn't have it. He basically forced me to buy this one."

"Wait, you talked to him?"

"The dress shop wouldn't take his card without me verifying it. So I kind of had to talk to him to verify it. It was a whole thing."

"Damn it." She muttered. "Did he say anything about me?"

"All he really said was that I looked a lot like you," I said. "How long have you known him? Where do you know him from?"

"It doesn't really matter." She sighed heavily. "We just have to work out some sort of payment plan."

"Again, he wouldn't have it. I tried to offer but all he wanted in return was to have dinner with me."

"Shit. And let me guess you said yes."

"Well, yeah. The guy bought me a dress that is the price of a new car. I kind of had to." I said. "I didn't want to be rude."

"God damn it!" She yelled away from the phone. "I am going to kill him. And you. I don't want you two interacting with each other. Fuck!"

"Mom who is this man?" I said in a loud tone.

"It's really complicated," She snapped.

"If you're worried about me sleeping him, don't worry, I have Edward." At that precise moment, Edward walked into the apartment. He gave me a look as he heard me talk about him. I waved him off.

"Bella, I'm calling him. You're not having dinner with him and you're not interacting with him."

"Why are you snapping at me?" I asked. "I was just trying to be nice, I mean—,"

"No Bella," She snapped. "You don't understand anything. My relationship with this man is complicated."

"Jesus Christ is he my biological father or something?" I snapped sarcastically. "It's dinner. I'm not hooking up with him or—,"

"Don't get snippy with me. You're the one who messed up and didn't check to see how expensive the damn dress shop was."

"You know what, don't worry about it." I snapped. "Don't even worry about me anymore. Don't worry about a damn thing. I'm sorry I even asked you for help you're such a fucking piss-poor mother! I should've called my dad since he's been the only parent in my life!"

Before she could respond, I hung the phone up. Then, in a childish response, I threw the phone against the wall and watched it clatter to the floor, probably breaking.

"Hey," Edward said softly, rubbing my shoulders. "It's okay."

"No it's not! She freaked out on me!"

"I know." He said, kissing the back of my head. "It's fucked up. She's your mother and she shouldn't have been so aggressive."

"Yeah. I mean it's not my fault! I didn't know we were going to a fucking million-dollar dress shop! I mean why did your family take me there! Don't they know I'm poor!"

"I don't think they meant any harm. I know my mother wanted to buy the dress for you. I'm sorry this has happened. It wasn't meant to go like this."

After a silent moment of deep breathing, "I know."

"I will pay this guy back." He said. "I know you feel guilty, but you shouldn't. My family messed up and put you in an awkward position, but I can go ahead and take care of this, so you don't have to worry about it."

"No." I said shaking my head. "I'm going to have dinner with him and I'm going to figure out a payment plan."

"Okay, but I am going to help you because I do feel responsible for this situation," He kissed my cheek now. "What did you say this man's name was again? I think there was a typo in the text."

"He said his name was Aro Volturi. Weird name right?"

"Yeah, weird," He forced a chuckle, "And how does your mother know him?"

"She never said." I turned to him. "Why?"

"I actually know him."

"Really?" I said, my eyebrows raising as I turned to him. "How?"

"I've actually known him since I was about three. He's one of my father's clients. And a close family friend." He said. "My mom and his mom were the ones who got into that physical altercation because of his son jumping me with his friends."

"Oh my god, I've never heard this full story. What happened!" I asked. "And how are you guys still friends? I agree with what your mom did, but I wouldn't be friends with them."

Edward shrugged. "Aro and his wife saw the video of Felix and his friends attacking me, and they had no choice but to be my mother's side. My dad dropped charges and his wife dropped charges on my mom."

"That's insane," I shook my head. "Well, I'm having dinner with him tonight."

"Hm, do you mind if I join you two? I haven't seen him in years."

"I don't care," I said. "But don't make it awkward. This guy bought me a twenty-five-thousand-dollar dress, I kind of owe him big."

"Yeah, see now I'm one hundred percent going to pay him off." He said as he gave my rear a firm squeeze. "I don't like my girl owing anybody."

I rolled my eyes. "Shut up and just drive me. We're going to be late."

The restaurant Aro asked me to meet him at was very fancy. I was glad I wore the dress Alice picked out for me for Edward's welcome home party.

He was sitting at a nice table in a darker, quieter part of the restaurant. He smiled widely when he saw me. His smile didn't even waiver when he spotted Edward.

"Bella I am so glad you came out to meet me," Aro said as he patted me on the shoulder. "And Edward, I had no idea you were her boyfriend. I haven't seen you in years."

Edward chuckled. "Yeah. Long time no see."

"What a small world," Aro chuckled as he sat.

"I hope you don't mind me bringing him, but as soon as I told him your name he knew you." I said as I sat.

"Well that's just fine," Aro said. "You look lovely tonight."

"Thank you." I smiled tightly. "So, I have to say, my mother is very upset that we're having dinner together. She didn't want us to have any interaction. I feel kind of awkward being here."

He sighed heavily, shaking his head. "Your mother is very… stubborn."

"How do you two know each other again?"

"Later, later. It's such a complicated story." He said. "I'd loved to get to know you first." He looked at Edward. "And I'd like to know what you've been up to my boy. I haven't seen you since you were what, like thirteen?"

"Yeah, the year that Felix jumped me. I think that was the last time we saw each other, in the principal's office."

Aro made a face. "Yes, that was an unfortunate time."

"You don't have to tell me, I was the one with the broken nose." Edward laughed. "How is Felix doing anyways? Last I heard he was uh, doing work down in Thailand."

"Yes, he was there for a while trying to get things in motion, but it just couldn't work out for him." Aro sighed. "Let's not talk about Felix, I think the rumors you've heard are quite true and I'd rather not dive into my son's many mishaps."

Edward shrugged. "Sorry, just making conversation."

"It's fine, I'd just really love to get to know Bella," He said, turning to me. "So, what are you doing with your life? Do you work?"

"Wow, coming in really hot before the food even gets here," I joked awkwardly. "Um, right now I'm an RN, I'm working at a men's correctional facility." I discreetly looked at Edward.

Edward caught my glimpse and smiled unashamed. "Yeah that's where Bella and I met. I'm sure you heard about my little mishap."

"Yes, that was very unfortunate. I'm sorry things played out as they did," Aro said, with a nod. "But, it seems as though things have worked out for you."

Edward wrapped an arm around my shoulders. "It really did."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, I guess it did. 'Course, now I gotta put up with you full time."

Edward chuckled and kissed my cheek. "You know you like it."

Aro smiled widely. "You two certainly seem content with one another."

"He's alright," I chuckled with a shrug.

"So, tell me more about yourself." Aro asked me.

"Well, besides being a nurse, I am in school. I'm trying to become a nurse practitioner. That's kind of why I took the job at the prison because it's a paid internship and it'll fast track me towards nurse practitioner."

"And what specialty are you studying for?"

"Hmm, that's a hard one." I said. "I just started school, so I have some time to think about it before I have to decide. But I guess I working in gynecology or neonatology would be interesting. I thought about oncology, but what I really enjoy about nursing is saving people's lives. That's really hard to do in oncology."

He nodded. "I see. So, it sounds like you've done extremely well for yourself."

I shrugged. "Yeah, I'm getting there."

"And how are you adjusting to New York?"

"New York is great. I really like the city. Most parts of it anyways."

The waiter came over, looking somewhat nervous. He smiled at Aro.

"It's nice to see you this evening, sir," he said. "What may I get for you?"

"I am not overly hungry at the moment," Aro looked at Edward and I, "Would you kids mind if we just ordered all of the appetizers and picked?"

"Oh sure," I nodded, looking at the long list of appetizers, "That's fine with me. I'm not terribly hungry either."

"Just order that bacon wrapped shrimp and I'm good." Edward said.

Aro laughed. "Ah, so it's you that calls every Wednesday and orders the bacon wrapped shrimp." He said.

Edward blushed. "Yeah, it's really fucking good."

"You know you can come in and eat. You don't have to sneak," Aro looked up at the waiter, "Please just bring us all of the appetizers, Italian style."

"Of course sir," The waiter asked, "If you don't mind me asking, what is Italian style?"

Aro's head turned sharply, his kind expression souring. "You don't know what Italian style means? The term should be used often enough in the restaurant that you have picked it up."

The waiter's face seemed to pale rapidly. "I-uh-I'm—,"

"I don't know what it means," I said quickly to Aro. "Could you explain it to me please?"

"An Italian style dinner means there are seven courses served, all with a certain style of food in mind." Aro said sweetly to me. "I'm shocked your mother never explained this to you. She's very familiar with these types of dinners."

"I will tell the kitchen straight away," The waiter said quickly. "Sorry for my incompetence."

"Forgiven. Just don't let it happen again," Aro said. The waiter turned to leave but Aro grabbed his arm quickly. The waiter jumped and turned to him. "Bring us a bottle of red wine from the JJ Buckley collection."

Once the waiter left, Edward looked at Aro, "Feeling on the cheap side tonight?"

Aro chuckled. "I hate to admit it, but yes. I've grown quite fond of the Buckley collection. It makes me feel like a young man again."

"How cheap is cheap?" I asked. "Because I feel like all of our definitions of cheap are different."

"His cheapest wine runs five hundred." Edward told me.

My eyebrows raised. "Aro, I have to say, as much as I appreciate you buying me the dress and taking me to dinner, all this money being spent on me makes me uncomfortable. I know you and my mother are friends, but I can't imagine you spending this much on a friend's kid."

"Well, your mother and I go way back." He said.

"How far back?" I asked. "She's not very happy I'm coming out with you. So, something must be going on between you two."

He shrugged. "The relationship your mother and I is extremely complicated. And I fear if you knew our connection, you'd be very angry with her and with me. I have waited so long to meet you and I don't want to… well, I just don't want to not be able to see you anymore if you become angry with me as well."

My eyebrows furrowed. "What kind of connection do we share?"

"Holy shit," Edward said, staring at Aro with wide eyes. "That rumor is true."

Aro turned his head sharply to Edward. "Quiet."

I looked at Edward now. "What rumor?"

"Please!" Aro said. "Please Edward, just leave this between Bella and I, I will tell her."

"Then I can leave and wait in the car," Edward said as he started to stand. I grabbed his arm.

"Please don't leave," I said. "Please stay."

He smiled softly at me. "Alright I'll stay, for you."

He grabbed my hand under the table and kissed my cheek. I gave him a smile before looking at Aro.

"Alright, tell me now."