26

Edward was frustrated. Neither Bella nor Carlisle had reached out to him since Sam's call, and he knew they couldn't, either. They were the most important people to him, and losing either of them would be the end of him. Carlisle had given him the chance to find out who he really was. He'd always known he was gay, but Carlisle allowed him to explore his limits, see how far he wanted to take his sexuality. He needed to be dominated, needed to be controlled. But more than that, he needed Carlisle's tender love. The way he knew when he just needed to be held or cuddled, listened to him talk about his feelings without dismissing him for just being a kid.

It wasn't a secret to the people of Forks, Washington that his father was a violent drunk, who took his anger out on his mother. The whole fucking town looked the other way. He saw the way people looked at him, at her. The pity in their eyes. Even those who claimed to be his friends judged him, judged his mother. It was just one of the many reasons why he'd never been able to come out as gay. He didn't need anymore judgement.

Edward was startled when Esme's phone rang. She snatched it off the coffee table, her expression hopeful until she saw who was calling. "It's Peter," she told him before answering. "Hey . . . Yeah, I would say it's an emergency . . . Apparently they think Carlisle and Bella are having a teacher/student relationship . . . Yes, we think it's gross, too, Peter . . . Yep . . . Yeah . . . I know . . . Okay. Just hurry, all right . . . Thanks."

She ended the call, throwing her phone onto the couch before burying her face in her hands.

"What'd he say?"

"He's heading this way. He and Garrett were in Port Angeles dealing with the case against Bella's father. He said we should not contact either of them. Don't want to add fuel to the fire, and that we need to remember just because the road is rocky, that doesn't mean the journey isn't worth it."

"I don't know what to do, Esme. I really don't. It shouldn't be this hard."

"No, it shouldn't."

"Why do you love her?"

Esme's eyes widen. "Why do you?"

He grinned. "Because she's fucking awesome. I've always thought she was cool. Quiet, reserved, but cool, you know?"

She nodded.

"The day she walked in on me and Carlisle, I was sure she was going to tell everyone, that . . . that I would lose him. But she just . . . I don't know, Esme, she understood. And then that night, she texted me to meet at the locker room. Again, I thought she had told someone, that she . . . she was going to be like everyone else. Then she told me about you and suggested that we pretend to date. At first, I thought it was crazy, but she told me about her dad pushing her to date Jacob Black, and it just seemed like the solution to both our problems. We could pretend to be straight, and once we graduated, we could leave town with you and Carlisle and really start living our life. But it's starting to feel like no matter how hard we fight, there's someone who wants to drag us back down."

"Not if we don't let them," she said, shrugging. "I still think you and Bella should get married."

"How is that going to make people think there's nothing going on between her and Carlisle?"

"It won't. At this point, people are going to think what they think. But if you get married, stand together and don't let them pull you apart, the ones who really care about you, will come around."

"You and Carlisle are the only ones that really care about us."

Esme frowned. "Is it really that bad at school?"

He nodded. "They use faggot like it's an insult. Oh look at that faggot; that's so gay." He shook his head. "When we told our 'friends' that we were getting married, they assumed it's because I knocked her up. Like that's the only reason someone would want to marry her, Esme. And then this morning, they glared at her, blamed her for cheating on me." Edward rolled his eyes. "She's the most genuine person I've ever known, and they don't see it because she's quiet, because she fights back. Did you know that they make fun of Angela Webber for being a virgin?"

"Why?"

"Because they're assholes!"

Esme laughed.

"I mean, sex isn't something to just . . . do casually, right?"

"You're right."

"Carlisle never pushed me to do anything I wasn't ready for. He was so patient, even when I wanted him to push me a little harder, he made sure that I was ready for more."

"He's different with you," she whispered. "I've seen him with other guys, Edward, but he's never been so . . . tender with them. And I don't mean sexually, either. Just the way he knows what you need, when you need it." She moved so that she was seated next to him, sliding her hand over his. "I know you and I haven't really gotten to know each other well, but I'm here for you, too, Edward. Bella may be the love of my life, but you and Carlisle are my family."

"Thanks," he whimpered. "I love you, too, Esme."

Their attention was pulled to outside when they heard a vehicle approaching. Sharing a look, the two stood and hurried to the door. Esme opened it, and sighed when they found Carlisle climbing out of his truck. It was the first time Edward had ever seen him defeated, and it scared him.

"Where's Bella?" Esme asked.

"She's on her way," Carlisle said. "With Sam Uley."

Edward's eyes widened as he slowly walked onto the porch, sliding his arms around him. He buried his face against his neck, his lips finding contact where he could. Edward could feel his tears seeping down his back.

"Are you okay?" Edward whispered.

"No," he replied, leaning away. "I've been suspended pending an investigation."

"This is insane! You haven't done anything wrong."

"Well, I mean, I did. Just not with her." Carlisle shook his head. "Technically, they aren't wrong about me having what they call an inappropriate relationship with a student. They just have the wrong student."

"You . . . you think our relationship is inappropriate?" Edward whispered.

"No, but yes. I am your teacher, babe. But you're worth losing my job over."

"I am?" he asked, unable to keep from smiling.

"Yes," Carlisle chuckled. "I just wasn't prepared for any of this to happen."

"I don't think any of us were," Esme quipped, drawing their attention to her. "Peter and Garrett are on their way."

"Figured you'd call him."

"Didn't know what else to do."

"You did the right thing."

Once more their attention was drawn to the sound of a vehicle approaching, and when they turned, they found Sam Uley's Deputy truck pulling up behind Carlisle's. Bella threw the door open and jumped out, running up and throwing herself into Esme's arms, kissing every inch of her face she could.

"Hey, sweetheart, it's okay."

"It's not okay," she cried. "I hate this fucking town! I hate Mike fucking Newton!"

"I think we all hate Mike Newton right now," she said, holding her tight as Sam joined them. His eyes shifted to each of them, his expression unreadable.

Bella turned toward him. "We should go inside."

The five headed into the house. While Carlisle, Edward, Esme, and Bella squeezed into one sofa, Sam settled on the other. His eyes kept shifting between the four, probably trying to decide if they were worth fighting for or not.

"Well," he finally said, clasping his hands together. "What a clusterfuck of a day."

"No shit," the four muttered together.

"Be honest with me, Sam," Carlisle said. "Are you going to arrest me?"

"Not unless I have to," he admitted. "The pictures, while suggestive, don't prove anything other than you held her hand and hugged her. But this is a small town, and people . . . Well, they're dicks, so . . ."

"You know that there is nothing going on between me and her, though, don't you?"

"I do," he said, his head tilting to Edward. "But what about him?"

"What about me?"

"Bella told me everything, Edward."

His mouth opened as he looked at Bella. "You did?"

"Didn't have a choice, Masen."

"I don't care that you're gay, Edward."

He looked back at Sam. "You don't?"

"No," he scoffed. "Why would I?"

"Most people would."

"Well, I'm not most people," he replied. "Though, I will admit to being concerned about your relationship with Mr. Cullen."

"You're sitting in my living room, Sam. I think you can call me Carlisle."

"Okay."

"Yes, Edward and I are in a relationship, and I know that it's . . . toeing the line."

"Toeing the line, Carlisle? I think it's more than just toeing the line. He's a student, you're an educator."

"So? I'm eighteen. I'm an adult, Sam. He's not breaking any laws."

"No, he isn't. But it's still questionable."

"Look," Carlisle said, leaning his elbows onto his knees. "Making the choice to pursue him wasn't one I went into lightly. I swear, it wasn't. I beat myself up for even looking at him with lust. I tried to fight my feelings, tried to tell myself that I was just lonely," he whimpered, his lips trembling. "I know what it's like to be a teenager hiding who you really are because people won't understand. Not just your classmates, either, but your family. The people who are supposed love you no matter what, Sam. Esme was the only person who accepted me for me." He glanced at Edward before saying, "Even the other men I've been with didn't know the real me, but he does. He . . . he loves me, and I love him."

"I believe you," Sam said.

"You do?" Edward asked.

"I do," he laughed. "Legally, I don't see us having any grounds to press charges, but I can almost guarantee that the school board, Carlisle, are going to decide to terminate your employment."

"I don't care."

"How can you not care?" Edward asked.

"As long as I still have you, I don't care about my job, babe."

"Even if they make it impossible to get another job?"

"Maybe in the state of Washington, but there are forty-nine other states. They can't block me from all of them."

"So, you think we should leave town?" Bella asked. "Just runaway with our tails between our legs?"

"No, no, I don't. But . . ." Carlisle sighed as he turned toward Esme and Bella. "Honey, I don't know what else to do."

"I do." They turned toward Sam. "It may not save your job, but it might . . . distract suspension from some people at least."

"Okay, so what are you thinking?"

Sam exhaled. "Get married. Tonight. Go to Vegas."

"How is marriage going to help anything?" Bella asked. "We'd already planned on that."

"And I still think it's a valid option. But you can't live here with them anymore."

"Where are we supposed to live, Sam? I can't go back to my father's house. I can't!" Bella yelled.

"I know, Bella, I know," he said, putting his hands up. "Emily and I have a rental house in town. It's empty. I'm sure she wouldn't care about letting you and Edward live there until graduation."

"How does that make people think that Carlisle and I aren't involved?" she asked.

Sam smiled. "It won't. But . . . what if you and Carlisle were family?"

"I don't understand," Carlisle replied. "We aren't related."

"No, you're not, but nobody in Forks knows that."

"So what? He's my uncle or something?"

"Thinking more along the lines of a cousin. Age gap would make more sense." Sam leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees. "Nobody in Forks knows much about your mother, Bella. He could be from that side of your family."

Edward glanced at Bella, knowing her mother was a touching subject with her. Just as he expected, her jaw was clenched tight, and her eyes were filled with anger.

"Suppose that could work," she finally admitted. "Would that save his job?"

"We'd probably have to get some kind of documentation," he admitted. "And I don't know how we are going to manage that."

"Peter could."

Edward rolled his eyes as soon as the words left Carlisle's mouth. While he knew that Carlisle loved him and only him, he hated that they had to keep leaning on his ex-boyfriend to save the day.

"We could claim that my mother and Renee are sisters, that we never really met until Esme and I moved to Forks. I mean my family is all kinds of fucked up, and there are cousins out there that I've never really met. It's not that unheard of." He looked at Bella. "What do you think?"

"Would he do it? That's really toeing the law, don't you think?"

"I mean, maybe . . ." Carlisle shook his head, turning to Edward. "What do you think?"

"If that keeps you out of trouble, then I don't see what other choice we have."

Before anyone could say anything, they heard another vehicle approach. The five shared a look before Carlisle stood and walked to the door, opening it slowly. Edward saw his shoulders relax and a moment later, he stepped backward letting Peter and Garrett inside. They stopped when they saw Sam, Peter's eyes narrowing and Garrett placed his hand on the man's back, almost like he was ready to hold him back.

"I hope to hell you aren't interrogating my client without his attorney present, officer?"

"Of course not," Sam said, standing. "Just an ally trying to help them out of this little mess."

"An ally?" Peter asked, his eyes shifting between them. "Is that so?"

"Yes," Carlisle said, closing the door. "Sam is on our side, Peter, and he thinks he's come up with a solution, but we're going to need your help."

"Oh?" He raised an eyebrow, folding his arms in front of him. "And what is that?"

"Look, I may be an officer of the law, but Bella's been a part of my family for a long time," Sam said, placing his hands on his hips. "I've known her since the day she was born, watched her struggle with who she really was. Others may not have seen that she's a lesbian, but my wife and I did and it's never changed how we feel about her. And while I don't know Edward that well, only a complete jackass could deny that he and Carlisle have a very real, very special connection. I may not understand how as an educator he could allow himself to get involved with one of his students, but I'm not here to tear them apart. Edward deserves someone who loves him, and I can see that Carlisle does."

Edward bit the inside of his cheek to keep from grinning.

"I'm sure you are aware that Edward and Bella are planning to get married."

Peter nodded. "Think it's a dumb idea but haven't been able to talk them out of it."

"Well, I don't. I think they need to get married tonight, in Vegas."

"How is that going to make people think she's not fucking Carlisle?"

Bella gagged.

"It won't, but we were talking," Sam said, gesturing toward everyone, "that maybe Carlisle and Bella are cousins."

Peter's eyebrows shot up. "They aren't, are they?"

"No." Bella stood. "No, but nobody else knows that, do they?"

Peter nodded. "Guess not."

"Do you have a better idea?"

"No, can't say that I do," he admitted. "I can draft an affidavit that says you're related. Hopefully it will be enough."

"First things first, we need to get you two to Vegas and get you married," Sam said, clasping his hands together.

Edward sighed but nodded. "I guess we'd better get some flights booked."

Though he wasn't sure getting married would help, Edward was willing to do just about anything if that meant keeping his family together.

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