This is more a filler chapter than anything else, so it might be kind of repetitive. I'm not sure. Next week, things are better.

It was odd lying in bed the next morning and hearing my parents chatting in the other bedroom. Something about their presence stopped Carlisle from wanting to wrap himself around me like he usually did, and he had opted for holding my hand under the blankets instead. I squeezed his fingers and forced myself to sit up; I couldn't ignore them for much longer, no matter how appealing it might seem. With a sigh, I slid out of bed.

Despite the fact we'd been together for months, I was still nervous when Carlisle was in the room and I needed to pick clothing. It was ridiculous; I certainly had no problem getting undressed in front of him. But every inch of me hated it, and I didn't want him to watch the OCD process I went through every time I picked clothes.

Usually, he respected that and left, but he obviously didn't want to be alone in a room with my father, and I certainly wasn't about to kick him out and make him. "What's wrong?" he asked, seeing my expression.

"I'm just…nervous," I told him awkwardly, confused as to why having a cute boy sitting on my bed was an issue.

"About?" He reached for my hand, intertwining our fingers and pulling me to sit on the bed next to him.

"…I have to get dressed…"

"Sadly, yeah," he agreed, laughing to himself.

"…I've never done that in front of you…"

"Garrett, do you remember how many times I've seen you naked? I won't look, if it upsets you that much." He was trying to tease me, but genuine concern was ebbing in, resulting in a gentle kiss.

"Yeah, but…I'm…fussy." It seemed like the best word, without blatantly telling him I was fucking insane.

"I know." Bringing our lips together, he hugged me. "I can go, if you're too anxious?"

I shook my head, feeling all kinds of stupid and guilty. "Stay…just don't laugh…" I told him, my voice muffled by his clothing. I was such a fucking idiot.

"I wouldn't laugh at you, Garrett," he assured me, kissing my neck. "But let's not give your parents the wrong idea?"

Groaning, I just wandered back toward my closet, overly thankful that Carlisle made a point of focusing on his phone and not watching me. I eventually pulled on a shirt and wriggled back into my jeans from yesterday, feeling a bit sick. My knees were a little wobbly, but I felt a little better with my boyfriend holding my hand. I was such a fucking idiot.

"Are you okay, Garrett?" he murmured to me, gently collecting my face in his hands and placing a kiss on my lips.

Sliding my arms around his waist, I nodded, feeling a little better after the intimacy. "Yeah. I'm okay."

"Love you." He stepped back to hold my hand, slowly leading me out into the hallway. Nerves were bubbling under the surface of his calm demeanour, and I felt bad for being selfish and wrapped up in my own worries when he was the one having to face my ass of a father.

Mum was already drinking coffee when we came into the kitchen, and we both breathed a sigh of relief to see that dad wasn't present. Carlisle quickly offered to make breakfast so I could have some time with my mother, and I knew that having something to do would calm him a bit. The request of pancakes was made, and he smiled in relief.

It was nice being with my mother, and she chatted easily to both me and Carlisle. All my anxieties from earlier had dissolved, and the tension in Carlisle's shoulders had relaxed. He set the food on the table, and we all sat down to eat. I felt the warmth of my boyfriend's arm surround my waist, and he leant his head against me shoulder. I kissed his forehead and leaned my cheek on the top of his head. Mum was hiding a smug smile.

"You boys are cute together," she told me, smiling in the proud way only mothers could.

Before I could respond, my father interrupted. "I beg to differ," he grumbled, sitting himself at the table across from me. "I thought you were leaving last night?" His eyes were focused on Carlisle.

He quickly sat up and jerked away from me, ceasing any contact between us. The blatant panic on his face made my heart sink.

"It's okay," I whispered to him, rubbing his leg and squeezing his fingers when he threaded them through mine.

"Carlisle made breakfast, love, isn't that nice?" my mother asked, trying to get dad to warm up.

His frown only deepened. "At least he is good for something."

"Dad," I hissed at him, fuming already. I'd thought we'd gotten passed this, and I certainly couldn't stomach him attacking Carlisle again.

"It's fine, Garrett," my boyfriend told me quickly, ducking his head and drawing into himself. If he freaked out in front of my father, I knew dad would never let him forget it, so I quietly tried to calm him down again. "He doesn't have to try it…"

I sighed angrily, wrapping my arm around his shoulders and pulling him into my side. My glare was intimidating enough to drive my father to shoving a mouthful between his lips, but he didn't drop his stare from Carlisle.

Silently having a complete meltdown, Carlisle was squirming uncomfortably next to me, hyperventilating. His breath kept catching in his throat and he was biting his lip to keep from making any sound. I just hoped he wouldn't cry. Not until dad was gone.

No one knew how to break the tense silence. I wasn't sure how to apprehend my father for bullying my boyfriend when he wasn't saying anything, and this time my brother wasn't there to distract him.

"It's passable," he said shortly. "Maybe you'll be a good enough wife for my son one day."

"Dad."

He grunted once in annoyance.

Everyone finished their meals in silence, except for Carlisle, who was only managing tiny mouthfuls as his cheeks burnt.

I let out a heavy sigh of relief when they announced that they'd better be going again; the sooner my father was away from Carlisle, the better.

"It was good to see you again, sweetheart," she murmured, pulling him into a hug. "Thank you for coming to meet us again." Kissing his cheek, she squeezed his hand as he risked a nervous glance up at her.

Dad was stiff, and the pleasant expression he tried to master was more a grimace. Words seemed to get stuck in his mouth, but he eventually came out with: "I'll see you at Christmas, Carlisle."

.

.

"At least he called me by my name this time?"

For the last half an hour, Carlisle had been diligently trying to convince me not to be resentful toward my father. It wasn't working, and I was still bitter as fuck that he'd done that again. Granted, it been a little better.

"I'm sorry, I should be the one making you feel better," I sighed. He was sitting on the arm of the couch beside me, and I wrapped my arms around his waist. When I pulled him, he fell into my lap, laughing as he ended up tangled in me. I kissed the side on his face and leant my head against his shoulder. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Gar, you're acting like he beat the shit out of me," he teased, bringing our lips together.

"I guess he did unofficially invite you to family Christmas," I grumbled. "Although I would have dragged you along anyway."

"Hmm…" Immediately the subject made him uncomfortable, so I dropped it, hugging him instead.

Something else was bugging me, though. "I saw Edward the other day," I told him.

His reaction was almost the same as last time, and he was suddenly hesitant and a little pink. "Ah…yeah?"

I laughed at his expression, bringing our lips together. "He said you didn't want to be one of the groomsmen at his wedding?"

He quickly shook his head, his eyes widening. "Weddings really aren't my thing…I'll projectile vomit if he makes me stand in front of everyone. I know they'll all be looking at Bella, but still…" Even just talking about it, I could tell it made him feel weird.

I couldn't resist another jab, though. "He said you'd look cute in a suit, too."

"I'm going to fucking murder Alistair for telling you I used to like him," he grumbled, rolling his eyes. "I'm going to have to keep you two separate from now on."

"Oh? You've got something else to tell me, then?" I teased, shifting so that he was sitting beside me rather than on me, his legs across my lap and my hand on his thigh.

"Only that I love you?" Tangling his fingers in the collar of my shirt, he pulled me down for a kiss.

"That was cheesy," I accused, laughing and shaking my head at him.

"True, though." Another kiss. "I'm taking you with me, by the way. I'm not going to a wedding without you with me."

"I haven't been invited, Carlisle, you can't drag me in there unannounced." Weddings were fun and all, but I wasn't about to gate-crash a couple's perfect day.

"Alistair is bringing his partner." His smug smile had me chuckling as he tried to dig his flatmate a hole.

I knew he was baiting me, but in all honesty, the gossip was too hard to resist. "Partner, huh? When did that happen?"

He shrugged. "A couple of months ago. I thought they were just fucking for fun, until 'I love yous' came into it."

"So they're serious, then?" I hadn't realised Alistair's happiness meant so much to me until this moment, but I found myself smiling at the thought of him having someone to come home to, seeming as I stole Carlisle pretty much every night. Perhaps that's why he could tolerate me now.

"God only knows with Alistair, but he seems to like the boy, at least."

"Why am I only hearing about this now?" I whined, childishly wanting in on the drama. Maybe I'd have been better off a teenaged girl. So much for being an adult male.

Carlisle obviously didn't care for it all that much. "Because I didn't think you'd care? You two don't even like each other?"

"I think we've been getting along just fine." Running my fingers through his hair, I brushed it off his face, condescendingly kissing his forehead. "In fact, I think you might even consider us friendly."

He groaned and rolled his eyes, shoving my shoulder lightly. "That's terrifying." Apparently, we both knew there was no way he was going to catch a break with the two of us teamed up together. "Maybe I'll have to start hanging out with Eleazar."

As much I knew I'd get endless shit if they did decide to get together, the thought of my boyfriend being comfortable enough to spend time with my brother was something that warmed my heart. I hoped they'd get to that point one day; Carlisle was still far too nervous to be that closely involved with my family. "You're winning them over, you know," I murmured, rubbing his leg. "Mum and Carmen love you to bits, and Eleazar likes you too."

"Just not your dad," he mumbled, shy suddenly.

"We'll get there, Carlisle," I promised.