Edward liked to think of himself as an attentive son, a loyal friend, and a considerate lover. But at this moment, all of that felt like a bold-faced lie. He was most certainly not paying attention to his mother right now. Her voice floated over the speaker in soft, soothing tones, but the words themselves were a blur. She was trying to convey something... Prudence? Hope? He wasn't sure. Forgiveness? No, that wasn't it either.

"Will you at least think about it, Edward, dear?!" she asked, her exasperation cutting through the haze in his mind.

Huh? Oh, right. He was supposed to be answering. His fingers shifted, loosening their hold on the blunt between them. He exhaled a slow stream of smoke, letting his head fall back against the armrest of the sofa. His eyes drifted lazily to one of the many tapestries strung up on the wall; rich, intricate weaves of reds, golds, and blues. They blurred together in the dim light of his apartment, almost pulsating in rhythm with the low hum of the music playing faintly in the background.

"I will, Mom. For sure," he muttered, the words sluggish but passable. "I'll call you back. I've got another call coming through."

A heavy sigh crackled over the line. He could almost picture her shaking her head, a weary frown tugging at her lips.

"Sure. I love yo-"

The line cut off before she could finish. Edward groaned, letting the phone slip from his fingers onto the cushion beside him. His free hand drifted downward, threading through the dark brunette strands gathered against his lap. Silky and soft, her hair spilled over his thighs like ribbons of velvet, wrapping around his fingers as if tethering him in place. His hips jerked involuntarily when he felt the back of her throat tighten around him, and the smooth, wet heat of her mouth was almost enough to send him spiraling.

He brought the blunt back to his lips with his unoccupied hand, taking another long drag before pressing the back of his hand lazily against his forehead. The smoke curled upward in a serpentine wisp, catching in the golden glow of the nearby lamp.

"Your fucking mouth, Bella," he groaned, his voice rough, almost reverent. "Fuck."

She pulled back then, his length sliding out of her throat with a sinful wet pop. Her lips glistened as she smirked, wiping the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand.

Rolling her eyes, Bella crawled up his body, the heat of her barely-clad figure brushing against his, leaving a trail of tingling sensations in her wake. She straddled his waist with ease, her thighs warm and firm against his sides. "It'll be the end of you," she teased, a playful glint in her dark eyes.

Edward chuckled breathlessly, his hands instinctively finding her hips. "It'll be a sweet death, my love."

Her smirk widened. "It would be," she murmured, rocking her hips ever so slightly against his arousal. "But I'm not done with you yet."

Edward's head tipped back against the sofa, a pained whimper escaping him as his gaze flickered longingly toward the neglected desk across the room. Papers were scattered across its surface, the glowing screen of his laptop silently mocking him. "I really should get back to work," he admitted, though the words held no conviction.

Bella shifted her hips again, more deliberately this time, and the friction sent a shiver racing up his spine. Her thin thong did little to dull the sensation as she ground against him, the movement both teasing and torturous.

"Ugh, I know, I know," she said, feigning impatience. Her voice softened, dipping into a sultry plea as she leaned forward, her cascading curls brushing feather-light over his bare chest. She pressed a lingering kiss to the sharp edge of his stubbled jaw, the further down and against his pulse point. He groaned. "But can't you spend your oh-so-lucrative afternoon making your very pretty, very desperate girlfriend cum instead?"

Edward's fingers tightened instinctively on her hips, his breath hitching as she moved against him again. Her lips trailed to his cheek, pressing a soft, almost innocent kiss there.

"Please," she whispered, her voice breaking just enough to send a jolt of heat straight to his core. She rocked against him again, her movements slow, deliberate, and maddening. "If you ask me," she purred, brushing her mouth against his ear, "that would be a much better use of your time."

A deep groan rumbled in his chest as his grip on her hips grew firmer, his resolve crumbling by the second.

"You always get what you want, don't you?" he rasped, his lips twitching into a crooked smile.

Her responding laugh was soft and breathy, her lips finding his in a kiss that started slow but quickly deepened, her tongue sliding against his in a way that made him groan low in his throat. His rough hands gripped her hips, guiding her movements as she rocked against him, her warmth pressing into him in all the right ways.

"Shit," he muttered against her lips, his voice thick with need. She hummed in response, her hands sliding up his chest, nails grazing over his skin as she pushed herself harder against him.

"Edward," she whispered, her tone teasing but desperate. "Please…"

He grunted, flipping her onto her back on the couch. His hand slid down her side, catching on the waistband of her thong as he kissed his way down her neck. Bella's fingers tangled in his hair, her breaths coming faster as his lips trailed lower. A satisfied smile tugging at her lips.

"Make it quick," she gasped, not entirely meaning it, arching into him, thrilled as his hands parted her thighs with no resistance.. "I know you've got work to do-"

"Will you the fuck up up?" he bit against her skin, his teeth grazing her collarbone. "Let me focus."

She sighed contently as his fingers tugged at her underwear. Marvelling at the soaked fabric, tracing his fingers gently over her sensitive slit.

"How attached are you to these?" He murmured hotly into her neck, nose snuggling the throbbing vein jumping out at him. He kissed it desperately, waiting for an answer as he ground his hips into her thigh.

"N-Not at all." She stuttered, eyes rolling back into her head as he tore them with a definitive rip.

It didn't take long, Edward's skilled hands and mouth had her unraveling beneath him, her cries muffled against his shoulder as her body shuddered in release. He smirked as he kissed her, slow and lingering, before collapsing beside her on the couch.

As their breathing evened out, she watched fingers idly trace patterns over his chest. "So, what did your mom want?" She inquired, her tone light but curious.

Edward sighed, brushing a strand of her hair from her face. "She wants me to go to some family thing. Something about mending fences or… I don't even know."

Bella raised an eyebrow, propping herself up on her elbow to look at him, her thigh slid easily over his waist, which he grabbed instantly, tugging her forward into him. "Mending fences? With who?"

He shrugged, his gaze drifting back to the tapestry on the wall. "Probably my dad, we've had our struggles. Or Tanya. She's been pushing for us to talk ever since…" He trailed off, his jaw tightening.

Bella frowned, resting her chin on his chest, peppering it with kisses in between words, desperate to not let their quiet little moment end. "And are you going?"

He sighed again, running a hand through his hair. "Maybe. But honestly? I don't want to see any of them, I'd rather spend my time here… With you." Bella could swear his face and neck flushed pink at his nervous omission.

She kissed his chest. "Good answer. But… maybe you should go. It might help."

Edward groaned, covering his face with his hand. "Why do you always have to be so reasonable?"

"Because I know you," she said simply, her smile widening. "And because I know you'll feel better if you go."

He peeked at her from between his fingers, green eyes sparkling. "Maybe you're right." He sighed deeply, his chest rumbling. "Fuck. It'll be awful. I can't handle the pleasantries."

"You've got this babe." She whispered gently into his skin, breathing him in deep. "Now, go finish your work."

He groaned but pulled himself off the couch, giving her one last lingering kiss before heading toward his desk, his hand lingering on her cheek for just a tad longer than he should.

Bella scans her boyfriend as he pads across to it, the faint sound of his chair creaking as he settles in. She stretched out across the couch, lazily running her fingers through her hair. The apartment was quiet except for the soft clacking of Edward's keyboard and the low hum of music, some nonsense he chose a couple of hours ago.

For a while, she was content to scroll aimlessly on her phone, but it didn't take long for boredom to creep in. She sighed, drumming her fingers on her bare thigh. Her eyes flicked to the coffee table, where Edward's lighter and grinder sat, and a small smile tugged at her lips.

Sliding off the couch, she padded quietly to the coffee table and picked up the grinder, weighing it in her hand. Empty. She frowned, then glanced toward Edward, who was engrossed in whatever he was working on.

"Babe," she called softly, her voice laced with playful intent.

"Hmm?" he murmured distractedly, not even glancing up.

"Where's your stash?"

That got his attention. His fingers paused over the keyboard, and he turned to look at her, one eyebrow shotting up in amusement. "You're seriously gonna light up while I'm working?"

She shrugged, grinning, twirling the grinder in her hands, a pout poking her lips. "You're working, I'm bored. Besides, you're the one who said you needed me to chill out more."

Edward rolled his eyes but gestured toward a small cabinet under the TV. "Top shelf. Don't touch the good stuff."

Bella chuckled, already on her way to the cabinet, hips swaying devilishly. "You mean the stuff you hoard like it's liquid gold? Yeah, yeah, I'll leave it alone."

Pulling open the cabinet, she crouched down and rummaged through the neatly organized jars and rolling papers. Edward was surprisingly meticulous about his stash; each jar labeled in his neat handwriting. She found a jar labeled Skywalker OG and beamed, an end to her boredom. "This'll do."

Grabbing the jar, she moved back to the coffee table and started packing a bowl. As she worked, her eyes wandered to the shelves near the TV, lined with books, vinyl records, and a small collection of DVDs. She tilted her head, curious. Edward didn't seem like much of a movie collector; most of their nights in involved streaming whatever caught their attention, forgetting it was on, and fucking like starved animals over every surface in this apartment.

Bowl packed, she set it aside and wandered to the shelves. Her fingers trailed over the spines of the DVDs, pausing on a copy of The Shining. "Of course," she muttered with a smirk. Classic Edward.

She kept looking, pulling out titles at random. Old horror flicks, a few comedies, and an oddly pristine copy of The Notebook. She held that one up, glancing over her shoulder. "This yours or an ex's?"

Edward didn't look up, but she could hear the smirk in his voice. "Gift from Emmett. Long story."

Snorting, Bella slid the movie back into place and kept browsing. Her fingers paused on a worn, unlabeled case tucked in the back corner. Intrigued, she pulled it out and flipped it open. Inside was a blank DVD with ROAD TRIP '09 scrawled across it in faded marker.

"What's this?" she asked, holding it up.

Edward turned, his brow furrowing. When his eyes landed on the case, he groaned. "Where did you find that?"

"Back here with your horror collection," she teased, wiggling it at him. "Can I watch it?"

He hesitated, a sheepish look crossing his face. "Uh... sure, but fair warning, it's embarrassing as hell."

"Perfect."

That only made her more curious. She popped the DVD into the player and grabbed the packed bowl before settling back on the couch. As the screen flickered to life, she took a deep inhale, the familiar burn settling in her chest before she exhaled a slow, steady stream of smoke.

The screen showed a shaky handheld camera and the unmistakable sound of Emmett's loud laughter and Edward's slightly boyish charmed face. Maybe nineteen or twenty with deep red hair, chuckling at the camera. "Oh, this is gonna be good," Bella said, grinning as she leaned back into the cushions.

Edward groaned from his desk, but when Bella started laughing at whatever ridiculous scene unfolded, he couldn't help but glance over, a small smile tugging at his lips despite himself.

Over an hour had passed, and Bella wiped a tear from her eye, still laughing as the credits of the homemade DVD rolled. "I don't know what you're embarrassed about," she said, glancing over at Edward, who was still hunched over his desk typing furiously. "That was amazing. Emmett on that tire swing? Priceless."

Edward shook his head but couldn't fight the small grin off. It was a great trip, for the most part, he was in his youth, with his friends. "Yeah, well, it's less amazing when you're the one who had to deal with his broken arm afterward."

Bella chuckled, standing up and stretching. Her naked, lean body in full view. Green eyes watched her manoeuvre herself in the reflection of his laptop, wetting his bottom lip as he admired the many hickeys. "Still worth it."

She glanced at her phone, noting the time. Her smile faltered slightly. "Shit. I gotta get ready for work."

Edward's eyes flicked up from his screen, his brow furrowing. "Already?"

"Yeah." Bella grabbed her bag and headed to the bathroom to freshen up. When she emerged a few minutes later, she was dressed in her usual work attire, her hair tied back in a loose ponytail. She looked over at Edward, who was still focused on his laptop, his fingers moving swiftly across the keyboard, though she desperately wanted them around her throat again. Her thighs clenched as she strode across the carpet.

"Jess is picking me up," she said, sliding her phone into her pocket. "She should be here any minute."

Edward nodded absently, muttering something that sounded like an acknowledgment, but Bella could tell he was deep in whatever project he was working on. She smiled softly, crossing the room to stand beside him.

Leaning down, she placed her hands on the back of his chair and kissed his temple, her lips lingering for just a moment. "Don't work too hard," she whispered, her voice soft against his skin.

Edward turned his head, his eyes meeting hers. His expression softened, and he reached up, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Call me when you're done, I'll come and get you."

"I'm a big girl, pretty sure I can make it home on my own." Edward rolled his eyes and slid the chair back, tugging her onto his lap, his arms circling her waist.

"Well, maybe I like picking you up. It'll be late." He argued defensively. She leant her temple against his and patted his lap, standing once more. Sensing her tension he sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Just be safe, okay?"

"I always am," she replied, smiling as she leaned in to press a quick kiss to his lips.

"Good girl." he murmured, sending a shock straight to her core. Bella gulped.

The sound of a car horn outside broke the moment, and Bella sighed, grabbing her bag. "That's Jess. I'll text you when I'm on break."

"Don't forget," he said, watching her head toward the door.

She threw him a playful grin over her shoulder. "I never do."

And with that, she was gone, leaving him alone in the quiet apartment. He stared at the closed door for a moment before turning back to his laptop, the faint trace of her perfume lingering in the air around him. It's as if she sucked all the warmth once she'd closed the door, taking all of the sunshine with her.

Edward sat in the stillness of his apartmen. His fingers hovered over the keyboard, his work completely forgotten.

With a long exhale, he grabbed his phone from the edge of the desk, staring at the screen for a moment before scrolling to his mother's contact.

He tapped the call button, the line ringing twice before she picked up.

"Edward?" Esme's voice was gentle, tinged with a hint of surprise. "I wasn't expecting to hear from you so quickly."

He ran a hand through his hair, leaning back in his chair. "Yeah, well… I figured I should call back. I kind of… tuned out earlier."

She laughed softly, the sound like a soothing balm, familiar and warm. "I noticed. I appreciate the call, though. It means a lot."

He cleared his throat, leaning forward and resting his elbow on the desk. Mind spiralling with nerves, "So… I've thought about it, but I want more information."

There was a pause on the other end, a faint shuffling of papers, as if she were collecting her thoughts. "Brilliant. As you know, it's about your father's retirement party. We have a guest list of nearly one hundred people, all wanting to share this moment for him. You know it's coming up soon. It's a big deal for him - and for me - that you're there, Edward."

His jaw tightened, the familiar tension creeping into his chest. "Mom, you know how things are with Dad. We barely talk. And when we do, it's…" He let the sentence hang in the air, unfinished but understood, his hand waved in front of him to an invisible audience. Trying to convey his point.

"I know," she said softly, her voice heavy with the weight of years spent as a mediator. "But that's why this is important. It's a chance for the two of you to reconnect. He's trying, Edward. He really is."

Edward let out a bitter scoff, though it lacked conviction. "He has a funny way of showing it."

"I'm not saying it's going to be easy," she admitted softly, always trying to be the peacekeeper. "But sometimes you have to be the bigger person. For family."

He rubbed his temples, the guilt clawing at him despite his frustration. "You're really laying it on thick, Mom."

"Because it matters," she replied, her voice firm but not unkind. "Will you come?"

Edward hesitated, his gaze drifting to the blank wall across from him. The idea of sitting through a night of polite small talk and awkward silences with his father made his stomach churn, along with the family that are sure to show up. But an idea struck him, and he leaned forward, gripping the phone a little tighter.

"I'll go," he said slowly, "but on one condition."

Esme sounded intrigued. "What's that?"

"I want to bring someone with me."

There was a moment of silence, and he could almost hear the wheels turning in her head. "Oh?" she said finally, her tone carefully neutral. "And who might that be?"

Edward hesitated, a small smile tugging at his lips as he thought of Bella. "Just… someone I've been seeing," he shifted, keeping it deliberately vague.

"You've been seeing someone? Edward, you didn't tell me you were dating."

"It's still kind of new," he admitted, leaning back in his chair, cringing as it squeaked. "But I'd like to bring her. If that's okay."

"Of course it's okay," Esme said warmly. "I'd love to meet her. What's her name?"

Edward faltered, suddenly feeling like a teenager being interrogated. "Bella," he said finally. "Her name's Bella."

"I like it already." Esme hummed thoughtfully. "Well," Esme continued, "I'll make sure there's a seat for her. And Edward?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm glad you're coming. It means a lot to your father. And to me, we'd all love to see you."

He sighed, he knew they'd be grateful, the thought wasn't lost on him, but if he was going to make it bearable he refused to do it alone. "I'll try, Mom. But no promises about it going smoothly."

"I wouldn't expect anything less," she said with a laugh. "I'll send you the details soon."

They said their goodbyes, and Edward set the phone down, staring at it for a long moment. He knew bringing Bella was a gamble, but the thought of facing his family alone felt akin to torture. At least with her there, it might be tolerable. Maybe even… good.

You all are awesome for following this so far, but prepare for a little drama ahead. Don't forget to review :)