I wanna live on Beale Street...

My AWESOME co-blogger Meg is penning her own very amazing fic "Beale Street" and you can read it here on ff.net.  You can check out extras (pics n such) on her blog

The lovely RobsSwissMiss made her this prettyness....



xx

Edward's car - The BMW X5 (Black)

Sexy, no? ;)

Chapter 13: A guy like you & a girl like me

~*Bella*~

Finally freshly showered and dressed after Edward's impromptu visit, I made my way downstairs. I had only eaten an hour ago but my stomach was already grumbling for more. So without a second thought I decided to raid Alice's chocolate provisions. I swung open the fridge door, enjoying the small burst of cool air against my face and the quiet hum that greeted me. I eyed up the chocolate carefully before plucking a packet of Reese's Cups from the pile. I fucking loved peanut butter, especially with, in or on chocolate. I nudged the door shut with my shoulder before something sparkly caught my eye. I leaned in for a closer look. It was a list of emergency phone numbers for the babysitter. Adorning the top was the huge sparkly sticker that had piqued my interest. Alice loved to decorate, anything and everything, so the fact she'd prettied up a simple list of phone numbers didn't surprise me in the least.

As I fumbled with the chocolate wrapper I began casually scanning the list, curious to see who was on it. One Reeses Cup and seven names later I saw my own, along with my now old cell number. I felt a sudden pang of guilt bite at me for being such a shitty friend to someone who trusted me enough to take care of her children in an emergency. Guilt soon turned to surprise when I saw that directly underneath my name was Edward's. I ran my fingers lightly over his name, which had been written in Alice's fancy scribble, wondering if it would make him magically reappear in the kitchen. I'd been disappointed at his sudden hasty departure and had found myself wishing that he hadn't gone at all. I stared hard at his number, concentrating as I tried to rationalize things in my head. I barely knew the guy and yet the smallest thought of him made my stomach flip, my head spin and my heart pound furiously in my chest. I'd never felt like this before, not even for Jake. It wasn't unpleasant ….just…unfamiliar.

I snatched up my cell phone from the table, suddenly glad that Jasper had been nice enough to pick one up for me a few days after my surprise arrival. The day after, I'd called both my mom and my dad from the privacy of my room. Apologies were blurted out and explanations not given. I assured them both I was safe but only my dad knew that I was with Alice. If I'd told my mom and sworn her to secrecy, all it would take was one call from Jake with some sob story and she would have given him my exact whereabouts quicker than you can say cheating bastard.

I typed out a quick text and hit send. Sure enough, my phone chirped back at me. Thankfully he'd realized it was me. I wondered whether he'd mind that I'd taken his number from the list and used it without his permission. I made a note to ask him later and sent him back a swift reply. By the end of our quick yet insightful exchange, I'd been persuaded (in quite possibly the most adorable fucking way) into helping him shop for party decorations, and in turn I'd roped him into helping me out with the cake. Stuffing my phone into my jeans pocket, I left him to his hunt for the perfect moon bounce and threw on some flip flops. Locking up behind me, I started my lazy stroll to Alice's store.

I opened the door and the little bell chimed above my head. I giggled to myself. All was quiet so I yelled to make myself known. "Ali...? Are you here or did you get eaten by a Venus Fly trap?"

Her flustered little face appeared from behind the counter. "Finally! The store is a five minute walk from the house at most! What took you so long?"

I opened my mouth to speak, but she cut me off, leaving me gaping like a fish.

"On second thoughts, don't answer. Can you do puke duty at the birthday party?"

"Can I do what?"

"You know…watch out for any kids who look like they're gonna hurl on the moon bounce…"

"Uh….yeah I guess…"

She clapped her hands together with glee before sending a text, no doubt to Jasper. "Thank you Bells!!"

"Geez it's only projectile vomit, no need to get so excited."

She rolled her eyes and changed the subject. "It's been a while since you've been here."

I closed my eyes and breathed in the beautiful heady scents surrounding me. "I know…I'm sorry"

Alice had enrolled herself in an evening class at the local community center when the boys were just babies. She loved being a mom and spending time with them, but she was always such an extrovert - lively, exuberant & independent. She craved the company of other adults, and she missed indulging her artistic side. The class had been her creative outlet and week by week her flower arrangements became bigger, brighter and more elaborate. In just a year she had clipped, pruned and ribboned her way to becoming a qualified florist. That Christmas, Jasper's gift to her was the lease to a small store. She could work from home until the boys started school and daycare and her hours could suit the needs of her young family whilst still being Alice, and not just "mom". Jasper was giving her the best of both worlds.

I plucked a small but perfectly formed creamy rose from the nearest bucket. "It's amazing you know…..these flowers…the store…you"

She grinned sheepishly from behind the counter. "Come on, you can help me make up some arrangements"

I willingly followed her to the back of the store, aptly named "Heaven Scent", to where the "work room" resided. It was a warm day out so I'd come wearing just jeans and an old t-shirt but Alice had the air conditioner blasting out an arctic temperature and the cold air hit me like a skinny dip in a pool full of ice.

"W-why is-is is soooo fr-freak-freaking cold?"

She tutted, looking less than impressed at my apparent lack of plant care knowledge. "Because heat makes all the delicate flowers wilt and zaps out all of their moisture, so they need to be cool at all times."

"Oh. Ok. Like Johnny Depp?…" I sniggered at my own joke and got only Alice's best death stare in return.

"Alright, no more jokes. Where do I start? I mean, what are we making?" I rubbed my arms to try and regain some heat.

She grinned "We'll I'm going to do an arrangement for a baby shower."

"So I just have to stand here and be your glamorous assistant right?"

"Wrong! You get to snip."

I sighed and picked up the clippers "You always give me the boring stuff." I pouted like a sullen child.

"Shut up and snip, I'm trying to create here!"

Three huge arrangements, numerous balloons and a couple of hours later we were sitting in the little coffee shop across the road.

I took a sip of my vanilla latte and swirled the rich caffeine goodness around my mouth, savouring it.

"So, you and Edward…"

The unexpected mention of Edward and the nature of her question had caught me off guard.

I swallowed my coffee and gaped at her in shock. "What??"

"You and Edward….I think he likes you!"

I rolled my eyes, frustrated. Alice's glasses could be annoyingly rose tinted at times.

"Alice, in case you haven't noticed I'm all broken and bitter….dark and twisty! I'm not exactly a great catch, especially for a guy like Edward!"

"A guy like Edward? What's wrong with him?"

"There is absolutely nothing wrong with him - that’s my point! He's perfect! He should be dating Victoria's Secret models with boobs out to here and legs up to here!" I gestured wildly with my hands, over-exaggerating the size of said imaginary chest/legs.

"What on earth makes you say that?" Alice was looking at me, genuine curiosity sparkling in her eyes.

"Because the beautiful date the beautiful..." Alice cut me off sharply.

"And you don't think you're beautiful?"

"Would Jake have cheated on me with Leah and gotten her pregnant if I was? So no, I don't..."

Turtle Time With...Turtle

So my ladies have set up this blog and said that me and Pancake have our own page to fill up with stuff. That's pretty exciting. Well, I thought it was exciting. Pancake just huffed and went back to sleep. So I thought I'd show you some of my most favorite things, just in case, you know, you wanted to send me a present or something. *goofy doggy grin*

Well, most favorite toy is my blue squeeky Bad Cuz. Except that I chewed the squeeky out and now it doesn't squeek. Dad said he's not buying me any more because I just ruin them and the squeeking gets annoying. But he'll break down and bring me a new one home soon like he always does.

My favorite thing to do is play fetch. I love to play on the beach and even swim out in the water to catch the ball. Dad uses a Chuck-It so he can throw the ball really, really far. The only problem is that I have a hard time keeping my mouth closed when I swim and end up drinking a lot of salty water. Then I have to pee a lot and sometimes have accidents in the house. Dad just grumbles and cleans up after me. I guess it's better than the time I threw up my dinner and a gallon on salt water all over his bed.

And here's a picture of me swimming:








Let's talk about some of my favorite treats. You all know I love doughnuts but I'm only allowed to eat those on special occasions. And sometimes when my Dad gets french fries he shares them with me. My favorite dog treats are bully sticks. They're so stinky and chewy and I love them.

I also love Blue Buffalo Apple and Yogurt Health Bars. They're crunchy and Dad says they're good for me because they're organic. I don't really care about all that fancy stuff...I just like the way they taste.





Dad gets me and Pancake's collars from Collarmania because they donate money to help pitbulls who aren't lucky enough to have good homes like me. Plus they make really nice collars. We get new ones every year...I'm about due! Mine gets pretty gross since I spend so much time swimming and doing other dirty things. Pancake makes sure to keep hers clean.

And of course my favorite chew toys are shoes. Nikes are my favorites, but don't tell Dad.

Until next time, Turtle smooches for everyone! And feel free to send chocolately doughnuts my way.

Chapter 12: Textual relations

~*Edward*~

I grinned to myself. I was feeling smug, like the big fat Cheshire cat from Alice in Wonderland. As of tonight, Bella would be working at Masens. She would be working with me. I needed someone to handle the paper work and she needed a decent job. It was a win/win solution for us both; the fact I'd be seeing a whole lot more of her was an added bonus. Not wanting to offend her, I was a little unsure if Bella would actually take me up on my offer. I'd anticipated some reluctance on her part but when she'd eagerly accepted I felt a sigh of relief leave my lungs. Before anything else could be arranged my cell phone vibrated in my pocket with a reminder that I was due elsewhere in fifteen minutes. "Fuck!"

She was leaning against the counter as she cocked her head to the side. "Everything ok?"

"Yeah, sorry…just an errand to run for Alice which slipped my mind. I'm gonna have to run out on you but you can start whenever you like." I shoved my phone back in to my pocket and pulled out my keys.

She smiled shyly as she spoke. "Um...well...would tonight be ok? If not then I can...."

I cut her off mid sentence "Tonight is perfect." The prospect of seeing her again so soon made my heart racing with excitement. As I headed for the front door it suddenly occurred to me that my reaction should have been a little less intense and a little more nonchalant. "Stop by whenever you like and we can hash out the details over a beer. That sounded better, right?

I turned around to see that she'd followed me to the door to see me out. Christ, I couldn't take my eyes of those fucking pyjamas. I wasn't lying when I told her I loved SpongeBob, but fuck did I love him a whole lot more when he was scattered over her ass....over her chest. I snapped my eyes shut. Focus you pervert, focus!

She nodded. "Ok so I'll see you tonight then?"

In an attempt to appear casual and indifferent, all I could actually manage was a goofy fucking grin and a nod in response. I waved and made my way down the front path, my car unlocking with a beep and a quick flash of the headlights.

"Edward...?"

I turned on my heels, rewarded with another glimpse of those fucking adorable PJ's and the creamy skin they exposed. "Uh…Yeah?"

She grinned, a huge smile spreading across her face. "Thanks for the beer."

"Anytime. The...uh...apple...was more than worth it"

It wasn't until I was in the car with my foot slammed down on the gas that I remembered where I was supposed to be going. The spontaneous beer run had seemed like a good idea at the time but now all I could think about was a scantily clad Bella, and I had a moon bounce to procure. Fucking Alice! Aaron was turning five in a few weeks and everyone, willing or otherwise, had been coerced into helping with the party planning. I bitched, I whined, I moaned like an unhappy whore. Fuck, I even resorted to begging, but all of it was to no avail. All it had gotten me was an insanely long list of supplies which had been crammed into my hand and a fucking pat on the back.

I slipped into the closest parking space and pulled the crumpled list from my pocket. Giving it a quick scan, I sighed with relief when I realized that nearly everything had been satisfyingly crossed off with a big red pen. My work here was almost done, with only two tasks remaining. All I had left was the choosing and renting of a moon bounce and the purchasing of an epic amount of decorations, the latter of which I actually found a little daunting. I loved the kids, and I knew little boys liked spaceships, trucks, dinosaurs and that kinda shit but when it came to decorating and fucking color coordination I was hopeless. I found myself thinking of Bella again, and her choice of bed wear. She obviously had a childlike side. I'm pretty sure she'd know what color the balloons should be and what kind of napkins to get. And then I found myself wishing she were here with me.

I locked the car and headed inside what could only be described as moon bounce hell. I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket and figuring it was Alice calling to check on me I yanked it out in frustration. Frustration that turned into confusion when the screen alerted me to a text from an unknown number.

So what does Alice have you doing that's so important you leave like your ass is on fire? B

B? Bella? It couldn't be her, she didn't have my number…..did she? I hesitated only for a second before hitting reply.

You wouldn't believe me if I told you. How did you get my number?

My phone vibrated almost instantly.

Try me ;) You are on list of emergency contacts for the sitter. Alice keeps it on fridge. Fridge contains chocolate. B

So it was her! And now I couldn't resist poking fun.

Shopping for moon bounce. Am in inflatable hell. Kill me now pls. How very ninja stealth of you. 007 would be jealous of your mad spy skillz

I took a seat on a stray bench for lazy customers, figuring this back and forth may not be ending just yet and hoping I was right. I was surprised at her making contact, and even more so by her apparent sass.

007 is a pansy ass - has nothing on me! Moon bounce? Business or pleasure Mr Cullen? :P B

I was fucking dying to ask her if she was still wearing those pyjamas but thought better of it. I'd fucking hate her to think that I was some kind of texting pervert.

Neither! Forced against my will. Orders from Gnome Queen. Also in charge of decorations. FML

Her reply was almost instant

I hate Alice too. Hey! How come you bagged the fun stuff? I got stuck with invitations and the cake!! B

Bella and cake, cake and Bella. Fuck!

The cake? Christ! No pressure then ;) Fun stuff? Are you kidding? I don't know my ass from my elbow when it comes to party decorations…let alone a kids party!

Who knew cake could cause nervous breakdowns! Tap into your inner child. What would five year old Edward like? B

I smirked

Five year old Edward would really like five year old Bella to come with him. He needs help and just fyi he doesn't have cooties.

She says she'll come, but only in exchange for a bag of gummy bears and adult Edward's help with the cake. B

Tell her she has a deal. Must go procure moon bounce - wish me luck!

Good luck :) See you tonight Eddie. B

I laughed hard, no doubt looking like some crazy fuck as I sat chuckling to myself on my solitary bench. I usually hated Eddie. It felt different coming from her. Huh. I took a minute to snap back to reality and focus on my moon bounce mission.

Twenty-five minutes later I was frantically tugging on my hair and planning an escape route.

"So, like, do you wanna like, try it out? You know, like bounce on it?"

The sales assistant was an overeager, man eating teenage girl who was sporting curly blonde pigtails, a wonky name badge and a skirt so shamelessly short it should only really be classed as a belt. "Like" was apparently her favourite word and she was looking at me like I was her next snack. Jesus fucking help me now. If I could just get a distraction….like some naughty little deviant kid running around wielding a pair of sharp scissors, popping every fucking moon bounce in sight….

"No I don't want to bounce on it I just want to rent the damn thing" I sighed, irritated.

Her greedy face fell, perhaps at the realization she wouldn't be getting an invite to "bounce" with me after all.

"Oh...well then you need to go and see the guy at the desk." With a huff and hair flick she was gone, prancing her way over to another poor unsuspecting customer.

I made a bolt for the desk while I still had the chance and five minutes later I was in the safe confines of my car and heading for the nearest drive thru with my mission accomplished. I had obtained one giant fucking multicolored moon bounce for the delight of thirty-five screaming little ankle biters who will undoubtedly have eaten more ice cream and cake than their tiny little tummies can handle before bouncing commences.

I sent a quick text to Alice letting her know that I will not, under any fucking circumstances, be on fucking puke patrol.

Scored a moon bounce. Will NOT be on puke duty . I don't do vomit. Ever. For anyone. Even you.

There. Take that Gnome Queen. Edward has spoken, you have been told.

I drove up to the window, about to place my order, when my phone buzzed with a reply from Alice.

Bella's helping with the chunk blowers

Well fuck and shit!! That was a low blow even for Alice. That bitch had used dirty persuasion tactics and the worst part was that they'd fucking worked! I would be reporting for puke duty after all. But not just for anyone. For Bella.

Chapter 11: Eden is a kitchen

~*Bella*~

It was the morning after the night before. I was floating in a hazy limbo between sleep and consciousness. By now I was becoming used to waking up alone every day, but this morning was apparently an exception, as it seemed I had double company. I could feel a small, warm body curled into my back, two bony little knees pressed up against me, and a little hand fisting my shirt. Upon further investigation, I discovered another secret snuggler, smaller this time, his back cuddled against my chest.

So there we were, me and my two surprise guests, tucked up in bed like three cozy spoons. Four year-old Aaron and two year-old Daniel had made themselves a Bellawich, and I was apparently the filling. I lay there for a few minutes, contemplating how to get out and make it to the bathroom without waking either of them up. I wiggled free and slowly sat up, checking for signs of movement. No...nothing. Excellent. I gently scooted to the edge of the bed and slipped out unnoticed, making a quick dash for the bathroom to relieve myself.

With a happy bladder, I went back to the bedroom and was greeted by the sight of the still-sleeping boys, who hadn't moved an inch or even noticed I'd slipped away. I leaned against the wall and took them in, watching them in their innocent, drooling slumber. They were rarely this still or this quiet, so it was sweet to see them looking so angelic, though I knew it would be a different story when they finally woke up and started bouncing around with the energy of a space shuttle launch. I smiled to myself as I padded over to the bed and gently pulled the covers up around them to keep them extra warm and snug until they decided to rouse and let all hell break loose. Placing soft kisses on their foreheads, I crept out and left the door slightly ajar before heading downstairs.

The idea that maybe Jake and I would have had children too suddenly bubbled over in to my thought process as my mind backtracked to that warm day, the day I'd seen the truth. All rational thought was quickly squashed by the memory of that little girl's face in the parking lot. Before the anger and shame even had time to surface, her face vanished, swiftly replaced by a shock of bronze hair and vivid green eyes. Edward. I smiled to myself, my lips stretching from ear to ear in a shameless grin as I remembered last night...as I remembered him. The way his t-shirt hugged his tall, lean body, the way my name sounded coming from his lips, the way he touched me at any given opportunity, the way we almost...

"Mornin' Sunshine!"

I jumped, my hand flying up to my chest. "Jesus Christ Jas, you nearly gave me a fucking heart attack!"

I'd been so distracted that I hadn't noticed Jasper sitting at the kitchen table, tucked away behind his newspaper, no doubt engrossed in the sports section. My stomach was rumbling, and it wanted something sweet and warm for breakfast. I'd wandered in to the kitchen on autopilot.

He chuckled, throwing the paper down. "Someone's obviously not awake yet!"

I scoffed as I opened the fridge to grab the eggs. "I'm awake, just..." I shook my head "Anyway never mind that. How come you're up so early?"

"The sun is shining, Sugar! Shame to waste it!"

I peered out the window. He was right, today would be fairly warm and hopefully dry. "Have you eaten? I can make you some breakfast."

He patted his stomach. "Thanks but I'm good. Well...until lunch time anyway!"

I giggled as I cracked two eggs into a bowl and whisked them with a fork. "Who are you trying to kid? You're a man, and men eat like pigs. It's a well known fact."

"Well, I can't argue with the facts now can I?" He waggled his eyebrows. "Speaking of men, there were two very little ones around here somewhere the last time I checked..."

I added sugar and cinnamon to my eggs and dipped my bread into the mix before dropping it into the pan. "I believe the little people you're referring to have taken up residence in my bed! At least that's where I left them."

He smirked. "They crept in on you huh? Sorry about that."

"Don't be! They're good kids, and I have been known to enjoy the occasional snuggle." He laughed into his coffee cup. "Actually, it was kinda nice not waking up alone for a change." I flipped my toast in the pan.

"They love having you here Bells; we all do. Everyone's glad you've decided to stay."

I popped the toast onto a plate and took a seat at the table across from Jasper. "I've been thinking about that."

He glanced up from the paper he'd gone back to reading. "Changed your mind?"

"No, but, now that it's decided, I think I need to make things more permanent, more fixed y'know? You guys have been amazing, but I cant stay here forever. I need to find a job, sell the car..."

"You know you can stay here for as long as you like, as long as you need, right?"

"Yes, and I'm beyond grateful. Thank you."

He nodded. "So, you're selling the car?"

"Yeah...its just...I left everything. I just want to replace it."

"I can help with that."

"Thanks." I shovelled my breakfast down at an alarming rate, obviously hungrier than I thought.

"And you say men are pigs."

I flipped him the finger and carried on eating, content with my sugary, warm goodness.

I waved my fork at the folded paper. "You done with that?"

"Yep, I'm off to rouse the monsters, so it's all yours, Piglet" He smirked and pushed it towards me.

I huffed indignantly, and resumed chewing as I flicked to the jobs. I scanned the meagre selection. Wal-mart janitor leaflet distributor. God, no wonder they were vacant! They were a stark contrast to my job back in Washington, where I'd spent the last three years busting my ass as a Copy Editor for a large publishing company. The very same job I'd quit yesterday morning. On paper, it was the dream job for me, fresh out of college with my brand new shiny English degree from Washington U. But what your Professors don't tell you is that nothing is apparently what it seems. Sure, the lectures provided me with the knowledge I needed to do my job, but they didn't prepare me with the skills needed to survive the Urban Jungle. There was no "How To" dealing with messy office politics, the dangers of ass licking, vicious water cooler gossip, or how to shake off the office pervert. I, unfortunately, had learnt these the hard way. I found that making myself invisible and cutting myself off from the social circles was a successful strategy. I didn't give, and I didn't take. I worked hard, and for a while, that was enough. Jake started doing overtime, so I started working late. He was gone before I woke up in the mornings and never home before I'd fallen asleep. I'd been married to my job for six months, taking on enough extra clients to create a distraction. When I eventually got home, calling my parents or texting Alice or Rose was the last thing on my mind. I'd eat, shower, and sleep. The same lifeless routine week after week after week.

I was distracted from my less than happy reflections by a sound resembling a herd of elephants stomping down the stairs. Jasper appeared in the doorway with Aaron hanging off his leg and Daniel swinging from his neck like a monkey. "Hey! You guys are finally up! What are you gonna do today?"

Aaron grinned and let go of Jasper's leg, his arms flying about in excitement. "Dad's taking us swimming, then we're gonna have pizza and then we're going to a hockey game!!" He was grinning so hard I thought his little ears were going to pop right off.

"Wow! That sounds like fun!"

"Are you gonna come with us, Bella?"

I ruffled his soft black hair. "I'd love to, munchkin, but I promised your Mom I'd help her in the store today."

He beamed at the mention of his mother. "Okay, but next time you'll come?"

"I promise! Now have you and your brother had breakfast?"

He nodded, practically bouncing with excitement.

"Well alright, you better get going then! I'll see you guys later!"

I laughed as I watched them all bolt for the front door and begin the hurried commotion of grabbing bags and putting on jackets and shoes.

"Be good!"

"Bye Bella!"

And then there was one. The three amigos had left the house, and I was left sitting alone at the kitchen table in my pajamas. I yawned and glanced at the clock. It was 10:45, and Alice told me to stop by whenever so I was in no rush. I stretched out in the chair like a cat before tidying up the kitchen and throwing my plate into the dishwasher.

I was halfway up the stairs, a hot shower next on my list, when the doorbell rang out. I jumped at the unexpected noise, the silence of the house making it sound twice as loud. The boys were always in such a whirlwind rush to leave that Jasper had probably forgotten something. Expecting to see a frantic-looking Jasper muttering something about water wings. I swung the door open.

"Jas you only just left! What did you…" I was face to face with a rather puzzled-looking Edward in all his bronze haired, greened eyed glory. I stood there, gaping like a fish before finding my manners. "Edward, Hi! I'm sorry. Jasper left literally minutes ago, so I thought it would be him coming back for something he'd forgotten."

He pulled his lips up into that lopsided smile that made my stomach flip. "Ah, now it all makes sense. I thought for a minute there that perhaps you were just disappointed to see me."

"God no! I'm sorry, It's just...you were...unexpected! Would you like to come in?"

"Sure, thanks."

He stepped inside, and I noticed with a slight twinge of disappointment that the Nikes had not made an appearance today and that he had instead opted for a pair of vintage looking Adidas. He was looking effortlessly casual in ripped jeans and a white v neck t-shirt, all of which I suddenly imagined being peeled off by my own eager little hands.

"Um, you left these behind last night." He gestured to the six-pack of beer he was clutching in his left hand.

My heart swelled at his simple but kind gesture. He'd remembered.

"Between trying to get Rose into the cab and dragging Alice into the house, they had totally slipped my mind."

He smirked in amusement. "Well, they're certainly a handful, I'll give them that"

"They both have the mother of all hangovers today, which serves them right." I huffed.

"You don't look like you're suffering. Does Sponge Bob have healing powers?"

For a second I wondered what he was talking about, and then it dawned on me. I was still wearing the cheekies & tank that were covered in hundreds of little Sponge Bobs. I could feel myself blushing from ear to ear. Before I had a chance to tell him that it was a childish indulgence of mine, his fingers were ghosting over my exposed collarbone before reaching up to brush a few loose strands of hair away from my face.

He was grinning as he quietly spoke. "I like Sponge Bob, too."

I swallowed nervously. "Y-you do?"

He nodded, still wearing that damn grin which was increasing my urge to drop my pajamas by the second. His nose had found its way into my hair just long enough for him to inhale deeply before pulling away and lifting the beers. "You want these in the fridge?"

"Yes please." I flashed a grateful smile and followed him as he made his way to the kitchen.

"Can I get you a drink? It's the least I can do since you were kind enough to go to the trouble of a home delivery."

"No trouble at all. I was passing anyway, but I'd love a coffee!"

I grinned and reached up into the cupboard for two mugs. "How do you like your poison?"

"Black with two sugars, please. I think I need sweetening up."

I turned to face him with a smile and a mug balanced in each hand. "Are you kidding? You're definitely sweet enough, Edward." Before he could speak, I'd put the mugs down and shoved a packet of cookies under his nose. "Oreo?"

"No thanks, but I'll take an apple off your hands if you have one. I didn't bother with breakfast this morning, and I think my stomach is trying to consume itself."

As if on cue, there was quiet but unmistakable rumble emanating from Edward's stomach, followed by a very sheepish grin from him.

"I think you might be right! Point well proved." I giggled and reached in to the fruit bowl, the coffee momentarily forgotton.

I held my hand out to him, a red apple clutched in my fingers. I gasped with surprise and pleasure as he slid his fingers over mine to retrieve the shiny fruit, hesitating for a moment before quickly plucking the apple from my grasp and taking a bite. There was a satisfying crunch as he devoured the first mouthful while I stood watching like some kind of pervert. His lips were wet with the juice of the apple, and I could see his teethmarks in the ruby red skin. I could feel the heat creeping into my cheeks as I gaped shamelessly at him as he ate, and suddenly I felt like Eve admiring Adam. No wonder they caved under this kind of temptation. I mean seriously, who fucking wouldn't? He swallowed, drawing my attention to his throat, and I silently revelled in how glorious he looked even doing something so simple. He was a true Adam, made by God and heaven sent.

"Looking for a job?" He gestured to the newspaper I left open on the table.

"Yeah. Now that I've decided to stay, I need to start making things a little more permanent I guess."

He flashed me a small smile and nodded in agreement. "That makes sense. Any luck with the hunt yet?"

"Well, I only started this morning, but it's pretty slim pickings."

He sat back in the chair, the semi-eaten apple still in his hand. "Were you looking for something in particular?"

I was leaning against the table, my hip supporting my weight. "Well, not really. I mean I've done the whole 9-5 thing so I figured something different might be good this time, as long as it's decent pay, reasonable hours, and doesn't involve direct contact with bodily fluids of any kind!"

A hearty loud chuckle erupted from his chest as he laughed at my admission. "Well, I think I may be able to help you little mouse."

"Really? How?"

"Well, don't get me wrong. I love running the club, but if I could burn all the damn paperwork to avoid doing it then I would. How's your math?"

"Uh...it's ok I guess...pretty basic but..."

"Great, that's all you need for the book keeping. How about filing and computer skills?"

"I'm pretty competent with both...I think."

"Then congratulations Miss Swan, you're hired."

Chapter 10: Resolution rising

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Main Entry: Resolution

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: Determination, strong will, answer, judgement
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~*Bella*~
When we arrived earlier tonight, the club had been pretty much empty except for a few quiet lurkers and us. During the 30 minutes we'd been gone, the bar had become flooded with an abundance of hot, sweaty bodies. The amount of alcohol, flowing from the bar in steady streams, was almost obscene, and the music had, at the very least, doubled in volume. I instantly recognised the song currently vibrating through the floor; it was Death by Diamonds and Pearls by Band of Skulls, a frequent hit on my play list.

I tugged on Edward's arm, yelling over the music. "Is it like this every night?"

He grinned and shouted back, "Pretty much!"

It was now apparent to me that Edward obviously knew his business and ran it extremely well in order to stay so fucking busy every night. Masen's was clearly a success for him, and, looking around, I could definitely see why. With large comfortable leather sofas, black walls, exposed brickwork, and intimate lighting, the interior was edgy and effortlessly cool, although I hadn't really paid much attention earlier. The interaction between Edward and I outside had thrown me for a loop, and I entered the club feeling anxious and all too aware that this was the first time I'd socialised with anyone other than Alice and Jasper since arriving in Seattle.

I'd had a drink which helped take the edge off my anxiety, but there was something about Edward that made me falter. I hovered by the door we'd just come through and watched Edward weave his way effortlessly through the crowd to get to the bar. In a matter of seconds, he was behind the counter and taking orders. He worked quickly and efficiently, pouring shots, passing out beers, and taking money from countless outstretched hands with a smile on his face as he chatted back and forth with the customers who were clamouring for their drinks. As I watched him work, he seemed familiar to me, comfortable almost. And in this exact moment I was feeling incredibly attracted to him...turned on didn't even begin to cover it. He looked so relaxed despite the pounding noise and thirsty demands, but I was caught off guard when suddenly he glanced over and saw me staring right back at him. I could feel a rapid increase in my heart rate as his green eyes locked with mine, and, as he flashed me a lopsided grin, I swear I felt it skip a beat. I smiled back, biting my bottom lip, silently praying that he hadn't noticed me blush from the neck up.

"Bella!"

I jumped at the sound of my name and scanned the bar, my eyes landing on Jasper, who was waving at me from across the room. Feeling a little overwhelmed, I managed to squeeze my way through the throngs of people, unceremoniously flopping down on to the stool that Jasper saved for me.

"Hi!"

"Hey Bells, where you been?"

"Upstairs with Edward."

He raised his eyebrows in a suggestive manner.

"No you pervert! I met Turtle and Pancake."

He grimaced. "Those dogs scare the shit out of me."

I scoffed. "You're kidding, right?"

"Nope! Especially the little one...I swear she's the devil incarnate."

I laughed hard; I'd been thinking something similar not even an hour ago.

A booming voice bellowed at me from the other side of the bar. "Well what can I get you, my little Sugar puff?"

Emmett was a pretty bulky guy. Underneath that stocky exterior he was all muscle and horsepower, but his personality was a huge contradiction to his physical appearance. He was built like a superhero, but for the most part he behaved like a naughty little kid. With dimples to die for, he was cheeky, full of fun, and always up to mischief. Pranks were his "speciality," but the poor, unsuspecting people on the receiving end didn't always share his enthusiasm.

I rolled my eyes, the humour still apparent on my face. "Emmett, you are such a basket case! Don't tell me you picked up Rose with that line?"

He was grinning so hard I thought his face might actually crack. "Are you kidding me? Of course! She loves that shit! Especially when I..."

There was loud thud as Rose's purse swiftly connected with the back of Emmett's head. She'd reached across the bar to deliver the blow, a small smirk on her face as she scolded him.

"Emmett Cullen! You may have the biggest dick known to mankind, but you also have the biggest damn mouth. So quit talking shit and get me a drink!"

He was pouting as he lined the shot glasses up on the bar and filled them with a crystal clear liquid. Jasper plucked his glass off the bar.

Rose picked up hers and took a small sniff, wrinkling up her nose. "Vodka? I wanted Tequila!"

Emmett looked pretty pleased with himself as he pushed a glass towards me and picked up his own, leaving just two to be claimed by Edward and Alice, I assumed. "Don't whine woman. It's imported, y'know, the good shit! Just don't tell the boss!" He flashed me a small wink, and I couldn't help but laugh.

At the mention of her name, Alice suddenly appeared from out of nowhere, tapping me on the shoulder. I jumped, startled by her, and was about to speak when I was cut off by a deliciously smooth voice.

"Don't tell me what?"

We all smiled sheepishly in Edward's direction as he joined us from the other end of the bar. He was hovering behind Emmett, wearing a menacing grin on his face. The crowds had now dispersed, and the atmosphere had mellowed considerably. The music was slow and quiet, with an acoustic track playing that wasn't quite loud enough for me to recognise.

"Don't tell you that...uhhh...you look like a giant dumbfuck sissy lemon sucker?"

There was a silent pause before laughter erupted from everyone, including Edward.

He pulled his phone out of his pocket and dialled a number, putting it on speaker phone before putting it down on the glass bar. After a few rings a female voice picked up. "Hello?"

Emmett's eyes were now wide with surprise; he must have recognised the voice on the end of line.

"Hi, Mom. It's Edward."

"Oh hi, Sweetie. How you doing? Everything OK?" The concern in her voice was evident.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Everything's good. I can't stay long. I was just calling to check something."

"Okay, what is it you need to know?"

We all leaned in closer to the phone, waiting silently with baited breath.

"Are you sure...and I mean absolutely certain, 100% positive...that Emmett was not either adopted, dropped on his head as a kid, swapped at birth, or the result of some kind of genetic experiment gone wrong?"

The look on Emmett's face was utterly priceless, while the look on Edward's was decidedly smug.

"Edward Anthony Cullen! And Emmett Dale Cullen, because I know you're there too! You are grown boys, adults, men! When are you going to start acting like it?"

"Probably never!" Answering her question, Edward and Emmett both spoke at the same time.

"I suspected as much! You boys do realize that you are going to exasperate me into an early grave?"

There was an undertone of humour in her voice as she spoke. She must undoubtedly be very well acquainted with the apparent juvenile ways of her sons by now.

Emmett piped up. "Aww, c'mon Mom. You know we love you."

She laughed, loud and hearty, at his casual admission. "I love you both, too, but I raised you better. Stop acting like a pair of monkeys, and do something productive. Edward, when was the last time your hair saw a pair of scissors? Get it cut! Nice and tidy please. And Emmett, you're a growing boy, but go easy on the doughnuts at work. And no more hot dogs at half-time, otherwise you'll never get Rosie to marry you! Just because I can't see you boys does not mean I don't know your bad habits! Now go to bed!"

Emmett stood stunned in shock as Edward laughed. "Yes, Ma'am!"

She huffed. "Sweet dreams. I love you both."

Edward spoke again, quieter this time. "We love you, too. Goodnight, Mom."

He ended the call, and Emmett turned to face him, a smirk twitching on his lips. "Nice move smart ass, but I will seek revenge!"

Alice picked up her shot glass, eyeing it carefully. "What are we drinking to?"

Emmett smiled, a soft genuine, toothy smile. "We are drinking to the return of Bella and the fact that we will hold her hostage if she tries to leave us!"

The laughter died down, and he was looking at me with a sad expression. "Seriously Bella, we all miss you, even the Gnomes pine for you..." Alice shot him a glare. "....so stay a little longer...please?"

I sighed, touched by his words. I'd left everything I'd ever known behind in Washington and had no intention of going back to it any time soon, if ever. I had nothing to lose by trying to start over again here, surrounded by people who loved me, people that I loved.

The begging and whining began in loud unison, but I was distracted by the surprisingly expectant expression on one face in particular: Edward's. He was staring right at me, his eyes the colour of burning absinthe as they smouldered and silently pleaded with me. My gaze was fixed on him as I spoke. "I'll stay."