Chapter 14

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Chapter 14

"You okay there, Eddie?" the angel teased, quite enjoying his assignment's current predicament.

Edward huffed loudly in annoyance at the merciless teasing the angel had been subjecting him to for the past few days. As if he didn't have enough shit to worry about? Between all that dying business, on top of getting Isabella's and Emmett's project off and running, and coming to terms with the revelations about Seth and 'the others' watching him, it had been a hell of a few weeks.

Seth's appearances had been a bit sporadic, though Edward knew he was always watching. It still amazed him how easy it was to accept that and go on about his business. He wasn't sure, exactly, what that meant in the grand scheme of things, and frankly he didn't much care. All he knew was he was happier than he'd ever imagined he could be and spent every day determined to move forward.

And, well, today forward meant dinner with the Swans.

"No, damn it, I'm not doing okay! Do I look like I'm doing okay?" Edward practically shrieked as he flailed his hand around in a wide circular motion.

Seth let out an exasperated breath and shook his head. For days now Edward had been working himself up into a tizzy over the impending dinner with Isabella's family and for the life of him he didn't understand it. Surprisingly both Charlie and Renée as well as Isabella's Nonna, Gianna, all liked Edward. Sure they didn't spend as much time with them as they would have liked and admittedly they didn't know him as well as they should seeing as he was married to their daughter, but all in all they liked him just fine.

Isabella was happy, or at least she appeared to be in their presence, and that was all that mattered to them.

"Boy, I swear you are the most dramatic human I've ever come across. Do you need some of my angelic 'mumbo jumbo' as you keep calling it to help calm your ass down or do you think you can manage to bring it down a notch or two on your own?" Seth remarked with a raised eyebrow.

Edward groaned and then pulled at his hair before flinging himself on his bed.

"I'm really fucking nervous about going over there, okay?" Edward said sharply, trying to take a few deep breaths to get control of his erratic heartbeat. "I don't want to fuck things up."

"Edward," the angel said with a shake of his head.

Good Lord, the man would drive him to drink...if angels partook of such things.

As it was, the human tested his limits daily, a fact of which Gideon and the others were made well aware of...repeatedly.

Edward didn't move and he didn't speak for a few moments while he let his mind wander over the past few weeks. Ever since the dinner at Rose and Em's and the subsequent unforgettable night at home with Isabella, things had settled into somewhat of a routine. He couldn't help the deep rumble of pleasure that went through his chest when he thought about that night and the next morning as well.

They had spent countless hours loving and worshiping each other's bodies. When he thought neither one of them could possibly go on, they did. It seemed as if the two of them were unable to sever the connection that had enveloped them. He had never experienced anything that powerful or all-consuming in his life, not even the brief glimpse of the peace Seth had shown him on the plane that he'd be granted if he was successful in doing what the angel asked of him could compare to that. What had happened to him and Isabella that night wasn't even in the same stratosphere.

It was everything.

The way she looked when she moved above him; the way she soothed every part of his soul with her touch and her words; the way she took complete control of him and loved him, every part of him, was an experience he wouldn't ever forget. Not in however much time he had left and he knew without a doubt he'd been irrevocably changed.

Forever...or however you wanted to say it.

Whatever awaited him when his time was up, he was positive she would always be a part of him, just as he would be a part of her. He knew Isabella loved him, but after that night, any lingering doubt he had floated away.

He wasn't a perfect man, not by any stretch of the imagination. He still worked later some nights than he should have. He still got wrapped up in business talk with Marcus, Alec, and Jasper. He still forgot at times to say thank you and good morning to Donna and Peter. He still said very little about his birth parents; a fact of which Edward knew was coming to end in the not so distant future.

But, he was trying.

Which brought him to his nervousness about the upcoming dinner. He didn't want to make a mistake and he didn't want to do or say anything that would upset his wife. He knew how much she'd been looking forward to this dinner and all he wanted to do was get through the night without making an ass out of himself.

"You want to tell me why you think dinner with Isabella's family is any different from dinner with your own?" Seth questioned. He had a feeling he knew what the answer was, after all he was an all-knowing being, but he wanted to hear Edward say it.

Eh, maybe that made him a bit of a pain in the ass, but Edward just made it too damn easy sometimes.

Edward huffed again, not sure if he could put what he was feeling into words. He was nervous as hell, but he was excited, too. He was, unexpectedly, really looking forward to spending time with Charlie and Renée...and Nonna. He felt odd using that term for her, but she wouldn't have it any other way. When he and Isabella had first started dating and he was introduced to her family, he tried to call her Mrs. Santoro, but she wouldn't even answer him when he did so. He changed tactics and tried just saying ma'am, to no avail. So, Nonna she was.

He had to admit, the woman was certainly something else.

She was unlike any person he'd ever met before. He saw a lot of her in Isabella, the way she was so loving and so loyal and he had to say, the way her temper appeared out of nowhere. Isabella definitely learned her feistiness from a pro, that was for sure. Of course, Edward also had to acknowledge she'd never been anything but warm and welcoming to him. There wasn't one time he could remember her being anything less than sweet and sincere, even those times when he knew he didn't deserve it.

Being around the Swan family had been even harder for him than his own family in many ways. The Swans loved boisterously, openly, and that was difficult for him to handle. Oh, he'd soaked it up, not that anyone could tell, however. As different as Isabella's family was from his own, both past and present, he felt nothing but happy and grateful that Isabella had grown up in such a loving and nurturing environment.

"Her family is just so different from mine," Edward stated, finally answering the angel's question.

Seth merely snorted, choosing not to comment on the obvious. Instead he prodded, "And that means what exactly?"

"Hell if I know," Edward said evasively.

"Edward."

Edward growled and then bit out, "Fine. I don't want them to hate me. Happy now?"

"Look, my friend, let's be clear about something, shall we? You've been a really shitty husband the last five years; you know this, I know this, Isabella knows this. Fortunately for you, no one else really does. You're lovely wife," Seth said and Edward rolled his eyes when the angel person did his usual fanboy sigh when his wife was mentioned, "has the patience of a saint. She is as loyal as a guard dog about you and your marriage so luckily for you Charlie Swan doesn't know much of anything. In your case the saying 'what he doesn't know won't hurt you' is nothing but the truth. I can do a lot, but stopping a bullet isn't one of them."

Actually, it kind of was, but Edward didn't need to know that.

"Fuck," Edward muttered under his breath and felt his stomach twist in knots at the thought of Isabella's imposing father.

The angel laughed heartily at his assignment's face. The poor guy looked like he was going to be sick at any moment. Seth knew he could help calm him, but he felt it was rather appropriate that Edward be a bit uncomfortable, at least for awhile. If he wasn't so sure of the welcome Edward would receive from the Swans, he might be inclined to offer some angelic comfort, but he knew they'd be nothing but happy to see him.

Seth gleefully admitted to having a bit of a vindictive streak, especially when it came to Isabella.

He loved Edward, he couldn't help it, and he'd tried...Lord knew he tried...but the guy was just so damn endearing he couldn't help himself. Angels were built to love, it was part of their makeup, obviously. Edward Cullen might be his most challenging assignment to date, hell he'd probably be the most challenging one ever, but he'd also be his greatest accomplishment as well.

He hoped anyway.

But, well, Isabella was...Isabella.

Enough said.

Speaking of, because she was about to check on her husband, Seth figured it was time for him to leave his charge in her very capable hands. "Eddie, cut the crap and suck it up. If you allow yourself, you might find you'll enjoy your evening. I'll be watching. You know if you need me, I'll be there," he said then disappeared.

"Damn meddlesome, wife-ogling, pain in the ass seraph," Edward muttered right as Isabella entered the bedroom.

They hadn't spent a night apart since 'that' first night, though they'd yet to do anything that made the move permanent. Most of her things were still in the room down the hall, but he planned to change that travesty in the very immediate future. He only hoped she would appreciate the gesture.

"Edward, sweetheart," Isabella said and then her voice trailed off as she stared, wide-eyed at her half-dressed husband. He hadn't buttoned his shirt yet, and his black dress pants were still unzipped. She gulped as she took in his sculpted chest covered with a smattering of hair, his incredibly toned stomach, and Lord help her, that trail of light-colored hair that dipped so damn sexily beneath the waistband of his underwear.

Damn, she was a lucky woman.

She had to chuckle when she thought about the other women that worked at CP. It was true that she wasn't in the office all day every day, though that would be changing as she and Emmett continued their project, but she was sure there often enough to hear what was said about her husband. It had been that way for years actually, and in all honesty it had never bothered her. Edward was an extraordinarily good-looking man she was proud to say. He was tall, had piercing green eyes, a chiseled jaw that would make any woman swoon, not to mention his hair. So soft and always in such disarray, it was no wonder the comments she heard ran the gamut of sweet all the way to downright raunchy and vulgar.

However, since his epiphany a few weeks ago, the aura that had always surrounded him was even more pronounced. He smiled; he greeted his employees and colleagues warmly; he joked and made small talk; he looked and was happy. That, of course, just made him even more irresistible. The poor women in the office didn't know what hit them. They fawned all over him, not to mention threw themselves at him on practically a daily basis. She couldn't really blame them, but it didn't mean she had to like it either.

In fact, she didn't like it one little bit.

He was her Edward, damn it, the one she'd clawed and fought for and she'd be damned if anyone tried to take him away from her. Not that she was worried, because for one, the man couldn't keep his hands off her no matter where they were, and that included the office. Secondly, he looked at her in a way that made her knees weak and made her heart stutter. And thirdly, to go along with the way he looked at her, was the smile he had that was solely hers. It was a cross between needy and loving, with a hint of vulnerability and of course some naughtiness thrown in for good measure.

Kind of like the way he was smiling at her now.

"Sorry, Beautiful," he said with a shrug of his shoulders as she approached him.

Her stomach did that fluttery thing it always did when he said that word, that way, in that voice. She tossed her black peacoat on the bed and walked toward him, never taking her eyes off him. She shook her head at his apology, as it wasn't needed. She stopped in front of him, and gathered the material of the sky blue shirt he was wearing in her hands and slowly began to button his shirt for him. She purposely let her fingertips slide over his chest and she let out a giggle when he growled at her.

"Isabella, love, if you keep that up, we'll never make it on time for dinner," he warned.

"Keep what up?" she impishly asked, though they were both well aware of what she was doing to him.

She reached down and grabbed the flaps of his dress pants and she might have intentionally scraped her fingernail across the front of the growing bulge in his underwear.

"Evil woman," he hissed as she tucked his shirt in and zipped his pants up. She fastened the button and then the belt, smiling smugly when she watched him swallow convulsively and heard him breathe heavily.

Once she had him all buttoned up and ready, she patted his chest. "Come on, husband of mine, let's get a move on before Mama starts calling, wondering where we are."

Edward sighed, trying to will himself to move. He gave her a lopsided smirk and said, "Well, we can't have that now can we? Besides, when we continue this game you've started, I have no intention of being interrupted...for a very long time."

He picked her coat up off the bed, appreciating how incredibly beautiful she looked. She had on a black and white print skirt that hugged her in all the right places and was short enough to show off her toned legs, especially because she was wearing a pair of sexy as fuck black heels. The black sweater she wore was just tight enough so that her breasts looked spectacular. Her hair was down, styled so that it was a mess of curls, though she had pulled part of it up and was clipped at the back of her head. Her makeup was minimal as always and in her ears were the simple, but exquisite diamond studs he had given her for her wedding present.

They were flawless, much like the woman that wore them with such grace.

He held the coat for her, slipping it around her delicate shoulders. He couldn't resist kissing her, so he carefully pushed her hair to the side and placed a warm, lingering, open-mouthed kiss behind her ear. "You look exceptionally beautiful tonight, Isabella," he whispered huskily.

"Edward," she breathed out.

He spun her around and nuzzled her neck. "I know, Beautiful, I know. Let's get out of here before neither one of us is able to think clearly."

She nodded her head, looking as torn as he was. "Tonight, Isabella," he promised her.

The drive to Wheaton went by quickly and they filled the time talking about the office and the project. Isabella had gotten her list ready for their first meeting. Surprisingly, none of the others even questioned her selections, even the ones that were not obvious. It made her a bit nervous to see them put so much faith in her decisions, but it also gave her a much deserved boost of confidence.

Edward smiled as he listened to his wife excitedly speak about the next phase of the campaign. He couldn't help but revel in the fact that the announcement of CP's newest venture coincided perfectly with the opening of the opera season. It gave him great pleasure to not only be able to show off his incredibly beautiful and talented wife, but to rub it in Vincent Sinclair's face at the same time.

He was counting down the days.

Hell, he figured if his days were numbered, he might as well make the best of them, and Sinclair, the son of a bitch, had it coming to him.

He also knew that it was time to have a talk with Isabella about...Anna Davenport. Thinking her name gave him chills, but he owed it to his wife to tell her everything. It wouldn't be easy, but he had done enough thinking since the aggravating angel appeared to realize he had as much fault in what had happened as Anna did. Apologizing to her would suck, big time, but he had hurt her. She'd hurt him as well, but he was under no illusion about his ex-girlfriend. It would be a cold day in hell before she ever admitted any wrongdoing, but as Seth had told him, all he could do was apologize for his mistakes. What she chose to do with it, was totally up to her.

He sighed and Isabella squeezed his hand. "Is everything okay, Edward?" she asked sweetly and all thoughts of Vincent and Anna vanished.

He parked the car in front of the Swans' house and then turned to look at her. "Just perfect, love."

He grabbed the bottles of wine they brought to have with dinner then got out. He walked around the car and opened her door and helped her up, giving her a quick kiss once she stood.

"Bambola!" Charlie bellowed happily when he flung the door open.

She let out the most adorable squeak, ever, and Edward smiled and let go of her hand so she could go to her father.

"Dad!"

Edward had the strangest, though not unwelcome nor unpleasant, feeling wash over him as he watched father and daughter hug affectionately.

"Bella, you look so pretty," Charlie said with a smile only a father could have for his daughter. "Edward, good to see you, son," he said to Edward as he followed behind. Edward shook his father-in-law's hand vigorously, relieved to be welcomed so graciously.

"Hi, Charlie. Good to see you, too. And I agree. Isabella looks beautiful tonight, not that she doesn't always."

Charlie watched with an amused, and he had to say, pleased smile when his daughter looked at her husband as if he had hung the moon. It had been a while since he'd seen her look so radiant, and whatever the reason for it, he couldn't be happier.

"Well, come on you two, no sense standing around on the porch when there is food and drink...and cake to eat inside," he said and winked at Edward.

"Dad! I told Mama no cake," Isabella huffed and Edward couldn't help but snicker at her.

"Bella, you know your mother. Once that woman gets an idea in her head, there's no changing her mind. Stubborn as a damn ox I tell ya," Charlie muttered as he ushered them all into the house.

"Charles Alan Swan, I heard that," Renée said as she walked out of the kitchen, scowling at her husband. She walked right past him and headed straight for her daughter. She almost did a double take when she took in how happy she looked. Isabella positively glowed and for the briefest of seconds it brought tears to her eyes, but she quickly stopped them.

"Bella, baby, you look amazing! Happy early birthday!" she exclaimed happily and giggled when her daughter rolled her eyes at her. "Oh you stop it now, birthdays are meant to be celebrated," she teased and then kissed her on the cheek.

"Mama, I told you no cake," Isabella complained, again. "I'm turning thirty, not thirteen for heaven's sake."

"Edward, tell my daughter that you're never too old to celebrate a birthday." Renée laughed then threw her arms around him, kissing him soundly on the cheek.

No one could ever describe the Swans as subdued.

Dutifully Edward turned toward Isabella and said, "Love, you're never too old to celebrate a birthday." He didn't even flinch when she glared at him, only because the corners of her mouth lifted almost immediately.

"Fine. You just remember that when it's your birthday, sweetheart," she answered him with a wicked smile. "You will be turning thirty-six, you know."

His stomach twisted painfully when he thought about the fact that there was a very good possibility that he wouldn't see his next birthday, but he pushed that thought far away.

Tonight was not the time to wallow. Tonight was for celebrating his love's birthday and he was determined to do just that.

"Oh, Renée. We brought these to go with dinner," Edward said as he handed her the bottles of wine he'd taken from the wine cellar.

Renée couldn't help the shocked sound that escaped her lips at the exceedingly sweet gesture. In all the time Edward and Isabella had been married she couldn't recall him ever doing anything similar. "Thank you, Edward. What a sweet thing to do. I'll go get the wine glasses and let you have the honor of pouring when it's time to eat," she said and then kissed him quickly on the cheek.

"Beautiful, let me take your coat," Edward said softly once all the greetings were out of the way and Renée had gone back into the kitchen.

He helped her take her coat off and then ran his hand gently down the side of her face.

Christ, he loved her.

"I'm going to go help Mama in the kitchen. Will you be okay for a few minutes?" she asked him, quietly, but loud enough for Charlie to hear.

"Bella, I don't bite you know. Shoo, go help your Mama and let me and my son-in-law visit for a bit. I haven't seen him in quite awhile," Charlie told her.

He could tell there was something going on, he wasn't the Chief of Police for nothing. His daughter was happier than he'd ever seen her and Edward, well, it was almost like he was a different person.

Isabella gave one last smile to Edward before she went to find her mother and Nonna.

Charlie watched Edward as he stared at Bella while she walked away, looking about as pathetic as a man could get. "Son, she's only going to be in the next room." Charlie chuckled at him.

Edward looked flustered for a moment and then blew out a tension relieving breath. "Yes, I know. So, Charlie, how are things at work?" Edward asked.

Charlie decided to go along with Edward for the time being, only because the poor guy was wound up tighter than a drum. He couldn't figure out for the life of him why that was, and while every father-in-law liked to needle their son-in-laws from time to time, Charlie figured now was probably not the best time to test that theory.

"They're just fine, Edward. Thanks for asking. I've been training a new deputy, which you know as well as I, has its moments, but I can't complain much. How about you, how are things in the big world of publishing?" Charlie asked him.

About that time Isabella walked into the living room carrying two beers for her two favorite men.

"Thanks, Bambola. Tell your Mama to hurry it up in there, a man could starve to death waiting out here," Charlie told his daughter affectionately when she kissed the top of his head.

She turned and handed the other beer to her husband, noticing immediately that though he wasn't what you would call relaxed, he seemed to have at least calmed down a bit since they'd arrived. "Here, sweetheart. Dinner won't be much longer."

"Thank you, love. Do you need help with anything?" Edward asked graciously, and was rewarded with a sweet, soft smile.

"We've got it. You relax," she told him and then blew him a kiss before returning to the kitchen.

Charlie watched the brief, but very touching, and he had to say very intimate, exchange between the two. Edward had always been a bit standoffish, ever since the first time Bella had brought him home to introduce him to her family. In all the time they had been married and in the few and far between visits Edward had paid to his home, he wasn't sure he could ever recall either of them being so openly affectionate with each other.

Not that he wasn't inordinately pleased to see it, mind you or that radiant smile on her face.

"She seems extremely happy. Any particular reason why?" Charlie casually asked, though there was nothing casual about the question at all.

Edward took a long pull on his beer trying to decide how to answer the question. He groaned and internally cursed the annoying but ever-present being, for he knew he was quite enjoying his current predicament. He knew it was his mess and he needed to clean it up, but that didn't mean the angel needed to enjoy it quite so much, did it?

Edward cleared his throat a few times and shifted in his seat on the sofa, using those few precious seconds to try to get what he wanted to say in some sort of order.

"Charlie, ah..." Edward began and then coughed. "I love Isabella very much."

Charlie chuckled and said, "Yes, Edward, it's rather obvious."

Edward blew out a painful breath and decided to just dive head first into the conversation. He respected Charlie immensely, perhaps more than just about any other man he'd ever met and he wanted to earn that same respect back. Pussyfooting around and trying to make things not sound as bad as they had been was taking the coward's way out, and he wasn't going to do that any longer.

"Charlie, the truth of the matter is this. I have been a poor excuse of a husband for most of the past five years. I worked longer hours than I needed to, spent more time away from home than was necessary, and did a damn fine job of keeping Isabella from getting too close to me. I've loved her from the very first moment we met, but until very recently, I did everything within my power not to let her see that. I've made her cry, I've hurt her, and I'm more sorry for that than you can ever possibly imagine. For some reason, she's willing to give me another chance. I'm not stupid enough to not realize that I don't deserve it, but I give you my word, I'm going to spend every day trying to be worthy of her," Edward finished with a shaky voice.

Edward hung his head, relieved more than he could possibly believe to get that out in the open. He expected Charlie to rant and rave. He expected to be threatened within an inch of his life. Charlie Swan did neither.

"Edward, son, look at me," Charlie demanded, though not harshly.

In all his years as a police officer, and they were many, he'd never, ever heard a man speak with such conviction or sincerity. He'd heard declarations of innocence more times than he could count. He'd heard explanations concocted to try to get out of trouble; he'd heard heartfelt pleas for one more chance...he'd heard it all, and then some. While he loathed the thought of his daughter being in pain for any reason, she was a grown woman with a smart head on her shoulders. He trusted her implicitly and she'd never given him any reason to question her judgment.

He wasn't going to start now.

Edward picked his head up, not knowing what to expect.

"My daughter means everything to me and has since the moment she was brought into this world. I'd lay down my life for her if it came down to it. I'd hunt down anyone, to the ends of the earth, if they hurt her. There isn't anything her mother or I wouldn't do for her if she needed it. Whatever mistakes you have made, those are between you and her. We have taught her right from wrong; we have taught her what it means to forgive others. If Bella has chosen to forgive you, that is her choice to make," Charlie told him.

"Thank you, Charlie," Edward said quietly but was cut off.

"I'm not finished yet."

Edward nodded and then Charlie continued. "Look, let me just say this straight out and then we can get cleaned up for dinner. Isabella is as stubborn as her mother, but more forgiving and loving than all of us combined. It doesn't surprise me that she's given you another chance. Any man that looks at my daughter the way you look at her or can make her smile the way she is tonight, has to be doing something right. No one is undeserving of love, Edward. No one. Whatever caused you to think that, I have no idea, but if you ever need to talk to someone, you can always come to me. You're a part of this family, Edward. We haven't spent a lot of time together, but I hope we can change that. Might as well go all in, don't you think?"

"That would be...great," Edward said, overcome with emotion.

"Well, all right then," Charlie said, easing the tension between the two of them.

Good timing, too, because Renée announced dinner was ready.

Each of the men stood up and Charlie threw an arm around Edward's shoulder, needing to tell him one more thing. "Just so we're on the same page, son. Don't forget I keep a few guns at home. I won't be afraid to use one of them if I find out you've hurt her again."

"Yes, sir. You don't have to worry. I give you my word I won't make the same mistakes again," Edward vowed.

"Good, then we have nothing to worry about. Now come on, I'm starving."

While the two men were talking in the living room, Isabella found herself alone for a few minutes with her adored, and very perceptive Nonna.

"Isabella Marie," the spry woman greeted her granddaughter warmly. She reached out and grabbed her face, kissing both her cheeks. She stood back, still holding her face and smiled a serene, probing smile.

"Hi, Nonna," Isabella said back and pulled her in for a hug. Besides hugs from her father and Edward of course, there wasn't anything better than a hug from her grandmother.

Out of habit, because they'd prepared meals together for years now, they began the finishing touches on dinner. Isabella moved to prepare the homemade salad dressing while Gianna chopped the vegetables for the salad.

"Tell me how you've been, Cari, I haven't talked with you in a few days," Gianna told her granddaughter.

"I've been good, Nonna. Better than ever actually." Gianna, being the keen observer she was, didn't miss the way Isabella's eyes shone with happiness or the way her smile seemed to light up her entire being.

Oh, Gianna didn't miss it at all. In fact, she knew immediately when Isabella and Edward had arrived that something was different. You could feel it in the air, and you could certainly see it written plain as day all over her granddaughter's beautiful face. When you were as in tune with someone as she was with Isabella, it was one of those things you just knew, you didn't question.

"And, your Edward, how is he?" she asked with a knowing grin.

Isabella stopped stirring the liquid in the bowl, and stared dreamily off into space. "He's...he's," she couldn't find the words to describe how...or what he was, so she decided on, "wonderful."

"Good, Cari. That is good to hear."

Gianna would wait and pursue that particular topic later, once she'd had a chance to watch Isabella and Edward a bit more. She'd always felt like there was much more to Edward than he let on. Seeing Isabella the way she was now, she knew she hadn't been wrong.

During the next few minutes, Gianna told Isabella about the goings on at church as well as passed along a message from Father O'Connor.

"He hasn't seen you, Isabella. I hope you plan to remedy that, soon," Gianna said pointedly.

"I'm sorry, Nonna. And yes, I do. I was hoping Edward would come with me Sunday to Mass," Isabella answered, feeling guilty for missing Mass as often as she had lately.

"Well, it would be wonderful to have the whole family together at church," Gianna said and picked up the bowl to carry to the dining room.

Renée rushed into the kitchen, having changed her clothes, and took the chicken Parmesan out of the oven and drained the pasta. Isabella grabbed the basket of fresh bread and the salad dressing and followed Nonna.

"I'll ask Edward," Isabella said again and then jumped when she heard, "Ask me what, love?"

She looked up and found her husband gazing at her like he hadn't seen her in days instead of only minutes and, well, her stomach did that fluttery thing it always did when he looked at her that way.

"I was hoping you'd come with me to Mass on Sunday?" she questioned.

He stepped forward, forgetting that they weren't alone for a moment, and said, "Of course, Beautiful." He reached for her and then heard Charlie clear his throat behind him.

Well, that was embarrassing to say the least.

He flashed his wife an apologetic smile, though for what he wasn't sure. He took the basket from her hands and set it on the table, studiously trying not to look in Charlie's direction. At least not yet.

"Hello, Nonna," he said when he finally looked up.

"Edward, my boy, you get more handsome every time I see you," she teased him and then kissed him affectionately on the cheek.

Thankfully, that broke the awkward tension and when Renée followed behind with the platter of food, they all took their seats. Charlie said grace and then they all filled their plates with the delicious meal. Edward did indeed pour the wine, enjoying the fact that everyone thought it was delicious. He knew what Isabella's favorite meal was, chicken Parmesan with angel hair pasta, and picked out the perfect wine to compliment the course.

The dinner was extremely pleasant. Edward had forgotten how much he enjoyed listening to both Charlie and Renée talk. They were so open, so vivacious, that you couldn't help but get caught up in whatever story they were telling. Renée especially.

"So, Bambola, how are things at work?" Charlie asked in between bites.

"Fine."

"Isabella, you haven't told them yet?" Edward questioned, surprised that she hadn't informed them of what she was going to be doing.

"Told us what?" Renée asked quickly looking from Edward to her daughter.

"Mama, it's not that big a deal," Isabella said, trying to brush the whole thing off.

Edward was having none of it, however. "Oh, I beg to differ, love." Edward took a drink of his wine and then leaned forward, after picking up her hand. "Isabella and Emmett have started a project that is vital to the company. CP has found itself on the wrong side of a few attempted acquisitions lately, thanks to some underhanded moves by some of our competitors and well, the project that Isabella and Emmett are undertaking will go a long way to solidify our position as the preeminent publishing company in the country," Edward said proudly.

He went on to explain exactly what Isabella, Emmett, and the others were going to be doing and what they hoped to accomplish. He told them how every single member of the executive officer's was completely on board with all of the decisions Isabella had made so far and how they all had complete faith in her and her abilities.

Charlie beamed, not that he was surprised by his daughter's accomplishment. But, no father could ever wish for more than to hear their daughter's husband talk about her with such obvious pride and love. If he had any doubts about Edward or the kind of man he was, he didn't any longer.

"Edward," Isabella sighed, a bit flustered at listening to him go on the way he was. Oh, she loved it, but she'd had about all she could handle at the moment. The man was driving her absolutely wild with desire and she was afraid it wouldn't be long before she lost all rational thought.

So not a good thing to happen at your parents' house.

"Bella, we're so proud of you," Renée cried.

"Thank you, Mama, but we haven't even started really. All we've done is gotten some preliminary things put together. I'm looking forward to working so closely with Edward, Emmett, and the others and I'm excited about trying something different, but let's not jump the gun, okay?" Isabella said, trying to rein in her overzealous mother.

"Pshhh, I'm with Edward, baby. This is a big deal," Renée argued and then smiled hugely at her son-in-law. She'd always had such a soft spot for Edward. He always seemed so broken, so afraid of saying or doing the wrong thing; he'd been that way from the very beginning. He might have been wealthy beyond her comprehension, he might run a multimillion dollar company, he might have private jets and been all over the world, but deep down he was as vulnerable as anyone she'd ever seen.

Looking across the table at him now, he didn't seem quite so broken or afraid, though it was still there beneath the surface. The way he hung onto Isabella and the way his eyes constantly sought her out told her there were still things there that haunted him, but they were less so than before.

She couldn't be happier about that.

They finished up their dinner, eating to the point of almost overdoing it, but there were still presents and cake to get through.

Once they'd cleared the dishes, everyone doing their part to get it done quickly, they sat back down in the living room to have coffee and open presents. Seeing as how Isabella was Charlie and Renée's only child, they had a tendency to go a bit overboard when it came time to give presents. Nothing extravagant, only things that were meaningful and well thought out, but there were plenty.

Isabella unwrapped some books that she'd been meaning to read, but hadn't had the time to get for herself. Her parents gave her a soft, cashmere blanket to curl up with on the couch when she worked at home or read. Renée had painted her a picture of her favorite Chicago skyline and had it matted and framed. That one brought tears to her eyes. Charlie had given her four tickets to the next Chicago Fire soccer game.

"Edward, you will join us, won't you?" Charlie asked with a grin and Edward nodded enthusiastically.

"Isabella Marie, my Angelo gave this to me on my thirtieth birthday. I want you to have it," Gianna said as she handed her an elegantly wrapped package.

"Nonna," Isabella said softly, before she even opened it.

"Hush, child. I've been waiting a long time to give this to you. Don't you ruin it for me," Gianna said sternly but with a smile.

With shaking fingers, she carefully opened the package, conscious of Edward's arm around her shoulder. She pushed the paper off the box and let out a gasp of surprise when she saw what was inside. Tucked inside the tissue paper was the most beautiful music box she'd ever seen. It was white with gold around the edges and the most elegantly painted flower on the top. Isabella carefully lifted the lid and immediately recognized the tune of Clair de Lune.

"Nonna, it's so beautiful," Isabella said reverently as she ran her fingers over the top of the box once she'd shut it.

"Every night when we would take our walk, we'd pass by this store and that box was in the window. I swear I must have looked at it every night for months and months. When my birthday came around Angelo made me a picnic and took me to the park because we didn't have much money. Inside the basket was that box. He must have begged, borrowed, and worked his fingers to the bone to save up enough money for that music box. It is one of my most favorite things he ever gave me."

"Nonna, I can't take this," Isabella said with tears in her eyes as she thought about how much the music box had to have meant to her grandmother but Gianna adamantly shook her head.

Gianna stood up and then sat on the other side of Isabella and said, "You can and you will. Child, your grandfather was the love of my life and every time I opened that box and heard that music, it put a smile on my face. Now I want you to keep it and remember how rare and special true love is." She leaned over and kissed Isabella on the cheek and then patted Edward on the hand before walking back to her chair.

Once the presents had all been opened, Renée brought out the cake, much to Isabella's consternation. She was spared the singing of happy birthday, threatening everyone with the fiercest of fierce glares, but she had to admit, no one made red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting like her mother did.

After everyone had their fill of cake and espresso, Renée stole Isabella away for a few minutes, and Charlie went to go check the score of the baseball game, leaving Edward to gather Isabella's presents to take to the car.

It also gave Gianna the perfect opportunity to spend a few minutes alone with Edward.

"Here, Cari, let me help you," she said as she took the blanket and books from him while he carried everything else.

They walked quickly to the car and Edward placed everything in the back seat.

"O vedo molti cambiamenti in voi, cari, siete più in pace, felice," Gianna said, softly, but with much emotion.

"What did you just say?" Edward questioned and gasped when she told him, "I see much change in you, dear, you are more at peace, happy."

"Isabella is responsible for that. She's my everything, my reason for being happy," Edward said honestly.

"La mia ragione," Gianna said with tears in her eyes. "It means 'my reason' in Italian, Edward," she explained when she saw the question in his eyes.

"La mia ragione," Edward repeated, knowing he'd never heard anything more perfect in his life.

"You keep taking care of her, Cari," Gianna said as she hooked her arm in his and they walked back up to the house. "She looks at you the same way I looked at my Angelo. You're her reason, too, Edward. Never forget that."

"Thank you, Nonna," Edward said thickly, feeling the sting of tears in his eyes.

"You're a good man, Edward Cullen, you need to try remembering that from now on. Now, don't you be a stranger. I expect to see you Sunday at church and you come visit me sometime. I'm nicer than Charlie and I don't have a gun," she teased and they both laughed when they heard the snort from Charlie as they walked back inside.

The goodbyes were long and drawn out, mostly because the evening had been so enjoyable for all of them. Edward could not get over how at home he felt with Isabella and her family, even though he'd never felt as such before. As affectionate as they all were, and once he'd gotten over his initial hesitations, he found himself missing them before they'd even left.

Charlie walked them to the car, making sure Isabella was buckled up tight in her seat belt like the overprotective father he was, and kissed her on the top of the head before shutting the door.

He turned to Edward, who was waiting to say his own goodbye before getting in his seat. "Edward, let's try not to make it so long between visits next time," he said and held his hand out to shake.

"I tell you what, Charlie, let me check with Emmett and maybe you can come watch Jack play baseball with us when he has his next game. It's not the Cubs, but I have to tell you, it was a lot of fun just the same," Edward answered before he had much time to think about it, but once the words were out of his mouth, he was happy he said something, especially when he saw how happy the offer made Charlie.

He again felt that piercing pang of regret at not having children, knowing that he'd not only selfishly deprived Isabella from being a mother, but Charlie and Renée from being grandparents as well.

Well, he couldn't give him his own children, but he knew without a doubt Emmett and Rose would love to see them at the game. Rose didn't speak to her parents at all so Carlisle and Esme were it in terms of grandparents. He didn't think two more adopted ones so to speak were too much, not at all, especially if they were Charlie and Renée.

"That would be..." Charlie stammered, quite unlike himself. "I'd really like that, Edward. Thanks," and then surprising the shit out of both of them, he pulled Edward in for a quick but meaningful hug.

Both men stepped away, not quite sure what to say. Thankfully Renée saved them both from turning into blubbering messes when she called for her husband from the porch.

"Be safe going home now, son, and we'll see you Sunday," Charlie said and then blew a kiss to his daughter, who watched the exchange between her love and her father with her jaw in her lap.

She didn't say anything when he slid in his seat, mostly because she couldn't speak.

"Beautiful, stop looking at me that way. It was just a hug from your father." Edward chuckled as they took off and headed for home.

"But..that was...I mean...Edward, you have no idea how happy that makes me," Isabella said as she turned to look at him.

"I think I get the picture." He laughed. "Did you have a nice evening?" he asked, completely changing the subject. It wasn't as if he was trying to hide anything from her, but he really didn't know what he was feeling right at the moment. Relieved was of course at the top of the list, but it was more than that. Accepted...embraced...would be closer to it if he had to quantify it.

Isabella nodded and then reached over and ran her hand through Edward's hair. He looked so calm and so very, very peaceful. None of that tense jaw and shoulders business; none of that guarded eyes and tight mouth. It was all gone and all that was left was plain and simply...her Edward.

"Yes, I did. It was amazing," Isabella said very quietly.

"I'm glad. Your family is incredible, love," Edward told her and glanced quickly at her as they sped down the road toward home.

She scooted over in her seat, not taking off her seat belt, but getting as close to him as she could. "They're your family, too, sweetheart," she reminded him and he sighed at her words.

"Yes, they are and I couldn't be happier about that." He reached over and pulled her hand up to his mouth and kissed it. Damn he really wanted to be home already. The night couldn't have turned out any better if he had planned it himself, but now all he wanted was to slide into bed and then, slide into her. He wanted to lose himself completely in her and not come out for a really long fucking time.

However, there was something he felt like he needed to tell her, and he wanted to do it before they got home. "I couldn't ever, ever imagine being this happy, Isabella. I know we've said we're not going to dwell on the past, and I promise I'm not, but I just wanted you to know how fucking grateful I am that you've given me this second chance. Hell, it's more like my two hundredth, two thousandth chance when you think about all the damn mistakes I've made. I just wanted you to know I realize how incredibly lucky I am that you've not only given me you, but your family as well. I know I haven't acted like it, but I do love them," he told her honestly.

They pulled in the garage and though they were both extremely ready to go upstairs, and to bed, they took their time. There was no need to rush anything, so they didn't.

Once they were inside the bedroom they still didn't rush.

In the moonlight, night passed into early morning which then faded into dawn and still, they took their time.

Neither Edward nor Isabella made it to work on time the next morning.

~~~~OOO~~~~OOO~~~~

"Donna, where is Edward? I haven't seen him all afternoon, and I've sent him at least five text messages since lunch. I checked in his office and he's not there and neither Alec nor Marcus have seen him," Isabella stated anxiously, wondering where in the world he was.

It was the next week and her birthday was in two days, on Saturday. Edward had something planned and he wouldn't tell her what it was, and really he'd been acting strangely all week. Not in a bad way, just anxious and twitchy about something. Every time she would ask if he was okay, he'd merely nod his head and give her a sexy, lazy smile. He was up to something, she just had no idea what it was.

Donna swallowed, not wanting to lie to Isabella. Edward had mentioned that he was going home for the afternoon, but nothing more. "I believe, Isabella, that he was going home."

"Home? Is he all right? Was he feeling okay?" Isabella asked quickly, immediately imagining the worst. She couldn't figure out why he didn't tell her he was leaving.

"Thank you. Will you let Em and the others know I've gone home for the day? We'll finish our meetings tomorrow," Isabella said quickly, grabbing her planner and her bag and then hurried down to the parking garage. She threw her things in the passenger seat and started the car. She quickly tapped her phone and hit the button to call Edward, groaning when it went to voicemail.

"Sweetheart, I'm on my way home. Donna said you left early. I wish you had told me you weren't feeling well. See you soon; love you," she said and then disconnected the call.

It didn't take her long to get home because it was the middle of the afternoon and she left her car in the driveway, thinking that more than likely she was going to have to go out again and get something for Edward, once she knew what was wrong with him. She couldn't think of any other reason for him to leave the office, especially as quickly as he did.

She let herself in the front door and frowned when she heard noises coming from upstairs. She set her bag and purse down on the island in the kitchen and then headed up the stairs. She heard a bump and then Edward's voice, though it was muffled and she couldn't tell what he was saying.

Pushing open the door to the bedroom, she saw something she never expected.

Tears immediately formed in her eyes and flowed down over her cheeks. "Edward, what have you done?"

*Bambola means doll in Italian*

~~~~OOO~~~~OOO~~~~