A/N: Would have posted this sooner, but I ended up in a bar for an extra hour watching a spelling bee.

A spelling bee! It was intense. I swear they were making up words, like whoa. I have to use the auto correct whenever I try to spell exercise!

That day, the last day, Edward snuck into Bella's room in the middle of the night. She wasn't asleep, as he'd expected. She smiled when she saw him and lifted the blankets so he could climb in beside her. He pressed in tight against her, his chest to her back, and wrapped her up in his arms. She sighed, relaxing into his hold.

"I missed this," she said. Another sigh. "I'm going to miss this."

"I'm sorry I'm away so much." He squeezed her tighter. "And I'm sorry I'm moving."

She snorted and turned around in his hold. She scratched her fingers through his hair, her smile playful. "You have a boyfriend, numbskull. It is a perfectly natural thing to do this with him instead of me." She scrunched up her nose. "Believe me. I get that lecture all the time."

"Bella." He bopped her on the nose. "You know better than to go listening to people. The mistake that people make is assuming everyone should be living life according to their rules. As though they've figured out the one key to happiness, and everyone else is wrong."

She gasped in mock surprise. "What? You mean it's conceivable to be happy without sex?"

"Well, maybe for you. I like sex." He kissed the tip of her nose. "But I like you too."

"Aww. So sweet." She played with the collar of his shirt. "How are you going to live without me anyway?"

"I thought you trusted Garrett to take care of me."

"You take some looking after."

Edward snickered and kissed her—a tender kiss of two good friends. "So, the end of an era."

"Yeah." She had a small, sad smile on her face. "Life is so fucking weird, isn't it?"

"How's that?"

"Who could have guessed this. You're such a picky bastard, Edward. For you to end up with a man who used to haunt your nightmares?"

"Well, that's a little dramatic," Edward muttered.

"You know what I mean."

"I do, but as we've discussed over and over, it was the boy who tormented me. Neither of us are those boys anymore."

"I know." She smiled more genuinely now. "He's good to you. He's good for you. It's just like I said. Life is strange."

He snorted. "You have no idea. Did you know Garrett was a confirmed bachelor before me?"

"Uh, yeah I'm well aware of that. Remember all the nights you kept me awake moaning that you just knew he was going to leave you?" She waggled her eyebrows playfully.

"Hey, there's a reason I never got involved with guys like him."

"Guys like him? You mean sexaholics or bullies?"

"He's not a bully."

Bella chuckled. "I know that. I'm not going to stop giving you crap about it though."

"But not to him, right? He's sensitive about that."

"As he should be." She smacked his chest lightly. "No, I know better than to tease him about it. Really, it isn't funny, what kids do to each other. Hell, what adults do to each other. But your story has a happy end, so I'm going to tease you about it."

"Fair enough." He ruffled her hair playfully. "You know, Garrett said you're welcome to come over for a good cuddle anytime. He said we could make a totally platonic Bella sandwich."

"Platonic Sandwiches is totally a good band name." She tightened her arms around him. "I'll be okay. Promise."

~0~

About a week after they moved in together, Garrett sent a text to Edward just as he was leaving work.

Garrett: Babe, running late. If you're tired, put on something sexy (but comfy), pick out a movie, and I'll be home with Chinese in a bit. Or….

Edward smiled at his phone, shaking his head fondly.

Edward: Or…?

Garrett: Or, slip into something sexy (not so comfy...the black jeans that look like they're painted on your ass would work) and meet me at this bar.

Laughing, Edward started up the car, heading toward home and his sexiest black jeans.

Another hour later, Edward strutted into the bar Garrett had texted him about. He knew he looked good. His ass looked fantastic, His shirt hugged the definition of his chest and arms. His hair was on point. He was ready for a night on the town.

Edward: Here.

Garrett: Ah, hell. Fifteen more minutes. I'm right across the street, babe. Promise.

Edward: Relax. It's no problem. I'll be here.

Edward found a seat at the bar and ordered a mixed drink to sip. Thirty minutes and two mojitos later, he was still alone. He glanced toward the door and to his phone for the millionth time.

"Uh oh." The bartender—a sprite of a woman who reminded Edward of Alice—leaned on the bar. "Don't tell me. Blind date, right? She stood you up?" She looked him up and down. "Honey, she must not know what she's missing."

Edward had to duck his head to cover his smirk. He looked up at the woman from under his eyelashes. "My boyfriend is running late; that's all."

"Oh," she said, her eyes going wide. "Sorry about that." She coughed, covering a laugh. "Wow, that was really my bad. Anyway. Can I get you another?"

"I better cool it. At this point, I won't be able to talk to him by the time he shows up. How about an iced tea. Minus the Long Island."

"Sounds good to me."

Feeling relaxed from his previous two drinks, Edward was in a good mood. He hummed to himself, doing a little people watching as he drank his iced tea.

It took him a while to feel the weight of the glare from the man beside him. It was a prickle on his skin at first—the vague awareness of being watched. He caught a glimpse of a glower out of the corner of his eyes and snapped his head straight forward. The man beside him scoffed.

"Fucking faggot," Edward thought he heard the man mutter under his breath, but it was loud in the bar.

Still, Edward's heart began to race. His skin grew clammy to the touch. He hated this moment. This moment where he was fifteen years old all over again and scared. Scared because someone hated him. This man was angry that he existed, that he had the audacity to sit on a stool beside him and admit to the wide world that he had a boyfriend.

It struck Edward as ironic. He always wondered if these people realized what they were really obsessing over was a penis, or lack thereof. That was what it came down to. The person he dated, made love to, had a penis, and he did too. That was what made them so angry. If the person he had sex with didn't have a penis, there would be no anger, no hate.

Edward took a deep breath. He reminded himself he wasn't fifteen, and he wasn't helpless. This horse's ass could mutter all he wanted. He breathed, and within a few seconds, his stark fear had faded to the heat of anger. Fuck the hell out of this guy.

But, getting into an argument wasn't going to be productive for either of them. Edward dug into his pocket and produced his wallet. He left enough to cover his drinks and headed outside to wait for Garrett. A little fresh air would do him good.

Too bad the asshole followed him.

Edward didn't notice at first. The night air was cool on his heated face. He tilted his head skyward and just breathed for a minute. Then he felt it again—the creepy-crawly sensation of being watched. He opened his eyes and turned his head, finding the man staring at him as though he had no right existing in the same place.

Edward let his eyes flit beyond the man. They were further into the parking lot than was wise; not close to the door at all. He'd purposefully put some space between himself and the door so he wouldn't disturb anyone, but now he was regretting it.

Shaking off the fear that gripped him as best he could, Edward finally looked at the man. "Can I help you with something?"

The man scoffed. "Yeah, I got a quest for you, queer."

"That isn't my name."

"Like I give a fuck, you fucking fairy."

"Obviously, you give no fucks. That's why you followed me outside," Edward said, hoping he sounded more blasé than he felt.

The man took a threatening step toward him, fist clenched at his side. "I came out here to make sure you were leaving. Don't they have bars for people like you, huh? You gotta come here and ruin the night for the rest of us? Get the fuck out of here."

Edward widened his stance, getting ready to stand his ground, but before the action could go any further, he felt a hand on his arm. He jumped, but then he heard Garrett's voice near his ear. "Babe, I know you can take care of yourself, but I'm begging you. Let me handle this one."

"Christ, that's disgusting," the angry man sneered. "You sick motherfuckers get the hell out of here."

Edward swept one hand out. "All yours, sweetheart."

Garrett grinned and then took a step forward, putting himself between the angry man and Edward. "Look, friend. Why are you so angry?"

"I'm not your friend, fag."

Garrett clucked his tongue. "Now was that a nice thing to say?"

"I don't give a shi—"

Before the man could get another word out, Garrett darted toward him. He grabbed the man by the arm, twisted it behind his back. "Let's try again. Was that a nice thing to say?"

"Fucking, pansy-ass faggot. I'll kill you." The man swiped at him with his free hand, but that only made him twist harder. He huffed out.

"All right. Let's try this. This fucking pansy-ass faggot knows a shit ton of martial arts, and guess what? He's pissed the fuck off because you were threatening his boyfriend." Garrett gave the man's arm a twist. "So here's my suggestion. Get the fuck over yourself, first of all. Stop obsessing about men having sex with each other—that's creepy as fuck, bro. And if you ever so much as look at my man again, you and I are going to have words. Get it?"

"Get off!"

Garrett pushed the man away from him, watching as he stumbled to the ground. Then, he extended a hand toward Edward, cool as a fucking cucumber. "Babe, you look hella fine tonight."

Edward, beyond words for the moment, took Garrett's hand and let him lead him inside. His head was spinning. When they were in the bar, Garrett pulled him closer, wrapping an arm around his waist. Out of habit and nerves, Edward glanced around the bar, but no one was looking at them.

"Are you okay?" Garrett asked in his ear.

"I…" Edward laughed, the sound slightly maniacal. "I think I'm turned the hell on. Mostly."

Garrett quirked an eyebrow. "Mostly?"

"That could have gone a whole lot of other ways."

"But it didn't." Garrett grinned at him. "Tell me you're okay with it, because I've been wanting to do that since you walked back into my life."

Nothing had happened, and he hadn't hurt the man after all. And Jesus Christ, he'd been so commanding, cool as ice, and hotter than hell. Edward swallowed past the lump of nerves in his throat and grinned. "Yeah. I, uh… Do you think we can get out of here?"

Garrett's grin fell. "Edward, you're not scared, are you? Because—"

"No." Edward leaned in so he could growl in his ear. "My jeans are too fucking tight to concentrate. I want you to fuck me. Right the fuck now."

"Now that is an order I can follow." Garrett took his hand, and all but dragged him out the door.

~0~

Another hour later, and they were lying in a tangled heap in their bed, out of breath and covered in a sheen of sweat. With a groan, Edward rolled over, off Garrett, and threw an arm over his eyes. After another few seconds, he started to chortle.

"What's wrong with you?" Garrett asked, amused.

"Nothing." Edward lowered his arm, looking at his lover. "I was remembering the look on that guy's face. Like he couldn't understand how a fucking fairy had him on the ground so quickly."

Garrett snorted, then he sighed, a serious look coming over his face. "After what Jacob went through with the others…" He swallowed. "I started taking different martial arts courses when I was in college. Then, when I figured out I was going to be working in construction...I mean, some of those guys can tear me apart, you know? So I learned everything I could about defensive fighting, pressure points, all that."

"Wow. Thorough. I'm glad I have you to protect me."

Garrett huffed. "It's about time."

Edward rolled over and splayed his hand on Garrett's chest. With a smile, Garrett took his hand, stroking a thumb over his knuckles. There was a tinge of misery to his eyes, as there always was whenever their past came up. "I don't blame you anymore," Edward said quietly. "You know that, right?"

"Yeah." Garrett took his hand and raised it to his mouth, kissing his knuckles. "Maybe after tonight I'll feel like I deserve your forgiveness."

"Garrett. You're good to me. And you were right. You're a good man." Edward's lip twitched. "Mostly."

"Hmm." Garrett reached up to stroke Edward's cheek. "Were you afraid?"

A lump rose to Edward's throat and he shrugged. Of course he'd been afraid, but he hated to admit it. He hated that fear.

"I was afraid," Garrett said, tracing the line of his jaw. "When I saw you in the parking lot, and the way that guy was looking at you."

Edward shivered and lay down with his head on Garrett's chest. "Yeah. People like him make no fucking sense. I can be an asshole, you know? So if you're going to hate someone, let it be about the shitty thing they did to you." He raised his head again and waggled his eyebrows. "You were hot, though."

Garrett smirked at that. "Hot is my default state."

"Modesty not so much, though." Edward kissed him.

Garrett returned his kiss but broke it quickly with a sigh.

"Don't dwell," Edward said. "There's no point, Gar."

"I know. I just really hate that I was on his side, you know? Once upon a time."

"There's such a huge difference between being a scared kid and being a dickhead adult. Guys like him are why you were a scared kid." He kissed him sweetly. "You had a choice, and you became a better person. That fuckwit has a choice too. And who knows, maybe someday he'll change. People do that. They change."

Garrett looked at him, his smile more genuine. "You think so, huh? So there may be a chance you end up with him in some distant future?"

"No. Not a chance." Edward kissed him again. "I'm yours."

"That's a good thing." Garrett rubbed his back and over his ass. "I kind of like you, Edward. A lot."

Edward rolled his eyes at Garrett's total inability to say love. "I kind of like you too."

~The End~

A/N: Thanks, as always, for coming with me on this journey. Thank you to Packy who loves angst almost as much as I do. Thank you to Mina, barburella, MoH, and songster for making my docs a wonderful place.

Thank you for voting for this fic too. I hope you enjoyed.