The Friend Line

Chapter Fourteen – Caller ID

"Stop being so bloody nervous," Edward said from the driver side of our rental car. "They're going to love you."

"I can't help it, this is a big deal to me," I rebutted. "I mean, they're your parents, Edward. I want to make a good impression."

"And you will; you're over thinking this too much, Bella," he tried to reassure me. "My parents are just excited that I'm bringing a girl home. I think my mum choked on her own breath when I told her I loved you."

"You told her that?"

"Of course." He reached over and took my hand in his. "I do love you, so why wouldn't I tell my parents?"

I shrugged in my seat.

"When was the last time you brought a girl home?" I asked.

"You're the first," he replied.

"What? Not even in high school?" I questioned. "Damn, did your parents think you were gay?"

"No, thank you very much," Edward spat. "They were aware of my previous lifestyle... we just never talked about it. I think they always hoped that I would meet a nice girl and settle down. So, needless to say, when I called and told them I had found that girl, they were thrilled. So please, stop worrying."

"If you say so." I grimaced.

When Edward asked me last week if I would come home to London with him, I was so happy, as well as nervous. I knew it was no small thing for Edward to even ask me to meet his parents, so that alone meant the world to me. But with that happiness, definitely came nervousness. It had been so long since I was taken home to meet the parents. I never met Jake's parents, so the last time was in high school. I was so out of practice when it came to parents. I wanted Edward's parents to like me; I was crazy about their son, and I wanted them to know my feelings ran deeper than his good looks and his bank account.

I looked out my window and was so glad Edward was driving because there was no way I could get used to driving on the opposite side of the road. I don't know how he even kept it straight when he was in LA and then when he was back in London. It made me head hurt. I looked over and glanced at Edward as he drove; there was something about the way he drove a car that was truly sexy.

Yeah, I was stupid in love with him.

We turned down a street that was lined with many modest homes. Edward then pulled into a driveway and put the car in park. I looked up at the home he grew up in. The front was all brick and there was a huge bay window in the front. It was a lovely home.

Edward got out of the car and came around to open the door for me. I stepped out and he took a hold of my hand.

"Welcome to the Cullen home," he said as he kissed my cheek.

I nodded and swallowed hard as we walked up to the front door; my heart felt like it was in my throat. Edward squeezed my hand, his way of trying to calm my nerves. Edward opened the front door and led me through as I exhaled the breath I was holding.

"Hello? Anyone home?" Edward asked and then closed the front door behind us. "Mum? Dad?"

"Oh, Edward, you're home!"

My attention in the direction I heard Edward's name being called. A beautiful woman in her fifties, with the same color hair as Edward's, came rushing toward him. No doubt she was Edward's mother.

"Hi, Mum," Edward greeted before taking her in his arms and holding her close. I watched the exchange between them and smiled. Edward was a closet Mama's boy for sure. When they pulled back from their embrace, his mother's eyes landed on mine.

"Edward, where are your manners? Please introduce me to your girl here," his mother said.

"Sorry," he said, clearing his throat. "Mum, this is my girlfriend Bella... Bella, this is my mum."

"It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Cullen," I said nervously.

"Mrs. Cullen is my mother-in-law; please call me Esme, dear," she instructed, and then she pulled me into her arms for a warm hug. "Oh, Edward, she's just lovely." I didn't mind the hug; it was nice, and made me relax some.

"Esme love, give the girl some room to breathe," a man said from the kitchen as he walked towards us. "You must be Bella? I'm Edward's father, Carlisle; it's so nice to meet you, young lady."

"Nice to meet you, too," I said. "Edward has told me so much about both of you. Thank you for having me in your home."

"Well, it's not every day our boy here brings a nice girl home to meet his parents," Carlisle said. He then walked over to his wife and folded his arms across his chest as he looked at Edward and I. "See, dear, I told you the boy wasn't gay."

"What?" Edward snarled, looking back and fourth between his parents. "Seriously? You thought I was gay? On what bloody planet? I love women! I've been with lots of women; well, not since I've been with Bella... but damn!"

I, along with his parents, burst out in a fit of giggles. That had to be the funniest thing I have heard. Edward's parents were so great. I was definitely beginning to loosen up.

"Come along, dear," Esme said to me as she took my hand, "Let's get to know each other some."

After an amazing dinner made by Esme and very little help from me, Edward and his father headed outside on the back deck to have a beer, leaving me alone with Esme.

"You really do have a lovely home, Esme," I said, looking around.

The home was warmly decorated with cool and natural colors. There were many pictures on the walls and on tables. As I continued to look around, my eyes caught on a picture that was hanging in the hallway leading to the living room.

"That was always my favorite professional picture of Edward," she said. "You took it, yes?"

"Yeah, I did," I replied. "That was one of my photos that won an award a few weeks ago."

"Ah, I always knew it was a winner," Esme said. "You're very talented, Bella."

"Thank you, but Edward makes it easy. He knows how to work the camera."

"Yes, my son was always a good looking boy. Even when he was a youngster, he was very photogenic." Esme took a breath and then looked at me. "Come sit with me, dear."

I nodded and followed Esme to the cozy living room. I took a seat on the chair that was opposite the couch where she sat.

"I don't think I have ever seen Edward so happy, so relaxed," she stated. "I would assume that's all because of you."

I blushed. "Oh, I don't know about that."

"Don't be so modest," Esme said. "I know the life my son used to live. I would often wonder if he'd ever settle down. I mean, I know he's only 28, but you can only live that life for so long. I always prayed he was being safe; as his mother, I worried... a lot. I use to attribute it to the fact that he was a model and everything was accessible to him—all the women, the money—and even though he used to tell me he was happy, I always knew something was missing in his heart. He was missing out on love."

"Well, we both almost missed out on it," I said. I took a deep breath and positioned my body so I was looking directly at her. "Esme, I want you to know that I love Edward with all my heart. I think I have loved him since we met, it just took a while to get to this place. I'm just glad that we were able to figure things out. He's so much more than a pretty face to me... I mean yes, he is so breathtakingly beautiful that it hurts sometimes to look at him, but it's so much more."

"I can tell that you love him and I know he loves you, too; it's written all over his face," Esme said, reaching out to grab my hand. "As a mother of one and only son, and as the first woman who ever loved him, I'm happy that he has found someone to love him almost as much as I do. Thank you for that."

"No thanks necessary," I said. "He's everything to me."

"Well, now that I can stop wondering when he's going to find a nice young woman to share his life with, I can start wondering when he's going to give me some grand babies to spoil."

"Mum!" Edward screeched from the doorway. "Jesus, can you give us some time on that, please? We just got together, for Christ's sake! No one is having babies!"

"Oh relax, Edward," she sneered. "I'm just saying."

I blushed at Esme's comments. Grand babies? Seriously? Okay, wow! It did get me thinking, though. Did Edward want a family one day? Did he want that with me?

(*)

Later that night, after Edward's parents had gone to bed, Edward and I were sitting on the living room floor in front of the fire. My back was to his front as I sat between his legs, his arms wrapped tightly around me.

"Your parents are great," I said.

"Yeah, they are. I still can't believe they thought I was gay," Edward spat. "I mean, as if." I couldn't help but laugh again. "You think that was funny?"

"Yeah, actually I do." I giggled.

Edward sighed and then tightened his grip on me. I relaxed more in his arms; it was my favorite place to me.

"They already love you," he declared. "I mean, they are already planning for grand kids."

I was quiet. I wasn't sure what to say. I didn't want to freak him out. Like he told his mother, we haven't been together for very long.

"Bella?"

"Hmm?"

"Did my mum's comments make you uncomfortable? She was just talking like she always does," he stated. "I guess she's just happy to see me happy with someone, so babies are her natural reaction."

"No, Edward, it didn't make me uncomfortable, but it did get me thinking," I admitted.

"About?"

"Well..." I paused. "We never talked about what we want for the future. I mean I know we just got together not too long ago, but have you ever thought about where you see yourself? What you want?"

"Of course," he said. "Even more so since I fell in love with you."

"And..."

"Bella, I want everything with you," he started. My breath hitched in my throat. "I want it all. I want to marry you one day, I want you to be the mother of my babies. I want everything. With. You."

"Yeah?" I asked.

"Yeah."

I turned around to face him and then climbed in his lap to straddle him. I then wrapped my arms around his neck. I placed a soft kiss on his lips and then looked in his jade eyes.

"I want all of that with you, too. I want the white dress, I want my belly swollen with your baby inside me, I want to love you for the rest of my life."

"I love you. So much, Bella," he said, kissing my lips.

"I love you, too," I replied under his kiss. "Thank you for bringing me back to your home."

"My home is with you. Wherever you are, that's my home," he said before crashing his lips to mine for a searing kiss that left me breathless. We both moaned as our tongues made contact.

I lowered myself more on Edward's lap and his hands went to my hips, grinding me into his groin.

"Damn, Bella," he said under his kiss "Fuck, I want you so much."

I could feel his hardness under me and I continued to move above him. "I want you, too... but, Edward..." I pulled back from his lips. "Your parents are right upstairs."

"I'm sure we can be quiet... besides..." he kissed me again, "good thing you're wearing a dress." He looked in my eyes with so much fire. There was no way I could deny him.

As Edward hitched up my dress, I went to work on Edward's zipper. Once I had it down, I reached in his boxer briefs and pulled out his oh-so-hard cock. Edward groaned when he felt my hand wrap around him. I moved back a little and Edward reached down to push my panties aside.

"Edward..." I gasped when I felt his fingers push inside me. "Please, I need you."

"You have me, Bella." Edward pulled me back and positioned himself at my wet entrance. And then he grabbed my hips and pushed me down, sinking into me, inch by amazing inch.

"Oh god," I moaned. I was trying to stay quiet, but he was making it very difficult with each thrust of his cock inside me.

"You feel so fucking perfect," Edward groaned, taking my lips again. "I love the way your pussy squeezes my cock... fuck, Bella."

"Edward..." I gasped. "I'm going to... fuck, make me cum... please."

Edward reached down between us and rubbed my clit in the most amazing way. He kept up his touch, adding just the right amount of pressure. I felt my body starting to tremble.

"Yes... oh fuck, Edward," I said as I buried my face in his shoulder. "Don't stop."

It didn't take much more before my whole body convulsed around him. Every time Edward made me cum was better than the last. I pulled back to look at him and nodded for him to move again. He looked at me deep in my eyes as he grabbed my hips again and thrust up into me. He never broke his eye contact with me and then he let out a moan as he exploded inside of me.

We were both spent as Edward fell back on his back, taking me down with him. I was still straddling him while I laid on him, chest to chest. No words were needed between us as we held each other.

(*)

Before long, Edward and I were back in LA. I loved spending time with Edward's parents. By the end of our trip, I was so comfortable and really felt like a part of the Cullen clan. It made me wonder why I had been so nervous in the first place. We made plans for Esme and Carlisle to come to LA and visit us soon. I was truly looking forward to their visit.

It was a nice sunny day in LA as Edward and I had lunch at our favorite outdoor cafe.

"So, I wanted to ask you something," I announced and then took a sip of my drink.

"Shoot," he replied, looking up from his burger.

"How do you have me in your phone?"

"I'm sorry?"

"You know, when I call your cell, what comes up? Do you have me in there as Bella? Brown eyes? Girlfriend? I don't know," I shrugged, "It's stupid. Never mind; forget I asked."

"Hey," he covered my hand with his own. I looked up at him and then watched as he pulled out his cell phone from his jeans pocket. "Dial it... see for yourself."

Edward pushed his cell phone across the table so it was right in front of me. I smiled as I pulled my own phone out of my bag and dialed his number.

When his phone starting ringing, I looked at the screen, and there it was. I looked up at him as a tear fell from my eye. I looked back down at the ringing phone and ran my fingers over the four words that were looking back at me. Those four words made everything worth it, because I felt the same way and always would.

Love of my Life

The End

A/N: *sigh* yes its really over. I know, I know, some of you think its too short and would have liked the wedding and babies, but the conversation they had in London sealed the deal on that, and I felt that made it okay. And ending it where it began was where it was always meant to end... I hope you all can understand that.

Thank you all so much for coming on another journey with me. I have loved all your reviews on here and the posts of my FB group page, Its been so great. I would also like to thank my amazing beta, Chandrakanta, without her none of my stories would look at good as they do and not be nearly as fun to write. So I thank her a million times.

So... if you'd like, you might want to put me on author alert as I have another story coming out very soon. I will tell you up front it is almost completely written and will be 10 chapters. Its short, but heartfelt, and definitely HEA. So who's ready for another ride? Please join my group Awish's Fanfiction for all the updates on my stories. Hope to see you there.

And so I mark this one complete. Thanks again to all. Much Love!

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