This story is written for the wonderful MooAH who donated and helped bring a better Christmas and Holiday season to some wonderful and very deserving children. It has been a complete joy to write this for you, and we hope that you really enjoy the story we wrote for you.
Nikky & Kasi~

This has been beta'd by: Jess2002, Savanavansmutsmut and AWayWithWords. Thank you to you three wonderful ladies, without who we'd look really silly. Any mistakes belong to us.

All things Twilight Saga related belong to Stephenie Meyer, all things such as plot and storyline of this story belong to WeeKittyAndTAT. No copyright infringements intended in the use of the characters that was created for the Twilight Saga.

Raising The Steaks

By: WeeKittyAndTAT

"Happy birthday, Cullen!" the booming voice shouts.

I look up at my immediate supervisor, Emmett McCarthy. My eyes bug out as he drops a load of files on my desk. I shake my head at the grin on his face.

"You really didn't need to give me anything," I deadpan as I push the files toward him.

"Ah, but you're only turning forty once."

I stop pushing the files back at him and glare up at him. "I turned thirty-six this morning."

"Pa-ta-toe—pa-tat-oh," he says shrugging his shoulders not really caring how old I turned today.

"What are the files anyway?" I ask looking at the stack.

"It's the files on the spree of recent muggings we've had. I want you to oversee the cases, now that we believe they're connected."

I sigh and pull the files over to me. "Who has been working these cases?"

"Mike, Taylor, Eric, and Jessica."

I snort and mutter, "Oh, joy."

"Ed, you were a rookie at one time, too, remember?"

I stop myself from rolling my eyes at him. "Yes, but I didn't suck up to everyone's ass."

Emmett chuckles at me. "Yeah, you were just the smart ass that thought he knew it all—and that's so much better."

"Is that a sarcastic tone I detect in your voice?" I ask as I raise my eyebrow above the top of my glasses.

"Wow, Cullen, it looks like you're starting to get the hang of things. There's still hope for you yet."

I roll my eyes as he walks away laughing. I'm just done going through all the files, when the four idiots in question—who've been working the case—arrive at my desk.

"Eddie, Emmy said that you were overseeing our cases now," Jessica says while snapping her gum.

I nod curtly while holding up the trash can and motion for her to spit her gum out. I really hate people chewing gum loudly and snapping it around me. I cringe as she swallows the gum. They all just stand there awkwardly around my desk.

"Yes, that's right, and it's Edward," I say waving my hand at them to sit down.

"I want you all on shifts around the park. You should be able to cover it in half hour segments. Someone needs to be there all the time from four p.m. until four a.m."

All four junior detectives just look at me.

"What? You mean like in the car, right?" Jessica gasps.

I shake my head using my hand to indicate walking.

"What, walking the park for twelve hours, why?" Mike whines out.

"First, it gives you a chance to see and talk to people. Second, you can also learn and notice if someone out of place is hanging around. Third, most of the muggings have happened in the middle of the park—which can't be seen from the road."

Mike rolls his eyes at me and I want to fista cuff his ass.

"But, it's getting cold now!" Mike says to me as he points to the window.

"You're an officer of the law, it's your job, so suck it up and deal with it. I want you there as much as possible during those times, understood?"

They all mumble a "yes," before walking away from me.

I spent some time making up a rotation schedule for them, adding in some other officers, so I know that there'll be at least two officers at the park at any given time. By the end of the day, I'm dog tired and decide just to eat out before heading home.

I head straight to Raising the Steaks. When I'm not at work, the gym or home, you can find me here. This has been my place to hang, since it opened ten years ago.

"Evening, Edward."

I look up seeing the newest waitress, Isabella—Bella to all her friends—at my table.

"Hey, Bella, can I get a two Heinekens please. I'm not sure what I want to eat yet."

She gives me a smile and nod, before walking away to get my drinks. She comes back almost right away, placing down the two beers I ordered.

"You know, I think I'll go for the twelve ounce Ribeye, with fries. Oh, and I'll take an order of onion rings."

I watch her write it on her order pad. She looks up and smiles at me. "What about the salad?" I screw up my face and she sighs at me. "You know you need some salad now and again, eating all red meat and greasy potatoes and onions, isn't healthy."

I chuckle a little, when I see the blush appear on her face.

"I'm sorry."

I shake her apology off as I laugh. "Add the salad, but I want a healthy glob of ranch dressing."

She bites her lip nodding at me. I sit back and drink my first beer down in one go. I'm about halfway through my second when Bella is back with my knife, fork, and onion rings.

"Bad day at work?"

I give her a little nod as she places the stuff on my table. I watch as she walks away, but stops and comes back.

"Edward?"

I look up seeing she looks nervous. She shakes her head and walks away again, only to come straight back. It's really quite funny, but since she looks scared, I don't laugh out loud. I watch as she sits down on the seat across from me.

"Edward, I was wondering—nothing big or anything—but would you want to have a drink with me later, tonight or another night?"

I swallow as I look at her, hating that I have to turn her down. But dating ... it just isn't something I want to do. I already know that I'm married to my job—not to mention being the wife of a cop is hard. It would be unfair for me to bring someone into that—where they'd have to play second best to a job. Not to mention the worry all the time, waiting for that phone call.

Bella, from what I've seen, is a really nice girl. She's in her early twenties, and a little overweight—but not overly. From what I do know of her, she won't go for the fuck buddy thing or one night stands.

"Bella, you're a really nice girl, but I don't think that would be a good idea," I say softly to her. I don't want to upset her, but her face has already turned red. "I'm sorry," I say feeling bad.

She shakes her head at me. "No, don't worry about it—really, it's fine—forget I asked," she says standing up and walking away.

I look at my beer and frown. I down the rest of the beer in one go again.

A/N: So first off did you all catch the play on words? We have to thank our wonderful fandom friend and maker of the awesome banner for this story, Deebelle1 Fanfiction, she actually came up with the unique name of the story for us, as well as named the restaurant in the process. Thanks again to MooAh for the donations she made to the fund that helped make Christmas and the Holiday season much nicer for over 50 children in the fandom. She won a story of her choice of storyline, and character descriptions, written by us in a raffle drawing. She chose a heavy-set Bella maybe working as a waitress and a blue collar Edward, everything else she left up to us, so we hope you all enjoy it. Thank you again MooAh you really are a selfless person and a big sweetheart. Nikky & Kasi~

PS... This is being reposted since FFN took it down because it was reported for violating the TOS. It is a shame we lost the over 1500 reviews we had. We are putting it back up and it will be edited for content. You may read it unedited for content at TWCS or FicPad. Thanks, Nikky and Kasi.