Hi everyone! This chapter was edited by Sunflower Fran. She worked her magic and I hope you all like it. Happy Holidays! :)

Bella Pov

Edward and Esme took their tense conversation outside as I nervously paced the living room, peeking out of the window at them every so often, wondering how he's taking all of this. I'm worried about him, and nervous about how their conversation will go.

I want nothing more than to comfort him, and to be the rock I know he needs at the moment. From what I can tell, it seems this is taking quite a toll on him. Now that I have pieced everything together in my head, I can see why their reunion is an emotional one.

I am beating myself up for not being able to set aside my pride and be there for him when I know he'd do it for me regardless of what I might have done to hurt him.

I look out the window once more to see him with both hands atop his head as he paces in front of a very distraught Esme. Then he turns abruptly with his arms outstretched and says something to her that makes her cry. He watches her for a moment before going to her and wrapping her in a loving hug that squeezes at my heart.

I watch Edward rein in his anger and push aside his hurt to comfort his mother. The woman he felt abandoned him when he needed her most. And I know right then that I was right. He would set aside his own hurt, pain or discomfort for the ones he loves. And if I love him the same, then I should be able to do that, too.

I make my way outside and slowly walk to them. As I'm approaching, Edward looks up and smiles a sad smile.

When he pulls back from the hug, Esme quickly wipes her eyes and then smiles at me much like her son had.

"So this is the man you were speaking of?" She asks, trying to disguise her sniffles.

"Yes." My smile is genuine as I wrap my arm around Edward's waist and hug up next to my tall, rugged man.

"I must tell you." She begins, her eyes fixed on Edward with pride. "I missed much of his life, but if I know one thing about my son, it's he loves fiercely."

Edward doesn't shy away from his mother's praise, he welcomes it. I look up at him for a moment, and when he finally looks at me, I respond. "I know that about him too."

"Well, you said you have to go, and I understand, but we should have dinner soon," Esme says to Edward who all of a sudden looks extremely uncomfortable.

"I don't know." He rocks back on his heels and rubs the back of his neck. He makes a gesture with his free hand outstretched toward her. "Like I told Emmett; I'm not exactly ready for that."

"I understand." She nods and looks over at me trying to smile, but her lips tremble. "When you are, you know where to find me. Just know that I love you, Edward, and I never stopped."

Edward doesn't speak for the longest time; he doesn't even nod. It's as if he blanked out the last few seconds of the conversation. There's nothing on his face that suggests he heard a word she'd said. She notices, and offers a supportive smile realizing how hard it must be for him.

Then, as quick as lightning, he turns and begins walking to Alice's car parked near the mailbox. Great! Alice even let him use her car.

"Edward," I call after him as my feet begin to move trying to catch up. I grab his arm, and he stops. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Bella." He slowly wiggles out of my hold. "I'll see you later." Then he begins to walk again, but I quickly catch up.

"I'm coming with you."

"You need time to think." He says almost bitterly, and I blink at him, saddened by his cold behavior. "And so do I." He looks away and curses under his breath. "I shouldn't have come here."

"I'm glad you did."

He gives me a skeptical look and then shakes his head. "Go inside. I'll see you later."

"I told you already. I'm coming with you."

"I need to be alone." He fires back, and now I'm confused. Why won't he let me comfort him?

"Don't do that Edward. Don't push me away when you need me most."

"Why not? If I don't push you away, you'll end up leaving anyway." He mumbles. "Everyone does." And my heart breaks for the little boy that lost so much, so young.

I step in front of him and cup his face in my hands. "That is not true." He tries to look up, but I hold his face firmly between my hands. "It's not."

He stares into my eyes for a few long seconds looking for sincerity and then nods when he finds what he's looking for. I hope he also sees how much I love him because nothing could stand in the way of that. Not even my hurt.

I pull him down for a hug, wrapping my arms around his neck, and I see that Esme has just been standing there watching with tears in her eyes.

I smile at her, and she returns it even through her tears before walking into the house.

Edward Pov

"You mean to tell me that you drove Alice's car without a license?" Bella asks from her place in the driver's seat.

I was embarrassed to tell her I didn't know how to drive, but she knows the truth about me, so I don't feel as weird about it. Everything should make sense to her now.

"I don't exactly know how to drive."

She playfully hits my bicep; her eyes and mouth open wide in shock. "Then how did you get to me?"

"I winged it. I had to see you." I answer with a shrug, glancing out of the corner of my eye trying to see her expression but not actually wanting to see it in case it's too soon for me to say something like that.

Bella is known for running away.

Instead of looking shell-shocked or upset, she has the most adorable smile on her face.

With her hand on her chest, she says, "That is the most romantic thing I have ever heard." Then she hits me again and gasps as if she's having an afterthought. "What if something would've happened to you? You could've died."

The thought had occurred to me, but I figured I would have to pay the consequences either way. I needed to know that we were okay, and I couldn't wait another day.

"I picked up the concept fairly quickly. It's not that difficult."

"Still, you don't have a license. Anything could have happened." She turns the key in the ignition and puts on her seatbelt without a word. Then something occurs to her. "Alice doesn't know that you can't drive."

"How do you know that?"

She gives me a look that says she knows what she's talking about. "She let you drive her Porsche. She wouldn't do that if she knew you could possibly wreck it."

"I may have lied, and she was half asleep when I asked."

Bella laughs at this as she pulls away from the curb and onto the road. We're silent for a few long seconds, and when I chance a look at her face, she looks deep in thought.

"You're not afraid-"

"Do you know what-"

We both speak at the same time, and then when our curious eyes meet, we share a laugh.

"You first," I tell her, and she slowly lets out a breath before speaking, her hands gripping the steering wheel a little tighter.

"Do you know what they bet?" She asks her voice low and unsure.

I open my mouth, ready to reiterate the fact that I had no idea a bet even existed before today when my phone rings.

With a deep sigh, I pull the phone from my pocket, and Emmett's name flashes across the screen. I feel Bella's eyes on me, watching as I wrestle with the idea of ignoring my brother's call.

"Who is it?"

Tugging at my hair with my free hand, I respond. "Emmett."

The phone continues to ring in my hand, and I just stare at it.

What could he possibly have to say to me? Our conversation over lunch was forced and awkward, no matter how hard Emmett tried to lighten the mood with endless jokes. I'm just not ready to let him into my life. I thought I'd made it abundantly clear that when I was ready, I would call him.

"Aren't you going to answer?" Bella's question brings me back to the fact that the phone is still ringing. I blink a few times, hit ignore and pocket the phone.

Then I shake off my bad mood and turn my attention back to my girl. "What were you saying?"

She looks over at me and blinks a few times, utterly confused by the shift in the air, and the switch in my mood. "Why won't you talk to Emmett?"

I lift a shoulder in a shrug, "I'm not ready."

She nods her head, remaining on my side when it comes to this situation. Even though she doesn't agree with it. "I'll call him later."

Her head snaps to the side to look at me, and there's a smile on her face so big, so bright, it physically hurts to look at her. I'll do anything to keep that smile on her beautiful face.

"Promise?" She asks with that same smile, but with her eyes back on the road.

"I promise baby. Now tell me, what were you talking about earlier?"

Her brows furrow for a short second, but then realization dawns on her. "About the bet." She says, then without waiting for a response, she asks her earlier question. "Do you know what they bet?"

"Of course not. You're the one that told me about the bet. I had no idea."

She nods with pursed lips, considering my answer. "It may not show, because I'm hiding it behind all of my unanswered questions, but I'm so angry."

"That's understandable, baby. I need you to understand that I never meant to hurt you."

"It's not you." She takes a deep breath. "You didn't bet on my life. This is on Alice and Demetri, and God I want them to feel just a piece of what I felt today. I wish there were some way to get back at them."

"Baby..." I grab her hand and squeeze, trying to show her support, let her know that I'm here for her and she can draw strength from me in these trying times, but under no circumstance do I agree to play games and get back at someone. It's childish, and I have already had too much of that in my life. I'm ready for a mature relationship. "We should just move forward and decide whether or not to remain friends with Alice. It's your decision."

"I need to do this Edward. Honestly, even if it's just to get more information before exposing them. I doubt they will tell me everything if I just come right out and ask. I need to learn everything on my own and then decide what I want to do with that information."

I hear what she's saying, but I don't agree with it. However, if she thinks this is what she needs to do, then I won't stop her. She will have to learn on her own.

"So what are you going to do?"

She sighs and sits in deep thought for long seconds before finally speaking. "Alice doesn't know that I know who you really are, and Demetri knows that I know about the bet, but he doesn't know who you really are or how you're connected, right?"

I shrug, thinking over everything she's said before replying. "It's only a matter of time before he finds out who I am."

"But by then, I should have everything I need."

"I don't want this to blow up in our face and ruin us, baby. I just got you... I-" I take a breath, and she takes the opportunity to assure me.

"Edward, I love you. I'm not going anywhere."

Her words cause my heart to beat faster, and an involuntary smile to spread across my face. I'm relieved she still feels the same way about me even though she knows who I really am and how we were set up.

She sighs when I don't respond. "You don't have to do anything, Edward. Just pretend that nothing has changed. Let Alice think our relationship hasn't progressed, and I'll let Demetri think I'm done with you after the information he told me. He'll think he won, but I'll be using him for information."

Skeptical of the whole ordeal, I reply solemnly. "What do we get out of this?"

"The satisfaction of knowing that we won, and they lost." She says it as if it's the most obvious conclusion to draw, but it's not so clear and I know for sure she's not thinking of any consequences.

I decide to point out a major flaw in her plan. "But Alice is going to win because you're mine. What does Alice have to lose?"

She glances over at me and with a straight face, she says …

"My friendship."