A/N - Sorry for the couple of days delaying this chapter. It's been a hectic week. Unfortunately, I lost my uncle to Covid-19 a few days ago and I've been a bit all over the place.

Because of that, this chapter comes to you un-beta'd so all mistakes are my own. Sorry.

I think I replied to everyone who reviewed the last chapter, if not, I apologise but I hope you all got your teasers from this chapter.

Enjoy!

~oOo~

Chapter 12

Edward stayed with me that night and we lay in bed, talking for hours after Rose left. We spoke about everything, getting to know each other more. My hand stroked his bare chest as his glided soothingly up and down my spine. It was peaceful, calm and perfect even though Edward had to leave at 6am for his pre-race swim.

It was the first time I had been up close and personal with his bare chest and it's an experience I'll never forget. His rippling muscles tensed beautifully under the surface with every tickling touch of my fingertips, his skin so achingly smooth under my hands, his shoulders broad and masculine and his waist taut and solid. He laughed, shook his head in embarrassment and hurried his face in the crook of my neck when I told him he should always be topless in my presence. But he did grant me permission to slide my hands under his clothing to touch his torso whenever I saw fit. It was a definite win in my book.

With every minute that passed as I lay in his arms, I fell deeper and deeper in love with him and for the first time, that thought didn't scare me. I listened to his deep, velvety voice as told me stories from his college days and explained to me why he loved swimming, despite his parents. We laughed when I told him stories of growing up in Forks, my father's misguided protective antics towards the few boys that braved our doorstep. When he begged me to promise to protect him when he met my dad, my heart skipped a beat in excitement that he planned to meet him one day. It was another little hint that whatever we had extended further than our London bubble and I allowed myself hope that we had a future together, and that he was just as invested as I was.

Eventually, we both succumbed to sleep, wrapped tightly in each other's arms, his chin above my head, sharing the same pillow.

~oOo~

The 400m individual medley was the first medal race for swimming in the Olympics and the whole park was buzzing; alive with excitement and anticipation.

When Edward left that morning, I decided to wake Sam and ask him if he could fill in for me, promising to edit the pictures and help him write his article as payment for essentially taking the day off. The time difference between London and Oregon was the real killer as I ate breakfast and tried to pass the time, waiting patiently for a decent time to call Seth and tell him about Edward and I. If I thought for a second that he might not see any resulting media from today, I wouldn't have bothered him but I felt like I owed him the truth.

I wouldn't say Seth was happy with my omission but he assured me I couldn't lose my job over such a thing. I wasn't the first, nor would I be the last sports photographer to fall in love with an athlete and I promised him that it wouldn't affect my work, which placated him further.

When I met Rosalie and Alice that afternoon, I felt as though a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. So much so that I even put a small amount of eye makeup on and dressed in my skinny jeans, tan flats and wore my trendy leather jacket. My Ray Ban Wayfarers kept my wavy hair off my face and I felt elated and free, excited to watch Edward in his first medal race of the games. I was apprehensive too, a low buzzing of nerves fluttered in my gut as Rose, Alice and I wove our way through the deepening crowd towards the Aquatic Centre. Edward had text me earlier in the day to let me know that there would be 6 tickets awaiting me, for Rose, Alice, Jasper, Emmett and I; and much to my surprise, Felix was joining us too, because apparently he was keen to meet me. The downside was that seating had been rearranged slightly and we would be in the row directly in front of Edward's parents. I groaned inwardly upon hearing that news but I refused to let it ruin my day, Edward had sounded so excited.

Once we had our tickets in hand, secured around lanyards which we each placed around our necks; we made our way to our seats, a little earlier than we needed to. We were sat in the front row, looking down in to the pool and I marvelled at the fact that I'd be able to see Edward from this angle, even when he was under the water on his turns. The height of the stands was perfect, looking down on to the pool from a few feet higher than ground level.

I took the aisle seat, the closest to the stairs leading to the pool and conveniently, the exit which was a few rows above us.

Emmett and Jasper joined us quickly, the latter nodding in my direction politely as he passed by me to site next to Alice, and the former playfully punching me on the arm before sitting between Rose and Alice. I turned to Rose who was sitting next me.

"Did you tell Emmett everything about last night?"

"Yup," she smirked, popping the 'p' and leaning in to me a little more so Emmett couldn't overhear. "And I gave him the lecture of a lifetime."

"Yeah?" I asked, raising my eyebrow. "About what?"

"About how fucking tragic it is that the two newest people in Edward's life," she pointed between herself and me, "seem to be the only two that openly have his back."

I nodded silently, looking back towards the pool. "How did he take that?"

"Surprisingly ... Okay," she answered. "He's so torn between Edward and their parents but I think he sees it from a different perspective now. The Cullen parents did a number on both of them."

I smiled softly, hoping that we now had Emmett on our side.

The five of us were in good spirits and eased in to each other's company, laughing, joking and teasing each other off the bat. It was easy and laid back between us all. That was, until we heard a voice behind us and everyone on our row tensed.

"What's going on here?" The gruff, cold voice cut in and I slowly looked over my shoulder at the same time Emmett spoke up.

"Dad, this is Bella," Emmett pointed to me. I looked up as Carlisle Cullen regarded me impartially, not even bothering to introduce himself or extend his hand. "You know Rose... this is Alice, she's a designer for Nike." Alice looked Carlisle Cullen dead in the eye and even though she was tiny, she didn't shrink back from the older man's glare. "They're all here to support Edward."

Carlisle's eyes looked over Alice and I, the only two new faces, and clenched his jaw. It was then that I noticed Esme Cullen standing behind him, looking passive. She was a beautiful woman, petite and graceful. Her honey-colored hair was placed neatly on top of her head, a few loose tendrils framing her kind-looking face; her green eyes shone bright under the bright lights of the arena but her lips were pursed tight, giving her a stern looking edge. I moved my line of vision to Carlisle as he slid a couple of seats down in to the row. His light blond hair was swept back from his face and it was clear to see who Edward inherited his chiselled facial features from; Carlisle's complexion and bone structure was almost as perfect as Edward's but his cold blue eyes gave him a harsher, less approachable look. Edward was so warm and inviting, like a roaring fire on a snowy night and Carlisle was as comforting as an igloo during a snow storm.

"Great, just what Edward needs," Carlisle rolled his eyes and I had to calm myself down before I clawed his dead, icy eyes from their sockets, "more distractions."

I took a deep breath and turned back to face the pool, ignoring the terse jab at our attendance.

I sat in silence for the remainder of the time before the race was announced. Not only did I want to prevent drawing Carlisle and Esme's attention to me but also because of the anger bubbling right under the surface of my skin, threatening to come forth at any given moment. The whole time, I could feel the tension from the row behind us, coming at me in waves and although I had no idea if Edward's parents knew who I was, I wasn't too impatient to find out.

Truth be told, I knew they didn't think I was good enough for their son and I also knew that almost everyone else on the planet would think the same. Insecurity is a fickle emotion, it has no reasoning but fuels itself on your weakest moments; usually coming forth in the times you need it the least, the moments you need to be strong. But I willed myself to think of Edward; the way he looked at me, like there was no one else in the world; his soft words as he whispered them in my ear; the ways he had shown me, without a doubt that I was more to him than a quick fling and the way his whole face lit up when I proposed a united front against his parents. Despite his devastatingly beautiful face and body, there was so much more to Edward Cullen than the world often got to see. He was charming, funny, awkwardly shy and endearingly modest; it was those parts of Edward I held on to the most, it was those parts I clung to as I felt the eyes of his parents burning in to the back of my head. I could do this, for him.

Rose and Alice were the friends everyone needed and kept me sufficiently occupied on the run up to the main event. They kept my attention and my focus away from Edward's parents and their scolding glares; by making me laugh, talking about everything and anything of little to no relevance. Emmett and Jasper spoke at length about the competitors, their heads bent low over Alice as they leaned towards each other, discussing the tactics at play.

Eventually Felix arrived and I didn't miss the way he ignored Edward's parents and shook my hand, introducing himself as I stood from my seat to let him pass by me.

"Ahh, it's a pleasure, Bella," he smiled kindly. "I've heard a lot about you."

I bit my lip, smiling back at him as I shook his hand. "It's great to finally meet you too. How's he feeling?" I asked tentatively, referring to Edward. Felix winked and grinned wide.

"Great. I don't think we've got much to worry about today and I believe I have you to thank for that."

I blushed and shook my head, which made the older man chuckle as he moved further down the row of chairs and sat at Jasper's side. Alice huffed and shooed Emmett so they could switch seats, clearly exasperated with being caught between the men. Emmett didn't argue and stood quickly so he could sit closer to Jasper and Felix, and Alice smiled as she sat at Rose's side.

The whole time, I stole chanced random glances towards the Cullens behind us. Carlisle watched Emmett, Jasper and Felix but didn't say a word and made no effort to join in their hushed conversation as they laughed and discussed the race. Esme sat stock-still, eyes on the pool, like a perfectly placed mannequin. It was sad really. I couldn't decide if she was too scared of Carlisle's wrath to involve herself with us, or if she truly didn't care enough to even try. Something about the relationship between Edward's parents left me confused; Esme didn't look like the uncaring type and on first impression, she looked warm -despite her cold facade. I concluded that she must have been conditioned to appear so calculated and cold. I so desperately wanted that to be the case, giving hope to the possibility of mending the damaged bridge between her and Edward.

My watch told me it had only been an hour since we first entered the Aquatic Centre, but it felt like an eternity before the tannoy kicked to life around us and the crowd boomed in excitement. My palms were clammy and my heart thudded erratically in my chest as the eight swimmers entered the arena, one at a time, waving to the crowd.

Edward was fourth to be announced. Today, he seemed taller; his demeanour calmer and intensely focused. I held my breath and watched him as he approached lane five. He rolled his head, stretching his long powerful neck from side to side, and I allowed my eyes to roam his sweatsuit-clad body as he swung his arms wide, limbering for the race he was about to endure.

Rose nudged me and winked when I turned towards her. "He's looking good. He's got this." Her voice was low, so that only I could hear.

I nodded, biting my lip as I looked back towards Edward. My eyes met his for the briefest of moments and everything around me stilled and disappeared as the slightest smirk played at the corner of his mouth and he shot a tiny wink in my direction. I couldn't help the wide smile that took over my face as I looked back at him. It was only when Rose started to making gagging noises that I pried my gaze away from him, rolling my eyes and elbowing her as she mocked Edward and I.

"You guys are so damn sweet, you give me toothache," she teased and I chuckled, shaking my head at her and looking back to Edward as he unzipped his hoodie and slowly dragged it over his shoulders and off his arms.

I watched him stretch, keeping his muscles warm as his gaze never wavered from the water's surface. His jaw was tight, his teeth clenched in concentration; his whole body a reflection of his mind in that moment -focused, steady and confident. It was breathtaking to be able to watch him without the worry of taking pictures. I could study him closer than ever before; the way his breaths deepened, his chest as it expanded slowly with every inhale; the way his eyes closed briefly as he exhaled through his nose. The way his fingers rubbed the elastic of his goggles as he held them lightly in his hand. I watched as his bottle-green eyes seemed to count every blemish that graced the calm water; the way the muscles in his thighs contracted as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other and the slight rolling of his shoulder blades as he stared forward. I couldn't hear his heart beat, but I guessed if I could, it would be steady and strong. This was Edward's domain and as I surveyed him, I realised just how strong and content he was. I could never contemplate being so calm with the eyes of the world bearing down on me, but to Edward, this was second nature and impossibly comfortable. It made me appreciate a whole new side of him; a side that was so guarded yet so prominent.

There was so much going on, so much noise and endless excitement within the roofed arena but all I could concentrate on was Edward. I couldn't blink, couldn't turn away as I watched him prepare mentally for what was ahead. When he stepped on to the starting block alongside the other competitors, I could hear nothing except the steady drumming of the crowd's feet and the vibrations pulsing up through my legs felt earth-shattering, but my sights and heart were focused solely on Edward.

I don't think I registered the shrill beep that signalled the start of the race. But I was vaguely aware of everyone around me as they jumped to their feet when the swimmers hit that water; eight flawless, synchronised dives that broke the surface with minimal spray. I could see his silhouette, deep and fast before he reemerged. His butterfly stroke was powerful and commanding; his arms long and flawless as they cut the surface over and over again. I could see every deep intake of breath as his head emerged over and over again. My feet were like lead, heavy and unmoving, and my hands gripped the front of my seat as I leaned forward, unable to stand.

On his turn, I followed his movements, straining my neck over the railings to keep him in sight. I don't think I was breathing, my head felt light and a pit of nervous nausea settled in my gut. I had no idea where any of the other competitors were, too scared that if I looked away, I'd loose him in the churning mass of water and fast limbs.

By the time he made his second turn and started his backstroke length, my mouth was dry and my knuckles were white. His arms stretched far behind his head; his form was strong as he kicked his feet. I watched his mouth as he calmly inhaled and exhaled and pushed against the water. His damp chest gleamed in the bright lights and I wished I could hear his thoughts, I wished I could speak to him but mostly, I wanted to run to him. I wanted to be right there, at the edge of the pool as he made his turn.

Another agonising turn and flip of his body to start his breaststroke. I knew this was his weakest stroke, I knew he liked it the least, so I edged ever nearer to the edge of my seat and chewed on my lip harder. Rosalie grabbed my shoulder as she jumped up and down, screaming Edward's name but still, I couldn't tear my eyes from his frame as he raced. I couldn't hear my heart but I could feel it and it was thudding brutally, threatening to burst free from my chest. I missed the turn, despite the fact that my eyes never strayed from Edward for a second. My mind was everywhere, a swirl of erratic disarray and chaotic concentration.

The atmosphere around me was a torrent of excitement but I was shaking. I was so invested in this race, in one swimmer in particular that I couldn't bask in the moment. Edward was so calm, so quiet and so strong that I knew I didn't need to worry but I had never felt so crushingly nervous, so painfully devoted to one particular goal. I was in way over my head and drowning. I wanted a win, for him. I wanted him to achieve that gold medal because he deserved it and although I knew it wouldn't matter if he placed first or last in my eyes; I'd love him regardless of the outcome, but for him, I prayed for a gold medal. I had never prayed in my life but as I sat there, my body rigid, my breathing uneven and my knuckles white; I prayed for him to sail forward, to beat everyone else in that water.

When he turned in the water and surged forward in to his front crawl stroke, suddenly my legs sprang back to life and I threw myself out of my seat and grabbed Rose's arm. This was his strongest stroke and if Edward Cullen could win a race on anything, it was front crawl.

I didn't know where he was in the standings as he made his final turn, I couldn't look away. Instead, I focused on his arms and then his face as it swung to the side to take a deep breath before disappearing under the surface again. Emmett's voice boomed from a couple of seats away, but I couldn't look and I couldn't join in. The noises that escaped my mouth were feeble and weak as I raised myself on to my tiptoes in a desperate attempt to see more of him. My whole body was vibrating as he reached out, exhausted and touched the wall.

Everyone around me jumped up and down, Rose grabbed me and hugged me tight. Alice almost jumped on the tall blond's back as everyone cheered and squealed. It was manic and so loud as the world around me came back to life and slowly the noise, the smell and the room all came back in to focus.

I grabbed Rose's arms, looking back and forth between her and the water. "Did he win?" I asked, breathlessly and she laughed loudly, grabbing my shoulders and nodding hard.

"He won!" She called over the noise and I think I screamed and then choked on the emotion that burst forth.

I let my friend go and turned to the railings, back towards Edward as he pulled himself from the pool. People crowded him quickly, patting him on the back and congratulating him loudly. I took a deep calming breath and shook my head, smiling even though my bottom lip was still in the grip of my teeth. He won.

I wanted to cry, I wanted to jump the damn railings and run in to his arms. I wanted to kiss him and then make him promise he'd never put me through that again but most of all, I wanted to congratulate him.

I chanced a glance towards the scoreboard and smiled wider as his name was displayed alongside a little gold sphere, announcing his gold medal win. I was so caught up in appreciating his name highlighted in that way that I didn't notice when he pushed through the crowd of people who swarmed him and made his way to me.

It wasn't until he was a few steps from me, and Rose nudged me that I snapped my eyes back in his direction. He had removed his swimming cap, goggles and nose piece and he was beaming in my direction. I couldn't help but beam back despite the fact that I knew he was about to make a very public declaration.

"All in?" He asked, as he came to a stop in front of me, looking up at me from from his lower level, pool side.

I nodded my head and smiled brightly at him. "All in," I whispered, despite the noise. But he heard me, he read my lips and I watched as he raised his arms, grabbed the railings and hoisted himself upwards so our faces were level, a few inches apart.

I opened my mouth to congratulate him but before I could say a word, his lips were on mine, forceful and strong, fuelled by adrenaline and without missing a beat, I threw my arms around his neck and kissed him back. Everyone around us whooped and hollered; I didn't care about the water that seeped through my clothing as I held him to me and I didn't notice the flashes of the cameras around us; there was only Edward and me in that moment and it was perfect. We both smiled against each other's mouths as the kiss ended, only pulling away from each other as our company leaned over to pat him on the back and congratulate him.

"Go get that medal, Champ," I spoke in to his ear as he laughed with Emmett, Jasper and Felix.

He turned to me, smiling brightly and it was only then I became aware of Carlisle as barged past me towards his youngest son. My eyes widened as Rosalie's arms grabbed me to steady me. Edward's eyes narrowed and the smile was wiped from his face as he regarded his father.

"Enough of this childish spectacle," Carlisle spat, mainly in my direction.

Edward's jaw tensed but I couldn't allow him to bite, not in front of everyone. He opened his mouth to speak through clenched teeth but before he could, I placed my hand on his shoulder and begged him with my eyes to let it go. Thankfully my touch distracted him from Carlisle and he looked at me, his eyes softening and his jaw unclenching as his eyes met my pleading ones.

"Go," I urged. "It's fine."

He nodded once, leaned forward to kiss me softly once more, and then jumped down from the railings.

Jasper and Felix appeared by my side suddenly, regarding Carlisle with nothing but extreme distaste.

"We need to go help Edward cool down," Jasper whispered in to my ear, his voice calm and unmoved by Carlisle's behaviour but he squeezed my shoulder in a comforting gesture. "You'll stay for the medal ceremony?"

"Of course," I nodded, ignoring the glare Carlisle was shooting my way.

"Good," Jasper nodded. "Remember, he's just a bitter old man." And with that, he was gone, not looking in Carlisle's direction as he brushed past.

I smiled tightly at Felix as he squeezed my shoulder and threw a wink my way. They had to go help Edward, but their comforting words and touches warmed me before they left leaving no doubt in my mind that they had my back even though they couldn't stay with me for the shit storm that was rolling in.

I turned tentatively back towards Rose, Alice and Emmett, who all stood behind me in a show of solidarity.

"Bella, right?" Carlisle spat venomously and I took a deep breath before turning back in his direction.

I hummed, nodding and pursed my lips. "I would say it's a pleasure but.." I let me words trail off as I looked back at Edward's father and shrugged.

"Who do you think you are?" Carlisle asked, his eyes narrowing.

"Dad," Emmett started, moving forward to try and placate the situation. Carlisle ignored him, his gaze unfaltering as it bore in to me.

I sighed and shot a glance towards Esme Cullen who stood behind her husband, unmoving. Her face was difficult to read, she looked lost and torn but it was clear where she stood, figuratively speaking.

"Look," I spoke softly, "it doesn't matter what you think of me, who you think I am. I'm here for Edward and I don't really feel like I need to prove myself. If Edward wants me here, I'll be here."

"My son doesn't know what he wants, what he needs." Carlisle shot back, his eyes narrowing impossibly further.

"That's not true," I quipped back, trying to remain calm.

"Don't presume to know my son better than I do." His words were sharp, his tone scathing.

I was aware of the people around us trying to listen in to our conversation and this wasn't the situation I wanted publicised when Edward and I went public. Edward's happiness shouldn't be over-shadowed by his father's animosity and his girlfriend's need to defend herself. I needed to calm the situation down before Rose got involved.

"This isn't the time, nor the place for this conversation," I observed, looking around and noticing the cameras pointed in our direction as I stood facing off against Edward's parents, my friends standing loyally behind me.

Thankfully, the announcer broke through the tension, his voice loud as he introduced the medalists. I turned to face the pool once again, where a podium had been set up; effectively giving Carlisle Cullen the shoulder. Ignoring him was probably a sure-fire way to provoke him but this was about Edward and his win; everything else could wait.

Thankfully, Carlisle soon directed Esme back to her seat without another word and I focused all my attention forward, to where Edward appeared. He looked up at me and only looked away once I smiled in his direction, trying to tell him wordlessly that I was okay.

The ceremony was patriotic and beautiful. I watched, mesmerised as Edward stood on the highest level of the podium and lowered his head to accept his medal. I beamed with pride as they announced his name and played the national anthem and I wiped a tear as the crowd erupted in his honour. I had never witnessed anything like it and I knew, without a doubt that the way I was feeling, the pride that coursed through me and the happiness I felt for the man who stood in front of the world and held his medal high for the cameras, was love. Straight up, unquestionable and unwavering love.

Sure, I had come to that conclusion a while ago, but with every passing day, it solidified itself deeper and deeper in to my core. After a mere week, I understood that Edward Cullen was the love of my life. I didn't scoff at myself or roll my eyes; I grasped it unashamedly.

"Let's go back there and wait for him," Rose spoke in to my ear and nodded in the direction of the locker rooms as the cameras continued to flash in Edward's direction. I nodded and stood so everyone else in the row of seats could get by and lead the way.

"No, I don't think so." I spun and looked towards the voice that cut through all the noise of the arena, looking down slowly and quirking my eyebrow at the tight grip Carlisle Cullen held on my upper arm.

"Whoa," Rosalie interjected before I could say a word, her voice sharp. "Get your hand off her."

"Dad, fuck. What are you doing?" Emmett asked worriedly as he grabbed his father's wrist to remove the tight grip from my arm.

"You're not going back there," Carlisle seethed, looking at everyone before focusing his anger-filled gaze back to me.

I raised both my eyebrows, determined not to shrink away from Carlisle Cullen. He had clearly spent his whole life pushing people around and his superiority complex was getting old, fast.

Ever the voice of level-headed reason, Alice spoke up, trying to placate the situation. "Mr Cullen, I understand why you don't want everyone back there." Her voice was calm and feminine. "Rose and me will hang back but I think it's only fair that Edward's brother and girlfriend get to share this moment with him."

"Girlfriend," Carlisle laughed harshly. "You've been in his life for two minutes, don't get ahead of yourself."

"You know what?" I sighed, feeling agitated and torn between tearing in to Carlisle and running to Edward. "You're right," I nodded at Carlisle and immediately wanted to smack the arrogant smirk from his face. "You're his parents so, go ahead. Go tell your son how proud of him you are."

Rose raised her eyebrows at me, Emmett blew out a sigh of relief no doubt because I was backing down and Carlisle chuckled triumphantly before grabbing his wife's wrist and pushing past us on his way to the exit. No one else moved.

I wasn't backing down, not even remotely. But part of me hoped that Carlisle and Esme would do the right thing and be the parents their son needed in that moment. I could stomp my feet, shout and scream at them and demand to see Edward, but what would that achieve in the long run? I wasn't there to make him choose between them or me, I refused to be that girl. They owed him their support and truthfully, Carlisle was right; I hadn't been in Edward's life for long enough to start dictating or assuming who should and should not be the first to congratulate him. The only person who could make that call, was Edward.

Edward had told me how they had treated him, but they were his parents and I had to hope, for his sake, that they'd see the error of their ways and start acting differently towards him. I didn't want to give them that chance; nothing about them seemed remotely redeeming or contradictory to what I had been told, but I was there for Edward. I wasn't there to make things more difficult for him or to drive a larger wedge between him and his family. So if letting Carlisle and Esme be the ones to congratulate him first, made things easier for Edward, that's exactly what I'd do.

"What are you doing?" Rose asked, her face a mixture of skepticism and confusion.

"Taking the moral high ground, I think." I looked towards the area of the arena Edward had last stood, trying to ... I don't know, manifest some good wishes his way? My mom used to swear that worked and I had never tried it before, but in that moment, I hoped to the high heavens Edward's parents wouldn't make me regret my decision.

"You're a better person than me, Bells," Rose sighed, shaking her head.

"Well, I'm going to go against the grain here and thank you," Emmett interjected, receiving a deathly scowl from Rose. "So thanks, Bella." He shrunk back from Rose's glare but glanced at me briefly as he thanked me. I shrugged, still unable to decipher between Emmett's jovial outgoing attitude when his parents were absent and his quiet, guarded attitude in their presence. I didn't think he was as immune to Carlisle's wrath as Edward thought he was.

"I don't get it," Alice cut in. "Why can't everyone just ... get along?"

Rose snorted, cynically. "Ask his parents." Emmett physically blanched at her words.

"It's a long, complex story, Al," I offered, bending down to retrieve my purse from where it sat under my seat. "I'll use my press badge to get back there."

"They won't let the press in to the locker rooms," Emmett told me.

"I'm not going in to the locker rooms. I'll stand outside and wait."

"Okay, do you need us to come with you?" Alice asked, looking concerned. I shook my head.

"I'll be okay," I smiled weakly.

"Hey," Rose spoke softly, nudging my shoulder. "As far as a united front goes, that wasn't a complete fail." I huffed through my nose, feeling as though I had failed a little. "I'm telling you," she continued. "We were here, he saw us, he smiled, he was calm, he won that race spectacularly, you met the parents, we all sat here together -for Edward, he made a very public declaration and pissed his parents off. I'd say that's a win, you know?"

"So why do I feel like I've just disappointed him?" I spoke softly, looking at my shoes.

"You're not a miracle worker, Bell," Alice cooed. "Whatever issues he has with his parents, it's not on you to fix them in one single day. There's no quick fix and the answers aren't on you. You did the right thing, they're his parents and you don't want to be the one to come between them until you feel like you need to, or that you should."

I nodded, biting my lip.

"This is way bigger than what you can do," Emmett spoke up. "And Edward wouldn't expect you to start a very public fight with his parents in his honour. There was no way to win that and for everyone to come out unscathed."

"Oh," Rose snorted, turning to her boyfriend. "Now you're full of wisdom? When your parents are long gone?"

"Rose, come on ..." Emmett begged.

"I swear to God," she huffed. "I love you, but I hate who you are when your parents are around."

"I'm working on it," Emmett sighed, rubbing his hands over his face.

"Can we," I started, my eyes wide but I smiled. "Go back a few steps. You've both declared your love already?"

"Oh yeah," Rose giggled. "That's old news. When you know, you know, right?" She smirked.

"I guess so!" Alice clapped, looking ecstatic.

"Besides, someone needs to stick around to keep the Cullens in check." She shot a playful scowl in Emmett's direction and Alice and I laughed.

We slowly made our way out of the stands, promising to get in touch with each other later. As we broke off to go our separate ways, I wasn't sure how I was feeling. I was over the moon happy for Edward and his medal; I felt contempt towards his parents and their very clear animosity towards everyone; I was apprehensive about standing around waiting for him like a lurking sneaky journalist and mostly, I was nervous about how he'd react to his parents turning up in the locker room when I was nowhere to be seen. But we hadn't spoken about that and I didn't feel as though I had the right, so early on in our relationship, to make decisions about such things. Did Edward want me there? Would he be hurt and think I didn't want to be there? What venom was his parents firing his way and could I have stopped it?

I walked the long corridor, my footfall echoing with every step I took and hoped that his parents were being reasonable and polite. But deep down, I knew that wouldn't be the case. I just prayed he would hold it against me.

~oOo~

A/N - So ... what did you think? Was Bella right to take a step back when faced with Carlisle? I mean, she's very level-headed so I think for this character, kicking and screaming isn't exactly her style. She had to assess the situation for herself, right? Up until this point, she had never even met the Cullen parents so she had to test the water for herself. She's not irrational in her loyalty, but how long do you think it'll be before the Cullen parents underestimate her?

As always, I hope you enjoyed and let me know what you think!