Disclaimer: I really don’t own anything. It all belongs to the genius of Stephenie Meyer. Songs used in this story belong to their respective artists (“So Close” to Jon McLaughlin and “Something to Sleep To”, from which the title of this story is taken, to Michelle Branch). Any references to pop culture belong to their respective owners, etc. With that said, enjoy!

You Give Me Something to Sleep to At Night

Chapter 1:You're Getting WHAT?

They first met, or so she was told, at the tender age of two. His family had just moved into the neighborhood from Chicago, and her mother, then wife of the police chief of the small town of Forks, had thought it her duty to welcome them.

Renée had often gone on to say that the moment Edward Masen and Bella Swan met was something straight out of a storybook. According to her, Bella had apparently dropped her favorite doll (she never was a graceful child) and Edward, already exhibiting signs and symptoms of the perfect gentleman, had picked it up and handed it to her, immediately quelling her tears. Renée would often conclude that after that, the rest was history – they became the best of friends.

What Renée didn’t know (and probably never would) was that at the moment the two toddlers had met, Edward, in a rare fit of petulance, had stuck his tongue out at her because she was covered, from head to toe, in dog hair (he’d never liked dogs); she, in retaliation, had thrown her doll at him. Unfortunately, not much could be said for her aim, and the doll simply fell to the ground, a foot or so away from her. She’d cried, loudly, and Edward had picked up the doll and handed it to her with civility; little Bella accepted with outstretched fingers.

To little Edward at the time, Bella had simply been the weird little girl who’d thrown her doll at him, and to little Bella, he’d simply been the weird little boy who had given it back.

But it was enough to make an impact – they’d been inseparable after that.

Alice pulled over in front of the airport terminal. “Okay, hon,” she said, kissing Bella on the cheek. “Have a good, safe flight, and call me when you get there!”

“You know I will. Bye, Alice!”

With a grin on her face, Bella checked in her bags and boarded the plane. She couldn’t wait to see the look on Edward’s face when she finally arrived. She closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep. It really had been much too long…

An hour later, the plane landed and she found herself in Port Angeles. She grabbed her luggage off the baggage claim as quickly as possible and hailed a cab. She found herself at home promptly – it was almost as if Edward himself had been driving. She chuckled to herself, paying the cab driver as she lugged her bags up the driveway and into her empty house. Finally, with a wide smile on her face, she walked briskly over to the next street, where Edward’s monster of a house sat.

As she neared, she saw the all the lights were on, and that the driveway, as well as the streets, were filled with cars – expensive looking cars. Was there an early Christmas party of some kind?

Shrugging, she hopped up the familiar porch steps and rang the doorbell. She’d only been waiting for a few seconds when an unfamiliar, though stunning blonde answered.

“Come in, come in,” she said breathlessly, hurriedly ushering her inside. Bella saw that she was severely dressed up – strapless scarlet ball gown, plunging neckline, stiletto heels. As she surveyed the rest of the room, she saw that everyone was dressed in the same fashion. Flushing, she looked down at herself, feeling out of place in her scuffed jeans and navy turtleneck.

“I don’t mean to be rude,” she began, addressing the blonde, “but, well… who are you?”

The blonde laughed, and the sound was every bit as beautiful as her face. “I’m Rosalie Hale.” And upon registering the still-confused look on Bella’s face, she went on, “You know… Edward’s fiancée?”

“Oh,” Bella said weakly. And then she fainted.

As a child, Bella had been strangely attached to the neighborhood dog that someone had christened Lassie. Edward hadn’t taken to her quite as well, but always came with her whenever Bella asked.

One day, Lassie was nowhere to be found. Bella was in tears; Edward mostly apathetic.

“She’ll turn up sooner or later,” he’d said. “Doesn’t she always?” And he’d taken her back, where they’d played hide-and-go-seek in the endless floors and rooms of his home.

“Where do you think she went, Edward?” Bella had asked, after he’d found her sobbing in the closet.

“Well…” He was very careful in formulating a reply. “Maybe she went on vacation. You know. To Hawaii or some place.”

“Oh.” She thought about this, and decided it was fine. “Okay. But she’ll come back, right?”

“Right.”

What Bella didn’t realize was that as she had sobbed into Edward’s shoulder, he’d caught a glimpse of Lassie’s still, unmoving form on the side of the road, and, in what would be the first of many attempts to protect her from the evils of the world, he’d led her in the opposite direction and taken the long way back home.

For awhile, Edward had worried that the loss might be too much for her to bear – but it seemed like the loss of Lassie was soon forgotten, for not too much time passed before Bella met Jacob Black.

Bella bolted up in bed directly into the concerned face of Edward Masen. “You’re engaged?!” she hissed, jabbing a finger into his chest. “To be married?!”

“Of course,” he said absently. “What other kind of engaged is there?” He caught her hand before she could poke him again.

She glared. “You owe me a gigantic, monstrous explanation.” She pushed herself up onto her knees so she could make better eye contact. “Would you care to explain to me why my best friend since I was two has apparently gone and gotten himself engaged while I’ve been gone? Were you ever planning on telling me?”

“Of course I did,” he replied, and his flippancy was getting on Bella’s nerves. He began stroking her palm with his thumb. “Eventually, I would have, once you came. Weren’t you scheduled to arrive next week?”

“I decided to come early and surprise you.” She hadn’t stopped glaring yet.

“Well, believe me, it was much appreciated.” He grinned crookedly at her, still rubbing circles onto her palm. Come to think of it, that was beginning to distract her. “Stop that,” she protested crossly, drawing her hand back. “Tell me what’s going on before I take Alice’s advice and slap you.”

“Alice,” he laughed at the name. “How is she?”

“She’s great, switched her major to fashion design – not any surprise – and – NO. Why are you engaged to someone I’ve never met?”

“Why, are you jealous?”

“Are you high?”

They both glowered fiercely at each other, and if Bella had a doll, she would have definitely thrown it by now.

Finally, Edward sighed. “You’re no stranger to my family’s circumstances.”

Bella blinked. Yes, she’d always known his family was rich. It was hard to miss the giant three-story household with its sprawling acres of grass and trees and flowers. It stood out blindingly against the other small homes. “You have a big house,” she said, stupidly.

“It’s not just about the big house.” He looked at her exasperatedly. “It’s more to do with our business.” He cleared his throat. “After Dad died, the position of CEO… well. It sort of fell to me.”

Bella’s mouth fell open. “But you’re so young –”

He cut her off. “Mom chose the best she could.”

“What?”

“After this marriage, we’ll essentially unite two of the largest publishing corporations in the nation.”

“Edward –”

“Masen & Hale Publishing.” He smiled at her humorlessly. “I guess it’s got a sort of ring to it.”

She stared speechlessly at him. “But – do you even love her, Edward?”

And he turned to look at her with an unreadable look in his green eyes, a soft, sad smile hovering on his lips. She found that she couldn’t breathe.

“I have to go,” he said, standing. “It is my party, after all. No, stay here,” he added, upon seeing her trying to get up. “You just fainted – I’ll have to tell them you’re of a delicate constitution. Or,” a cheeky grin, “that you just tripped and hit your head. It’s possible, since it’s you.”

She was still too shocked to come up with a proper retort. “Oh just – just go away.”

He laughed again, and closed the door.

“I just can’t believe he’d do this to me, Jake.”

She’d just changed into pajamas after fending off questions from Charlie as to how she’d managed to trip over a shoe in the foyer and hit her head on the dining table (she swore she’d slap Edward for that one), and was now on the phone with her boyfriend of slightly over four years.

“It sounds like he didn’t have too much control over it,” Jacob observed. “Cut him some slack.”

Bella snorted. “Are you seriously defending him? You two hate each other.”

He didn’t deny the fact. “Maybe I’m just relieved that I’ll have you all to myself now.”

She sighed. “Jake –”

“I know, I know.” She could picture him shaking his head at her. “You two are just friends.”

“That’s right.” She stifled a yawn.

He heard. “Go to sleep,” he chided her. “I’ll talk to you soon. Goodnight, Bells.”

“ ‘Night.” She shut her phone and went to sleep.

Jacob Black was a year or so younger than them, but he followed them (or Bella, rather) everywhere. Edward found him annoying, like a clingy little puppy, but Bella adored him, and he wouldn’t, couldn’t, do anything to upset her.

So he let Jacob Black hang around, because he made Bella happy. He willingly put himself out of the picture so that Bella could spend more time with Jacob, because this made Bella happy.

On Bella’s twelfth birthday, Jacob Black bought her a bracelet with a wolf charm on it. She absolutely loved it, and put it on immediately. She gave Jacob a tight hug which left the other boy blushing (Bella, of course, being Bella, didn’t notice).

What Bella didn’t (doesn’t) know is that Edward had bought her a similar bracelet, except that instead of a wolf charm, a glittering crystal heart hung on the chain.

Edward never gave her the bracelet.

“You know, I think you should be my best man.” He smiled crookedly at her and ducked as she threw her pillow at him. “You are my best friend.”

“We are not doing a gender-reversal version of Made of Honor, Edward.” She was still glaring and was still, most definitely, furious at him. “I still can’t believe you’re – you’re – engaged –” She spat out the word like poison. “And you didn’t even tell me. Best friends my foot.”

“It happened very suddenly,” he tried to explain. “It’s not like I asked for it. It just – well, life happens.”

“Yeah, well, I don’t like it.” She was being childish, but she really didn’t care. “You’re going to move across the country to New York or something. That’s where all the big companies are, right? And then,” she continued, “you’re never ever going to speak to me again after you’ve become the king of your freaking castle. We’re only across Washington state and you’re already making life-altering decisions without telling me.”

“Bella,” he sighed, “don’t be ridiculous. The only reason I haven’t kept in contact with you is because it’s been hectic – really, really hectic. Planning a wedding doesn’t happen overnight, you know. I have to help out with everything – pick the flowers, select the menu, sample wedding cakes. In fact, I have a tux fitting in two hours.”

She still refused to look at him.

“I’m sorry.” He emphasized the last word. She felt his fingers on her face, nudging her to make eye contact with him. She found that she couldn’t breathe, and shoved him away from her hastily.

“Fine!” she exclaimed. Her face felt extremely warm. “I forgive you – somewhat.”

“Thank you.” The crooked grin was back. “Will you come with me to my tux fitting, then? Your father said you didn’t have much to do today, and he didn’t want to leave you home alone.”

“So you’re my babysitter?” she grumbled.

“You know you need me.” He stood. “Let’s go.”

She stood, though not without complaint. “But, why are you rushing it?” she wondered suddenly. “Last night was just your announcement party, wasn’t it? Just announcing your engagement to the public or whatever? Why do you need to rush with the tux fittings and menu and flowers and all?”

He deliberately avoided her eyes.

“The wedding probably won’t take place until a lot later, right?” She went on incessantly. “Like… six months later?”

“Get dressed,” he told her, pointedly ignoring her questions. “I’ll make breakfast.”

She wasn’t having any of it, though. She seized his arm. “Edward.”

He sighed, and stopped moving, looking uneasy. “The party last night…” he trailed off. “It wasn’t announcing the engagement.”

Bella waited.

“It was announcing the wedding.”

And waited.

“The wedding is next week.”

And exploded.

She ranted and raved for a solid half-hour. Edward, to his credit, didn’t fight it. It was like he knew what was coming, and simply accepted it.

“What if I hadn’t decided to come early?” was the conclusion of her shouting. She collapsed on the couch next to him, resting her head against his shoulder. “What if I had come, on time? Would I have come home to a married Mr. Masen?”

He was quiet for a long time. “I’m sorry,” he finally said. “But you’re here now, so… well, now, you can play the part of the groom’s official best friend.”

A pause. Some muttering under her breath, which included profanity. Edward pretended not to hear.

Then, grudgingly, concededly, she growled out, “I’m not throwing you a bachelor’s party.”

“I’m not asking you to,” came the reply.

They were silent for awhile, her head on his shoulders, his fingers in her hair.

“Last complaint, I promise,” she said quietly. “But… why didn’t you say anything? Anything at all? Even a message on my voicemail, one line of text, or an email?” She sighed. “I’d tell you if Jake and I ever got engaged.”

He abruptly stood, pulling his fingers out of her hair, causing her to lose her balance and fall sideways on the couch.

“What was that for?” she asked indignantly.

His face was oddly stiff and expressionless, his normally warm eyes blank. “We have to go.” He began making his way towards the door. “We’re going to be late.”

Bella thought this strange, but didn’t say anything, and followed him out the front door. She didn’t think she’d ever be able to truly figure Edward out.

In middle school, a boy named Mike Newton proclaimed himself desperately in love with Bella. He was harmless enough, except for his incessant flirting.

“Will you go out with me on Friday?” he’d ask her every week.

“Sorry,” she’d say, embarrassed. “I’m busy.”

Or, whenever there was a dance:

“Will you go with me?” he’d ask, eagerly.

“No, sorry,” she’d say, blushing at the attention. “I’m not going.”

All of this Edward watched carefully. Mike Newton was a decent enough kid, just… too persistent for his own good.

However, he’d had to draw the line when Mike started using pickup lines.

“Do you know karate?” he’d begun, wide grin plastered on his mouth, “because your body is kickin’!”

Bella had only been able to gape in horror before stammering out a reply and running to the girls’ restroom, where she’d hid out for the rest of recess, too afraid to meet him again. However, she’d been pleasantly surprised when the boy had ceased any further advances after that.

“He must have realized I’m really not all that great,” she’d confided in Edward one day, to which he’d only snorted in reply.

What Bella didn’t (doesn’t) know is this: Edward had, on that same afternoon, cornered Mike Newton and informed him that he, in fact, knew karate (quite well, actually), and would not hesitate to use it if he ever came so much as a foot near Bella ever again. Mike, of course, had very readily complied. He was persistent, not stupid.

Bella was having fun, despite her resolutions not to. They’d made it barely in time for Edward’s tuxedo fitting, and she was currently lounging on a poofy white sofa, waiting for him to come out of the dressing room.

“Honestly, what’s keeping you?” she called to him. “You just zip the pants and button the shirt, don’t you? At the rate you’re taking I half expect you to come out in a dress –”

He stepped out.

Bella swallowed.

The suit fit him perfectly. She could easily see him on the cover of one of those fashion magazines, the titles of which escaped her. But she didn’t know why. Sure, the suit was black, but weren’t all suits? A white oxford sat underneath the suit jacket, and an ebony necktie completed the ensemble. It was like any other suit that any other guy would wear…

But on him, it was perfect.

But, she thought faintly to herself, why the dry throat and racing heartbeat? She’d seen him in suits and such before. Why should this be any different?

Had his eyes always been that green?

She forced herself to take breaths. Breathe, Bella, breathe.

At length, she composed herself, grinning as she made her way towards him. “Well, aren’t you the handsome one?” She leaned against his shoulder as she pivoted him around to look at the floor-length mirror. “You’ve certainly grown up well, Mr. Masen. It seems like just yesterday you were throwing a fit, refusing to go to prom, refusing to wear your suit.” She pinched his cheeks. He made a face, and drew back from her.

“So do I have your approval?” He gestured to the apparel.

“To get married? Of course not. To get the suit? Absolutely.” She’d made sure to slap a laughing, joking smile on her face so that he wouldn’t be offended. But as he disappeared behind the changing rooms, the smile fell away to be replaced by a look of confusion.

Because she had absolutely no idea as to why, when Edward had stood in front of the mirror in his wedding tuxedo, she’d had a glimpse – a glimpse so fast it had gone as soon as she’d blinked, but still, there nonetheless – of her, her, his best friend and only his best friend, she maintained firmly, standing beside him, in a satin white wedding dress.

“Ready to go?” he reappeared beside her, clad in jeans and the button-down shirt he’d worn for the day.

She blinked. It was gone. “Yeah. Let’s go.”

When they were in the second grade, her parents had gotten a divorce. Bella had taken it hard, and, like always, had gone running into Edward’s arms, seeking solace.

“It’s not only that they’re not living together anymore,” she’d sobbed, almost unintelligible through her tears, “but Mom’s moving – moving to Arizona, and – she wants me to go with her!”

His arms had tightened imperceptibly around her shoulders. “It will be okay, Bella,” he’d said. “You’re not going anywhere.”

And she hadn’t. Renée had entrusted Bella to Charlie, with the condition that Bella be allowed to visit during the holidays. Renée was never a stranger to Forks, either. Really, it had all worked out wonderfully well.

What Bella didn’t (and of course, doesn’t) know is that later that afternoon, Edward had gone over to her house to speak with Renée.

“Please don’t take her away,” he’d said, simply.

“Edward, honey…” Renée had sighed. “It’s complicated.”

But he’d only repeated the words. “Please,” he’d said again, “don’t take her away.”

“I don’t want to, but I –” she’d stopped, because at this point he’d reached out and tugged at her shirt. She’d looked down at him, his head barely reaching past her hip.

“Please.” His eyes had begged, intensely mature for his age. “Don’t take her away from me.”

And so she hadn’t.