Chapter 3: Perfect
Saturday, June 22, 2002

EPOV

"Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear, Edward…Daddy, Happy Birthday to you." I bent forward and blew out the candles of my cake. I personally thought I was kind of old for birthday parties, but I lost that fight against my stubborn wife. The whole family and some of my friends were over. My actual birthday was two days ago, but the party was today. Everyone clapped after I blew out the candles, and Bella kissed the side of my head.

Liam was kicking and flailing his arms around from his spot on my lap. He was squealing when everyone was clapping, and he finally started clapping when everyone stopped, causing all of us to laugh, and causing me to kiss him on his head.

Bella took the cake away to go cut it, and my mother took my kid away. I got up from the chair and was attacked by my lovely niece, Emma. She was strong for four years old, and she started punching my stomach repeatedly. "Uncle Edward is old! Uncle Edward is old!" She sang as she kept punching me it didn't really hurt, but it was quite comical. Emma was what you would call a tom boy. She hated dresses, and she loved everything that boys like. Rosalie tries so hard to make her more girly, but that never happens.

"Emma! Stop hitting your Uncle, and come have some cake and ice cream." Rosalie yelled from the kitchen. I laughed as Emma completely stopped punching me and ran to the kitchen. I walked in behind her and stood in the doorway and just watched Bella. She was glowing. She was as happy as I have ever seen her, which in turn made me the happiest I have ever been. She was striving. She was a wonderful and doting mother, and a loving and caring wife. I began to think that the drinking was now a part of the past. Just phase in our lives that we overcame.

There have been many times where I thought she would go back. Some days I would come home from work, and she will be stressed out for trying to keep up with Liam and the house. Luckily I was able to calm her down and help her in any way I could. That was all I wanted was to help her. I wanted to be the one to help her; not the alcohol. That is how it was supposed to be.

I felt a hand on my shoulder, and looked over to my left and saw Emmett. He had a drink in his hand and a smile on his face. "She looks good."

"Hey, that's my wife you're talking about." I said with a smirk.

He chuckled and lightly hit the back of my head. "You know what I mean."

"I know. She does look good. She is better now."

"Yeah, I guess you were right. Liam changed her."

"He did."

"Na Na Na Na Na…" I smiled as I listened to Liam talk in his own baby language. He has been more vocal lately. He just started being able to roll over and he loved being on his stomach. He holds himself up with his arms. I think he is probably the smartest five month old in the world. He is just growing up so fast, and learning new things every day. I was amazed by him.

We were both sitting in his room just before he was going to be put down for bed. I was sitting on the rocking chair, and he was sitting on my lap with his back resting against my chest. We were both just relaxing until Bella got out of the shower. It was around eight at night, and Liam was getting tired. I was glad he was actually just sitting still and we could just spend some quiet time together. Today was loud and hectic since it was a party, and it was fun, but nothing beats just sitting with your son on your lap in a quiet room.

"Ba ba ba ba baaaaa…." He was getting louder by the minute, and I just kept on running my hand that wasn't holding him around his stomach through his straight brown hair.

"Are you telling Daddy stories, Little Man?" He looked up at me when he heard me talk, and just gave me a toothless grin before continuing on with his babbling. "Do you know who used to tell great stories, Liam?" He obviously didn't answer, but he was still looking at me. "Your Grandfather did. I know you haven't met him, but I am sure he would have loved you. And so would Grandma."

It always saddened me to think that my parents would never actually meet Liam. My parents were both amazing people, and they were both my heroes before they were taken away from me. It is still hard for me to think about them, and that night. Especially on days like this, my Mom used to love throwing parties, and my birthday parties were always really fun…

~Flashback~

"Edward! Bella is here!" Edward's mother, Elizabeth, called out to Edward who was in the backyard. Edward stopped jumping in the moon bounce with Emmett, Alice, and all of the other friends he invited to go get Bella.

"Hi Lizzie, I have missed you." Bella said and hugged around Elizabeth's waist. Bella hasn't been able to go to Edward's house for over two weeks now because her mother was sick, and wouldn't let Bella leave the house. Edward went over to Bella's house a couple of times when he was visiting with his Aunt and Uncle, but when he did, they both had to stay in the kitchen, and be very quiet so Bella's Mom would never catch them.

"Oh I missed you too, Bella." She bent down and hugged Bella and then Edward finally came running in. His cheeks were red, and the outer edge of his hair was damp from sweat.

"Come on, Bella!" He said excitedly and grabbed her hand in his to drag her to the moon bounce.

"Hold on, Edward. I want to say hi to your Dad." Elizabeth smiled when Bella said this, because she realized how much Bella loved Ed. Him and Carlisle were the closest thing she has ever had to a father figure, and it saddened Elizabeth to think such a sweet girl as Bella doesn't have a father in her life.

Edward groaned because he really just wanted to play, but he followed Bella anyway because he did anything and everything for her. They both went outside to where Ed was talking to one of the family friends, Greg. "Ed!" Bella yelled as she ran to hug him. He turned around when he saw her and smiled. He put his drink down and squatted down to hug her. Just like Bella never had a father, Ed has never had a daughter, and he loved Bella like his own.

"Hello Miss Bella Beauty." That was a nickname Ed had for Bella, and it always made her blush.

"Can you tell us a story?" Bella asked excitedly. Edward rolled his eyes, he liked hearing his father's stories, but he also wanted to continue playing with his friends at his party.

"Well I don't really have time right now, but I can do a quick magic trick."

"Yeah! Yeah!" Ed smiled and stood up from his squatting position. He took a quarter out of his pocket and held it out for Bella and Edward to see. They have seen this trick before, but it still amazed them. He closed his fist around the quarter, and then opened it. The quarter was gone. Bella and Edward started clapping.

"Miss Bella Beauty, why did you steal my quarter?"

Bella laughed. "I didn't steal your quarter!"

"Then why is it right here, behind your ear?" He asked and pulled the quarter out from behind Bella's ear.

"How do you do that!" They both started asking.

Ed laughed. "A good magician never tells his secrets."

"Come on, Bella." Edward said while tugging on Bella's hand.

"Okay, okay, you pain in the butt." Bella pulled her hand away from Edward and hugged Ed one more time. "See you later!"

"About time!" Edward said as he started running for the moon bounce.

"Edward wait!" Edward groaned.

"What, Bella?" He asked as he turned around to look at her.

"I didn't get you a present." Bella said while wringing her hands and looking down. "Phil took my money, so I couldn't get you the Transformer you wanted."

"That's okay, Bella. I just wanted you to come to my party."

Bella walked up to Edward and hugged him. "I will give you a hug for your birthday. I love you my best friend."

"I love you too Bella, but can we please just go play now?" Edward asked impatiently. Bella laughed and then she was the one dragging Edward to the moon bounce.

Edward's Mom slipped Edward's pajama shirt over his head. She smoothed his wet hair down again and then grabbed his face in her hands to kiss his forehead. "You are so handsome, my Edward."

"I get it from my Daddy."

Elizabeth started laughing and then hugged Edward close. "He has trained you well, hasn't he?" Edward just shrugged. "Okay, well go downstairs and say goodnight to your Daddy." Edward nodded his head and then ran past his mother and down the stairs to find his father. He found him in the living room on the recliner and reading a book. He looked up when he heard his son walk in the room. He smiled and took his glasses off as Edward jumped into his lap.

"Umph…I don't know, Edward. I think you are getting to old to sit on my lap." He wrapped his arms around his son despite his comment.

"Daaad," Edward whined. "I am only six years old! I'm not that big yet."

Ed kissed his Edward's head and chuckled. "I know bud, I was just kidding. You can always sit on my lap, even when you are 60."

"Really?"

"Sure, if that is what you want when you are 60." Edward rested his head on Ed's chest. He knew he was just supposed to be saying goodnight, but he liked quiet time with his Dad. Ed ran his hands through Edward's messy hair that he got from him. "So did you have a good birthday party, son?"

"Yeah! It was the best birthday party ever!" Edward said excitedly.

"Good. Nothing but the best for my boy."

Edward held on tighter to his father. "I love you, Dad."

"I love you too, son. Me and your mother love you more than anyone or anything in this world. Remember that."

"Okay. Goodnight, Dad." Edward kissed his father on the cheek and Ed did the same to him.

"Goodnight, Edward." Edward climbed off of his father's lap and then ran back upstairs to his room. Elizabeth was already waiting on Edward's bed with the book they were reading for the night, "Where the Wild Things Are", always "Where the Wild Things Are". Edward jumped in the bed and snuggled under the covers. Elizabeth smoothed his hair down and looked at him lovingly before she started reading Edward's all time favorite story.

I didn't take Elizabeth long to finish reading. "I have one more thing to give you for your birthday, baby." Elizabeth bent over and picked up the gift from next to the bed where she put it. She held out the brown bear stuffed animal to Edward. "Your grandma gave this bear to me on my 6th birthday. She told me to give it to the person who means the most to me when I get older."

Edward took the brown stuffed bear in his hands and held it close to his chest. "I love him, thank you Mommy."

"Your welcome, my love." She kissed his forehead. "You know, I never gave him a name. I just called him Bear. So why don't you give him a new name."

Edward put his finger to his chin, and scrunched up his face in thought. Elizabeth chuckled at her son's cuteness. "Max."

"I should have guessed." Of course Edward would choose the name of the little boy from his favorite book. She got up from the bed and kissed Edward one more time. "Goodnight my birthday boy, I love you."

"Love you too, Mommy." Edward said while turning in his bed to lie on his side and had Max clutched to his chest. Elizabeth shut the light off and left the door open halfway. Edward closed his eyes with a smile on his face. Today was a great birthday for him, and he couldn't wait to show Bella, Max.

~End Flashback~

That was the last birthday I ever got to spend with my parents. I held Liam closer to me, and thought about how much it would kill me if I would ever have to leave him. I didn't want my son to have to feel the pain I felt when I lost my parents. I know it wasn't their fault, but those were the darkest times of my life, and I was so young. Luckily I had Carlisle and Esme to help me. And Bella.

I jumped when I felt a hand on my shoulder, which then caused Liam to jump. I expected him to cry, but instead he let out a small giggle. I smiled down at him and then looked up to Bella who also smiled at the sound that every parent strives to hear from their child any chance they get. She crouched down next to us. "Are you okay, Edward?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine." I fail at lying when it comes to attempting to lie to Bella. I made the mistake of not only answering to quickly, but I also didn't look her in the eye. Bella knows me too well.

"Liar." She simply said.

I sighed, knowing I will not get out of this one. "I was just thinking about my parents." Bella sighed and kissed my arm. She lifted her hand and stroked my hair. I knew she wasn't going to say anything, because really, what could she say? "I just think about them more on days like these, you know? Birthdays, holidays, or even days when Liam does something for the first time. I just really wish they could have gotten to at least meet him. They would have loved him."

"I know they would have. And they would be so proud of you, baby."

I looked down in Bella's eyes. "You think so?"

"I know so. What isn't there to be proud of? You are 23 years old, already graduated college, you have a good job to support yourself and your family, and you are the perfect husband and father."

"Thank you, sweetheart."

"No need to thank me, handsome. I am your wife, and it is my job to stroke your ego at any chance I can get." I laughed and she laughed with me. Liam's head shot to us when we were laughing, and then he joined with us. Bella held her arms out to Liam. "Come on Mr. Giggle Pants, it is time for you to go to sleep." Liam lifted his arms, and Bella picked him up and held him on her hip. He rested his head on her shoulder. Bella kissed his head and I walked up to him to also kiss my boy.

"I love you, Little Man." I whispered against his head. I kissed Bella once before walking out of the room and to mine and Bella's room. I brushed my teeth and stripped down to my boxers for bed. I got under the covers and waited for Bella to finish up with putting Liam to bed. It only took about five minutes before she was walking back in the room. She was already in her pajamas and she got a running start before jumping right on top of me. She knocked the wind out of me, but I laughed.

I pushed her down on the bed and hovered on top of her. I brought one of my hands down and started tickling her sides. She laughed hysterically while begging me to stop. I would have stopped, but hearing her laugh just made me too damn happy. "I'm going to die you idiot." She tried to sound stern, but that was not working since she was laughing in between.

I stopped tickling her and kissed her instead. She kissed me back and moaned against my mouth. I slipped my tongue into her mouth, and she gratefully accepted it. We made out for a couple of seconds before I stopped and moved my lips down her face, and placed open mouthed kisses on her neck. Bella had her hands in my hair, "Ugh, it really is crazy how much I love you, Edward, and how much I want you. All the time." She was breathless and I continued my assault on her neck and made my way lower on her body. She moaned as I placed a kiss right above her breast, but she pushed my head away. "Wait, baby."

I groaned. "Bella!" I whined and she laughed. She kissed me and then pushed me off of her before getting off the bed. I was lying on my back and concentrating on fixing my problem down below since I need to 'wait'. Damn woman will be the death of me. I looked over and saw that Bella was walking back to the bed with a box wrapped in blue wrapping paper. She jumped on the bed next to me, and handed me the box.

"Happy Birthday, Edward." She said as she kissed my cheek.

"Bella, I told you you didn't have to get me anything."

"I didn't. That is from Liam." I smiled and kissed her. I took the wrapping paper off of the box. It was just a regular rectangular, white box, and I took the lid off. I smiled when I saw a thing silver chain with two dog tags attached. I carefully picked it up by the chain, and rested the two dog tags in my palm. I noticed there were words engraved on each one. I held up one of them and read the words.

Bella Cullen
8-6-1999

The date was the day we got married; one of the best days of my life. "Turn it over, baby." Bella said softly and rested her head on my shoulder. I turned it over, and read the words on the back.

My Love.
My Life.
My Edward.

I felt my eyes well up, and I felt like a girl because of it, but this was just too damn perfect. She was too damn perfect. I then picked up the next tag, and read the words.

Liam Edward
1-13-2002

I turned it over.

My Daddy.
My Hero.

I turned my head and kissed Bella deeply. This kiss wasn't hard and it wasn't like our kisses a couple of minutes ago when we were both overtaken by the lust we had for one another. This kiss was slow and gentle, and I tried my best to show her my love and devotion to her in the movements of my lips. She kissed me back the same way, and I felt her love for me. I pulled away, and rested my forehead against hers.

"Thank you, Bella."

"You're welcome, handsome. I am glad you like it." She kissed my nose, and took the chain out of my hand. She pulled back and brought the chain over my head so it fell around my neck. It was cold against my bare chest at first, but I will never take this off.

"I love you." I said and then kissed her mouth lightly.

"Mm…not as much as I love you."

I smiled and laid her back on the bed and hovered over her once again. I held myself up with my elbows so I wouldn't squash her. The chain fell off of my chest, and was dangling in between us. "I think that is just something we should agree to disagree on, because that argument could go on for days."

She laughed and she wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me down for a kiss. "You know." She said in between kisses. "There was an ulterior motive in getting you the dog tags."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yup."

"And what was that?" I kissed her forehead and pushed her brown hair out of her face.

"I thought you would look sexy wearing dog tags."

I chuckled. "Really? And how do I look?"

"Even sexier than I imagined." She kissed me. "It is actually really turning me on."

I laughed softly and continued what I was doing before; I was kissing down her neck and getting lower and lower. "Hmm, maybe I should help you out with that."

"Hell yes you should." I laughed and lifted her shirt over her head. Let's just say I helped her out with that. Many times that night.

So that is the next chapter! You get to see a little of Edward's relationship with his birth parents. I am sorry if some people think this is moving a little slow, but I am just setting everything up, you know? So please just stick with it, and I promise things are going to get real juicy soon. All of these chapters have something important that you should keep in mind while reading.

Some feedback is greatly appreciated!

Thanks for reading!